Genesis 15:21 — Word Study
WLCוְאֶת־ הָֽאֱמֹרִי֙ וְאֶת־ הַֽכְּנַעֲנִ֔י וְאֶת־ הַגִּרְגָּשִׁ֖י וְאֶת־ הַיְבוּסִֽי׃ ס
BSAAmoritesʼĔmôrîy [a native tribe of Canaan, descended from Canaan] CanaanitesKᵉnaʻanîy [merchants and traders] GirgashitesGirgâshîy [a native tribe of Canaan, descended from Girgas] and JebusitesYᵉbûwçîy [people living in Jebus, the early name for Jerusalem]
| Greek | English | Parsing |
|---|---|---|
| וְאֶת־ | and the object marker | Conjunction, particle |
| הָֽאֱמֹרִי֙ | the Amorite[s] | Particle, noun gentilic masculine singular absolute |
| וְאֶת־ | and the object marker | Conjunction, particle |
| הַֽכְּנַעֲנִ֔י | the Canaanite[s] | Particle, noun gentilic masculine singular absolute |
| וְאֶת־ | and the object marker | Conjunction, particle |
| הַגִּרְגָּשִׁ֖י | the Girgashite[s] | Particle, noun gentilic masculine singular absolute |
| וְאֶת־ | and the object marker | Conjunction, particle |
| הַיְבוּסִֽי׃ ס | the Jebusite[s] | Particle, noun gentilic masculine singular absolute |
Every word in the verse. Click a row to open it in the panel on the left.
| BSB | Amorites, Canaanites, Girgashites, and Jebusites.” |
| KJV | And the Amorites, and the Canaanites, and the Girgashites, and the Jebusites. |
| ASV | and the Amorite, and the Canaanite, and the Girgashite, and the Jebusite. |
| YLT | and the Amorite, and the Canaanite, and the Girgashite, and the Jebusite.' |
| WEB | the Amorites, the Canaanites, the Girgashites, and the Jebusites.” |
| BBE | And the Amorite, and the Canaanite, and the Girgashite, and the Jebusite. |
The translations agree on the identification of the tribes in this verse.
The sentence consists of a main clause listing the tribes without any additional subordinate clauses.
4 commentators on this verse
Gill, Jamieson, Trapp, Cambridge & more — read them ›
clause
The sentence as the grammar sees it Open the tree ›
Every word here is used elsewhere in the Old Testament.
Bars are logarithmic — אֵת, the commonest word in the Hebrew Bible, stands about 11,000 times, so a linear scale would leave everything else invisible. Click a row to open that word.
Deep Study — Genesis 15:21
Sections marked generated are written from the data on this page rather than by a named author. Everything else — the lexicon entries, the cross references, the manuscript readings, the counts — is quoted from its source unchanged.
Context — The Covenant with Abramgenerated
Genesis 15:21 lists the Amorites, Canaanites, Girgashites, and Jebusites as part of the land promised to Abram's descendants. This verse is part of a larger covenant where God assures Abram of the land that will belong to his offspring, as seen in the preceding verses. The mention of these tribes highlights the peoples that the Israelites would encounter as they entered Canaan, emphasizing the significance of the land and the promise made to Abram.
Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Genesis 10:15–19 | And Canaan was the father of Sidon his firstborn, and of the Hittites, |
| 2 | Exodus 23:23–28 | For My angel will go before you and bring you into the land of the Amorites, Hittites, Perizzites, Canaanites, Hivites, and Jebusites, and I will annihilate them. |
| 3 | Exodus 33:2 | And I will send an angel before you, and I will drive out the Canaanites, Amorites, Hittites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites. |
| 4 | Exodus 34:11 | Observe what I command you this day. I will drive out before you the Amorites, Canaanites, Hittites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites. |
| 5 | Deuteronomy 7:1 | When the LORD your God brings you into the land that you are entering to possess, and He drives out before you many nations—the Hittites, Girgashites, Amorites, Canaanites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites, seven nations larger and stronger than you— |
The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge — 6 references, hung on the phrase they belong to
The Key Word — אֱמֹרִי, ha.'e.mo.Rigenerated
The word אֱמֹרִי (Emoriy) refers to the Amorites, a prominent tribe descended from Canaan. They are first mentioned in Genesis 10:16 and are known to have been dispossessed by the Israelites during their conquest of Canaan. The term may derive from a root meaning 'to say,' suggesting a connection to prominence or publicity.
In this verse, the Amorites are listed among other tribes as part of the land promised to Abram's descendants, indicating their significance in the historical narrative of the Israelites' journey.
How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated
This study reads the verse in the Berean Standard Bible, so the BSB is the wording every comparison below is made against.
Sentence Structuregenerated
The main clause of the verse lists the tribes, with the finite verb implied in the context. The structure is straightforward, presenting a series of noun phrases that identify the tribes of Canaan.
The Hebrew word order emphasizes the conjunction וְ (ve), which serves to connect each tribe in the list, creating a cumulative effect.
Septuagint Backgroundgenerated
The Septuagint translates אֱמֹרִי as αμορραίους, which retains the identity of the Amorites, showing consistency in the recognition of these tribes across translations.
This choice reflects a direct correspondence with the Hebrew term, maintaining the cultural and historical context of the Amorites in the narrative.
In plain words — the whole versegenerated
Genesis 15:21 lists the Amorites, Canaanites, Girgashites, and Jebusites as tribes in the land promised to Abram's descendants. These tribes represent the peoples the Israelites would encounter as they entered Canaan, highlighting the significance of the land and the promise made to Abram.
Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated
The Amorites are a Canaanite tribe descended from Canaan, known for being a prominent group that the Israelites displaced during their conquest.
Canaanites were merchants and traders, inhabitants of the land of Canaan, known for their commercial activities.
The Girgashites are a native tribe of Canaan, mentioned as one of the groups living in the region during the time of the Israelites' entry into the land.
The Jebusites were the inhabitants of Jebus, the early name for Jerusalem, and are noted as descendants of Jebus, a son of Canaan.
Reflection Questionsgenerated
- What can we learn from the tribes listed in this verse about the history of the land of Canaan?
- How does understanding the identity of these tribes enrich our comprehension of God's promise to Abram?
- In what ways can we see parallels between the Israelites' journey and our own journeys of faith?
- How can the historical context of these tribes inform our understanding of the biblical narrative?
Commentators on this verse — 4 expositors, verse by verse
Each of these wrote on Genesis 15:21 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.
John Gill1697–1771Gill's Exposition of the Entire BibleAnd the Amorites,.... The same with the Amorite, Genesis 10:16; they inhabited both on this and the other side Jordan: and the Canaanites; which were a particular tribe or nation that bore the name
Read John Gill on Genesis 15 →Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's CommentaryAnd the Amorites, and the Canaanites, and the Girgashites, and the Jebusites. The Amorites.
Read Robert Jamieson on Genesis 15 →John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New TestamentsGenesis 15:19 The Kenites, and the Kenizzites, and the Kadmonites, Genesis 15:20 And the Hittites, and the Perizzites, and the Rephaims, Genesis 15:21 And the Amorites, and the Canaanites, and the Girgashites, and the Jebusites.Ver. 19-21. The Kenites, and the Kenezzites.] R. Salomon noteth, that whereas ten nations are here reckoned up, seven only were given to the Israelites. He addeth also, that the Kenites, Kenezzites, and Cadmonims were the same with the Edomites, Moabites, and Ammonites, all which were at length to be possessed by the Israelites.
Read John Trapp on Genesis 15 →CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges21. the Amorite, &c.] See Genesis 10:15-16.
Read Cambridge on Genesis 15 →The verse in English, compared — 17 translations, and where they part company
Every translation on this page is a decision someone had to make and commit to. Read down a column and you see one translator's judgement; read across a row and you see the range the Greek actually allows. The BSB is the wording the rest of this page is measured against, so it is listed first.
Modern formal
Amorites, Canaanites, Girgashites, and Jebusites.”
the Amorites, the Canaanites, the Girgashites, and the Jebusites.”
Amorites, Canaanites, Girgashites, and Jebusites.”
Amorites, Canaanites, Girgashites, and Jebusites.”
Tyndale line
And the Amorites, and the Canaanites, and the Girgashites, and the Jebusites.
and the Amorite, and the Canaanite, and the Girgashite, and the Jebusite.
and the Amorite, and the Canaanite, and the Girgashite, and the Jebusite.
And the Amorites, and the Canaanites, and the Girgashites, and the Jebusites.
The Amorites also, and the Canaanites, and the Girgashites, and the Iebusites.
Strictly literal
and the Amorites, and the Canaanites, and the Girgashites, and the Jebusites.
and the Amorite, and the Canaanite, and the Girgashite, and the Jebusite.'
and the Amorite, and the Canaanite, and the Girgashite, and the Jebusite.”
And the Emorites, and the Canaanites, and the Girgashites, and the Jebusites.
the Amorites, the Canaanites, the Girgashites, and the Jebusites.”
From the Latin
And the Amorrhites, and the Chanaanites, and the Gergesites, and the Jebusites.
Simplified
Amorites, Canaanites, Girgashites, and Jebusites.”
And the Amorite, and the Canaanite, and the Girgashite, and the Jebusite.
Counted from the translations carried on this site, not from a survey of every English Bible. A rendering shared by many versions is usually inherited rather than independently arrived at — the Tyndale line in particular runs through most of them.
The sentence as the grammar sees it — from the MACULA Hebrew treebank
This is not our own analysis: it is the scholarly syntax tree for the verse, showing how the clause actually holds together.
Boxes are the grammarian's groupings — clause, noun phrase, prepositional phrase.
The four witnesses to this verse — Masoretic, Septuagint, Samaritan, Qumran
The Masoretic Text and the Septuagint agree on the identification of the tribes listed. However, the Samaritan Pentateuch differs by including the Hivites instead of the Girgashites, indicating a variation in the tradition regarding the tribes present in the land.
וְאֶת־ הָֽאֱמֹרִי֙ וְאֶת־ הַֽכְּנַעֲנִ֔י וְאֶת־ הַגִּרְגָּשִׁ֖י וְאֶת־ הַיְבוּסִֽי׃ ס
8 of the 8 words are matched. This is the word-by-word correspondence, not the Septuagint's own sentence — its word order and its articles are its own.
ואת האמרי ואת הכנעני ואת הגרגשׁי ואת החוי ואת היבוסי
1 word differs from the Masoretic Text: חוי (Hivite)
Four traditions, not one. “On the leather” means the letters physically survive on the scroll, as against letters an editor has supplied to fill a hole in it — a restoration is a scholar’s reading, not a reading of the manuscript. Words in [square brackets] are supplied; the notes count them apart from what survives.
The map of this verse — what each word keeps company with
This is a map of two things, both counted rather than judged. Company kept: which words stand within three words of each of these, anywhere in the Hebrew Bible — the thicker the line, the more often the pair meet compared with chance. Built from: the words a word is made out of, taken from its own Strong’s entry. It is not a map of meaning: nothing here claims two words mean the same thing. Click any circle to see the numbers behind it.
Lexicons — every word in Genesis 15:21
One dossier per word, with every reference work grouped by kind — Hebrew lexicons, morphology, Bible dictionaries, topical chains and the English of the translators themselves. The verse sits at the head of each block with the word under study lit, so you never lose your place. The panel above gives the short answer; this is the long one, and it is the part of the page worth indexing.
Every entry below is the lexicographer's own text. On the Hebrew: Brown-Driver-Briggs entire and its gloss set, Strong's Hebrew Dictionary, and Tyndale House's Translators Brief lexicon. Where a cell says a work has no entry, that work genuinely has none for this word.
אֵת (eth) is primarily a grammatical marker in Hebrew, indicating the definite direct object of a verb. It is not translated into English and typically precedes nouns that are definite. The word is derived from a demonstrative sense of entity, related to the Hebrew word for 'self.' Its Aramaic equivalent is יָת (yat).
אֵת the mark of the accusative, prefixed as a rule only to nouns that are definite
base
H853 אֵת the mark of the accusative, prefixed as a rule only to nouns that are definite
853 'eth ayth
apparent contracted from 226 in the demonstrative sense of
entity; properly, self (but generally used to point out more
definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or
namely):--(as such unrepresented in English).
see HEBREW for 0226
אֵת (et) — [Obj.].
sign of the definite direct object, not translated in English but generally preceding and indicating the accusative
Aramaic equivalent: yat (יָת "whom" H3487)
HC/To — Conjunction · particleHC/To
אֱמֹרִי (Emoriy) refers to the Amorites, a group of people descended from Canaan, possibly meaning 'mountain-dwellers.' They are noted as a prominent tribe dispossessed by the Israelites during their conquest of Canaan. The term may derive from a root meaning 'to say,' suggesting a connection to prominence or publicity.
אֱמֹרִי n.pr.m.coll. Amorites (perh. = mountain-dwellers)
called son of Canaan
a chief people dispossessed by Hebrews
adj.gent.
base
H567 אֱמֹרִי Amorites (perh. = mountain-dwellers)
567 'Emoriy em-o-ree'
probably a patronymic from an unused name derived from 559 in
the sense of publicity, i.e. prominence; thus, a mountaineer;
an Emorite, one of the Canaanitish tribes:--Amorite.
see HEBREW for 0559
אֱמֹרִי (e.mo.ri) — Amorite.
Someone descended from Amor(?), first mentioned at Gen.10.16; descended from Canaan (H3667); along with Sidon (H6721), Heth (H2845), Jebusite (H2983), Girgashite (H1622), Hivite (H2340), Arkite (H6208), Sinite (H5513), Arvadite (H0721), Zemarite (H6786) and Hamathite (H2577)
§ Amorite = "a sayer"
one of the peoples of east Canaan and beyond the Jordan, dispossessed by the Israelite incursion from Egypt
Art | Ngmsa — Particle · noun gentilic masculine singular absoluteHTd/Ngmsa
אֵת (eth) is primarily a grammatical marker in Hebrew, indicating the definite direct object of a verb. It is not translated into English and typically precedes nouns that are definite. The word is derived from a demonstrative sense of entity, related to the Hebrew word for 'self.' Its Aramaic equivalent is יָת (yat).
אֵת the mark of the accusative, prefixed as a rule only to nouns that are definite
base
H853 אֵת the mark of the accusative, prefixed as a rule only to nouns that are definite
853 'eth ayth
apparent contracted from 226 in the demonstrative sense of
entity; properly, self (but generally used to point out more
definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or
namely):--(as such unrepresented in English).
see HEBREW for 0226
אֵת (et) — [Obj.].
sign of the definite direct object, not translated in English but generally preceding and indicating the accusative
Aramaic equivalent: yat (יָת "whom" H3487)
HC/To — Conjunction · particleHC/To
כְּנַעֲנִי (ken-ah-an-ee) refers to a Canaanite, an inhabitant of Canaan, and also denotes a merchant or trader. It is derived from the root word for Canaan, which can imply a connection to trade, as Canaanites were known for their mercantile activities. The term can also describe a woman from Canaan, first mentioned in Genesis 46:10.
כְּנַעֲנִי adj. et nom.gent.
base
כְּנַעֲנִי n.m. trader, merchant
base
H3669a כְּנַעֲנִי adj. et nom. gent. H3669b כְּנַעֲנִי trader, merchant
3669 Kna`aniy ken-ah-an-ee'
patrial from 3667; a Kenaanite or inhabitant of Kenaan; by
implication, a pedlar (the Canaanites standing for their
neighbors the Ishmaelites, who conducted mercantile
caravans):--Canaanite, merchant, trafficker.
see HEBREW for 03667
כְּנַעֲנִי (ke.na.a.ni) — Canaanite.
Group of ke.na.an (כְּנַ֫עַן "Canaan" H3667A)
§ Canaanite, of Cana "zealous"
adj
descendant or inhabitant of Canaan
כְּנַעֲנִי (ke.na.a.ni) — merchant.
a merchant, trader
Group of ke.na.an (כְּנַ֫עַן "merchant" H3667B)
כְּנַעֲנִי (ke.na.a.ni) — Canaanitess.
Describing a woman living at the time of the Patriarchs, first mentioned at Gen.46.10;
mother of: Shaul (H7586H)
§ a merchant, trader
Art | Ngmsa — Particle · noun gentilic masculine singular absoluteHTd/Ngmsa
אֵת (eth) is primarily a grammatical marker in Hebrew, indicating the definite direct object of a verb. It is not translated into English and typically precedes nouns that are definite. The word is derived from a demonstrative sense of entity, related to the Hebrew word for 'self.' Its Aramaic equivalent is יָת (yat).
אֵת the mark of the accusative, prefixed as a rule only to nouns that are definite
base
H853 אֵת the mark of the accusative, prefixed as a rule only to nouns that are definite
853 'eth ayth
apparent contracted from 226 in the demonstrative sense of
entity; properly, self (but generally used to point out more
definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or
namely):--(as such unrepresented in English).
see HEBREW for 0226
אֵת (et) — [Obj.].
sign of the definite direct object, not translated in English but generally preceding and indicating the accusative
Aramaic equivalent: yat (יָת "whom" H3487)
HC/To — Conjunction · particleHC/To
גִּרְגָּשִׁי (Girgashiy) refers to a Girgashite, a descendant of Canaan. The term is linked to the native tribes of Canaan, specifically mentioned in Genesis 10:16. It may mean 'dwelling on clayey soil.' The lexicons indicate that the word is derived from an uncertain origin.
גִּרְגָּשִׁי adj.gent. ‘begotten’ by Canaan
base
H1622 גִּרְגָּשִׁי ‘begotten’ by Canaan
1622 Girgashiy ghir-gaw-shee'
patrial from an unused name (of uncertain derivation); a
Girgashite, one of the native tribes of Canaan:--Girgashite,
Girgasite.
גִּרְגָּשִׁי (gir.ga.shi) — Girgashite.
Someone descended from Girgas(?) of the Canaanites, first mentioned at Gen.10.16; descended from Canaan (H3667); along with Sidon (H6721), Heth (H2845), Jebusite (H2983), Amorite (H0567), Hivite (H2340), Arkite (H6208), Sinite (H5513), Arvadite (H0721), Zemarite (H6786) and Hamathite (H2577); also called in KJV: Girgasite;
§ Girgashite or Girgasite = "dwelling on a clayey soil"
descendants of Canaan and one of the nations living east of the sea of Galilee when the Israelites entered the promised land
Art | Ngmsa — Particle · noun gentilic masculine singular absoluteHTd/Ngmsa
אֵת (eth) is primarily a grammatical marker in Hebrew, indicating the definite direct object of a verb. It is not translated into English and typically precedes nouns that are definite. The word is derived from a demonstrative sense of entity, related to the Hebrew word for 'self.' Its Aramaic equivalent is יָת (yat).
אֵת the mark of the accusative, prefixed as a rule only to nouns that are definite
base
H853 אֵת the mark of the accusative, prefixed as a rule only to nouns that are definite
853 'eth ayth
apparent contracted from 226 in the demonstrative sense of
entity; properly, self (but generally used to point out more
definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or
namely):--(as such unrepresented in English).
see HEBREW for 0226
אֵת (et) — [Obj.].
sign of the definite direct object, not translated in English but generally preceding and indicating the accusative
Aramaic equivalent: yat (יָת "whom" H3487)
HC/To — Conjunction · particleHC/To
יְבוּסִי (Yebuwciy) means 'Jebusite,' referring to the inhabitants or descendants of Jebus, an early name for Jerusalem. The term is derived from a root associated with Canaan, specifically the third son of Canaan. It is used in the context of the people living in or around Jerusalem.
יְבוּסִי, יְבֻסִי
adj. gent. Jebusite, Jebusites
Jerusalem
base
H2983 יְבוּסִי, יְבֻסִי . adj. gent. Jebusite, Jebusites
. Jerusalem
2983 Yebuwciy yeb-oo-see'
patrial from 2982; a Jebusite or inhabitant of
Jebus:--Jebusite(-s).
see HEBREW for 02982
יְבוּסִי (ye.vu.si) — Jebusite.
Someone descended from Jebus(?) of the Canaanites, first mentioned at Gen.10.16; descended from Canaan (H3667); along with Sidon (H6721), Heth (H2845), Amorite (H0567), Girgashite (H1622), Hivite (H2340), Arkite (H6208), Sinite (H5513), Arvadite (H0721), Zemarite (H6786) and Hamathite (H2577)
§ Jebusite = "descendants of Jebus"
descendants of the 3rd son of Canaan who lived in or around the site of Jebus, the early name for Jerusalem
יְבוּסִי (ye.vu.si) — Jebus.
Jebusite = "descendants of Jebus"
descendants of the 3rd son of Canaan who lived in or around the site of Jebus, the early name for Jerusalem
Another spelling of ye.ru.sha.laim (יְרוּשָׁלִַ֫ם, יְרוּשְׁלֵם "Jerusalem" H3389)
Art | Ngmsa — Particle · noun gentilic masculine singular absoluteHTd/Ngmsa