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class="vheadingv"><b>Verse</b><a href="/bsb/genesis/15.htm" class="clickchap" style="color:#001320" title="Click any translation name for full chapter">  (Click for Chapter)</a></div><div id="par"><span class="versiontext"><a href="/niv/genesis/15.htm">New International Version</a></span><br />Then birds of prey came down on the carcasses, but Abram drove them away.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nlt/genesis/15.htm">New Living Translation</a></span><br />Some vultures swooped down to eat the carcasses, but Abram chased them away.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/esv/genesis/15.htm">English Standard Version</a></span><br />And when birds of prey came down on the carcasses, Abram drove them away.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/bsb/genesis/15.htm">Berean Standard Bible</a></span><br />And the birds of prey descended on the carcasses, but Abram drove them away.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/kjv/genesis/15.htm">King James Bible</a></span><br />And when the fowls came down upon the carcases, Abram drove them away.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nkjv/genesis/15.htm">New King James Version</a></span><br />And when the vultures came down on the carcasses, Abram drove them away.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb_/genesis/15.htm">New American Standard Bible</a></span><br />And birds of prey came down upon the carcasses, and Abram drove them away.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb/genesis/15.htm">NASB 1995</a></span><br />The birds of prey came down upon the carcasses, and Abram drove them away.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb77/genesis/15.htm">NASB 1977 </a></span><br />And the birds of prey came down upon the carcasses, and Abram drove them away.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsb/genesis/15.htm">Legacy Standard Bible </a></span><br />Then the birds of prey came down upon the carcasses, and Abram drove them away.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/amp/genesis/15.htm">Amplified Bible</a></span><br />The birds of prey swooped down on the carcasses, but Abram drove them away.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/csb/genesis/15.htm">Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />Birds of prey came down on the carcasses, but Abram drove them away.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hcsb/genesis/15.htm">Holman Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />Birds of prey came down on the carcasses, but Abram drove them away. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/asv/genesis/15.htm">American Standard Version</a></span><br />And the birds of prey came down upon the carcasses, and Abram drove them away.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cev/genesis/15.htm">Contemporary English Version</a></span><br />And when birds came down to eat the animals, Abram chased them away. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/erv/genesis/15.htm">English Revised Version</a></span><br />And the birds of prey came down upon the carcases, and Abram drove them away.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gwt/genesis/15.htm">GOD'S WORD® Translation</a></span><br />When birds of prey came down upon the carcasses, Abram drove them away.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gnt/genesis/15.htm">Good News Translation</a></span><br />Vultures came down on the bodies, but Abram drove them off. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/isv/genesis/15.htm">International Standard Version</a></span><br />When birds of prey swooped down on the carcasses, Abram drove them away. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/msb/genesis/15.htm">Majority Standard Bible</a></span><br />And the birds of prey descended on the carcasses, but Abram drove them away.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/net/genesis/15.htm">NET Bible</a></span><br />When birds of prey came down on the carcasses, Abram drove them away. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nheb/genesis/15.htm">New Heart English Bible</a></span><br />And the birds of prey came down on the carcasses, but Abram drove them away.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/wbt/genesis/15.htm">Webster's Bible Translation</a></span><br />And when the fowls came down upon the carcases, Abram drove them away.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/web/genesis/15.htm">World English Bible</a></span><br />The birds of prey came down on the carcasses, and Abram drove them away. <div class="vheading2"><b>Literal Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsv/genesis/15.htm">Literal Standard Version</a></span><br />and the ravenous birds come down on the carcasses, and Abram causes them to turn back.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/ylt/genesis/15.htm">Young's Literal Translation</a></span><br /> and the ravenous birds come down upon the carcases, and Abram causeth them to turn back.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/slt/genesis/15.htm">Smith's Literal Translation</a></span><br />And the birds will come down upon the dead carcases, and Abram will drive them together.<div class="vheading2"><b>Catholic Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/drb/genesis/15.htm">Douay-Rheims Bible</a></span><br />And the fowls came down upon carcasses, and Abram drove them away. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cpdv/genesis/15.htm">Catholic Public Domain Version</a></span><br />And birds descended upon the carcasses, but Abram drove them away.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nabre/genesis/15.htm">New American Bible</a></span><br />Birds of prey swooped down on the carcasses, but Abram scared them away.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nrsvce/genesis/15.htm">New Revised Standard Version</a></span><br />And when birds of prey came down on the carcasses, Abram drove them away.<div class="vheading2"><b>Translations from Aramaic</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lamsa/genesis/15.htm">Lamsa Bible</a></span><br />And when the birds of prey came down upon the carcasses, Abram drove them away.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hpbt/genesis/15.htm">Peshitta Holy Bible Translated</a></span><br />And a bird of prey was descending on the carcasses and Abram was driving it off.<div class="vheading2"><b>OT Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/jps/genesis/15.htm">JPS Tanakh 1917</a></span><br />And the birds of prey came down upon the carcasses, and Abram drove them away.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/sep/genesis/15.htm">Brenton Septuagint Translation</a></span><br />And birds came down upon the bodies, <i>even</i> upon the divided parts of them, and Abram sat down by them.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/parallel/genesis/15-11.htm">Additional Translations ...</a></span></div></div></div><div id="centbox"><div class="padcent"><a name="audio" id="audio"></a><div class="vheadingv"><b>Audio Bible</b></div><iframe width="100%" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/7ehevn8iSgc?start=3199" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe><span class="p"><br /><br /><br /></span><div class="vheadingv"><b>Context</b></div><span class="hdg"><a href="/bsb/genesis/15.htm">God Confirms His Promise</a></span><br>…<span class="reftext">10</span>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. <span class="reftext">11</span><span class="highl"><a href="/hebrew/5861.htm" title="5861: hā·‘a·yiṭ (Art:: N-ms) -- A bird of prey. From iyt; a hawk or other bird of prey.">And the birds of prey</a> <a href="/hebrew/3381.htm" title="3381: way·yê·reḏ (Conj-w:: V-Qal-ConsecImperf-3ms) -- To come or go down, descend. ">descended</a> <a href="/hebrew/5921.htm" title="5921: ‘al- (Prep) -- Properly, the same as al used as a preposition; above, over, upon, or against in a great variety of applications.">on</a> <a href="/hebrew/6297.htm" title="6297: hap·pə·ḡā·rîm (Art:: N-mp) -- Corpse, carcass. From pagar; a carcase, whether of man or beast; figuratively, an idolatrous image.">the carcasses,</a> <a href="/hebrew/87.htm" title="87: ’aḇ·rām (N-proper-ms) -- Exalted father, the original name of Abraham. Contracted from 'Abiyram; high father; Abram, the original name of Abraham.">but Abram</a> <a href="/hebrew/5380.htm" title="5380: way·yaš·šêḇ (Conj-w:: V-Hifil-ConsecImperf-3ms) -- To blow. A primitive root; to blow; by implication, to disperse.">drove them away.</a> <a href="/hebrew/853.htm" title="853: ’ō·ṯām (DirObjM:: 3mp) -- Apparent contracted from 'owth in the demonstrative sense of entity; properly, self."></a> </span><span class="reftext">12</span>As the sun was setting, Abram fell into a deep sleep, and suddenly great terror and darkness overwhelmed him.…<div class="cred"><a href="//berean.bible">Berean Standard Bible</a> · <a href="//berean.bible/downloads.htm">Download</a></div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="crossref" id="crossref"></a><div class="vheading">Cross References</div><div id="crf"><span class="crossverse"><a href="/matthew/13-4.htm">Matthew 13:4</a></span><br />And as he was sowing, some seed fell along the path, and the birds came and devoured it.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/mark/4-4.htm">Mark 4:4</a></span><br />And as he was sowing, some seed fell along the path, and the birds came and devoured it.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/luke/8-5.htm">Luke 8:5</a></span><br />“A farmer went out to sow his seed. And as he was sowing, some seed fell along the path, where it was trampled, and the birds of the air devoured it.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/jeremiah/34-18.htm">Jeremiah 34:18-20</a></span><br />And those who have transgressed My covenant and have not fulfilled the terms of the covenant they made before Me, I will treat like the calf they cut in two in order to pass between its pieces. / The officials of Judah and Jerusalem, the court officials, the priests, and all the people of the land who passed between the pieces of the calf, / I will deliver into the hands of their enemies who seek their lives. Their corpses will become food for the birds of the air and the beasts of the earth.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/1_samuel/17-44.htm">1 Samuel 17:44-46</a></span><br />“Come here,” he called to David, “and I will give your flesh to the birds of the air and the beasts of the field!” / But David said to the Philistine, “You come against me with sword and spear and javelin, but I come against you in the name of the LORD of Hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. / This day the LORD will deliver you into my hand. This day I will strike you down, cut off your head, and give the carcasses of the Philistine army to the birds of the air and the creatures of the earth. Then the whole world will know that there is a God in Israel.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/ezekiel/39-17.htm">Ezekiel 39:17-20</a></span><br />And as for you, son of man, this is what the Lord GOD says: Call out to every kind of bird and to every beast of the field: ‘Assemble and come together from all around to the sacrificial feast that I am preparing for you, a great feast on the mountains of Israel. There you will eat flesh and drink blood. / You will eat the flesh of the mighty and drink the blood of the princes of the earth as though they were rams, lambs, goats, and bulls—all the fattened animals of Bashan. / At the sacrifice I am preparing, you will eat fat until you are gorged and drink blood until you are drunk. ...<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/deuteronomy/28-26.htm">Deuteronomy 28:26</a></span><br />Your corpses will be food for all the birds of the air and beasts of the earth, with no one to scare them away.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/isaiah/18-5.htm">Isaiah 18:5-6</a></span><br />For before the harvest, when the blossom is gone and the flower becomes a ripening grape, He will cut off the shoots with a pruning knife and remove and discard the branches. / They will all be left to the mountain birds of prey, and to the beasts of the land. The birds will feed on them in summer, and all the wild animals in winter.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/revelation/19-17.htm">Revelation 19:17-18</a></span><br />Then I saw an angel standing in the sun, and he cried out in a loud voice to all the birds flying overhead, “Come, gather together for the great supper of God, / so that you may eat the flesh of kings and commanders and mighty men, of horses and riders, of everyone slave and free, small and great.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/hosea/9-11.htm">Hosea 9:11-13</a></span><br />Ephraim’s glory will fly away like a bird, with no birth, no pregnancy, and no conception. / Even if they raise their children, I will bereave them of each one. Yes, woe be to them when I turn away from them! / I have seen Ephraim, like Tyre, planted in a meadow. But Ephraim will bring out his children for slaughter.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/1_kings/14-11.htm">1 Kings 14:11</a></span><br />Anyone belonging to Jeroboam who dies in the city will be eaten by dogs, and anyone who dies in the field will be eaten by the birds of the air.’ For the LORD has spoken.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/2_kings/9-36.htm">2 Kings 9:36-37</a></span><br />So they went back and told Jehu, who replied, “This is the word of the LORD, which He spoke through His servant Elijah the Tishbite: ‘On the plot of ground at Jezreel the dogs will devour the flesh of Jezebel. / And Jezebel’s body will lie like dung in the field on the plot of ground at Jezreel, so that no one can say: This is Jezebel.’”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/job/39-30.htm">Job 39:30</a></span><br />His young ones feast on blood; and where the slain are, there he is.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/psalms/79-2.htm">Psalm 79:2</a></span><br />They have given the corpses of Your servants as food to the birds of the air, the flesh of Your saints to the beasts of the earth.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/isaiah/56-9.htm">Isaiah 56:9</a></span><br />Come, all you beasts of the field; eat greedily, all you beasts of the forest.</div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="tsk" id="tsk"><div class="vheading">Treasury of Scripture</div><p class="tsk2">And when the fowls came down on the carcasses, Abram drove them away.</p><p class="hdg">fowls.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/ezekiel/17-3.htm">Ezekiel 17:3,7</a></b></br> And say, Thus saith the Lord GOD; A great eagle with great wings, longwinged, full of feathers, which had divers colours, came unto Lebanon, and took the highest branch of the cedar: … </p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/matthew/13-4.htm">Matthew 13:4</a></b></br> And when he sowed, some <i>seeds</i> fell by the way side, and the fowls came and devoured them up:</p><p class="hdg">Abram.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/psalms/119-13.htm">Psalm 119:13</a></b></br> With my lips have I declared all the judgments of thy mouth.</p><div class="vheading">Jump to Previous</div><a href="/genesis/15-10.htm">Abram</a> <a href="/genesis/15-10.htm">Birds</a> <a href="/revelation/18-13.htm">Bodies</a> <a href="/hebrews/3-17.htm">Carcases</a> <a href="/hebrews/3-17.htm">Carcasses</a> <a href="/genesis/8-20.htm">Causeth</a> <a href="/genesis/3-24.htm">Drove</a> <a href="/genesis/13-13.htm">Evil</a> <a href="/genesis/7-8.htm">Fowls</a> <a href="/colossians/2-8.htm">Prey</a> <a href="/matthew/7-15.htm">Ravenous</a> <a href="/jeremiah/14-9.htm">Scared</a> <a href="/genesis/14-7.htm">Turn</a><div class="vheading2">Jump to Next</div><a href="/genesis/15-12.htm">Abram</a> <a href="/genesis/40-17.htm">Birds</a> <a href="/genesis/15-17.htm">Bodies</a> <a href="/leviticus/26-30.htm">Carcases</a> <a href="/leviticus/5-2.htm">Carcasses</a> <a href="/genesis/21-19.htm">Causeth</a> <a href="/genesis/31-18.htm">Drove</a> <a href="/genesis/18-20.htm">Evil</a> <a href="/leviticus/1-14.htm">Fowls</a> <a href="/genesis/34-29.htm">Prey</a> <a href="/genesis/49-27.htm">Ravenous</a> <a href="/genesis/20-8.htm">Scared</a> <a href="/genesis/15-16.htm">Turn</a><div class="vheading2">Genesis 15</div><span class="reftext">1. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/genesis/15-1.htm">God encourages Abram, who asks for an heir.</a></span><br><span class="reftext">4. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/genesis/15-4.htm">God promises him a son, and a multiplying of his seed.</a></span><br><span class="reftext">6. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/genesis/15-6.htm">Abram is justified by faith.</a></span><br><span class="reftext">7. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/genesis/15-7.htm">Canaan is promised again, </a></span><br><span class="reftext">9. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/genesis/15-9.htm">and confirmed by a sign, and a vision,</a></span><br><span class="reftext">18. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/genesis/15-18.htm">prophetic of the condition of his posterity till brought out of Egypt.</a></span><br></div></div><div id="mdd"><div align="center"><div class="bot2"><table align="center" width="100%"><tr><td><div align="center"> <script id="3d27ed63fc4348d5b062c4527ae09445"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=51ce25d5-1a8c-424a-8695-4bd48c750f35&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; 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The presence of these birds in the narrative signifies a threat to the covenant ceremony that Abram is conducting. This imagery can be connected to the spiritual warfare that believers face, as seen in <a href="/ephesians/6-12.htm">Ephesians 6:12</a>, where spiritual forces oppose God's plans. The carcasses represent the sacrificial animals Abram laid out as part of a covenant ritual, a common practice in ancient times to seal agreements. This act foreshadows the sacrificial system later established in the Mosaic Law and ultimately points to the sacrifice of Jesus Christ, the fulfillment of God's covenant with humanity.<p><b>but Abram drove them away</b><br>Abram's action of driving away the birds demonstrates his active participation in safeguarding the covenant process. This reflects the believer's role in maintaining faith and resisting spiritual opposition, as encouraged in <a href="/james/4-7.htm">James 4:7</a>, "Resist the devil, and he will flee from you." Abram's vigilance is a testament to his faith and commitment to God's promises. This act also prefigures the protective role of Christ, who intercedes for believers and ensures the fulfillment of God's promises, as seen in <a href="/hebrews/7-25.htm">Hebrews 7:25</a>. Abram's determination to protect the covenant ceremony underscores the importance of perseverance in faith and the active role believers must take in their spiritual journey.<div class="vheading2">Persons / Places / Events</div>1. <b><a href="/topical/a/abram.htm">Abram (Abraham)</a></b><br>The central figure in this passage, Abram is later renamed Abraham by God. He is a key patriarch in the Bible, known for his faith and obedience to God. In this context, he is in the midst of a covenant ceremony with God.<br><br>2. <b><a href="/topical/b/birds_of_prey.htm">Birds of Prey</a></b><br>These represent obstacles or threats to the covenant ceremony. In the ancient Near East, birds of prey often symbolized evil or demonic forces.<br><br>3. <b><a href="/topical/t/the_carcasses.htm">The Carcasses</a></b><br>These are the animal sacrifices that Abram prepared as part of the covenant ritual with God. The animals were cut in half, a common practice in ancient covenant-making.<br><br>4. <b><a href="/topical/c/covenant_ceremony.htm">Covenant Ceremony</a></b><br>This event is a pivotal moment where God makes a covenant with Abram, promising him numerous descendants and land.<br><br>5. <b><a href="/topical/t/the_land_of_canaan.htm">The Land of Canaan</a></b><br>Although not directly mentioned in this verse, the land is part of the promise God makes to Abram in this chapter.<div class="vheading2">Teaching Points</div><b><a href="/topical/f/faith_in_action.htm">Faith in Action</a></b><br>Abram's act of driving away the birds of prey demonstrates his active participation in God's covenant. Faith often requires us to take action to protect and nurture what God has promised us.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/s/spiritual_warfare.htm">Spiritual Warfare</a></b><br>The birds of prey symbolize spiritual attacks or distractions that can threaten our relationship with God. Like Abram, we must be vigilant and proactive in defending our spiritual commitments.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/c/covenant_commitment.htm">Covenant Commitment</a></b><br>The preparation and protection of the sacrifices highlight the seriousness of covenant relationships. Our commitments to God should be treated with reverence and dedication.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/d/divine_promises.htm">Divine Promises</a></b><br>God's promises to Abram remind us of His faithfulness. We can trust that God will fulfill His promises, even when obstacles arise.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/p/perseverance_in_faith.htm">Perseverance in Faith</a></b><br>Abram's perseverance in the face of potential disruption teaches us the importance of steadfastness in our faith journey.<div class="vheading2">Lists and Questions</div><a href="/top10/lessons_from_genesis_15.htm">Top 10 Lessons from Genesis 15</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/why_is_the_bible_important.htm">What do vultures represent in the Bible?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/what_foods_are_mentioned_in_the_bible.htm">What foods are mentioned in the Bible?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/how_do_ravens_doves_survive_in_the_flood.htm">In Genesis 8:7-9, how do ravens and doves survive and find food and rest if the land was still mostly flooded?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/what_does_amos_teach_about_justice.htm">What does 'ceremonially unclean' mean?</a><a name="commentary" id="commentary"></a><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/ellicott/genesis/15.htm">Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers</a></div>(11) <span class= "bld">And when the fowls . . . --</span>Heb., <span class= "ital">And the birds of prey came down upon the carcases, and Abram scared them away. </span>Had there been a sacrifice the fire would have kept the vultures from approaching; but the bodies lay exposed, and Abram therefore kept guard over them, lest the purpose of the ceremonial should be frustrated by any want of respect shown to the outward symbols.<p><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/pulpit/genesis/15.htm">Pulpit Commentary</a></div><span class="cmt_sub_title">Verse 11.</span> - <span class="cmt_word">And when the fowls</span> - literally, <span class="accented">and the bird of prey</span>, a collective singular with the article, as in <a href="/genesis/14-13.htm">Genesis 14:13</a>, symbolizing the Egyptians and other adversaries of Israel, as in <a href="/ezekiel/17-3.htm">Ezekiel 17:3, 7, 12</a>; <a href="/ezekiel/39-4.htm">Ezekiel 39:4, 17</a>; <a href="/revelation/19-17.htm">Revelation 19:17, 18</a> (Knobel, Rosenmüller, Lunge, Keil, Kalisch), which may be regarded as probable if the divided victims represented Israel in affliction, which is doubtful (<span class="accented">vide supra</span>). It does not appear necessary to attach any special significance to the descent of the vultures, which are always attracted towards carrion, and the introduction of which here completes the naturalness of the scene - <span class="cmt_word">came down upon the caresses</span> (the LXX. interpolates, <span class="greek">ἐπὶ τὰ διχοτομήματα</span>)<span class="accented">, <span class="cmt_word"></span>Abram drove them away.</span> Literally, <span class="accented">caused them to be blown away, i.e.</span> by blowing. "Though Abram is here represented as the instrument, yet the effect is to be ascribed primarily to the tutelar agency of omnipotence" (Bush; cf. <a href="/exodus/15-10.htm">Exodus 15:10</a>; <a href="/ezekiel/21-31.htm">Ezekiel 21:31</a>). The act of scaring the voracious birds has been taken to represent the ease with which Abram or Israel would ward off his enemies (Jonathan, Targums, Rosenmüller, Bush); the averting of destruction from the Israelites through Abram's merit (Kalisch, Keil); Abram's religious regard for and observance of God's treaty (Wordsworth); the patriarch's expectation that God was about to employ the sacrificial victims for some holy purpose (Alford); simply his anxiety to preserve the victims pure and un-mutilated for whatever end they might have to serve (Murphy). <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/commentaries/genesis/15-11.htm">Parallel Commentaries ...</a></span><span class="p"><br /><br /><br /></span><a name="lexicon" id="lexicon"></a><div class="vheading">Hebrew</div><span class="word">And the birds of prey</span><br /><span class="heb">הָעַ֖יִט</span> <span class="translit">(hā·‘a·yiṭ)</span><br /><span class="parse">Article | Noun - masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_5861.htm">Strong's 5861: </a> </span><span class="str2">A hawk, other bird of prey</span><br /><br /><span class="word">descended</span><br /><span class="heb">וַיֵּ֥רֶד</span> <span class="translit">(way·yê·reḏ)</span><br /><span class="parse">Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_3381.htm">Strong's 3381: </a> </span><span class="str2">To come or go down, descend</span><br /><br /><span class="word">on</span><br /><span class="heb">עַל־</span> <span class="translit">(‘al-)</span><br /><span class="parse">Preposition<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_5921.htm">Strong's 5921: </a> </span><span class="str2">Above, over, upon, against</span><br /><br /><span class="word">the carcasses,</span><br /><span class="heb">הַפְּגָרִ֑ים</span> <span class="translit">(hap·pə·ḡā·rîm)</span><br /><span class="parse">Article | Noun - masculine plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_6297.htm">Strong's 6297: </a> </span><span class="str2">A carcase, an idolatrous image</span><br /><br /><span class="word">but Abram</span><br /><span class="heb">אַבְרָֽם׃</span> <span class="translit">(’aḇ·rām)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - proper - masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_87.htm">Strong's 87: </a> </span><span class="str2">Abram -- 'exalted father', the original name of Abraham</span><br /><br /><span class="word">drove them away.</span><br /><span class="heb">וַיַּשֵּׁ֥ב</span> <span class="translit">(way·yaš·šêḇ)</span><br /><span class="parse">Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_5380.htm">Strong's 5380: </a> </span><span class="str2">To blow, to disperse</span><br /><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><div class="vheading">Links</div><a href="/niv/genesis/15-11.htm">Genesis 15:11 NIV</a><br /><a href="/nlt/genesis/15-11.htm">Genesis 15:11 NLT</a><br /><a href="/esv/genesis/15-11.htm">Genesis 15:11 ESV</a><br /><a href="/nasb/genesis/15-11.htm">Genesis 15:11 NASB</a><br /><a href="/kjv/genesis/15-11.htm">Genesis 15:11 KJV</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="//bibleapps.com/genesis/15-11.htm">Genesis 15:11 BibleApps.com</a><br /><a href="//bibliaparalela.com/genesis/15-11.htm">Genesis 15:11 Biblia Paralela</a><br /><a href="//holybible.com.cn/genesis/15-11.htm">Genesis 15:11 Chinese Bible</a><br /><a href="//saintebible.com/genesis/15-11.htm">Genesis 15:11 French Bible</a><br /><a href="/catholic/genesis/15-11.htm">Genesis 15:11 Catholic Bible</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/genesis/15-11.htm">OT Law: Genesis 15:11 The birds of prey came down (Gen. Ge Gn)</a></div></div></td></tr></table></div><div id="left"><a href="/genesis/15-10.htm" onmouseover='lft.src="/leftgif.png"' onmouseout='lft.src="/left.png"' title="Genesis 15:10"><img src="/left.png" name="lft" border="0" alt="Genesis 15:10" /></a></div><div id="right"><a href="/genesis/15-12.htm" onmouseover='rght.src="/rightgif.png"' onmouseout='rght.src="/right.png"' title="Genesis 15:12"><img src="/right.png" name="rght" border="0" alt="Genesis 15:12" /></a></div><div id="botleft"><a href="#" onmouseover='botleft.src="/botleftgif.png"' onmouseout='botleft.src="/botleft.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botleft.png" name="botleft" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="botright"><a href="#" onmouseover='botright.src="/botrightgif.png"' onmouseout='botright.src="/botright.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botright.png" name="botright" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="bot"><iframe width="100%" height="1500" scrolling="no" src="/botmenubhnew2.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></div></td></tr></table></div></body></html>