Genesis 15:10 kjv

And he took unto him all these, and divided them in the midst, and laid each piece one against another: but the birds divided he not.

Genesis 15:10 nkjv

Then he brought all these to Him and cut them in two, down the middle, and placed each piece opposite the other; but he did not cut the birds in two.

Genesis 15:10 niv

Abram brought all these to him, cut them in two and arranged the halves opposite each other; the birds, however, he did not cut in half.

Genesis 15:10 esv

And he brought him all these, cut them in half, and laid each half over against the other. But he did not cut the birds in half.

Genesis 15:10 nlt

So Abram presented all these to him and killed them. Then he cut each animal down the middle and laid the halves side by side; he did not, however, cut the birds in half.

Genesis 15 verses

Genesis 15 10 Meaning

Genesis 15:10 describes Abram's obedient action in preparing animals for a covenant ceremony, as instructed by God. He took the specified animals—a three-year-old heifer, a three-year-old she-goat, a three-year-old ram, a turtledove, and a young pigeon—and ritualistically cut the larger animals in half. Each half was then placed opposite its corresponding other half, creating a passage between the divided pieces. Significantly, the birds (the turtledove and young pigeon) were not cut in two, setting them apart in this unique covenant rite. This meticulous preparation established the scene for God's formal solemnization of His covenant with Abram, binding Himself to His promises.

Genesis 15 10 Context

Genesis chapter 15 records a pivotal moment in Abraham's life and in salvation history. Immediately preceding this verse, Abram had expressed his concern about not having a natural heir to inherit God's promises. God directly affirmed that Abram's own son would be his heir, and famously declared that Abram's descendants would be as numerous as the stars. Crucially, in Gen 15:6, Abram "believed the LORD, and he counted it to him as righteousness," highlighting faith as the foundation of God's relationship with humanity. Following this declaration of faith, God then enters into a formal, binding covenant with Abram, responding to Abram's question about how he could be sure of the land promise. The entire chapter serves to confirm God's specific promises regarding land and seed, solidifying them through a divine, unilateral oath, where God alone assumes the obligations of the covenant. Verse 10 specifically describes Abram's role in the ancient Near Eastern covenant ritual as he prepares the sacrifice according to God's instruction, setting the stage for the dramatic display of God's covenantal commitment in the subsequent verses.

Genesis 15 10 Word analysis

• And he brought him (וַיָּבֵא אֹת֛וֹ - vayyāḇēʾ ʾōtô):

  • This opening phrase signifies Abram's immediate and complete obedience.
  • It demonstrates Abram's active participation in the preparations as commanded by God.
  • The "him" here is sometimes rendered "them" (referring to the animals) by context in translation.

• all these (אֶת־כׇּל־אֵ֔לֶּה - ʾeṯ-kōl-ʾēlleh):

  • Refers to the specific animals requested by God in Genesis 15:9: a three-year-old heifer, a three-year-old she-goat, a three-year-old ram, a turtledove, and a young pigeon.
  • The age "three years" for the larger animals signifies maturity and peak value for sacrifice in that culture.

• and cut them in two (וַיְבַתֵּ֤ר אֹתָם֙ בַּתָּ֔וֶךְ - wayḇattēr ʾōṯām bat-tāweḵ):

  • וַיְבַתֵּר (wayḇattēr): From the verb בָּתַר (batar), meaning "to cut in pieces, divide." This verb is specific to the act of dividing for a covenant ritual.
  • בַּתָּוֶךְ (bat-tāweḵ): "In the middle," or "in halves."
  • This act of cutting signifies a self-maledictory oath. The one passing between the pieces symbolically declared, "May I be cut in half like these animals if I break this covenant." This was a common ANE practice for treaties.

• laying each half over against the other (וַיִּתֵּ֥ן אִֽישׁ־בִּתְר֛וֹ לְקִיבֵ֥ל חֲבֵר֖וֹ - wayyittēn ʾîš-bitrô leqîḇel ḥaḇērô):

  • וַיִּתֵּן (wayyitten): "And he placed, put."
  • אִֽישׁ־בִּתְר֛וֹ (ʾîš-bitrô): "Each his piece," or "its own portion." בִּתְרוֹ is related to batar, meaning a "piece" or "part" of something that has been divided.
  • לְקִיבֵ֥ל חֲבֵר֖וֹ (leqîḇel ḥaḇērô): "Over against its fellow" or "opposite one another."
  • This arrangement creates a passage or path between the animal halves, signifying the route the covenanting parties would take.

• But he did not cut the birds in two (וְאֶת־הַצִּפֹּר֙ לֹ֣א בָתָ֔ר - weʾeṯ-haṣṣippōr loʾ bāṯār):

  • וְאֶת־הַצִּפֹּר֙ (weʾeṯ-haṣṣippōr): "And the bird," singular often used generically. Refers to both the turtledove and the young pigeon mentioned in verse 9.
  • לֹ֣א בָתָ֔ר (loʾ bāṯār): "Did not cut."
  • This is a significant exception. Possible reasons include:
    • Practicality: Birds are too small for a person to walk between divided halves.
    • Sacrificial context: In Leviticus (e.g., Lev 1:17), birds for burnt offerings are generally "torn by its wings but not divided completely," suggesting a different protocol than the cutting for covenant walk-through.
    • Symbolism: Birds might represent aspects like human soul/spirit or freedom. Alternatively, they might symbolize a less valuable sacrifice for the poor, highlighting God's inclusive grace, yet still valuable in covenant. Some Jewish traditions also explain it due to birds' association with the "upper" spiritual realm compared to the "lower" quadruped animals.

Genesis 15 10 Bonus section

• The practice of "cutting a covenant" (כָּרַת בְּרִית - karat berît) is directly linked to this passage. The Hebrew idiom itself implies the act of sacrifice and division that binds parties in a solemn agreement.
• Scholars frequently highlight this ceremony's stark contrast with typical ANE covenants where both parties would pass through the pieces. Here, only God passes through, signifying His unparalleled, self-binding promise to Abram, a feature critical to understanding the covenant's unilateral and gracious nature.
• The ritual foreshadows not only the inviolability of God's promises but also the great price of atonement. The "cutting" and eventual death represented by the passage through the pieces find their ultimate fulfillment in the broken body and shed blood of Jesus Christ, who secures the New Covenant (Heb 9:15-22).
• The "smoking firepot" and "flaming torch" that represent God (Gen 15:17) are symbolic of God's holy, consuming presence, reminiscent of His appearances at the burning bush (Exod 3:2) or Mount Sinai (Exod 19:18). This demonstrates the absolute holiness and terrifying nature of the One making this oath.

Genesis 15 10 Commentary

Genesis 15:10 is a pivotal scene, detailing Abram's compliance with God's instruction to prepare animals for a solemn covenant. The act of "cutting" animals in half and laying them opposite each other was a known ancient Near Eastern custom for ratifying treaties. This ritual vividly illustrated the severe consequences for breaking the covenant: may the one who transgresses be similarly cut in two. However, the distinct feature in this passage is that Abram merely prepares the scene; he does not pass between the pieces. Instead, in a unique and dramatic display of His holiness and unwavering commitment, God Himself, symbolized by a "smoking firepot and a flaming torch," passes between the divided animal parts in Genesis 15:17. This emphasizes the unilateral and unconditional nature of the Abrahamic covenant: God alone took the oath and bore the curse, signifying that the covenant's fulfillment depended entirely on His faithfulness, not on Abram's flawed performance. The exemption of the birds from being cut carries theological weight; while debated, it sets these sacrifices apart, perhaps symbolizing elements that are not subject to the same kind of physical breaking, or signifying that these were not for a walk-through but for different sacrificial meaning. This prepares the stage for the New Covenant where Christ's broken body and shed blood become the ultimate, once-for-all sacrifice, confirming God's ultimate covenant with humanity.