Focused Passage

Genesis 15:7-21

The LORD Assures Abram, Credits Him with Righteousness, and Ratifies the Covenant by Oath

Berean Standard Bible, Public Domain - Translation notes - Reference sources

7 The LORD also told him, “I am the LORD, who brought you out of Ur of the Chaldeans to give you this land to possess.”

8 But Abram replied, “Lord GOD, how can I know that I will possess it?”

9 And the LORD said to him, “Bring Me a heifer, a goat, and a ram, each three years old, along with a turtledove and a young pigeon.”

10 So Abram brought all these to Him, split each of them down the middle, and laid the halves opposite each other. The birds, however, he did not cut in half.

11 And the birds of prey descended on the carcasses, but Abram drove them away.

12 As the sun was setting, Abram fell into a deep sleep, and suddenly great terror and darkness overwhelmed him.

13 Then the LORD said to Abram, “Know for certain that your descendants will be strangers in a land that is not their own, and they will be enslaved and mistreated four hundred years.

14 But I will judge the nation they serve as slaves, and afterward they will depart with many possessions.

15 You, however, will go to your fathers in peace and be buried at a ripe old age.

16 In the fourth generation your descendants will return here, for the iniquity of the Amorites is not yet complete.”

17 When the sun had set and darkness had fallen, behold, a smoking firepot and a flaming torch appeared and passed between the halves of the carcasses.

18 On that day the LORD made a covenant with Abram, saying, “To your descendants I have given this land—from the river of Egypt to the great River Euphrates—

19 the land of the Kenites, Kenizzites, Kadmonites,

20 Hittites, Perizzites, Rephaites,

21 Amorites, Canaanites, Girgashites, and Jebusites.”

Study Helps

References and Original Words

Verse 7

Original words

[The LORD] also told וַיֹּ֖אמֶר H559 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular him אֵלָ֑יו H413 Preposition | third person masculine singular I אֲנִ֣י H589 Pronoun - first person common singular am the LORD יְהוָ֗ה H3068 Noun - proper - masculine singular who אֲשֶׁ֤ר H834 Pronoun - relative brought you הוֹצֵאתִ֙יךָ֙ H3318 Verb - Hifil - Perfect - first person common singular | second person masculine singular out of Ur מֵא֣וּר H218 Preposition-m | Noun - proper - feminine singular of the Chaldeans כַּשְׂדִּ֔ים H3778 Noun - proper - masculine plural to give לָ֧תֶת H5414 Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct you לְךָ֛ Preposition | second person masculine singular - אֶת־ H853 Direct object marker this הַזֹּ֖את H2063 Article | Pronoun - feminine singular land הָאָ֥רֶץ H776 Article | Noun - feminine singular to possess לְרִשְׁתָּֽהּ׃ H3423 Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct | third person feminine singular
Verse 8

Original words

But [Abram] replied וַיֹּאמַ֑ר H559 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular Lord אֲדֹנָ֣י H136 Noun - proper - masculine singular GOD יֱהוִ֔ה H3069 Noun - proper - masculine singular how בַּמָּ֥ה H4100 Preposition-b | Interrogative can I know אֵדַ֖ע H3045 Verb - Qal - Imperfect - first person common singular that כִּ֥י H3588 Conjunction I will possess it אִֽירָשֶֽׁנָּה׃ H3423 Verb - Qal - Imperfect - first person common singular | third person feminine singular
Verse 9

Original words

And [the LORD] said וַיֹּ֣אמֶר H559 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular to him אֵלָ֗יו H413 Preposition | third person masculine singular Bring קְחָ֥ה H3947 Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine singular | third person feminine singular Me לִי֙ Preposition | first person common singular - מְשֻׁלֶּ֔שֶׁת H8027 Verb - Pual - Participle - feminine singular construct a heifer עֶגְלָ֣ה H5697 Noun - feminine singular - מְשֻׁלֶּ֖שֶׁת H8027 Verb - Pual - Participle - feminine singular construct a goat וְעֵ֥ז H5795 Conjunctive waw | Noun - feminine singular and a ram וְאַ֣יִל H352 Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular [each] three years old מְשֻׁלָּ֑שׁ H8027 Verb - Pual - Participle - masculine singular along with a turtledove וְתֹ֖ר H8449 Conjunctive waw | Noun - feminine singular and a young pigeon וְגוֹזָֽל׃ H1469 Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular
Verse 10

Original words

So [Abram] brought וַיִּֽקַּֽח־ H3947 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular all כָּל־ H3605 Noun - masculine singular construct these אֵ֗לֶּה H428 Pronoun - common plural to Him ל֣וֹ Preposition | third person masculine singular - אֶת־ H853 Direct object marker split וַיְבַתֵּ֤ר H1334 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Piel - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular each of them אֹתָם֙ H853 Direct object marker | third person masculine plural down the middle בַּתָּ֔וֶךְ H8432 Preposition-b, Article | Noun - masculine singular and laid וַיִּתֵּ֥ן H5414 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular the halves בִּתְר֖וֹ H1335 Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singular opposite לִקְרַ֣את H7122 Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct each אִישׁ־ H376 Noun - masculine singular other רֵעֵ֑הוּ H7453 Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singular The birds הַצִפֹּ֖ר H6833 Article | Noun - common singular however וְאֶת־ H853 Conjunctive waw | Direct object marker he did not לֹ֥א H3808 Adverb - Negative particle cut in half בָתָֽר׃ H1334 Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular
Verse 11

Original words

And the birds of prey הָעַ֖יִט H5861 Article | Noun - masculine singular descended וַיֵּ֥רֶד H3381 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular on עַל־ H5921 Preposition the carcasses הַפְּגָרִ֑ים H6297 Article | Noun - masculine plural but Abram אַבְרָֽם׃ H87 Noun - proper - masculine singular drove them away וַיַּשֵּׁ֥ב H5380 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular - אֹתָ֖ם H853 Direct object marker | third person masculine plural
Verse 12

Original words

As the sun הַשֶּׁ֙מֶשׁ֙ H8121 Article | Noun - common singular was וַיְהִ֤י H1961 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular setting לָב֔וֹא H935 Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct Abram אַבְרָ֑ם H87 Noun - proper - masculine singular fell נָפְלָ֣ה H5307 Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person feminine singular into עַל־ H5921 Preposition a deep sleep וְתַרְדֵּמָ֖ה H8639 Conjunctive waw | Noun - feminine singular and suddenly וְהִנֵּ֥ה H2009 Conjunctive waw | Interjection great גְדֹלָ֖ה H1419 Adjective - feminine singular terror אֵימָ֛ה H367 Noun - feminine singular and darkness חֲשֵׁכָ֥ה H2825 Noun - feminine singular overwhelmed נֹפֶ֥לֶת H5307 Verb - Qal - Participle - feminine singular him עָלָֽיו׃ H5921 Preposition | third person masculine singular
Verse 13

Original words

Then [the LORD] said וַיֹּ֣אמֶר H559 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular to Abram לְאַבְרָ֗ם H87 Preposition-l | Noun - proper - masculine singular Know for certain יָדֹ֨עַ H3045 Verb - Qal - Infinitive absolute . . . תֵּדַ֜ע H3045 Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine singular that כִּי־ H3588 Conjunction your descendants זַרְעֲךָ֗ H2233 Noun - masculine singular construct | second person masculine singular will be יִהְיֶ֣ה H1961 Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular strangers גֵ֣ר׀ H1616 Noun - masculine singular in a land בְּאֶ֙רֶץ֙ H776 Preposition-b | Noun - feminine singular that is not לֹ֣א H3808 Adverb - Negative particle their own לָהֶ֔ם Preposition | third person masculine plural and they will be enslaved וַעֲבָד֖וּם H5647 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person common plural | third person masculine plural and mistreated וְעִנּ֣וּ H6031 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Piel - Conjunctive perfect - third person common plural - אֹתָ֑ם H853 Direct object marker | third person masculine plural four אַרְבַּ֥ע H702 Number - feminine singular construct hundred מֵא֖וֹת H3967 Number - feminine plural years שָׁנָֽה׃ H8141 Noun - feminine singular
Verse 14

Original words

But וְגַ֧ם H1571 Conjunction - אֶת־ H853 Direct object marker I אָנֹ֑כִי H595 Pronoun - first person common singular will judge דָּ֣ן H1777 Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular the nation הַגּ֛וֹי H1471 Article | Noun - masculine singular - אֲשֶׁ֥ר H834 Pronoun - relative they serve as slaves יַעֲבֹ֖דוּ H5647 Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine plural and afterward וְאַחֲרֵי־ H310 Conjunctive waw | Preposition . . . כֵ֥ן H3651 Adverb they will depart יֵצְא֖וּ H3318 Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine plural with many גָּדֽוֹל׃ H1419 Adjective - masculine singular possessions בִּרְכֻ֥שׁ H7399 Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular

BSB notes

  • Cited in Acts 7:6–7
Verse 15

Original words

You, however וְאַתָּ֛ה H859 Conjunctive waw | Pronoun - second person masculine singular will go תָּב֥וֹא H935 Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine singular to אֶל־ H413 Preposition your fathers אֲבֹתֶ֖יךָ H1 Noun - masculine plural construct | second person masculine singular in peace בְּשָׁל֑וֹם H7965 Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular and be buried תִּקָּבֵ֖ר H6912 Verb - Nifal - Imperfect - second person masculine singular at a ripe old age בְּשֵׂיבָ֥ה H7872 Preposition-b | Noun - feminine singular . . . טוֹבָֽה׃ H2896 Adjective - feminine singular
Verse 16

Original words

In the fourth רְבִיעִ֖י H7243 Number - ordinal masculine singular generation וְד֥וֹר H1755 Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular [your descendants] will return יָשׁ֣וּבוּ H7725 Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine plural here הֵ֑נָּה H2008 Adverb for כִּ֧י H3588 Conjunction the iniquity עֲוֺ֥ן H5771 Noun - common singular construct of the Amorites הָאֱמֹרִ֖י H567 Article | Noun - proper - masculine singular [is] not לֹא־ H3808 Adverb - Negative particle yet עַד־ H5704 Preposition . . . הֵֽנָּה׃ H2008 Adverb complete שָׁלֵ֛ם H8003 Adjective - masculine singular
Verse 17

Original words

When the sun הַשֶּׁ֙מֶשׁ֙ H8121 Article | Noun - common singular had set בָּ֔אָה H935 Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person feminine singular and darkness וַעֲלָטָ֖ה H5939 Conjunctive waw | Noun - feminine singular had fallen וַיְהִ֤י H1961 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular . . . הָיָ֑ה H1961 Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular behold וְהִנֵּ֨ה H2009 Conjunctive waw | Interjection a smoking עָשָׁן֙ H6227 Noun - masculine singular firepot תַנּ֤וּר H8574 Noun - common singular construct and a flaming אֵ֔שׁ H784 Noun - common singular - אֲשֶׁ֣ר H834 Pronoun - relative torch וְלַפִּ֣יד H3940 Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular construct appeared and passed עָבַ֔ר H5674 Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular between בֵּ֖ין H996 Preposition the halves הַגְּזָרִ֥ים H1506 Article | Noun - masculine plural [of the carcasses] הָאֵֽלֶּה׃ H428 Article | Pronoun - common plural
Verse 18

Original words

On that הַה֗וּא H1931 Article | Pronoun - third person masculine singular day בַּיּ֣וֹם H3117 Preposition-b, Article | Noun - masculine singular the LORD יְהוָ֛ה H3068 Noun - proper - masculine singular made כָּרַ֧ת H3772 Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular a covenant בְּרִ֣ית H1285 Noun - feminine singular with אֶת־ H854 Preposition Abram אַבְרָ֖ם H87 Noun - proper - masculine singular saying לֵאמֹ֑ר H559 Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct To your descendants לְזַרְעֲךָ֗ H2233 Preposition-l | Noun - masculine singular construct | second person masculine singular I have given נָתַ֙תִּי֙ H5414 Verb - Qal - Perfect - first person common singular - אֶת־ H853 Direct object marker this הַזֹּ֔את H2063 Article | Pronoun - feminine singular land הָאָ֣רֶץ H776 Article | Noun - feminine singular from the river מִנְּהַ֣ר H5104 Preposition-m | Noun - masculine singular construct of Egypt מִצְרַ֔יִם H4714 Noun - proper - feminine singular to עַד־ H5704 Preposition the great הַגָּדֹ֖ל H1419 Article | Adjective - masculine singular River הַנָּהָ֥ר H5104 Article | Noun - masculine singular Euphrates פְּרָֽת׃ H6578 Noun - proper - feminine singular . . . נְהַר־ H5104 Noun - masculine singular construct
Verse 19

Original words

- אֶת־ H853 Direct object marker the land of the Kenites הַקֵּינִי֙ H7017 Article | Noun - proper - masculine singular - וְאֶת־ H853 Conjunctive waw | Direct object marker Kenizzites הַקְּנִזִּ֔י H7074 Article | Noun - proper - masculine singular - וְאֵ֖ת H853 Conjunctive waw | Direct object marker Kadmonites הַקַּדְמֹנִֽי׃ H6935 Article | Noun - proper - masculine singular
Verse 20

Original words

- וְאֶת־ H853 Conjunctive waw | Direct object marker Hittites הַחִתִּ֥י H2850 Article | Noun - proper - masculine singular - וְאֶת־ H853 Conjunctive waw | Direct object marker Perizzites הַפְּרִזִּ֖י H6522 Article | Noun - proper - masculine singular - וְאֶת־ H853 Conjunctive waw | Direct object marker Rephaites הָרְפָאִֽים׃ H7497 Article | Noun - proper - masculine plural
Verse 21

Original words

- וְאֶת־ H853 Conjunctive waw | Direct object marker Amorites הָֽאֱמֹרִי֙ H567 Article | Noun - proper - masculine singular - וְאֶת־ H853 Conjunctive waw | Direct object marker Canaanites הַֽכְּנַעֲנִ֔י H3669 Article | Noun - proper - masculine singular - וְאֶת־ H853 Conjunctive waw | Direct object marker Girgashites הַגִּרְגָּשִׁ֖י H1622 Article | Noun - proper - masculine singular - וְאֶת־ H853 Conjunctive waw | Direct object marker and Jebusites הַיְבוּסִֽי׃ס H2983 Article | Noun - proper - masculine singular

Berean Standard Bible (BSB): CC0 Public Domain Scripture text. Focused passages are drawn from the same reader contract as the full chapter. Reference sources explains external study-link sources.