Genesis 15:13 kjv

And he said unto Abram, Know of a surety that thy seed shall be a stranger in a land that is not theirs, and shall serve them; and they shall afflict them four hundred years;

Genesis 15:13 nkjv

Then He said to Abram: "Know certainly that your descendants will be strangers in a land that is not theirs, and will serve them, and they will afflict them four hundred years.

Genesis 15:13 niv

Then the LORD said to him, "Know for certain that for four hundred years your descendants will be strangers in a country not their own and that they will be enslaved and mistreated there.

Genesis 15:13 esv

Then the LORD said to Abram, "Know for certain that your offspring will be sojourners in a land that is not theirs and will be servants there, and they will be afflicted for four hundred years.

Genesis 15:13 nlt

Then the LORD said to Abram, "You can be sure that your descendants will be strangers in a foreign land, where they will be oppressed as slaves for 400 years.

Genesis 15 verses

Genesis 15 13 Meaning

Genesis 15:13 reveals a divine prophecy given to Abram, announcing a future period of significant hardship for his descendants. God reveals with absolute certainty that Abram’s offspring would become resident aliens in a foreign land that was not their own, enduring a period of servitude and severe oppression. This state of affliction, encompassing both physical and emotional hardship, was specifically foretold to last for a precise duration of four hundred years before a promised deliverance. It's a foundational insight into God's sovereign control over history, His faithfulness to His covenant promises, and His foreknowledge of future events, even challenging ones, assuring Abram of the eventual return and inheritance of the land.

Genesis 15 13 Context

Genesis 15:13 is a pivotal moment within the larger narrative of God’s covenant with Abram (later Abraham). This chapter directly follows Abram's victorious rescue of Lot and his refusal of riches from the King of Sodom, demonstrating his faith in God as his reward (Gen 14). At the beginning of chapter 15, God reaffirms Himself as Abram's shield and exceedingly great reward (Gen 15:1). Abram, despite this reassurance, expresses his concern about lacking an heir, mentioning Eliezer as his potential heir (Gen 15:2-3). In response, God renews and expands His promise, assuring Abram of a biological heir and a multitude of descendants, likened to the stars (Gen 15:4-5). Abram "believed the LORD, and He counted it to him as righteousness" (Gen 15:6), a foundational statement for understanding faith in biblical theology.

The prophecy in verse 13 then comes during a solemn covenant-making ritual (a "cutting of the covenant") where Abram prepares animals and witnesses a smoking firepot and a flaming torch passing between the cut pieces (Gen 15:7-12, 17-21). This prophetic interlude, revealing the impending sojourn, enslavement, and affliction, serves to further elaborate on the path to the fulfillment of the land promise. It shows that the path would not be immediate or without tribulation, but God's plan would ultimately prevail, affirming His control over future generations and national destinies. It's a key example of God revealing challenges ahead of time, solidifying the promise within a broader historical context.

Genesis 15 13 Word analysis

• Then the LORD said: Hebrew: Vayyomer YHWH (וַיֹּאמֶר יְהוָה). Signifies a direct divine pronouncement and initiation of speech. YHWH (Yahweh) is God's covenant name, emphasizing His personal involvement and covenant faithfulness to Abram. This is not a mere thought but an active, declared word from the Creator to His chosen one.
• to Abram: Hebrew: el-Abram (אֶל־אַבְרָם). The recipient of the divine revelation. Abram ("exalted father") at this point, before being renamed Abraham ("father of a multitude") in Gen 17:5, underscoring his individual role in the divine plan that extends to future generations.
• "Know for certain": Hebrew: yadoa teda (יָדֹעַ תֵּדַע). An emphatic construction using the infinitive absolute before the finite verb ("knowing you shall know"). This communicates absolute certainty, emphasis, and undeniable truth. It's not a mere suggestion or possibility, but a divine decree Abram should grasp firmly. This literary device draws special attention to the pronouncement's reliability and significance.
• that your descendants: Hebrew: kiy-gêr yihyeh zarʿacha (כִּי־גֵר יִהְיֶה זַרְעֲךָ). Zeraʿacha means "your seed" or "your offspring," referring to his progeny. This expands the scope of the covenant beyond Abram's immediate family to future generations. The covenant blessing includes these future generations.
• will be strangers: Hebrew: gêr (גֵּר). Singular, often used collectively. Refers to a resident alien, sojourner, or one who temporarily lives in a land without possessing inherent rights to its property. It implies a lack of ownership, rootlessness, and vulnerability, mirroring Israel’s situation in Egypt.
• in a land that is not theirs: Hebrew: bĕʾerets lōʾ lāhem (בְּאֶרֶץ לֹא לָהֶם). Clearly identifies a foreign territory, distinguishing it from the promised land of Canaan. This specifically points to Egypt, a powerful empire known for its oppression. This land is under foreign dominion, not their future inheritance.
• and they will be enslaved: Hebrew: wəʿabādūm (וַעֲבָדוּם). From avad (עָבַד), meaning "to serve," "to labor," or "to be enslaved." This signifies compulsory service, servitude, and subjection to another's will, describing a condition of involuntary bondage.
• and oppressed: Hebrew: wəʿinnū (וְעִנּוּ). From anah (עָנָה), meaning "to afflict," "to humble," "to torment," or "to suppress." This word often implies a deliberate, severe, and ongoing hardship or mistreatment, emotionally, physically, or socially. It speaks of sustained degradation and suffering.
• for four hundred years: Hebrew: ʾarbaʿ meʾôt shanim (אַרְבַּע מֵאֹות שָׁנָה). A precise period of time, emphasizing the divine control over the duration of this suffering. This numerical exactitude reassures Abram that the affliction has a pre-determined end point, assuring ultimate deliverance, though the starting point of the 400 years is debated by some as either Abraham's vision or later, leading to the 430 years of sojourning found elsewhere in the Pentateuch (Ex 12:40).

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• "Know for certain that your descendants will be strangers": This phrase emphasizes the absolute certainty of a divine plan for Abram's lineage. It establishes their future transient and alien status, even though they are God's chosen people, foreshadowing a period of vulnerability before they inherit their designated land. This contrasts with the permanence of the covenant promise.
• "in a land that is not theirs, and they will be enslaved and oppressed": This vividly describes the nature and location of the coming affliction. The "land that is not theirs" clearly points to Egypt, making the future bondage identifiable. "Enslaved and oppressed" signifies comprehensive hardship—not just physical labor but a spirit-breaking, humiliating subjugation that would strip them of their freedom and dignity. This reveals God's intimate knowledge of human suffering and injustice.
• "for four hundred years": This precise duration provides both a challenge to faith and an ultimate comfort. It challenges faith because it foretells a long period of tribulation. Yet, it offers comfort by demonstrating God’s sovereign timetable; the suffering will not be indefinite, but will have a divinely appointed end. It testifies to God's patient sovereignty, even in allowing wickedness to ripen, and His unerring faithfulness to deliver on schedule.

Genesis 15 13 Bonus section

The seemingly precise "four hundred years" in Genesis 15:13 vs. "four hundred and thirty years" mentioned in Exodus 12:40 and Galatians 3:17 regarding the time from Abraham to the Exodus has been a point of study. Scholarly consensus often views the "four hundred years" as a rounded figure for the period of affliction and sojourning, focusing on the Egyptian bondage itself. The "four hundred and thirty years" often encompasses the entire period from the promise given to Abram when he first entered Canaan (around Gen 12) up to the Exodus, making it a broader timeframe from the beginning of the sojourning of Abraham and his descendants until their liberation. This subtle difference indicates that God’s prophecy specifically highlighted the years of suffering within the larger time frame, ensuring His people would anticipate this crucial period.

Furthermore, the mention of Israel as "strangers" and "sojourners" carries a profound theological implication that extends beyond their literal time in Egypt. It serves as a perennial reminder that God's people, regardless of their physical location or temporal successes, are fundamentally aliens and temporary residents on earth, their ultimate citizenship being in the heavenly kingdom. This spiritual application finds resonance throughout the Scriptures (e.g., Ps 119:19, Heb 11:13-16, 1 Pet 2:11), positioning the Egyptian sojourn as a type for the Christian's earthly journey as one awaiting a heavenly, promised inheritance.

Genesis 15 13 Commentary

Genesis 15:13 unveils a profound and seemingly contradictory truth within God's covenant promises to Abram. After pledging vast descendants and a specific land, God now reveals a substantial period of national suffering—four hundred years of sojourning, enslavement, and severe oppression. This prophetic pronouncement serves several crucial purposes:

Firstly, it demonstrates God's omniscience and sovereign control over history. He is not surprised by future events, even the darkest periods, but declares them beforehand. This foreknowledge assures Abram (and later, Israel) that the tribulation is not random or without purpose, but part of a divine plan. It solidifies faith, knowing that deliverance is as certain as the foretold affliction.

Secondly, it reinforces God's faithfulness amidst adversity. By revealing the suffering before it occurs, God implicitly promises a subsequent deliverance. This pre-emptive revelation frames the coming Egyptian bondage not as an abandonment by God, but as a temporary, defined stage within His larger redemptive narrative. When the Israelites cried out from Egypt, they would do so against the backdrop of this ancient promise, affirming God’s remembrance of His covenant.

Thirdly, it underscores the concept of divine timing. The "four hundred years" highlights God's patience and precise schedule. This period also correlates with God waiting for the iniquity of the Amorites to be complete (Gen 15:16), indicating His just delay in judging the Canaanite nations before delivering the land to Israel. The suffering of His people is intrinsically linked to the preparation of the land for their inheritance, displaying a complex interplay of justice and grace.

Lastly, this prophecy establishes a pattern for God's interaction with His people: promise, testing, deliverance, and fulfillment. It sets a precedent for future exiles and returns, reminding generations that hardship often precedes divine intervention and greater blessing. For believers, this verse offers solace in times of prolonged trial, knowing that God foresees their affliction, orchestrates their deliverance, and remains faithful to His ultimate purposes.