Hebrew Form Guide

הָאָ֣רֶץ (hā·’ā·reṣ) in Genesis 15:18: Article | Noun - feminine singular

הָאָ֣רֶץ (hā·’ā·reṣ) in Genesis 15:18

Source Word

הָאָ֣רֶץhā·’ā·reṣArticle | Noun - feminine singular

At Genesis 15:18, the source token הָאָ֣רֶץ is H776, Art | N-fs. The BSB+ word table row therefore anchors this guide.

How The Form Affects Interpretation

Land reflects the definite feminine singular noun, while this is supplied by the larger deictic construction and context. The Lord binds himself by covenant to give Abram's descendants a defined land, answering the earlier question about inheritance.

How To Communicate It

Start with the definite territorial gift and then read the boundaries within Genesis rather than importing a current map into the article.

What Not To Say

  • Grammatical form should serve context, not override it.
  • Do not use the article or singular noun as a shortcut to adjudicate modern geopolitical boundaries or ethics.
  • Interpretation of the named river boundaries requires geographic and canonical study beyond this noun morphology.
  • Read land within Genesis 15:18 as this H776 occurrence; broader theology requires the passage.

What Does The Label Mean?

Profile

Hebrew-nominal

Part of Speech

Noun

Form Label

Article | Noun - feminine singular

Stem

Not applicable

Aspect

Not applicable

Person

Not applicable

Gender

Feminine

Number

Singular

State

Not applicable

Attached Prefixes

Article

Suffix

None

Aspect Note

This definite noun identifies the covenant gift; the perfect giving verb frames the promise as pledged certainty.

Verse Role

The article marks the feminine singular noun as definite, and the following boundary phrase gives the land concrete narrative scope.

What The Form Does In This Verse

Attached To

The territory God identifies within the covenant promise to Abram's descendants

Governed By

The covenant-making declaration and the river-to-river boundary description

Role In The Phrase

The article makes land definite as the promised territory further specified by this and the named boundaries.

What It Is Not Doing

The noun form alone does not settle modern borders, present political claims, or every stage of covenant fulfillment.

How Much The Form Matters Here

Interpretive Weight

High: The Lord binds himself by covenant to give Abram's descendants a defined land, answering the earlier question about inheritance.

Syntax Profile

The article marks the feminine singular noun as definite, and the following boundary phrase gives the land concrete narrative scope.. The article makes land definite as the promised territory further specified by this and the named boundaries.. Attached to the territory God identifies within the covenant promise to Abram's descendants. Governed by the covenant-making declaration and the river-to-river boundary description. The noun form alone does not settle modern borders, present political claims, or every stage of covenant fulfillment.

Reader Question

What makes land definite in this covenant statement? The article, the demonstrative sense in translation, and the river boundaries identify a specific promised territory.

Translation Effect

Direct: Land reflects the definite feminine singular noun, while this is supplied by the larger deictic construction and context.

Where Caution Is Needed

Interpretation of the named river boundaries requires geographic and canonical study beyond this noun morphology. The perfect I have given expresses pledged certainty, but this occurrence is the noun naming what is given.

Fallacies To Avoid

Definite article resolves modern borders: Definiteness identifies the promised land in the ancient covenant statement; contemporary application requires much more. concrete promise erases canonical development: The territorial gift is real, and its place in the whole biblical story must still be traced responsibly.

How The Interpretation Is Derived

Textual Witness

At Genesis 15:18, the source token הָאָ֣רֶץ is H776, Art | N-fs. The BSB+ word table row therefore anchors this guide.

Lexical Identity

אֶרֶץ is the lemma behind land here. Within Genesis 15:18, H776 retains this exact lexical identity.

Grammar In Context

The article marks the feminine singular noun as definite, and the following boundary phrase gives the land concrete narrative scope.

Passage Meaning

The Lord binds himself by covenant to give Abram's descendants a defined land, answering the earlier question about inheritance.

Canonical Fit

The land promise is concrete and covenantal, while its historical and theological fulfillment must be traced across the whole canon.

Communication Use

Start with the definite territorial gift and then read the boundaries within Genesis rather than importing a current map into the article.

Do Not Derive

Do not use the article or singular noun as a shortcut to adjudicate modern geopolitical boundaries or ethics.