Genesis 15 16

Genesis 15:16 kjv

But in the fourth generation they shall come hither again: for the iniquity of the Amorites is not yet full.

Genesis 15:16 nkjv

But in the fourth generation they shall return here, for the iniquity of the Amorites is not yet complete."

Genesis 15:16 niv

In the fourth generation your descendants will come back here, for the sin of the Amorites has not yet reached its full measure."

Genesis 15:16 esv

And they shall come back here in the fourth generation, for the iniquity of the Amorites is not yet complete."

Genesis 15:16 nlt

After four generations your descendants will return here to this land, for the sins of the Amorites do not yet warrant their destruction."

Genesis 15 verses

Genesis 15 16 Meaning

Genesis 15:16 signifies that God's promise to Abram regarding the return of his descendants to the promised land would be fulfilled precisely when the indigenous inhabitants, specifically the Amorites (representing all Canaanite peoples), had reached the full measure of their iniquity, thus making them ripe for divine judgment and displacement. The "fourth generation" refers to a specific timeframe—roughly 400 years later—when this divine timeline for judgment and Israel's inheritance would converge. This verse reveals God's perfect timing, patience, and unwavering justice.

Genesis 15 16 Context

This verse is part of God's unilateral covenant with Abram in Genesis chapter 15, known as the "Covenant of the Pieces." Earlier in the chapter, Abram had questioned God about an heir and inheriting the promised land (Gen 15:2-3, 8). God confirms the promise of innumerable descendants (Gen 15:5) and explicitly promises the land (Gen 15:7). Abram falls into a deep sleep and a dreadful darkness (Gen 15:12) before God reveals details about his descendants' future, including their oppression in a foreign land for 400 years and their ultimate return (Gen 15:13-14). Verse 16 specifies the timing of this return and, critically, explains the divine rationale for the delay: the uncompleted iniquity of the Amorites. This ensures Abram, and by extension Israel, understands that God's actions are governed by righteousness and not arbitrary power, emphasizing divine patience before executing judgment upon the land's inhabitants.

Genesis 15 16 Word analysis

• And they shall come back here (וְשָׁב֥וּ הֵֽנָּה - wə-šāḇū hēnnāh):

  • וְשָׁב֥וּ (wə-šāḇū): From the verb שוב (shuv), meaning "to return, turn back." It is a future action, promising a definitive return of Abram's descendants. This signifies the certainty of God's word and the future Exodus from Egypt.
  • הֵֽנָּה (hēnnāh): Means "here" or "hither." It specifically points to the land of Canaan where Abram was at the time, reinforcing the geographic certainty of the promised land.

• in the fourth generation (בַּדּ֤וֹר הָרְבִיעִי֙ - ba-dôr hā-rəḇî‘î):

  • בַּדּ֤וֹר (ba-dôr): "In the generation." דּוֹר (dôr) refers to a period of time typically defined by a generation of people. This isn't necessarily a precise count of individual births but a span of years, often about 40 years, or longer (100+ years) when speaking of a whole period from an ancestor's time to descendants inheriting.
  • הָרְבִיעִי֙ (hā-rəḇî‘î): "The fourth." The combination with the 400-year prophecy (Gen 15:13) indicates that "generation" here represents a long span. For instance, Levi, Kohath, Amram, and Moses/Aaron would represent four generations, totaling around 430 years from entry to exodus from Egypt, making this remarkably accurate.

• for the iniquity of the Amorites is not yet complete (כִּ֣י לֹא־שָׁלֵם֙ עֲוֹ֣ן הָֽאֱמֹרִ֔י - kî lō’-šālēm ‘āwōn hā-’ĕmōrī):

  • כִּ֣י (kî): A causal conjunction, meaning "for, because." It provides the divine reason for the stated delay. God's actions are reasoned and just.
  • לֹא־שָׁלֵם֙ (lō’-šālēm): "Is not yet full" or "not yet complete." From שָׁלֵם (shalem), meaning "to be whole, complete, finished, at peace." It implies that divine judgment will not occur until sin has reached its full measure, its culmination point, becoming fully ripe for punishment. This reveals God's patient long-suffering.
  • עֲוֹ֣ן (‘āwōn): "Iniquity, guilt, punishment for iniquity." This term denotes more than just simple wrongdoing; it implies twistedness, perversity, and a sense of responsibility for wrong actions. It signifies a profound moral corruption that has incurred divine wrath.
  • הָֽאֱמֹרִ֔י (hā-’ĕmōrī): "The Amorite." Though one specific Canaanite tribe, "Amorites" often functions as a synecdoche, representing the entire constellation of wicked Canaanite peoples then inhabiting the land (such as the Canaanites, Hittites, Perizzites, Rephaim, etc., as listed in Gen 15:19-21). Their known practices, like Baal worship, child sacrifice (Jer 19:4-5), and sexual immorality (Lev 18:24), highlight their profound spiritual and moral corruption.

• Words-group Analysis:

  • "And they shall come back here in the fourth generation": This phrase emphasizes the certainty of God's promise to Israel regarding their inheritance, despite a foreseen period of affliction. The exact timing highlights God's sovereignty over history and future events.
  • "For the iniquity of the Amorites is not yet complete": This profound statement clarifies that the delay in Israel's inheritance is not arbitrary but rooted in God's perfect justice. It underscores God's patience, His desire for nations to repent, and His righteous requirement for sin to reach a peak before He executes judgment. It serves as a moral justification for the eventual disinheritance of the Canaanites.

Genesis 15 16 Bonus section

• This verse prefigures God's pattern of judgment not only on Canaanites but also on other nations throughout history, and even upon Israel themselves when their iniquity became complete (e.g., during the Babylonian exile).
• The "Amorites" represent the moral standards against which God holds all humanity. Their actions, particularly practices such as child sacrifice and sexual perversion, were utterly detestable to the Holy God and warranted complete expulsion from the land.
• The delay provided for Abraham's descendants (Exod 12:40-41 specifies 430 years, often aligned with the start of the covenant and the Exodus, or Jacob's entrance to Egypt for 400 years of oppression leading to Exodus after the 'fourth generation') ensured that the Amorites were given maximum time to turn from their ways, emphasizing God's reluctant posture toward judgment, favoring repentance.
• This statement highlights the precise nature of God's plan. He knows the end from the beginning and times all events perfectly, balancing His covenant promises with His moral requirements for the world.
• For Israel, this meant their inheritance was not arbitrary but righteous, grounded in God's just dispossessing of a people whose sin had ripened. It teaches them that their tenure in the land was similarly conditional upon their obedience and avoiding the very iniquities of the nations they displaced (Lev 18:28).

Genesis 15 16 Commentary

Genesis 15:16 is a foundational verse that establishes key theological principles concerning God's justice and sovereignty. It underscores that while God's promises are unconditional and certain for His chosen people (Israel's return to Canaan), the timing of those promises can be interwoven with the moral condition and eventual judgment of other nations. God's patience with the Amorites demonstrates His character: He does not act capriciously but allows for an extended period for iniquity to fully mature. This provides ample opportunity for repentance, though historically, the Canaanites continued in their wicked practices, accumulating the full measure of their guilt. This pattern of God's patience followed by righteous judgment sets a precedent throughout biblical history, demonstrating that God is the just moral governor of all nations. It is a sobering reminder that there is a full "measure of sin" (Mt 23:32) beyond which divine forbearance gives way to judgment.