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Genesis 15:4 Then the word of the LORD came to Abram, saying, "This one will not be your heir, but one who comes from your own body will be your heir."
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your very own son shall be your heir.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/bsb/genesis/15.htm">Berean Standard Bible</a></span><br />Then the word of the LORD came to Abram, saying, “This one will not be your heir, but one who comes from your own body will be your heir.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/kjv/genesis/15.htm">King James Bible</a></span><br />And, behold, the word of the LORD <i>came</i> unto him, saying, This shall not be thine heir; but he that shall come forth out of thine own bowels shall be thine heir.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nkjv/genesis/15.htm">New King James Version</a></span><br />And behold, the word of the LORD <i>came</i> to him, saying, “This one shall not be your heir, but one who will come from your own body shall be your heir.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb_/genesis/15.htm">New American Standard Bible</a></span><br />Then behold, the word of the LORD came to him, saying, “This man will not be your heir; but one who will come from your own body shall be your heir.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb/genesis/15.htm">NASB 1995</a></span><br />Then behold, the word of the LORD came to him, saying, “This man will not be your heir; but one who will come forth from your own body, he shall be your heir.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb77/genesis/15.htm">NASB 1977 </a></span><br />Then behold, the word of the LORD came to him, saying, “This man will not be your heir; but one who shall come forth from your own body, he shall be your heir.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsb/genesis/15.htm">Legacy Standard Bible </a></span><br />Then behold, the word of Yahweh came to him, saying, “This one will not be your heir; but one who will come forth from your own body, he shall be your heir.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/amp/genesis/15.htm">Amplified Bible</a></span><br />Then behold, the word of the LORD came to him, saying, “This man [Eliezer] will not be your heir but he who shall come from your own body shall be your heir.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/csb/genesis/15.htm">Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />Now the word of the LORD came to him: “This one will not be your heir; instead, one who comes from your own body will be your heir.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hcsb/genesis/15.htm">Holman Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />Now the word of the LORD came to him: “This one will not be your heir; instead, one who comes from your own body will be your heir.” <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/asv/genesis/15.htm">American Standard Version</a></span><br />And, behold, the word of Jehovah came unto him, saying, This man shall not be thine heir; but he that shall come forth out of thine own bowels shall be thine heir.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cev/genesis/15.htm">Contemporary English Version</a></span><br />The LORD replied, "No, he won't! You will have a son of your own, and everything you have will be his." <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/erv/genesis/15.htm">English Revised Version</a></span><br />And, behold, the word of the LORD came unto him, saying, This man shall not be thine heir; but he that shall come forth out of thine own bowels shall be thine heir.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gwt/genesis/15.htm">GOD'S WORD® Translation</a></span><br />Suddenly, the LORD spoke his word to Abram again. He said, "This man will not be your heir. Your own son will be your heir."<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gnt/genesis/15.htm">Good News Translation</a></span><br />Then he heard the LORD speaking to him again: "This slave Eliezer will not inherit your property; your own son will be your heir." <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/isv/genesis/15.htm">International Standard Version</a></span><br />A message came from the LORD to him again: "This one will not be your heir. Instead, the child who will be born to you will be your heir." <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/msb/genesis/15.htm">Majority Standard Bible</a></span><br />Then the word of the LORD came to Abram, saying, ?This one will not be your heir, but one who comes from your own body will be your heir.?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/net/genesis/15.htm">NET Bible</a></span><br />But look, the word of the LORD came to him: "This man will not be your heir, but instead a son who comes from your own body will be your heir."<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nheb/genesis/15.htm">New Heart English Bible</a></span><br />And look, the word of God came to him, saying, "This man will not be your heir, but he who will come forth out of your own body will be your heir."<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/wbt/genesis/15.htm">Webster's Bible Translation</a></span><br />And behold, the word of the LORD came to him, saying, This shall not be thy heir; but he that shall come forth out of thy own bowels shall be thy heir.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/web/genesis/15.htm">World English Bible</a></span><br />Behold, Yahweh’s word came to him, saying, “This man will not be your heir, but he who will come out of your own body will be your heir.” <div class="vheading2"><b>Literal Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsv/genesis/15.htm">Literal Standard Version</a></span><br />And behold, the word of YHWH [is] to him, saying, “This [one] will not be your heir; but he who comes out from your bowels, he will be your heir”;<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/ylt/genesis/15.htm">Young's Literal Translation</a></span><br /> And lo, the word of Jehovah is unto him, saying, 'This one doth not heir thee; but he who cometh out from thy bowels, he doth heir thee;'<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/slt/genesis/15.htm">Smith's Literal Translation</a></span><br />And behold, the word of Jehovah was to him, saying, This shall not inherit thee, for truly he who shall come forth from thy bowels shall inherit thee.<div class="vheading2"><b>Catholic Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/drb/genesis/15.htm">Douay-Rheims Bible</a></span><br />And immediately the word of the Lord came to him, saying: He shall not be thy heir: but he that shall come out of thy bowels, him shalt thou have for thy heir. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cpdv/genesis/15.htm">Catholic Public Domain Version</a></span><br />And immediately the word of the Lord came to him, saying: “This one will not be your heir. But he who will come from your loins, the same will you have for your heir.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nabre/genesis/15.htm">New American Bible</a></span><br />Then the word of the LORD came to him: No, that one will not be your heir; your own offspring will be your heir.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nrsvce/genesis/15.htm">New Revised Standard Version</a></span><br />But the word of the LORD came to him, “This man shall not be your heir; no one but your very own issue shall be your heir.”<div class="vheading2"><b>Translations from Aramaic</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lamsa/genesis/15.htm">Lamsa Bible</a></span><br />Then the LORD said to him, This man shall not be your heir; but your own son that shall come out of your own loins shall be your heir.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hpbt/genesis/15.htm">Peshitta Holy Bible Translated</a></span><br />And LORD JEHOVAH said to him: “This shall not be your heir, but your son who proceeds from your loins, he will be your heir.”<div class="vheading2"><b>OT Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/jps/genesis/15.htm">JPS Tanakh 1917</a></span><br />And, behold, the word of the LORD came unto him, saying: 'This man shall not be thine heir; but he that shall come forth out of thine own bowels shall be thine heir.'<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/sep/genesis/15.htm">Brenton Septuagint Translation</a></span><br />And immediately there was a voice of the Lord to him, saying, This shall not be thine heir; but he that shall come out of thee shall be thine heir.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/parallel/genesis/15-4.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=3136" 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's Covenant with Abram</a></span><br>…<span class="reftext">3</span>Abram continued, “Behold, You have given me no offspring, so a servant in my household will be my heir.” <span class="reftext">4</span><span class="highl"><a href="/hebrew/2009.htm" title="2009: wə·hin·nêh (Conj-w:: Interjection) -- Lo! behold! Prolongation for hen; lo!">Then</a> <a href="/hebrew/1697.htm" title="1697: ḏə·ḇar- (N-msc) -- Speech, word. From dabar; a word; by implication, a matter or thing; adverbially, a cause.">the word</a> <a href="/hebrew/3068.htm" title="3068: Yah·weh (N-proper-ms) -- The proper name of the God of Israel. From hayah; self-Existent or Eternal; Jehovah, Jewish national name of God.">of the LORD</a> <a href="/hebrew/413.htm" title="413: ’ê·lāw (Prep:: 3ms) -- To, into, towards. ">came to Abram,</a> <a href="/hebrew/559.htm" title="559: lê·mōr (Prep-l:: V-Qal-Inf) -- To utter, say. A primitive root; to say.">saying,</a> <a href="/hebrew/2088.htm" title="2088: zeh (Pro-ms) -- This, here. A primitive word; the masculine demonstrative pronoun, this or that.">“This</a> <a href="/hebrew/3808.htm" title="3808: lō (Adv-NegPrt) -- Not. Or lowi; or loh; a primitive particle; not; by implication, no; often used with other particles.">one will not</a> <a href="/hebrew/3423.htm" title="3423: yî·rā·šə·ḵā (V-Qal-Imperf-3ms:: 2ms) -- Or yaresh; a primitive root; to occupy; by implication, to seize, to rob, to inherit; also to expel, to impoverish, to ruin.">be your heir,</a> <a href="/hebrew/3588.htm" title="3588: kî- (Conj) -- That, for, when. ">but</a> <a href="/hebrew/518.htm" title="518: ’im (Conj) -- If. A primitive particle; used very widely as demonstrative, lo!"></a> <a href="/hebrew/1931.htm" title="1931: hū (Pro-3ms) -- He, she, it. ">one</a> <a href="/hebrew/834.htm" title="834: ’ă·šer (Pro-r) -- Who, which, that. A primitive relative pronoun; who, which, what, that; also when, where, how, because, in order that, etc.">who</a> <a href="/hebrew/3318.htm" title="3318: yê·ṣê (V-Qal-Imperf-3ms) -- A primitive root; to go out, in a great variety of applications, literally and figuratively, direct and proxim.">comes from</a> <a href="/hebrew/4578.htm" title="4578: mim·mê·‘e·ḵā (Prep-m:: N-mpc:: 2ms) -- Internal organs, inward parts, belly. ">your own body</a> <a href="/hebrew/3423.htm" title="3423: yî·rā·še·ḵā (V-Qal-Imperf-3ms:: 2ms) -- Or yaresh; a primitive root; to occupy; by implication, to seize, to rob, to inherit; also to expel, to impoverish, to ruin.">will be your heir.”</a> </span><span class="reftext">5</span>And the LORD took him outside and said, “Now look to the heavens and count the stars, if you are able.” Then He told him, “So shall your offspring be.”…<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="/romans/4-13.htm">Romans 4:13-18</a></span><br />For the promise to Abraham and his offspring that he would be heir of the world was not given through the law, but through the righteousness that comes by faith. / For if those who live by the law are heirs, faith is useless and the promise is worthless, / because the law brings wrath. And where there is no law, there is no transgression. ...<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/galatians/3-16.htm">Galatians 3:16</a></span><br />The promises were spoken to Abraham and to his seed. The Scripture does not say, “and to seeds,” meaning many, but “and to your seed,” meaning One, who is Christ.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/hebrews/11-11.htm">Hebrews 11:11-12</a></span><br />By faith Sarah, even though she was barren and beyond the proper age, was enabled to conceive a child, because she considered Him faithful who had promised. / And so from one man, and he as good as dead, came descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and as countless as the sand on the seashore.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/genesis/17-15.htm">Genesis 17:15-19</a></span><br />Then God said to Abraham, “As for Sarai your wife, do not call her Sarai, for her name is to be Sarah. / And I will bless her and will surely give you a son by her. I will bless her, and she will be the mother of nations; kings of peoples will descend from her.” / Abraham fell facedown. Then he laughed and said to himself, “Can a child be born to a man who is a hundred years old? Can Sarah give birth at the age of ninety?” ...<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/genesis/21-1.htm">Genesis 21:1-3</a></span><br />Now the LORD attended to Sarah as He had said, and the LORD did for Sarah what He had promised. / So Sarah conceived and bore a son to Abraham in his old age, at the very time God had promised. / And Abraham gave the name Isaac to the son Sarah bore to him.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/romans/9-7.htm">Romans 9:7-9</a></span><br />Nor because they are Abraham’s descendants are they all his children. On the contrary, “Through Isaac your offspring will be reckoned.” / So it is not the children of the flesh who are God’s children, but it is the children of the promise who are regarded as offspring. / For this is what the promise stated: “At the appointed time I will return, and Sarah will have a son.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/galatians/4-28.htm">Galatians 4:28</a></span><br />Now you, brothers, like Isaac, are children of promise.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/genesis/12-2.htm">Genesis 12:2-3</a></span><br />I will make you into a great nation, and I will bless you; I will make your name great, so that you will be a blessing. / I will bless those who bless you and curse those who curse you; and all the families of the earth will be blessed through you.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/genesis/18-10.htm">Genesis 18:10</a></span><br />Then the LORD said, “I will surely return to you at this time next year, and your wife Sarah will have a son!” Now Sarah was behind him, listening at the entrance to the tent.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/genesis/22-17.htm">Genesis 22:17-18</a></span><br />I will surely bless you, and I will multiply your descendants like the stars in the sky and the sand on the seashore. Your descendants will possess the gates of their enemies. / And through your offspring all nations of the earth will be blessed, because you have obeyed My voice.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/acts/7-5.htm">Acts 7:5</a></span><br />He gave him no inheritance here, not even a foot of ground. But God promised to give possession of the land to Abraham and his descendants, even though he did not yet have a child.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/genesis/25-21.htm">Genesis 25:21-23</a></span><br />Later, Isaac prayed to the LORD on behalf of his wife, because she was barren. And the LORD heard his prayer, and his wife Rebekah conceived. / But the children inside her struggled with each other, and she said, “Why is this happening to me?” So Rebekah went to inquire of the LORD, / and He declared to her: “Two nations are in your womb, and two peoples from within you will be separated; one people will be stronger than the other, and the older will serve the younger.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/genesis/26-3.htm">Genesis 26:3-4</a></span><br />Stay in this land as a foreigner, and I will be with you and bless you. For I will give all these lands to you and your offspring, and I will confirm the oath that I swore to your father Abraham. / I will make your descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky, and I will give them all these lands, and through your offspring all nations of the earth will be blessed,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/genesis/28-13.htm">Genesis 28:13-14</a></span><br />And there at the top the LORD was standing and saying, “I am the LORD, the God of your father Abraham and the God of Isaac. I will give you and your descendants the land on which you now lie. / Your descendants will be like the dust of the earth, and you will spread out to the west and east and north and south. All the families of the earth will be blessed through you and your offspring.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/genesis/35-11.htm">Genesis 35:11-12</a></span><br />And God told him, “I am God Almighty. Be fruitful and multiply. A nation—even a company of nations—shall come from you, and kings shall descend from you. / The land that I gave to Abraham and Isaac I will give to you, and I will give this land to your descendants after you.”</div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="tsk" id="tsk"><div class="vheading">Treasury of Scripture</div><p class="tsk2">And, behold, the word of the LORD came to him, saying, This shall not be your heir; but he that shall come forth out of your own bowels shall be your heir.</p><p class="hdg">shall come.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/genesis/17-16.htm">Genesis 17:16</a></b></br> And I will bless her, and give thee a son also of her: yea, I will bless her, and she shall be <i>a mother</i> of nations; kings of people shall be of her.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/genesis/21-12.htm">Genesis 21:12</a></b></br> And God said unto Abraham, Let it not be grievous in thy sight because of the lad, and because of thy bondwoman; in all that Sarah hath said unto thee, hearken unto her voice; for in Isaac shall thy seed be called.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/2_samuel/7-12.htm">2 Samuel 7:12</a></b></br> And when thy days be fulfilled, and thou shalt sleep with thy fathers, I will set up thy seed after thee, which shall proceed out of thy bowels, and I will establish his kingdom.</p><div class="vheading">Jump to Previous</div><a href="/revelation/19-2.htm">Body</a> <a href="/1_john/3-17.htm">Bowels</a> <a href="/genesis/14-18.htm">Forth</a> <a href="/genesis/15-3.htm">Heir</a> <a href="/genesis/15-3.htm">Heritage</a> <a href="/genesis/14-21.htm">Property</a> <a href="/genesis/15-1.htm">Word</a><div class="vheading2">Jump to Next</div><a href="/genesis/25-23.htm">Body</a> <a href="/genesis/25-23.htm">Bowels</a> <a href="/genesis/15-5.htm">Forth</a> <a href="/genesis/21-10.htm">Heir</a> <a href="/genesis/15-7.htm">Heritage</a> <a href="/genesis/15-14.htm">Property</a> <a href="/genesis/19-29.htm">Word</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'; </script> <script id="b817b7107f1d4a7997da1b3c33457e03"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=cb0edd8b-b416-47eb-8c6d-3cc96561f7e8&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script><br /><br /> <!-- /1078254/BH-728x90-ATF --> <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-2'> </div><br /><br /> <!-- /1078254/BH-300x250-ATF --> <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-0' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br /> <!-- /1078254/BH-728x90-BTF --> <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-3'> </div><br /><br /> <!-- /1078254/BH-300x250-BTF --> <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-1' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br /> <!-- /1078254/BH-728x90-BTF2 --> <div align="center" id='div-gpt-ad-1531425649696-0'> </div><br /><br /> <ins class="adsbygoogle" style="display:inline-block;width:200px;height:200px" data-ad-client="ca-pub-3753401421161123" data-ad-slot="3592799687"></ins> <script> (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); </script> <br /><br /> </div> </td></tr></table></div></div></div><div id="combox"><div class="padcom"><a name="study" id="study"></a><div class="vheading"><table width="100%"><tr><td width="99%" valign="top"><a href="/study/genesis/15.htm">Study Bible</a></td><td width="1%" valign="top"><a href="/study/genesis/" title="Book Summary and Study">Book ◦</a> <a href="/study/chapters/genesis/15.htm" title="Chapter summary and Study">Chapter </a></tr></table></div><b>Then the word of the LORD came to Abram, saying,</b><br>This phrase indicates a direct communication from God to Abram, emphasizing the personal relationship between them. In biblical context, "the word of the LORD" often signifies a divine revelation or promise. This is a pivotal moment in Abram's life, as God is about to clarify His covenant with him. The use of "LORD" in all caps signifies the Hebrew name Yahweh, highlighting God's eternal and covenantal nature. This communication underscores the theme of divine promise and faithfulness that runs throughout the Bible.<p><b>“This one will not be your heir,</b><br>Here, God addresses Abram's concern about his lack of a biological heir. Abram had previously expressed his worry that his servant Eliezer of Damascus would inherit his estate (<a href="/genesis/15-2.htm">Genesis 15:2-3</a>). In the cultural and historical context of the ancient Near East, having a biological heir was crucial for the continuation of one's lineage and legacy. God's statement reassures Abram that His plans do not align with human expectations or limitations.<p><b>but one who comes from your own body will be your heir.”</b><br>This promise is a significant turning point, as it assures Abram that he will have a biological son. The phrase "from your own body" emphasizes the physical lineage and the fulfillment of God's promise through natural means. This promise is foundational for the Abrahamic covenant, which includes the promise of numerous descendants and a great nation (<a href="/genesis/12-2.htm">Genesis 12:2-3</a>). It also foreshadows the miraculous birth of Isaac, Abram's son with Sarah, and ultimately points to the lineage of Jesus Christ, who is a descendant of Abraham (<a href="/matthew/1.htm">Matthew 1:1-2</a>). This promise highlights God's sovereignty and ability to fulfill His promises despite human impossibilities.<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 a man of faith who has been promised by God to be the father of a great nation. At this point, he is childless and concerned about his legacy.<br><br>2. <b><a href="/topical/t/the_lord.htm">The LORD (Yahweh)</a></b><br>The covenant-making God who speaks directly to Abram, reassuring him of His promise and faithfulness.<br><br>3. <b><a href="/topical/e/eliezer_of_damascus.htm">Eliezer of Damascus</a></b><br>Mentioned earlier in <a href="/genesis/15-2.htm">Genesis 15:2-3</a>, he is Abram's servant and the presumed heir before God's promise of a biological heir.<br><br>4. <b><a href="/topical/c/canaan.htm">Canaan</a></b><br>The land where Abram resides, which God has promised to his descendants.<br><br>5. <b><a href="/topical/t/the_promise_of_an_heir.htm">The Promise of an Heir</a></b><br>A pivotal event where God reassures Abram that his heir will be his own biological son, setting the stage for the birth of Isaac.<div class="vheading2">Teaching Points</div><b><a href="/topical/f/faith_in_god's_promises.htm">Faith in God's Promises</a></b><br>Abram's account teaches us to trust in God's promises, even when circumstances seem impossible. Our faith should rest in God's faithfulness, not in our understanding.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/g/god's_sovereignty_and_timing.htm">God's Sovereignty and Timing</a></b><br>God's timing is perfect, and His plans are sovereign. We must learn to wait on the Lord, trusting that He will fulfill His promises in His perfect time.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/t/the_importance_of_patience.htm">The Importance of Patience</a></b><br>Patience is a virtue that Abram had to learn. We, too, must cultivate patience as we wait for God's promises to unfold in our lives.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/g/god's_personal_relationship_with_believers.htm">God's Personal Relationship with Believers</a></b><br>Just as God spoke directly to Abram, He desires a personal relationship with each of us. We should seek to hear His voice through prayer and Scripture.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/l/legacy_and_god's_plan.htm">Legacy and God's Plan</a></b><br>Our legacy is not just about physical descendants but about spiritual impact. We should focus on living a life that honors God and influences others for His kingdom.<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/who_is_mastema_in_religious_texts.htm">What defines the path of the righteous?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/address_abram's_moral_dilemma_in_genesis.htm">How do we address the moral dilemma of Abram fathering a child with his wife's servant (Genesis 16:1–4)? </a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/how_does_patience_boost_faith_in_god.htm">How can patience strengthen your faith in God's timing?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/what_is_the_dispensation_of_promise.htm">What is the Dispensation of Promise?</a><a name="commentary" id="commentary"></a><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/pulpit/genesis/15.htm">Pulpit Commentary</a></div><span class="cmt_sub_title">Verse 4.</span> - <span class="cmt_word">And, behold, the word of the Lord came unto him, saying, This shall not</span> <span class="cmt_word">be thine heir; but he that shall come forth out of thine own bowels shall be thine heir.</span> <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/commentaries/genesis/15-4.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">Then</span><br /><span class="heb">וְהִנֵּ֨ה</span> <span class="translit">(wə·hin·nêh)</span><br /><span class="parse">Conjunctive waw | Interjection<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_2009.htm">Strong's 2009: </a> </span><span class="str2">Lo! behold!</span><br /><br /><span class="word">the word</span><br /><span class="heb">דְבַר־</span> <span class="translit">(ḏə·ḇar-)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - masculine singular construct<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_1697.htm">Strong's 1697: </a> </span><span class="str2">A word, a matter, thing, a cause</span><br /><br /><span class="word">of the LORD</span><br /><span class="heb">יְהוָ֤ה</span> <span class="translit">(Yah·weh)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - proper - masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_3068.htm">Strong's 3068: </a> </span><span class="str2">LORD -- the proper name of the God of Israel</span><br /><br /><span class="word">came to him,</span><br /><span class="heb">אֵלָיו֙</span> <span class="translit">(’ê·lāw)</span><br /><span class="parse">Preposition | third person masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_413.htm">Strong's 413: </a> </span><span class="str2">Near, with, among, to</span><br /><br /><span class="word">saying,</span><br /><span class="heb">לֵאמֹ֔ר</span> <span class="translit">(lê·mōr)</span><br /><span class="parse">Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_559.htm">Strong's 559: </a> </span><span class="str2">To utter, say</span><br /><br /><span class="word">“This</span><br /><span class="heb">זֶ֑ה</span> <span class="translit">(zeh)</span><br /><span class="parse">Pronoun - masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_2088.htm">Strong's 2088: </a> </span><span class="str2">This, that</span><br /><br /><span class="word">one will not</span><br /><span class="heb">לֹ֥א</span> <span class="translit">(lō)</span><br /><span class="parse">Adverb - Negative particle<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_3808.htm">Strong's 3808: </a> </span><span class="str2">Not, no</span><br /><br /><span class="word">be your heir,</span><br /><span class="heb">יִֽירָשְׁךָ֖</span> <span class="translit">(yî·rā·šə·ḵā)</span><br /><span class="parse">Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular | second person masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_3423.htm">Strong's 3423: </a> </span><span class="str2">To occupy, to seize, to rob, to inherit, to expel, to impoverish, to ruin</span><br /><br /><span class="word">but</span><br /><span class="heb">כִּי־</span> <span class="translit">(kî-)</span><br /><span class="parse">Conjunction<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_3588.htm">Strong's 3588: </a> </span><span class="str2">A relative conjunction</span><br /><br /><span class="word">one</span><br /><span class="heb">ה֖וּא</span> <span class="translit">(hū)</span><br /><span class="parse">Pronoun - third person masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_1931.htm">Strong's 1931: </a> </span><span class="str2">He, self, the same, this, that, as, are</span><br /><br /><span class="word">who</span><br /><span class="heb">אֲשֶׁ֣ר</span> <span class="translit">(’ă·šer)</span><br /><span class="parse">Pronoun - relative<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_834.htm">Strong's 834: </a> </span><span class="str2">Who, which, what, that, when, where, how, because, in order that</span><br /><br /><span class="word">comes from</span><br /><span class="heb">יֵצֵ֣א</span> <span class="translit">(yê·ṣê)</span><br /><span class="parse">Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_3318.htm">Strong's 3318: </a> </span><span class="str2">To go, bring, out, direct and proxim</span><br /><br /><span class="word">your own body</span><br /><span class="heb">מִמֵּעֶ֔יךָ</span> <span class="translit">(mim·mê·‘e·ḵā)</span><br /><span class="parse">Preposition-m | Noun - masculine plural construct | second person masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_4578.htm">Strong's 4578: </a> </span><span class="str2">The intestines, the abdomen, sympathy, a vest, the stomach, the uterus, the heart</span><br /><br /><span class="word">will be your heir.”</span><br /><span class="heb">יִֽירָשֶֽׁךָ׃</span> <span class="translit">(yî·rā·še·ḵā)</span><br /><span class="parse">Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular | second person masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_3423.htm">Strong's 3423: </a> </span><span class="str2">To occupy, to seize, to rob, to inherit, to expel, to impoverish, to ruin</span><br /><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><div class="vheading">Links</div><a href="/niv/genesis/15-4.htm">Genesis 15:4 NIV</a><br /><a href="/nlt/genesis/15-4.htm">Genesis 15:4 NLT</a><br /><a href="/esv/genesis/15-4.htm">Genesis 15:4 ESV</a><br /><a href="/nasb/genesis/15-4.htm">Genesis 15:4 NASB</a><br /><a href="/kjv/genesis/15-4.htm">Genesis 15:4 KJV</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="//bibleapps.com/genesis/15-4.htm">Genesis 15:4 BibleApps.com</a><br /><a href="//bibliaparalela.com/genesis/15-4.htm">Genesis 15:4 Biblia Paralela</a><br /><a href="//holybible.com.cn/genesis/15-4.htm">Genesis 15:4 Chinese Bible</a><br /><a href="//saintebible.com/genesis/15-4.htm">Genesis 15:4 French Bible</a><br /><a href="/catholic/genesis/15-4.htm">Genesis 15:4 Catholic Bible</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/genesis/15-4.htm">OT Law: Genesis 15:4 Behold the word of Yahweh came (Gen. Ge Gn)</a></div></div></td></tr></table></div><div id="left"><a href="/genesis/15-3.htm" onmouseover='lft.src="/leftgif.png"' onmouseout='lft.src="/left.png"' title="Genesis 15:3"><img src="/left.png" name="lft" border="0" alt="Genesis 15:3" /></a></div><div id="right"><a href="/genesis/15-5.htm" onmouseover='rght.src="/rightgif.png"' onmouseout='rght.src="/right.png"' title="Genesis 15:5"><img src="/right.png" name="rght" border="0" alt="Genesis 15:5" /></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>