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

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

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

9And 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.”

10So 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.

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

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

13Then 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.

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

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

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

17When 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.

18On 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—

19the land of the Kenites, Kenizzites, Kadmonites,

20Hittites, Perizzites, Rephaites,

21Amorites, Canaanites, Girgashites, and Jebusites.”

Study Helps

References and Original Words

Verse 7

Original words

[The LORD] also toldוַיֹּ֖אמֶרH559Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singularhimאֵלָ֑יוH413Preposition | third person masculine singularIאֲנִ֣יH589Pronoun - first person common singularam the LORDיְהוָ֗הH3068Noun - proper - masculine singularwhoאֲשֶׁ֤רH834Pronoun - relativebrought youהוֹצֵאתִ֙יךָ֙H3318Verb - Hifil - Perfect - first person common singular | second person masculine singularout of Urמֵא֣וּרH218Preposition-m | Noun - proper - feminine singularof the Chaldeansכַּשְׂדִּ֔יםH3778Noun - proper - masculine pluralto giveלָ֧תֶתH5414Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive constructyouלְךָ֛Preposition | second person masculine singular-אֶת־H853Direct object markerthisהַזֹּ֖אתH2063Article | Pronoun - feminine singularlandהָאָ֥רֶץH776Article | Noun - feminine singularto possessלְרִשְׁתָּֽהּ׃H3423Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct | third person feminine singular
Verse 8

Original words

But [Abram] repliedוַיֹּאמַ֑רH559Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singularLordאֲדֹנָ֣יH136Noun - proper - masculine singularGODיֱהוִ֔הH3069Noun - proper - masculine singularhowבַּמָּ֥הH4100Preposition-b | Interrogativecan I knowאֵדַ֖עH3045Verb - Qal - Imperfect - first person common singularthatכִּ֥יH3588ConjunctionI will possess itאִֽירָשֶֽׁנָּה׃H3423Verb - Qal - Imperfect - first person common singular | third person feminine singular
Verse 9

Original words

And [the LORD] saidוַיֹּ֣אמֶרH559Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singularto himאֵלָ֗יוH413Preposition | third person masculine singularBringקְחָ֥הH3947Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine singular | third person feminine singularMeלִי֙Preposition | first person common singular-מְשֻׁלֶּ֔שֶׁתH8027Verb - Pual - Participle - feminine singular constructa heiferעֶגְלָ֣הH5697Noun - feminine singular-מְשֻׁלֶּ֖שֶׁתH8027Verb - Pual - Participle - feminine singular constructa goatוְעֵ֥זH5795Conjunctive waw | Noun - feminine singularand a ramוְאַ֣יִלH352Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular[each] three years oldמְשֻׁלָּ֑שׁH8027Verb - Pual - Participle - masculine singularalong with a turtledoveוְתֹ֖רH8449Conjunctive waw | Noun - feminine singularand a young pigeonוְגוֹזָֽל׃H1469Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular
Verse 10

Original words

So [Abram] broughtוַיִּֽקַּֽח־H3947Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singularallכָּל־H3605Noun - masculine singular constructtheseאֵ֗לֶּהH428Pronoun - common pluralto Himל֣וֹPreposition | third person masculine singular-אֶת־H853Direct object markersplitוַיְבַתֵּ֤רH1334Conjunctive waw | Verb - Piel - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singulareach of themאֹתָם֙H853Direct object marker | third person masculine pluraldown the middleבַּתָּ֔וֶךְH8432Preposition-b, Article | Noun - masculine singularand laidוַיִּתֵּ֥ןH5414Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singularthe halvesבִּתְר֖וֹH1335Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singularoppositeלִקְרַ֣אתH7122Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive constructeachאִישׁ־H376Noun - masculine singularotherרֵעֵ֑הוּH7453Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singularThe birdsהַצִפֹּ֖רH6833Article | Noun - common singularhoweverוְאֶת־H853Conjunctive waw | Direct object markerhe did notלֹ֥אH3808Adverb - Negative particlecut in halfבָתָֽר׃H1334Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular
Verse 11

Original words

And the birds of preyהָעַ֖יִטH5861Article | Noun - masculine singulardescendedוַיֵּ֥רֶדH3381Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singularonעַל־H5921Prepositionthe carcassesהַפְּגָרִ֑יםH6297Article | Noun - masculine pluralbut Abramאַבְרָֽם׃H87Noun - proper - masculine singulardrove them awayוַיַּשֵּׁ֥בH5380Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular-אֹתָ֖םH853Direct object marker | third person masculine plural
Verse 12

Original words

As the sunהַשֶּׁ֙מֶשׁ֙H8121Article | Noun - common singularwasוַיְהִ֤יH1961Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singularsettingלָב֔וֹאH935Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive constructAbramאַבְרָ֑םH87Noun - proper - masculine singularfellנָפְלָ֣הH5307Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person feminine singularintoעַל־H5921Prepositiona deep sleepוְתַרְדֵּמָ֖הH8639Conjunctive waw | Noun - feminine singularand suddenlyוְהִנֵּ֥הH2009Conjunctive waw | Interjectiongreatגְדֹלָ֖הH1419Adjective - feminine singularterrorאֵימָ֛הH367Noun - feminine singularand darknessחֲשֵׁכָ֥הH2825Noun - feminine singularoverwhelmedנֹפֶ֥לֶתH5307Verb - Qal - Participle - feminine singularhimעָלָֽיו׃H5921Preposition | third person masculine singular
Verse 13

Original words

Then [the LORD] saidוַיֹּ֣אמֶרH559Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singularto Abramלְאַבְרָ֗םH87Preposition-l | Noun - proper - masculine singularKnow for certainיָדֹ֨עַH3045Verb - Qal - Infinitive absolute. . .תֵּדַ֜עH3045Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine singularthatכִּי־H3588Conjunctionyour descendantsזַרְעֲךָ֗H2233Noun - masculine singular construct | second person masculine singularwill beיִהְיֶ֣הH1961Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singularstrangersגֵ֣ר׀H1616Noun - masculine singularin a landבְּאֶ֙רֶץ֙H776Preposition-b | Noun - feminine singularthat is notלֹ֣אH3808Adverb - Negative particletheir ownלָהֶ֔םPreposition | third person masculine pluraland they will be enslavedוַעֲבָד֖וּםH5647Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person common plural | third person masculine pluraland mistreatedוְעִנּ֣וּH6031Conjunctive waw | Verb - Piel - Conjunctive perfect - third person common plural-אֹתָ֑םH853Direct object marker | third person masculine pluralfourאַרְבַּ֥עH702Number - feminine singular constructhundredמֵא֖וֹתH3967Number - feminine pluralyearsשָׁנָֽה׃H8141Noun - feminine singular
Verse 14

Original words

Butוְגַ֧םH1571Conjunction-אֶת־H853Direct object markerIאָנֹ֑כִיH595Pronoun - first person common singularwill judgeדָּ֣ןH1777Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singularthe nationהַגּ֛וֹיH1471Article | Noun - masculine singular-אֲשֶׁ֥רH834Pronoun - relativethey serve as slavesיַעֲבֹ֖דוּH5647Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine pluraland afterwardוְאַחֲרֵי־H310Conjunctive waw | Preposition. . .כֵ֥ןH3651Adverbthey will departיֵצְא֖וּH3318Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine pluralwith manyגָּדֽוֹל׃H1419Adjective - masculine singularpossessionsבִּרְכֻ֥שׁH7399Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular

BSB notes

  • Cited in Acts 7:6–7
Verse 15

Original words

You, howeverוְאַתָּ֛הH859Conjunctive waw | Pronoun - second person masculine singularwill goתָּב֥וֹאH935Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine singulartoאֶל־H413Prepositionyour fathersאֲבֹתֶ֖יךָH1Noun - masculine plural construct | second person masculine singularin peaceבְּשָׁל֑וֹםH7965Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singularand be buriedתִּקָּבֵ֖רH6912Verb - Nifal - Imperfect - second person masculine singularat a ripe old ageבְּשֵׂיבָ֥הH7872Preposition-b | Noun - feminine singular. . .טוֹבָֽה׃H2896Adjective - feminine singular
Verse 16

Original words

In the fourthרְבִיעִ֖יH7243Number - ordinal masculine singulargenerationוְד֥וֹרH1755Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular[your descendants] will returnיָשׁ֣וּבוּH7725Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine pluralhereהֵ֑נָּהH2008Adverbforכִּ֧יH3588Conjunctionthe iniquityעֲוֺ֥ןH5771Noun - common singular constructof the Amoritesהָאֱמֹרִ֖יH567Article | Noun - proper - masculine singular[is] notלֹא־H3808Adverb - Negative particleyetעַד־H5704Preposition. . .הֵֽנָּה׃H2008Adverbcompleteשָׁלֵ֛םH8003Adjective - masculine singular
Verse 17

Original words

When the sunהַשֶּׁ֙מֶשׁ֙H8121Article | Noun - common singularhad setבָּ֔אָהH935Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person feminine singularand darknessוַעֲלָטָ֖הH5939Conjunctive waw | Noun - feminine singularhad fallenוַיְהִ֤יH1961Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular. . .הָיָ֑הH1961Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singularbeholdוְהִנֵּ֨הH2009Conjunctive waw | Interjectiona smokingעָשָׁן֙H6227Noun - masculine singularfirepotתַנּ֤וּרH8574Noun - common singular constructand a flamingאֵ֔שׁH784Noun - common singular-אֲשֶׁ֣רH834Pronoun - relativetorchוְלַפִּ֣ידH3940Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular constructappeared and passedעָבַ֔רH5674Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singularbetweenבֵּ֖יןH996Prepositionthe halvesהַגְּזָרִ֥יםH1506Article | Noun - masculine plural[of the carcasses]הָאֵֽלֶּה׃H428Article | Pronoun - common plural
Verse 18

Original words

On thatהַה֗וּאH1931Article | Pronoun - third person masculine singulardayבַּיּ֣וֹםH3117Preposition-b, Article | Noun - masculine singularthe LORDיְהוָ֛הH3068Noun - proper - masculine singularmadeכָּרַ֧תH3772Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singulara covenantבְּרִ֣יתH1285Noun - feminine singularwithאֶת־H854PrepositionAbramאַבְרָ֖םH87Noun - proper - masculine singularsayingלֵאמֹ֑רH559Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive constructTo your descendantsלְזַרְעֲךָ֗H2233Preposition-l | Noun - masculine singular construct | second person masculine singularI have givenנָתַ֙תִּי֙H5414Verb - Qal - Perfect - first person common singular-אֶת־H853Direct object markerthisהַזֹּ֔אתH2063Article | Pronoun - feminine singularlandהָאָ֣רֶץH776Article | Noun - feminine singularfrom the riverמִנְּהַ֣רH5104Preposition-m | Noun - masculine singular constructof Egyptמִצְרַ֔יִםH4714Noun - proper - feminine singulartoעַד־H5704Prepositionthe greatהַגָּדֹ֖לH1419Article | Adjective - masculine singularRiverהַנָּהָ֥רH5104Article | Noun - masculine singularEuphratesפְּרָֽת׃H6578Noun - proper - feminine singular. . .נְהַר־H5104Noun - masculine singular construct
Verse 19

Original words

-אֶת־H853Direct object markerthe land of the Kenitesהַקֵּינִי֙H7017Article | Noun - proper - masculine singular-וְאֶת־H853Conjunctive waw | Direct object markerKenizzitesהַקְּנִזִּ֔יH7074Article | Noun - proper - masculine singular-וְאֵ֖תH853Conjunctive waw | Direct object markerKadmonitesהַקַּדְמֹנִֽי׃H6935Article | Noun - proper - masculine singular
Verse 20

Original words

-וְאֶת־H853Conjunctive waw | Direct object markerHittitesהַחִתִּ֥יH2850Article | Noun - proper - masculine singular-וְאֶת־H853Conjunctive waw | Direct object markerPerizzitesהַפְּרִזִּ֖יH6522Article | Noun - proper - masculine singular-וְאֶת־H853Conjunctive waw | Direct object markerRephaitesהָרְפָאִֽים׃H7497Article | Noun - proper - masculine plural
Verse 21

Original words

-וְאֶת־H853Conjunctive waw | Direct object markerAmoritesהָֽאֱמֹרִי֙H567Article | Noun - proper - masculine singular-וְאֶת־H853Conjunctive waw | Direct object markerCanaanitesהַֽכְּנַעֲנִ֔יH3669Article | Noun - proper - masculine singular-וְאֶת־H853Conjunctive waw | Direct object markerGirgashitesהַגִּרְגָּשִׁ֖יH1622Article | Noun - proper - masculine singular-וְאֶת־H853Conjunctive waw | Direct object markerand Jebusitesהַיְבוּסִֽי׃סH2983Article | 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.