Genesis 15
God's Covenant with Abram
1 After these things the word of the LORD came unto Abram in a vision, saying, Fear not, Abram: I am thy shield, and thy exceeding great reward.
2 And Abram said, Lord GOD, what wilt thou give me, seeing I go childless, and the steward of my house is this Eliezer of Damascus?
3 And Abram said, Behold, to me thou hast given no seed: and, lo, one born in my house is mine heir.
4 And, behold, the word of the LORD came unto him, saying, This shall not be thine heir; but he that shall come forth out of thine own bowels shall be thine heir.
5 And he brought him forth abroad, and said, Look now toward heaven, and tell the stars, if thou be able to number them: and he said unto him, So shall thy seed be. Parallel theme: Genesis 12:2, 22:17, Exodus 32:13, Deuteronomy 1:10, 10:22, 1 Chronicles 27:23, Psalms 147:4, Jeremiah 33:22, Romans 4:18, Hebrews 11:12 +5
6 And he believed in the LORD; and he counted it to him for righteousness. Faith: Romans 4:9, 4:11, Hebrews 11:8, James 2:23. Righteousness: Psalms 106:31
7 And he said unto him, I am the LORDLord: יְהוָה / אֲדֹנָי (YHWH / Adonai). When 'LORD' appears in small capitals, it represents the Tetragrammaton YHWH (יְהוָה), God's personal covenant name meaning 'I AM.' When 'Lord' appears normally, it's Adonai (אֲדֹנָי), meaning 'my Lord,' emphasizing sovereignty. that brought thee out of Ur of the Chaldees, to give thee this land to inherit it. References Lord: Genesis 12:1. Parallel theme: Psalms 105:42, 105:44, Romans 4:13
8 And he said, Lord GOD, whereby shall I know that I shall inherit it?
9 And he said unto him, Take me an heifer of three years old, and a she goat of three years old, and a ram of three years old, and a turtledove, and a young pigeon.
10 And he took unto him all these, and divided them in the midst, and laid each piece one against another: but the birds divided he not. Parallel theme: Leviticus 1:17
11 And when the fowls came down upon the carcases, Abram drove them away. Parallel theme: Matthew 13:4
12 And when the sun was going down, a deep sleep fell upon Abram; and, lo, an horror of great darkness fell upon him.
13 And he said unto Abram, Know of a surety that thy seed shall be a stranger in a land that is not their's, and shall serve them; and they shall afflict them four hundred years; Parallel theme: Exodus 1:11, Leviticus 19:34, Acts 7:17, Galatians 3:17
14 And also that nation, whom they shall serve, will I judge: and afterward shall they come out with great substance. Judgment: Psalms 135:14. Parallel theme: Deuteronomy 4:20, 6:22, Joshua 24:17, 1 Samuel 12:8
15 And thou shalt go to thy fathers in peace; thou shalt be buried in a good old age. Peace: 2 Chronicles 34:28. Good: 1 Chronicles 29:28. Parallel theme: Genesis 49:29, Numbers 27:13, Judges 2:10, Job 5:26, 42:17, Ecclesiastes 12:7, Daniel 12:13, Acts 13:36 +5
16 But in the fourth generation they shall come hither again: for the iniquity of the Amorites is not yet full.
17 And it came to pass, that, when the sun went down, and it was dark, behold a smoking furnace, and a burning lamp that passed between those pieces.
18 In the same day the LORD made a covenant with Abram, saying, Unto thy seed have I given this land, from the river of Egypt unto the great river, the river Euphrates: Covenant: Nehemiah 9:8, Hebrews 13:20. References Lord: Genesis 12:7, 24:7, Isaiah 27:12. References Egypt: Numbers 34:5. Parallel theme: Genesis 13:15, 26:4, Exodus 23:23, Deuteronomy 11:24 +5
19 The Kenites, and the Kenizzites, and the Kadmonites,
20 And the Hittites, and the Perizzites, and the Rephaims,
21 And the Amorites, and the Canaanites, and the Girgashites, and the Jebusites.