Genesis 15:4
Genesis 15:4 in Multiple Translations
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.”
And, behold, the word of the LORD came unto him, saying, This shall not be thine heir; but he that shall come forth out of thine own bowels shall be thine heir.
And, behold, the word of Jehovah came unto him, saying, This man shall not be thine heir; but he that shall come forth out of thine own bowels shall be thine heir.
Then said the Lord, This man will not get the heritage, but a son of your body will have your property after you.
But then the Lord told him, “This man won't be your heir. Your heir will be your very own son.”
Then beholde, the worde of the Lord came vnto him, saying, This man shall not be thine heire, but one that shall come out of thine owne bowels, he shalbe thine heire.
And lo, the word of Jehovah [is] unto him, saying, 'This [one] doth not heir thee; but he who cometh out from thy bowels, he doth heir thee;'
Behold, the LORD’s word came to him, saying, “This man will not be your heir, but he who will come out of your own body will be your heir.”
And behold, the word of the LORD came to him, saying, This shall not be thy heir; but he that shall come forth out of thy own bowels shall be thy heir.
And immediately the word of the Lord came to him, saying: He shall not be thy heir: but he that shall come out of thy bowels, him shalt thou have for thy heir.
Yahweh replied, “No! He will not be the one who will inherit it. Instead, you yourself will be the father of the one who will inherit everything you own.”
Then Abram heard God talk to him again. God said, “I tell you, that work-man will not get all your things after you die. I am going to give you a son, and he will get all your things after you die.”
Berean Amplified Bible — Genesis 15:4
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Genesis 15:4 Interlinear (Deep Study)
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Hebrew Word Reference — Genesis 15:4
Study Notes — Genesis 15:4
- Context
- Cross References
- Genesis 15:4 Summary
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Reflection Questions
- Gill's Exposition on Genesis 15:4
- Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Genesis 15:4
- Matthew Poole's Commentary on Genesis 15:4
- Trapp's Commentary on Genesis 15:4
- Whedon's Commentary on Genesis 15:4
- Sermons on Genesis 15:4
Context — God’s Covenant with Abram
4Then 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.”
5And 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.” 6Abram believed the LORD, and it was credited to him as righteousness.Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Genesis 17:16 | And I will bless her and will surely give you a son by her. I will bless her, and she will be the mother of nations; kings of peoples will descend from her.” |
| 2 | Galatians 4:28 | Now you, brothers, like Isaac, are children of promise. |
| 3 | 2 Samuel 7:12 | And when your days are fulfilled and you rest with your fathers, I will raise up your descendant after you, who will come from your own body, and I will establish his kingdom. |
| 4 | 2 Chronicles 32:21 | and the LORD sent an angel who annihilated every mighty man of valor and every leader and commander in the camp of the king of Assyria. So he withdrew to his own land in disgrace. And when he entered the temple of his god, some of his own sons struck him down with the sword. |
| 5 | Genesis 21:12 | But God said to Abraham, “Do not be distressed about the boy and your maidservant. Listen to everything that Sarah tells you, for through Isaac your offspring will be reckoned. |
| 6 | Philemon 1:12 | I am sending back to you him who is my very heart. |
| 7 | 2 Samuel 16:11 | Then David said to Abishai and to all his servants, “Behold, my own son, my own flesh and blood, seeks my life. How much more, then, this Benjamite! Leave him alone and let him curse me, for the LORD has told him so. |
Genesis 15:4 Summary
This verse, Genesis 15:4, tells us that God spoke directly to Abram, saying that his heir would not be Eliezer, a servant in his household, but rather a biological child. This was a significant promise because Abram was childless and had been considering Eliezer as his heir. God's promise to Abram reminds us that He has a plan for our lives, and we can trust in His timing and provision, just as Abram did (see Romans 4:20-22). By trusting in God's promises, we can have confidence in His plan for our lives, even when things seem uncertain or impossible.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does it mean that the word of the LORD came to Abram?
This means that God spoke directly to Abram, providing guidance and reassurance, as seen in other instances like Genesis 12:1-3 where God called Abram to leave his country and family.
Why did God say that Eliezer of Damascus would not be Abram's heir?
God said this because He had a different plan for Abram, one that involved a biological heir, as stated in Genesis 15:4, which would be a part of God's larger promise to make Abram the father of many nations, as seen in Genesis 17:4-6.
How did Abram's understanding of God's promise relate to his own situation?
Abram understood that God's promise was not just about having an heir, but about having a biological child, which was significant because Abram was childless and had been considering Eliezer as his heir, as mentioned in Genesis 15:2-3.
What can we learn from God's direct communication with Abram?
We can learn that God desires a personal relationship with us and is willing to communicate with us directly, as seen in Genesis 15:4 and other verses like Jeremiah 33:3, where God invites us to call to Him and promises to answer.
Reflection Questions
- What are some areas in my life where I need to trust God's promise and timing, just like Abram did?
- How can I apply the principle of trusting God's Word, as seen in Abram's story, to my own life and circumstances?
- What does it mean for me to believe God's promises, as Abram did in Genesis 15:6, and how can I demonstrate that faith in my daily life?
- In what ways can I, like Abram, look beyond my current circumstances and trust in God's plan for my future?
Gill's Exposition on Genesis 15:4
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Genesis 15:4
Matthew Poole's Commentary on Genesis 15:4
Trapp's Commentary on Genesis 15:4
Whedon's Commentary on Genesis 15:4
Sermons on Genesis 15:4
| Sermon | Description | |
|---|---|---|
|
Error of Balaam - Part 1 by Keith Green | In this sermon, the preacher discusses the story of Balaam from the book of Numbers in the Bible. Balaam, a prophet of God, misused his gifts and relationship with God for personal |
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Practically Living the Heavenly Vision by Lance Lambert | In this sermon, the speaker emphasizes the importance of having a living, working faith in order to please God. He highlights the need for believers to rely on God and seek His gui |
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(Genesis) 28 - Abraham and Justification by Faith by S. Lewis Johnson | In this sermon, the speaker begins by referencing the previous chapter in the Bible where Abram wins a great victory against the kings from the east and retrieves his nephew Lot. A |
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The Covenant by Bill Randles | In this sermon, the preacher discusses the horror of great darkness and the significance of death in bringing about righteousness and everlasting life. He connects this concept to |
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Visions of God - Part 3 by David Adams | In this sermon, the preacher discusses the importance of food and sustenance in our lives. He emphasizes that nothing and no one is self-sufficient or self-sustaining, and therefor |
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The Life of Abraham - Part 4 by W.F. Anderson | In this sermon, the preacher focuses on the 15th chapter of Genesis and the life of Abraham. The sermon begins by discussing the importance of studying the Bible and recommends a b |
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The Family by G.W. North | In this sermon, the speaker emphasizes the potential dangers of grouping people together in large crowds, using the example of universities where young people live together and can |






