Genesis 22:15–18
Abraham is promised offspring through whom all the nations of the earth will be blessed
Study it word by word15The angel of YHWH called to Abraham a second time from the heavens
16and said, “By myself I have sworn, declares YHWH, because you have done this thing and have not withheld your son, your only one,
17that I will surely bless you and will surely multiply your offspring as the stars of the heavens and as the sand that is on the shore of the sea; and your offspring will possess the gate of its enemies.
18And through your offspring all the nations of the earth will bless themselves, because you listened to my voice.”
In its context
13Abraham lifted up his eyes and saw, and look, a ram behind him, caught in the thicket by its horns. Abraham went and took the ram and offered it up as a burnt offering in place of his son.
14Abraham called the name of that place YHWH Yireh, as it is said to this day, “On the mountain of YHWH it will be seen.”
…
19Abraham returned to his young men, and they rose and went together to Beersheba. And Abraham lived in Beersheba.
20After these things it was told to Abraham, saying, “Look, Milcah too has borne sons to Nahor your brother:
Its words in the original
- יִּקְרָאyikra· call, proclaim
Call: speak out to someone, summon, invite, give a name, proclaim; also read aloud. "Call on the name of YHWH" is to pray to him and worship him.
- מַלְאַךְmalach· messenger, angel
Messenger: someone sent with a task. It can be a human being or one sent by God, that is, an angel. "The angel of YHWH" is a messenger who speaks in God's name, and in several passages the text treats him as God himself (Genesis 16:13; Exodus 3:2-6).
- יְהוָהyehva· YHWH
The personal name of the God of Israel, written in Hebrew with four letters, Y-H-W-H, without vowels. Out of reverence Jews stopped pronouncing it and read "Adonai" (Lord), so many Bibles put "the LORD" or "Jehovah". This translation keeps the four letters. The name is related to the verb "to be" (Exodus 3:14-15). He is not a god other than Elohim: "YHWH Elohim" is the same Creator God, called by his name.
- אַבְרָהָםavraham· Abraham
Abraham, the name God gave to Abram; it sounds like "father of a multitude" (Genesis 17:5). The father of the people of Israel, to whom God promised the land and blessing for all the families of the earth.
- שֵׁנִיתshenit· second
Second; also "again".
- שָּׁמָיִםshamayim· heavens, sky
The heavens: what is above, where the clouds, the sun and the stars are seen; also the dwelling of God. In Hebrew it is always plural. With birds, "the sky".
- יֹּאמֶרyomer· say
Say, speak. The most common verb for bringing in what someone says; sometimes "think" (say to oneself) or "command".
- נִשְׁבַּעְתִּיnishbati· swear
Swear: bind oneself solemnly, calling on God as witness; in the causative form, make someone swear. In Hebrew the verb looks like the word "seven".
- נְאֻםneum· declaration
Solemn declaration. "Declares YHWH" is the formula that marks words as spoken by God himself.
- עָשִׂיתָasita· do, make
Do, make, in the widest sense: build, produce, carry out, keep (a command), prepare.
- דָּבָרdavar· word, matter, thing
Word; what is said. Also "matter" or "thing": what is spoken about, an affair, an event.
- חָשַׂכְתָּchasachta· hold back
Hold back, restrain, keep from; spare.
- בִּנְbin· son
Son. In the plural it can include sons and daughters, and also grandsons and descendants. "Son of..." also says what group someone belongs to ("sons of Israel" = Israelites).
- יְחִידֶyechide· only, only one
Only, alone; from there "dearly loved"; also one's life, which cannot be replaced.
- בָרֵךְvarech· bless, kneel
Bless. When God blesses, he gives good: life, children, fruit, prosperity. When a person "blesses God", he gives him nothing: he praises and thanks him. Between people, it is wishing the other the good that comes from God; also greet. The root also means kneel.
- הַרְבָּהharba· multiply, increase
Become many, increase in number or amount; multiply. In the causative form, make many, do much.
- זַרְעֲzara· offspring, seed
Seed. From there "offspring": the children and generations that come from someone. Also sowing and semen.
- כוֹכְבֵיchochve· star
Star.
- חוֹלchol· sand
Sand.
- שְׂפַתsefat· lip, language, edge
Lip. From there, the way of speaking: speech or language. Also the shore or edge of something.
- יָּםyam· sea, west
Sea, or any great body of water (also a lake). Since the Mediterranean lies west of Israel, the word also means "west".
- יִרַשׁyirash· possess, drive out
Take possession of something; inherit. Also take from others what they had: drive out, dispossess.
- שַׁעַרshaar· gate
Gate of a city. It was also the open place where the elders met, business was done and disputes were judged.
- אֹיְבָיoyvay· enemy
Enemy, foe: one who hates and opposes another.
- גּוֹיֵיgoye· nation
Nation, a people with its land. In the plural, "the nations": all the peoples of the world, and especially those who are not Israel.
- אָרֶץarets· earth, land
The earth, in two senses: the whole world in contrast with the heavens, or a particular country or region ("the land of Egypt").
- עֵקֶבekev· because, as a result
Because, on account of; as the result or reward of something.
- שָׁמַעְתָּshamata· hear, listen, obey
Hear, listen. In the Bible listening truly includes paying heed; so it often means "obey". In the causative form, make heard, proclaim.
- קֹלִkoli· voice, sound
Voice or sound: what is heard, from a person, an animal or a thing (thunder, steps).