Genesis 15

1 After these events [that had occurred, following these things], the word [divine message, revelation] of the LORD [Yehovah, the covenant God] came to Abram [the father of faith, originally named Abram] in a vision [prophetic dream, spiritual revelation]: “Do not be afraid [fear not, have no fear], Abram [the one exalted by God]. I am your shield [protector, defender], your very great [exceedingly great, abundant] reward [compensation, payment for faithfulness].” word study 2 But Abram [the father of a multitude] replied, “O Lord [Adonay, Master] GOD [Yehovah], what can You give me, since I remain [go] childless [without offspring, bare], and the heir [acquired son, steward] of my house [dwelling place, family] is Eliezer [God is help] of Damascus [a city in Syria]?” word study 3 Abram continued, “Behold [look, see], You have given [bestowed, provided] me no [not any] offspring [seed, descendants], so a servant [domestic, one born in my house] in my household [my family, my place] will be my heir [the one who inherits, my successor].” word study 4 Then the word [message, declaration] of the LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God] came to Abram, saying, “This one [the current heir, Eliezer] will not be your heir, but one who comes [is born, emerges] from your own body [belly, inner being] will be your heir [the one to inherit, possess].” word study 5 And the LORD [Yehovah, the self-existent God] took him outside [to the open air, abroad] and said, “Now look [regard carefully, gaze] to the heavens [the visible universe, the sky] and count [number, recount] the stars [celestial bodies, princes], if you are able [have power, can endure].” Then He told him, “So [thus, in this manner] shall your offspring [seed, descendants] be [come into existence, exist].” word study 6 Abram [trusted and had faith in] believed the LORD [Yehovah, the covenant God], and it was credited [reckoned, counted] to him as righteousness [moral integrity, virtue, a right relationship with God]. word study 7 The LORD [Yehovah, the national name for God] also told him, “I [emphatically, the first person singular] am the LORD [the self-existent, eternal God], who brought you out [led you forth, from Ur of the Chaldeans] of Ur [a city in ancient Babylonia] of the Chaldeans [a region in Mesopotamia known for wisdom and astrology] to give [bestow, grant] you this land [a country, territory, or region] to possess [take control of, occupy, inherit].” word study 8 But Abram replied, “Lord [Adonay, a title of reverence] GOD [Yehovah], how [in what way, by what means] can I know [be certain, have assurance] that I will possess [inherit, take ownership of] it [the promised land, the inheritance]?” word study 9 And the LORD [the supreme God, Yehovah] said to him, “Bring Me a heifer [a young female calf, nearly grown], a goat [she-goat, female], and a ram [strong], each three years old [in their third year, at full strength], along with a turtledove and a young pigeon [nestling, with few feathers].” word study 10 So Abram brought [took unto him] all these [everything, every single one] to Him, split [divided in the midst, cut in two] each of them down the middle [in the midst, into two parts], and laid [put, placed] the halves [each piece, every part] opposite [one against, facing] each other [its fellow, neighbor]. The birds [little birds, fowl], however, he did not [refused to, would not] cut [divide, chop] in half [into two parts, asunder]. word study 11 And the birds of prey [ravenous birds, evil birds, hawks] descended [came down, fell] on the carcasses [dead bodies, corpses], but Abram [the original name of Abraham] drove them away [shooed them away, frightened them off, blew them away]. word study 12 As the sun [the celestial body] was setting, Abram [the original name of Abraham, a key figure] fell into a deep sleep [a trance-like state], and suddenly great terror [fear or horror] and darkness [a time of sadness or trouble] overwhelmed [fell upon, came over] him. word study 13 Then the LORD [the Supreme God, Yehovah] said to Abram [the father of many], “Know [be aware, have certainty] for certain [without a doubt, absolutely] that your descendants [seed, offspring] will be strangers [sojourners, foreigners] in a land [country, territory] that is not their own [does not belong to them], and they will be enslaved [served, worked] and mistreated [afflicted, oppressed] four [a period of] hundred [many] years [a long time]. word study 14 But I [the Lord, the supreme Judge] will judge [condemn, punish, or vindicate] the nation [Gentiles, non-Hebrew people] they serve [are enslaved, or work for] as slaves [in bondage, or captivity], and afterward [following this, or in the future] they will depart [come out, or leave] with many [great, or abundant] possessions [property, or riches, including livestock and goods]. word study 15 You, however, will go [come, approach] to your fathers [ancestors, heritage] in peace [completeness, wellness, friendship] and be buried [laid to rest, interred] at a ripe [good, pleasant] old age [greyheaded, long life, wisdom]. word study 16 In the fourth [ranging from three to four, a period of time] generation [a group of people] your descendants will return [come back, turn back] here [to this place], for [because] the iniquity [moral evil, sin] of the Amorites [a Canaanite tribe] is not yet [has not reached its full extent] complete [whole, full].” word study 17 When the sun [the celestial body] had set and darkness [thick gloom, a period of obscurity] had fallen, behold [look, take notice], a smoking firepot [a furnace, a place of intense heat] and a flaming torch [a burning lamp] appeared and passed between [in the midst of, separating] the halves of the carcasses [the divided animals]. word study 18 On that day [in that specific time, at that moment] the LORD [Yehovah, the self-existent God] made [cut, established] a covenant [promise, agreement] with Abram [the father of many], saying, “To your descendants [seed, offspring] I have given [granted, bestowed] this land [earth, territory]—from the river [stream, watercourse] of Egypt [Mizraim, the land of the Nile] to the great [large, mighty] River Euphrates [Perath, the river of abundance]— word study 19 the land [territory, region] of the Kenites [Kenite tribe, descendants of Kenite], Kenizzites [descendant of Kenaz], Kadmonites [ancient ones, Kadmonite tribe], word study 20 Hittites [descendants of Heth], Perizzites [a Canaanite tribe], Rephaites [a group of giants, the Raphaite], word study 21 Amorites [a native tribe of Canaan, descended from Canaan], Canaanites [merchants and traders], Girgashites [a native tribe of Canaan, descended from Girgas], and Jebusites [people living in Jebus, the early name for Jerusalem].” word study