Genesis 15 17

Genesis 15:17 kjv

And it came to pass, that, when the sun went down, and it was dark, behold a smoking furnace, and a burning lamp that passed between those pieces.

Genesis 15:17 nkjv

And it came to pass, when the sun went down and it was dark, that behold, there appeared a smoking oven and a burning torch that passed between those pieces.

Genesis 15:17 niv

When the sun had set and darkness had fallen, a smoking firepot with a blazing torch appeared and passed between the pieces.

Genesis 15:17 esv

When the sun had gone down and it was dark, behold, a smoking fire pot and a flaming torch passed between these pieces.

Genesis 15:17 nlt

After the sun went down and darkness fell, Abram saw a smoking firepot and a flaming torch pass between the halves of the carcasses.

Genesis 15 verses

Genesis 15 17 Meaning

Genesis 15:17 describes a crucial moment in the establishment of the Abrahamic Covenant, where God unilaterally confirms His promises to Abraham. After Abraham had prepared the covenant sacrifice, and as the sun set plunging the scene into deep darkness, a divine manifestation appeared in the form of a "smoking oven" and a "flaming torch." These symbolic representations of God Himself passed between the divided animal pieces. This unique action, contrary to common ancient Near Eastern covenant practices where both parties would walk through the pieces, signifies that God alone binds Himself to this covenant. It emphasizes God's sovereign initiative, the unconditional nature of His promises, and His immutable faithfulness, sealing His commitment to Abraham without requiring any reciprocal obligation from Abraham's part to guarantee the covenant's validity.

Genesis 15 17 Context

Genesis chapter 15 records God's detailed reaffirmation of His promises to Abram (later Abraham) concerning descendants and land, addressing Abram's anxieties about not having an heir. Following Abram's question about how he would know he would inherit the land (v.8), God commands him to prepare a covenant sacrifice involving various animals cut in half. The ritual prescribed mirrors common Ancient Near Eastern covenant-making practices where both parties would pass between the divided animal parts, symbolizing that such would be their fate if they broke the agreement. However, the immediate preceding verses (15:12-16) describe a "deep sleep" and "dreadful darkness" falling upon Abram, during which God reveals the future bondage of his descendants in Egypt and their eventual return. This sets the stage for God alone to act, emphasizing Abram's passive role and God's sovereign, unconditional establishment of the covenant. The act described in verse 17 is the physical seal and supernatural confirmation of God's prior promises and future prophecies.

Genesis 15 17 Word analysis

• And when the sun went down and it was dark (וְהַשֶּׁמֶשׁ בָּאָה וַעֲלָטָה הָיָה):

  • ba haš-šemeš lā-bōˀ ("the sun went in/came to set") and waṭ-ṭerāfāh hāyāh ("and thick darkness happened/was").
  • This timing is significant, highlighting God's pre-ordained schedule.
  • It corresponds to the "dreadful and great darkness" (Gen 15:12) that fell upon Abram earlier, signifying not just nightfall, but a supernatural darkness or profound obscurity surrounding God's majestic and fearful presence.
  • The darkness symbolizes the awe and mystery of God's encounter with humanity and may foreshadow periods of trial (e.g., Egyptian bondage for Israel).

• behold (וְהִנֵּה):

  • wəhin-neh. This Hebrew interjection serves as a dramatic marker, drawing attention to something suddenly seen or revealed.
  • It signals a significant and extraordinary divine manifestation or action.

• a smoking oven (תַּנּוּר עָשָׁן):

  • ṯannûr ‘āšān. An "oven" (or furnace) of smoke.
  • The tannur (oven) was often a large clay structure used for baking bread, typically stationary.
  • This imagery links to the divine presence as seen at Mount Sinai (Ex 19:18), where God descended in fire and smoke, implying holiness, power, and potentially judgment or purification.
  • The "smoke" often signifies the veiled presence of God, a sign of His awesome power that cannot be directly perceived without harm.

• and a flaming torch (וְלַפִּיד אֵשׁ):

  • lappîḏ ’ēš. A "flame of fire" or "burning lamp."
  • The lappid (torch) provides light and implies guidance, purity, or consuming power.
  • Together with the oven, it constitutes a unique form of theophany (divine appearance). This specific duality (smoke and flame) appears in God's presence at Sinai (Ex 19), and later in descriptions of God's dwelling (Isa 4:5, pillar of cloud/fire in Ex 13).
  • The lappid is a mobile, active form of fire, in contrast to the more static, enclosed oven.

• passed between these pieces (עָבַר בֵּין הַגְּזָרִים הָאֵלֶּה):

  • ‘āḇar bên hab-bəṯāṟîm hā-’ēl-leh.
  • "Passed" indicates a purposeful, deliberate movement.
  • "These pieces" refers to the bisected halves of the animals Abram prepared for the covenant ceremony (Gen 15:9-10).
  • This is the pivotal action. In ancient Near Eastern covenant ceremonies, both parties typically walked through the split animals, signifying that if either party broke the covenant, they would be similarly torn apart. Here, only the manifestations of God pass through, emphatically establishing the covenant as entirely God's initiative and His alone to uphold.

Words-group analysis:

• A smoking oven and a flaming torch: This dual imagery of smoke and fire represents the multi-faceted presence of God. The smoke speaks of His mystery, transcendence, consuming holiness, and potential for judgment. The torch speaks of His revealing light, active presence, purity, and guidance. This combination assures Abram of both God's terrifying holiness and His guiding promise. Their collective passage signifies the Lord God Himself walking through the covenant path.
• Passed between these pieces: This action dramatically highlights the unilateral and unconditional nature of the Abrahamic covenant. By God alone passing through, He pledges His own faithfulness without making it conditional on Abram's future perfect obedience. This illustrates that God's covenant with Abram is a sovereign grant, an unbreakable oath sworn by God Himself (as later clarified in Heb 6:13-18), underscoring the immutability of His purpose and promises. It’s an act of grace that lays the foundation for all subsequent redemptive history.

Genesis 15 17 Bonus section

The "smoking oven" and "flaming torch" as the divine symbols are highly significant beyond their immediate context. The imagery prefigures God's consistent self-revelation in fire and cloud/smoke throughout Israel's history: the burning bush (Ex 3), the pillars of cloud and fire leading Israel through the wilderness (Ex 13), and the awesome manifestation at Mount Sinai where the mountain smoked and trembled from God's presence in fire (Ex 19). This establishes a foundational theological motif: God’s powerful, holy, yet veiled presence that both consumes and guides. The deep darkness surrounding the event further emphasizes Abram's inability to see God clearly and his passive role, contrasting with the active, unwavering resolve of God in establishing His unchangeable oath. This event therefore encapsulates God's absolute sovereignty and the dependable, grace-based nature of His covenant relationship with His chosen people.

Genesis 15 17 Commentary

Genesis 15:17 depicts the profound divine self-commitment underpinning the Abrahamic Covenant. At twilight, symbols representing God's awe-inspiring presence – a smoking oven and a flaming torch – moved singularly through the prepared animal sacrifices. This act diverged starkly from the expected mutual participation in Ancient Near Eastern covenant rituals, where both parties would traverse the parts, invoking self-malediction if the covenant was broken. Here, God alone passed through, indicating that He unilaterally swore the oath. This underscores the covenant's unconditional nature, its permanence, and God's immutable faithfulness. It solidified the foundation for God's promises to Abraham regarding numerous descendants and the land, revealing a covenant of pure divine grace where God's steadfast character guarantees its fulfillment regardless of human fallibility. This unilateral covenant provides a glimpse into God's sovereign plan for redemption, secured not by human merit, but by divine self-oath.