CINXE.COM

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "//www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="//www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><head><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8" /><meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1" /><title>Genesis 15:5 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."</title><link rel="canonical" href="https://biblehub.com/genesis/15-5.htm" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="/new9.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><meta property="og:image" content="https://biblehub.com/visuals/7/01_Gen_15_05.jpg" /><meta property="og:title" content="Genesis 15:5 - God's Covenant with Abram" /><meta property="og:site_name" content="Bible Hub" /><meta property="og:description" content="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." /><script type="application/javascript" src="https://scripts.webcontentassessor.com/scripts/8a2459b64f9cac8122fc7f2eac4409c8555fac9383016db59c4c26e3d5b8b157"></script><script src='https://qd.admetricspro.com/js/biblehub/biblehub-layout-loader-revcatch.js'></script><script id='HyDgbd_1s' src='https://prebidads.revcatch.com/ads.js' type='text/javascript' async></script><script>(function(w,d,b,s,i){var cts=d.createElement(s);cts.async=true;cts.id='catchscript'; cts.dataset.appid=i;cts.src='https://app.protectsubrev.com/catch_rp.js?cb='+Math.random(); document.head.appendChild(cts); }) (window,document,'head','script','rc-anksrH');</script></head><body><div id="fx"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx2"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="30" scrolling="no" src="/vmenus/genesis/15-5.htm" align="left" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div><div id="blnk"></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable"><tr><td><div id="fx5"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx6"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="245" scrolling="no" src="/bmc/genesis/15-5.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></td></tr></table></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable3"><tr><td><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center" id="announce"><tr><td><div id="l1"><div id="breadcrumbs"><a href="/">Bible</a> > <a href="/genesis/">Genesis</a> > <a href="/genesis/15.htm">Chapter 15</a> > Verse 5</div><div id="anc"><iframe src="/anc.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></div><div id="anc2"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><iframe src="/anc2.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></div><div id="ad1"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><iframe src="/ad5.htm" width="100%" height="48" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></td></tr></table><div id="movebox2"><table border="0" align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tr><td><div id="topheading"><a href="/genesis/15-4.htm" title="Genesis 15:4">◄</a> Genesis 15:5 <a href="/genesis/15-6.htm" title="Genesis 15:6">►</a></div></tr></table></div><div align="center" class="maintable2"><table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><div id="topverse"> <a href="#audio" class="clickchap2" title="Context and Audio Bible"> Audio </a> <a href="#crossref" class="clickchap2" title="Cross References"> Cross </a> <a href="#study" class="clickchap2" title="Study Bible"> Study </a> <a href="#commentary" class="clickchap2" title="Commentary"> Comm </a> <a href="#lexicon" class="clickchap2" title="Lexicon"> Heb </a> </div><div id="leftbox"><div class="padleft"><div 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 />He took him outside and said, &#8220Look up at the sky and count the stars—if indeed you can count them.&#8221 Then he said to him, &#8220So shall your offspring be.&#8221<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nlt/genesis/15.htm">New Living Translation</a></span><br />Then the LORD took Abram outside and said to him, “Look up into the sky and count the stars if you can. That’s how many descendants you will have!”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/esv/genesis/15.htm">English Standard Version</a></span><br />And he brought him outside and said, “Look toward heaven, and number the stars, if you are able to number them.” Then he said to him, “So shall your offspring be.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/bsb/genesis/15.htm">Berean Standard Bible</a></span><br />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.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/kjv/genesis/15.htm">King James Bible</a></span><br />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.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nkjv/genesis/15.htm">New King James Version</a></span><br />Then He brought him outside and said, “Look now toward heaven, and count the stars if you are able to number them.” And He said to him, “So shall your descendants be.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb_/genesis/15.htm">New American Standard Bible</a></span><br />And He took him outside and said, “Now look toward the heavens and count the stars, if you are able to count them.” And He said to him, “So shall your descendants be.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb/genesis/15.htm">NASB 1995</a></span><br />And He took him outside and said, &#8220Now look toward the heavens, and count the stars, if you are able to count them.&#8221 And He said to him, &#8220So shall your descendants be.&#8221<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb77/genesis/15.htm">NASB 1977 </a></span><br />And He took him outside and said, “Now look toward the heavens, and count the stars, if you are able to count them.” And He said to him, “So shall your descendants be.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsb/genesis/15.htm">Legacy Standard Bible </a></span><br />And He brought him outside and said, “Now look toward the heavens, and number the stars, if you are able to number them.” And He said to him, “So shall your seed be.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/amp/genesis/15.htm">Amplified Bible</a></span><br />And the LORD brought Abram outside [his tent into the night] and said, “Look now toward the heavens and count the stars—if you are able to count them.” Then He said to him, “So [numerous] shall your descendants be.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/csb/genesis/15.htm">Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />He took him outside and said, “Look at the sky and count the stars, if you are able to count them.” Then he said to him, “Your offspring will be that numerous.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hcsb/genesis/15.htm">Holman Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />He took him outside and said, &#8220Look at the sky and count the stars, if you are able to count them.&#8221 Then He said to him, &#8220Your offspring will be that numerous.&#8221 <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/asv/genesis/15.htm">American Standard Version</a></span><br />And he brought him forth abroad, and said, Look now toward heaven, and number the stars, if thou be able to number them: and he said unto him, So shall thy seed be.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cev/genesis/15.htm">Contemporary English Version</a></span><br />Then the LORD took Abram outside and said, "Look at the sky and see if you can count the stars. That's how many descendants you will have." <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/erv/genesis/15.htm">English Revised Version</a></span><br />And he brought him forth abroad, and said, Look now toward heaven, and tell the stars, if thou be able to tell them: and he said unto him, So shall thy seed be.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gwt/genesis/15.htm">GOD'S WORD® Translation</a></span><br />He took Abram outside and said, "Now look up at the sky and count the stars, if you are able to count them." He also said to him, "That's how many descendants you will have!"<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gnt/genesis/15.htm">Good News Translation</a></span><br />The LORD took him outside and said, "Look at the sky and try to count the stars; you will have as many descendants as that." <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/isv/genesis/15.htm">International Standard Version</a></span><br />Then the LORD took him outside. "Look up at the sky and count the stars—if you can!" he said. "Your descendants will be that numerous."<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/msb/genesis/15.htm">Majority Standard Bible</a></span><br />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.?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/net/genesis/15.htm">NET Bible</a></span><br />The LORD took him outside and said, "Gaze into the sky and count the stars--if you are able to count them!" Then he said to him, "So will your descendants be." <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nheb/genesis/15.htm">New Heart English Bible</a></span><br />And he brought him outside, and said, "Look now toward the sky, and count the stars, if you are able to count them." And he said to him, "So will your descendants be."<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/wbt/genesis/15.htm">Webster's Bible Translation</a></span><br />And he brought him forth abroad, and said, Look now towards heaven, and tell the stars, if thou art able to number them: and he said to him, So shall thy seed be.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/web/genesis/15.htm">World English Bible</a></span><br />Yahweh brought him outside, and said, “Look now toward the sky, and count the stars, if you are able to count them.” He said to Abram, “So your offspring will be.” <div class="vheading2"><b>Literal Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsv/genesis/15.htm">Literal Standard Version</a></span><br />and He brings him out outside and says, “Now look attentively toward the heavens and count the stars, if you are able to count them”; and He says to him, “Thus is your seed.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/ylt/genesis/15.htm">Young's Literal Translation</a></span><br /> and He bringeth him out without, and saith, 'Look attentively, I pray thee, towards the heavens, and count the stars, if thou art able to count them;' and He saith to him, 'Thus is thy seed.'<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/slt/genesis/15.htm">Smith's Literal Translation</a></span><br />And he will bring him forth without, and will say, Now look to the heavens and count the stars, if thou shalt be able to count them: and he will say to him, So shall be thy seed.<div class="vheading2"><b>Catholic Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/drb/genesis/15.htm">Douay-Rheims Bible</a></span><br />And he thought him forth abroad, and said to him: Look up to heaven and number the stars, if thou canst. And he said to him: So shall thy seed be. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cpdv/genesis/15.htm">Catholic Public Domain Version</a></span><br />And he brought him outside, and he said to him, “Take in the heavens, and number the stars, if you can.” And he said to him, “So also will your offspring be.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nabre/genesis/15.htm">New American Bible</a></span><br />He took him outside and said: Look up at the sky and count the stars, if you can. Just so, he added, will your descendants be.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nrsvce/genesis/15.htm">New Revised Standard Version</a></span><br />He brought him outside and said, “Look toward heaven and count the stars, if you are able to count them.” Then he said to him, “So shall your descendants be.”<div class="vheading2"><b>Translations from Aramaic</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lamsa/genesis/15.htm">Lamsa Bible</a></span><br />And he brought him outside, and said to him, Look now toward heaven and number the stars, if you are able to number them; and he said to him, So shall your descendants be.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hpbt/genesis/15.htm">Peshitta Holy Bible Translated</a></span><br />And he sent him outside and said to him, “Look into Heaven and count the stars, if you can number them”; and he said to him, “So your seed shall be.”<div class="vheading2"><b>OT Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/jps/genesis/15.htm">JPS Tanakh 1917</a></span><br />And He brought him forth abroad, and said: 'Look now toward heaven, and count the stars, if thou be able to count them'; and He said unto him: 'So shall thy seed be.'<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/sep/genesis/15.htm">Brenton Septuagint Translation</a></span><br />And he brought him out and said to him, Look up now to heaven, and count the stars, if thou shalt be able to number them fully, and he said, Thus shall thy seed be.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/parallel/genesis/15-5.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=3146" 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">4</span>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="reftext">5</span><span class="highl"><a href="/hebrew/3318.htm" title="3318: way·yō·w·ṣê (Conj-w:: V-Hifil-ConsecImperf-3ms) -- A primitive root; to go out, in a great variety of applications, literally and figuratively, direct and proxim.">And the LORD took</a> <a href="/hebrew/853.htm" title="853: ’ō·ṯōw (DirObjM:: 3ms) -- Apparent contracted from 'owth in the demonstrative sense of entity; properly, self.">him</a> <a href="/hebrew/2351.htm" title="2351: ha·ḥū·ṣāh (Art:: N-ms:: 3fs) -- The outside, a street. Or chuts; from an unused root meaning to sever; properly, separate by a wall, i.e. Outside, outdoors.">outside</a> <a href="/hebrew/559.htm" title="559: way·yō·mer (Conj-w:: V-Qal-ConsecImperf-3ms) -- To utter, say. A primitive root; to say.">and said,</a> <a href="/hebrew/4994.htm" title="4994: nā (Interjection) -- I (we) pray, now. ">“Now</a> <a href="/hebrew/5027.htm" title="5027: hab·beṭ- (V-Hifil-Imp-ms) -- To look. A primitive root; to scan, i.e. Look intently at; by implication, to regard with pleasure, favor or care.">look</a> <a href="/hebrew/8064.htm" title="8064: haš·šā·may·māh (Art:: N-mp:: 3fs) -- Heaven, sky. Dual of an unused singular shameh; from an unused root meaning to be lofty; the sky.">to the heavens</a> <a href="/hebrew/5608.htm" title="5608: ū·sə·p̄ōr (Conj-w:: V-Qal-Imp-ms) -- To count, recount, relate. ">and count</a> <a href="/hebrew/3556.htm" title="3556: hak·kō·w·ḵā·ḇîm (Art:: N-mp) -- A star. Probably from the same as Kabbown or kavah; a star; figuratively, a prince.">the stars,</a> <a href="/hebrew/518.htm" title="518: ’im- (Conj) -- If. A primitive particle; used very widely as demonstrative, lo!">if you</a> <a href="/hebrew/3201.htm" title="3201: tū·ḵal (V-Qal-Imperf-2ms) -- To be able, have power. Or yakowl; a primitive root; to be able, literally or morally.">are able.”</a> <a href="/hebrew/5608.htm" title="5608: lis·pōr (Prep-l:: V-Qal-Inf) -- To count, recount, relate. "></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> <a href="/hebrew/559.htm" title="559: way·yō·mer (Conj-w:: V-Qal-ConsecImperf-3ms) -- To utter, say. A primitive root; to say.">Then He told</a> <a href="/hebrew/lōw (Prep:: 3ms) -- ">him,</a> <a href="/hebrew/3541.htm" title="3541: kōh (Adv) -- Thus, here. From the prefix k and huw'; properly, like this, i.e. By implication, thus; also here; or now.">“So shall</a> <a href="/hebrew/2233.htm" title="2233: zar·‘e·ḵā (N-msc:: 2ms) -- A sowing, seed, offspring. From zara'; seed; figuratively, fruit, plant, sowing-time, posterity.">your offspring</a> <a href="/hebrew/1961.htm" title="1961: yih·yeh (V-Qal-Imperf-3ms) -- To fall out, come to pass, become, be. A primitive root; to exist, i.e. Be or become, come to pass.">be.”</a> </span><span class="reftext">6</span>Abram believed the LORD, and it was credited to him as righteousness.…<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/4-18.htm">Romans 4:18</a></span><br />Against all hope, Abraham in hope believed and so became the father of many nations, just as he had been told, “So shall your offspring be.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/hebrews/11-12.htm">Hebrews 11:12</a></span><br />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="/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="/romans/9-7.htm">Romans 9:7-8</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.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/galatians/3-29.htm">Galatians 3:29</a></span><br />And if you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s seed and heirs according to the promise.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/james/2-23.htm">James 2:23</a></span><br />And the Scripture was fulfilled that says, “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness,” and he was called a friend of God.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/romans/4-3.htm">Romans 4:3</a></span><br />For what does the Scripture say? “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/galatians/3-6.htm">Galatians 3:6</a></span><br />So also, “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/romans/4-13.htm">Romans 4:13</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.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/hebrews/6-14.htm">Hebrews 6:14</a></span><br />saying, “I will surely bless you and multiply your descendants.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/genesis/22-17.htm">Genesis 22:17</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.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/genesis/26-4.htm">Genesis 26:4</a></span><br />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/28-14.htm">Genesis 28:14</a></span><br />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="/exodus/32-13.htm">Exodus 32:13</a></span><br />Remember Your servants Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, to whom You swore by Your very self when You declared, ‘I will make your descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky, and I will give your descendants all this land that I have promised, and it shall be their inheritance forever.’”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/deuteronomy/1-10.htm">Deuteronomy 1:10</a></span><br />The LORD your God has multiplied you, so that today you are as numerous as the stars in the sky.</div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="tsk" id="tsk"><div class="vheading">Treasury of Scripture</div><p class="tsk2">And he brought him forth abroad, and said, Look now toward heaven, and tell the stars, if you be able to number them: and he said to him, So shall your seed be.</p><p class="hdg">tell.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/deuteronomy/1-10.htm">Deuteronomy 1:10</a></b></br> The LORD your God hath multiplied you, and, behold, ye <i>are</i> this day as the stars of heaven for multitude.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/psalms/147-4.htm">Psalm 147:4</a></b></br> He telleth the number of the stars; he calleth them all by <i>their</i> names.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/jeremiah/33-22.htm">Jeremiah 33:22</a></b></br> As the host of heaven cannot be numbered, neither the sand of the sea measured: so will I multiply the seed of David my servant, and the Levites that minister unto me.</p><p class="hdg">So.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/genesis/12-2.htm">Genesis 12:2</a></b></br> And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing:</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/genesis/13-16.htm">Genesis 13:16</a></b></br> And I will make thy seed as the dust of the earth: so that if a man can number the dust of the earth, <i>then</i> shall thy seed also be numbered.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/genesis/16-10.htm">Genesis 16:10</a></b></br> And the angel of the LORD said unto her, I will multiply thy seed exceedingly, that it shall not be numbered for multitude.</p><div class="vheading">Jump to Previous</div><a href="/genesis/13-16.htm">Able</a> <a href="/genesis/15-3.htm">Abram</a> <a href="/genesis/11-9.htm">Abroad</a> <a href="/genesis/9-2.htm">Air</a> <a href="/lamentations/5-1.htm">Attentively</a> <a href="/genesis/13-16.htm">Count</a> <a href="/genesis/13-16.htm">Descendants</a> <a href="/genesis/13-14.htm">Eyes</a> <a href="/genesis/15-4.htm">Forth</a> <a href="/genesis/14-22.htm">Heaven</a> <a href="/genesis/14-22.htm">Heavens</a> <a href="/genesis/9-5.htm">Indeed</a> <a href="/genesis/14-22.htm">Lifted</a> <a href="/genesis/13-16.htm">Numbered</a> <a href="/genesis/15-3.htm">Offspring</a> <a href="/genesis/8-6.htm">Open</a> <a href="/genesis/9-22.htm">Outside</a> <a href="/genesis/15-3.htm">Seed</a> <a href="/genesis/11-4.htm">Sky</a> <a href="/genesis/1-16.htm">Stars</a> <a href="/genesis/13-12.htm">Towards</a><div class="vheading2">Jump to Next</div><a href="/genesis/18-14.htm">Able</a> <a href="/genesis/15-6.htm">Abram</a> <a href="/genesis/19-17.htm">Abroad</a> <a href="/exodus/9-8.htm">Air</a> <a href="/exodus/23-22.htm">Attentively</a> <a href="/genesis/16-10.htm">Count</a> <a href="/genesis/15-13.htm">Descendants</a> <a href="/genesis/16-4.htm">Eyes</a> <a href="/genesis/17-6.htm">Forth</a> <a href="/genesis/19-24.htm">Heaven</a> <a href="/genesis/19-24.htm">Heavens</a> <a href="/genesis/17-16.htm">Indeed</a> <a href="/genesis/18-2.htm">Lifted</a> <a href="/genesis/16-10.htm">Numbered</a> <a href="/genesis/17-2.htm">Offspring</a> <a href="/genesis/16-11.htm">Open</a> <a href="/genesis/19-6.htm">Outside</a> <a href="/genesis/15-13.htm">Seed</a> <a href="/genesis/19-24.htm">Sky</a> <a href="/genesis/22-17.htm">Stars</a> <a href="/genesis/18-22.htm">Towards</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 />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-2'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-0' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-3'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-1' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br />  <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>And the LORD took him outside</b><br>This phrase indicates a direct and personal interaction between God and Abram. The act of taking Abram outside suggests a change in perspective, moving from the confines of a tent to the vastness of the open sky. This physical movement symbolizes a shift from limited human understanding to the expansive possibilities of God's promises. In biblical context, God often uses physical actions to illustrate spiritual truths, as seen in other instances like Moses at the burning bush (<a href="/exodus/3.htm">Exodus 3:1-4</a>).<p><b>and said, “Now look to the heavens</b><br>The heavens are frequently used in Scripture to represent God's majesty and the vastness of His creation (<a href="/psalms/19.htm">Psalm 19:1</a>). By directing Abram's gaze upward, God is inviting him to consider the infinite nature of His power and promises. This act of looking to the heavens is a call to faith, encouraging Abram to trust in what he cannot yet see, much like the call to walk by faith and not by sight (<a href="/2_corinthians/5-7.htm">2 Corinthians 5:7</a>).<p><b>and count the stars, if you are able.”</b><br>The challenge to count the stars emphasizes the innumerable nature of Abram's future descendants. In the ancient Near East, stars were often associated with divine beings or the divine order, and their countless number was a symbol of abundance and blessing. This imagery is echoed in other biblical promises of numerous descendants, such as the sand on the seashore (<a href="/genesis/22-17.htm">Genesis 22:17</a>). The impossibility of counting the stars underscores the miraculous nature of God's promise.<p><b>Then He told him, “So shall your offspring be.”</b><br>This promise is a pivotal moment in the Abrahamic covenant, establishing Abram as the father of a great nation. It is a reaffirmation of God's earlier promise in <a href="/genesis/12-2.htm">Genesis 12:2</a> and is foundational for the narrative of Israel's history. The term "offspring" not only refers to Abram's immediate descendants but also prophetically points to the coming of Jesus Christ, a descendant of Abram, through whom all nations would be blessed (<a href="/galatians/3-16.htm">Galatians 3:16</a>). This promise is fulfilled both physically, in the nation of Israel, and spiritually, in the multitude of believers who are considered children of Abraham by faith (<a href="/romans/4-16.htm">Romans 4:16-17</a>).<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. He is a key patriarch in the Bible, known for his faith and obedience to God. At this point in Genesis, Abram 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, promising him descendants as numerous as the stars. This interaction highlights God's personal relationship with Abram.<br><br>3. <b><a href="/topical/t/the_heavens.htm">The Heavens</a></b><br>The sky filled with stars, used by God as a visual representation of His promise to Abram. This setting underscores the vastness and grandeur of God's promise.<br><br>4. <b><a href="/topical/t/the_promise_of_offspring.htm">The Promise of Offspring</a></b><br>A pivotal event where God reassures Abram of His covenant, promising him countless descendants despite his current childless state.<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_power.htm">God's Sovereignty and Power</a></b><br>The imagery of the stars reminds us of God's sovereignty and power. Just as He created the vast universe, He is capable of fulfilling His promises to us.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/p/patience_and_timing.htm">Patience and Timing</a></b><br>God's promises often require patience. Abram had to wait many years to see the fulfillment of God's promise. We must learn to trust God's timing, which is perfect.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/g/god's_personal_relationship_with_believers.htm">God's Personal Relationship with Believers</a></b><br>God speaks directly to Abram, showing His desire for a personal relationship with His people. We are invited to seek and listen to God in our own lives.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/l/legacy_and_spiritual_descendants.htm">Legacy and Spiritual Descendants</a></b><br>Like Abram, we are called to consider our spiritual legacy. Our faith and actions can impact future generations, just as Abram's faith led to a multitude of descendants.<a name="commentary" id="commentary"></a><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/ellicott/genesis/15.htm">Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers</a></div>(5) <span class= "bld">He brought him forth.</span>--There is no reason for regarding this as a poetical description of a merely mental emotion. With his senses dormant, but alive to every spiritual impression, Abram feels himself led forth from the tent into the open space around, and is there commanded to count the stars. As a matter of fact, the stars visible to the naked eye are not very numerous, but they have ever been a received metaphor for an infinite multitude, probably because, as men gaze, they perpetually see the faint radiance of more and more distant constellations. Thus they cannot be counted, and Abram's seed was to be countless, because of the vastness of its number.<p><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/pulpit/genesis/15.htm">Pulpit Commentary</a></div><span class="cmt_sub_title">Verse 5.</span> - <span class="cmt_word">And he</span> (Jehovah, or "the Word of the Lord") <span class="cmt_word">brought him forth abroad, and said, Look now toward heaven, and tell the stars, if thou be able to number them</span> (a proof that Abram's vision was not a dream): <span class="cmt_word">and he said unto him, So shall thy seed be</span>. Hence it has been inferred that Abram's vision was miraculously quickened to penetrate the depths of space and gaze upon the vastness of the stellar world, since the stars visible to the naked eye would not represent an innumerable multitude (Candlish). <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/commentaries/genesis/15-5.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 LORD] took</span><br /><span class="heb">וַיּוֹצֵ֨א</span> <span class="translit">(way·yō·w·ṣê)</span><br /><span class="parse">Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Consecutive 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">him</span><br /><span class="heb">אֹת֜וֹ</span> <span class="translit">(’ō·ṯōw)</span><br /><span class="parse">Direct object marker | third person masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_853.htm">Strong's 853: </a> </span><span class="str2">Untranslatable mark of the accusative case</span><br /><br /><span class="word">outside</span><br /><span class="heb">הַח֗וּצָה</span> <span class="translit">(ha·ḥū·ṣāh)</span><br /><span class="parse">Article | Noun - masculine singular | third person feminine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_2351.htm">Strong's 2351: </a> </span><span class="str2">Separate by a, wall, outside, outdoors</span><br /><br /><span class="word">and said,</span><br /><span class="heb">וַיֹּ֙אמֶר֙</span> <span class="translit">(way·yō·mer)</span><br /><span class="parse">Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular<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">“Now</span><br /><span class="heb">נָ֣א</span> <span class="translit">(nā)</span><br /><span class="parse">Interjection<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_4994.htm">Strong's 4994: </a> </span><span class="str2">I pray', 'now', 'then'</span><br /><br /><span class="word">look</span><br /><span class="heb">הַבֶּט־</span> <span class="translit">(hab·beṭ-)</span><br /><span class="parse">Verb - Hifil - Imperative - masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_5027.htm">Strong's 5027: </a> </span><span class="str2">To scan, look intently at, to regard</span><br /><br /><span class="word">to the heavens</span><br /><span class="heb">הַשָּׁמַ֗יְמָה</span> <span class="translit">(haš·šā·may·māh)</span><br /><span class="parse">Article | Noun - masculine plural | third person feminine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_8064.htm">Strong's 8064: </a> </span><span class="str2">Heaven, sky</span><br /><br /><span class="word">and count</span><br /><span class="heb">וּסְפֹר֙</span> <span class="translit">(ū·sə·p̄ōr)</span><br /><span class="parse">Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_5608.htm">Strong's 5608: </a> </span><span class="str2">To count, recount, relate</span><br /><br /><span class="word">the stars,</span><br /><span class="heb">הַכּ֣וֹכָבִ֔ים</span> <span class="translit">(hak·kō·w·ḵā·ḇîm)</span><br /><span class="parse">Article | Noun - masculine plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_3556.htm">Strong's 3556: </a> </span><span class="str2">A star, a prince</span><br /><br /><span class="word">if you</span><br /><span class="heb">אִם־</span> <span class="translit">(’im-)</span><br /><span class="parse">Conjunction<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_518.htm">Strong's 518: </a> </span><span class="str2">Lo!, whether?, if, although, Oh that!, when, not</span><br /><br /><span class="word">are able.”</span><br /><span class="heb">תּוּכַ֖ל</span> <span class="translit">(tū·ḵal)</span><br /><span class="parse">Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_3201.htm">Strong's 3201: </a> </span><span class="str2">To be able, have power</span><br /><br /><span class="word">Then He declared,</span><br /><span class="heb">וַיֹּ֣אמֶר</span> <span class="translit">(way·yō·mer)</span><br /><span class="parse">Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular<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">“So {shall}</span><br /><span class="heb">כֹּ֥ה</span> <span class="translit">(kōh)</span><br /><span class="parse">Adverb<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_3541.htm">Strong's 3541: </a> </span><span class="str2">Like this, thus, here, now</span><br /><br /><span class="word">your offspring</span><br /><span class="heb">זַרְעֶֽךָ׃</span> <span class="translit">(zar·‘e·ḵā)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - masculine singular construct | second person masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_2233.htm">Strong's 2233: </a> </span><span class="str2">Seed, fruit, plant, sowing-time, posterity</span><br /><br /><span class="word">be.”</span><br /><span class="heb">יִהְיֶ֖ה</span> <span class="translit">(yih·yeh)</span><br /><span class="parse">Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_1961.htm">Strong's 1961: </a> </span><span class="str2">To fall out, come to pass, become, be</span><br /><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><div class="vheading">Links</div><a href="/niv/genesis/15-5.htm">Genesis 15:5 NIV</a><br /><a href="/nlt/genesis/15-5.htm">Genesis 15:5 NLT</a><br /><a href="/esv/genesis/15-5.htm">Genesis 15:5 ESV</a><br /><a href="/nasb/genesis/15-5.htm">Genesis 15:5 NASB</a><br /><a href="/kjv/genesis/15-5.htm">Genesis 15:5 KJV</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="//bibleapps.com/genesis/15-5.htm">Genesis 15:5 BibleApps.com</a><br /><a href="//bibliaparalela.com/genesis/15-5.htm">Genesis 15:5 Biblia Paralela</a><br /><a href="//holybible.com.cn/genesis/15-5.htm">Genesis 15:5 Chinese Bible</a><br /><a href="//saintebible.com/genesis/15-5.htm">Genesis 15:5 French Bible</a><br /><a href="/catholic/genesis/15-5.htm">Genesis 15:5 Catholic Bible</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/genesis/15-5.htm">OT Law: Genesis 15:5 Yahweh brought him outside and said Look (Gen. Ge Gn)</a></div></div></td></tr></table></div><div id="left"><a href="/genesis/15-4.htm" onmouseover='lft.src="/leftgif.png"' onmouseout='lft.src="/left.png"' title="Genesis 15:4"><img src="/left.png" name="lft" border="0" alt="Genesis 15:4" /></a></div><div id="right"><a href="/genesis/15-6.htm" onmouseover='rght.src="/rightgif.png"' onmouseout='rght.src="/right.png"' title="Genesis 15:6"><img src="/right.png" name="rght" border="0" alt="Genesis 15:6" /></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>