2
But Abramוַ אַבְרָםsaid,יֹּאמֶר“AdonaiאֲדֹנָיYHWH,יֱהוִהwhatמַהwill you giveתִּתֶּןme,לִיwhile Iוְאָנֹכִיgo onהוֹלֵךְchildless,עֲרִירִיand the heirוּבֶן מֶשֶׁקof my houseבֵּיתִיisהוּאEliezerאֱלִיעֶזֶרof Damascus?”דַּמֶּשֶׂק
Genesis 15:2
Study it in the app“But Abram said, “Adonai YHWH, what will you give me, while I go on childless, and the heir of my house is Eliezer of Damascus?””
To childless Abram, God shows the stars and promises descendantsFaithfulnessChildless Abram hears God's promise and believes itWaiting on God
With the Hebrew beneath
Genesis 15:2, word by word
- But Abramאַבְרָםavram
Abram
Abram, the name of Abraham before God changed it (Genesis 17:5). It means "exalted father".
Where else “avram” appears- saidיֹּאמֶרyomer
say
To say with the mouth to someone what one thinks or wants, or to answer him.
Where else “yomer” appears- “Adonaiאֲדֹנָadona
Adonai, Lord
"Adonai": "my Lord", said only to God. It is a title of respect that acknowledges his authority. It is not another god besides YHWH: often it goes with his name, "Adonai YHWH", Lord YHWH.
Where else “adona” appears- YHWHיֱהוִהyehvi
YHWH (with Adonai)
The four letters of God's name, YHWH (see "YHWH"). They almost always go with "Adonai"; then Jews, when reading, said "Elohim" so as not to repeat "Adonai".
Where else “yehvi” appears- will you giveתִּתֶּןtiten
give
To hand something over to someone: a gift, a payment, a charge or a land.
Where else “titen” appears- go onהוֹלֵךְholech
go
To move on foot from place to place; to set out.
Where else “holech” appears- childlessעֲרִירִיariri
childless
Childless.
Where else “ariri” appears- and the heirבֶןven
descendant
A descendant or member of a people: "sons of Israel".
Where else “ven” appears- and the heirמֶשֶׁקmeshek
possession, heir
A rare word whose exact sense is uncertain; from the context, the one who takes over the household's goods: the heir.
Where else “meshek” appears- of my houseבֵּיתִbeti
household
The family, everyone living under one roof.
Where else “beti” appears- Eliezerאֱלִיעֶזֶרeliezer
Eliezer
Eliezer, the name of Abram's trusted servant from Damascus and of several Israelites, among them a son of Moses and a prophet.
Where else “eliezer” appears- of Damascusדַּמֶּשֶׂקdamesek
Damascus
See it on the mapWhere else “damesek” appears
Places in this verse
Damascus
Today: Damascus, capital of Syria
A city in southern Syria, about 135 miles (220 km) northeast of Jerusalem; today it is the capital of Syria.
David put it under his control (2 Sam 8:6). On the road to Damascus, Jesus appeared to Saul, who was going to persecute believers (Acts 9:3-5).
The context
1After these things the word of YHWH came to Abram in a vision, saying, “Do not be afraid, Abram; I am a shield to you; your reward will be very great.”
2 · This verse (above)
3And Abram said, “Look, to me you have not given offspring; and look, one born in my house will be my heir.”
To study Genesis 15 in a group
1. What it says
What did YHWH promise Abram about his descendants, and how did Abram respond (vv. 5-6)?
2. What it means
What relation does the text show between Abram’s faith and its being counted to him as righteousness (v. 6)?
3. How I live it
Which promise of Elohim is hard for you to believe today, and how can you talk with him about it?