Genesis 15:18 kjv

In the same day the LORD made a covenant with Abram, saying, Unto thy seed have I given this land, from the river of Egypt unto the great river, the river Euphrates:

Genesis 15:18 nkjv

On the same day the LORD made a covenant with Abram, saying: "To your descendants I have given this land, from the river of Egypt to the great river, the River Euphrates?

Genesis 15:18 niv

On that day the LORD made a covenant with Abram and said, "To your descendants I give this land, from the Wadi of Egypt to the great river, the Euphrates?

Genesis 15:18 esv

On that day the LORD made a covenant with Abram, saying, "To your offspring I give this land, from the river of Egypt to the great river, the river Euphrates,

Genesis 15:18 nlt

So the LORD made a covenant with Abram that day and said, "I have given this land to your descendants, all the way from the border of Egypt to the great Euphrates River ?

Genesis 15 verses

Genesis 15 18 Meaning

On that day, the LORD sovereignly and unilaterally established a solemn agreement with Abram, irrevocably granting to his future lineage possession of the land. This designated territory stretched definitively from the southern boundary, described as the River of Egypt, to the northern and eastern boundary, the mighty River Euphrates, signifying its immense and enduring scope.

Genesis 15 18 Context

Genesis chapter 15 records a pivotal moment in the life of Abram (later Abraham), highlighting the further clarification and solemn establishment of God's covenant with him. Earlier promises (Gen 12, 13) were given, but Abram expressed concern over his heirless state (Gen 15:2-3). In response, God reaffirmed the promise of innumerable descendants (Gen 15:5) and Abram "believed the LORD, and He counted it to him as righteousness" (Gen 15:6). Following this, God provided a specific act to formalize the covenant: Abram was instructed to bring various animals, which he cut in half (Gen 15:9-10). At sundown, a deep dread fell upon Abram, and a terrifying darkness. Then, a smoking fire pot and a flaming torch (symbols of God's presence) passed between the cut pieces, signifying God's solo ratification of the covenant, indicating its unconditional nature. Verse 18 directly states the covenant made and details the land boundaries. The chapter then foretells the 400 years of affliction for Abram's descendants before they return to possess this promised land, indicating the "already-not yet" aspect of the divine promise. This event firmly establishes the Abrahamic Covenant as foundational for the nation of Israel and points toward God's unfolding redemptive plan.

Genesis 15 18 Word analysis

• On that day (בַּיּוֹם הַהוּא, bayyom hahū’): Signifies a specific, decisive moment, emphasizing the importance and historical exactness of the event. It marks the precise time of the covenant's formal establishment, not just a casual reiteration.
• the LORD (יְהוָה, Yahweh): The personal, covenantal name of God. This indicates His self-existent, faithful, and relational nature, particularly in fulfilling promises made to His chosen people. It highlights His absolute sovereignty in establishing this unilateral covenant.
• made (כָּרַת, karat): Literally means "cut." This verb refers directly to the ancient Near Eastern practice of "cutting a covenant," where animals were split, and parties would walk between the pieces, symbolizing that the same would happen to them if they broke the covenant. In Gen 15:17, God alone, represented by the smoking fire pot and flaming torch, passed through the pieces, signifying His sole obligation and the covenant's unconditional nature.
• a covenant (בְּרִית, berit): A solemn, binding agreement, a sacred bond established by oath or promise. Here, it is an oath-bound divine commitment, initiated and guaranteed solely by God, establishing a relationship and bestowing blessings without conditional human performance from Abram’s side for its initial establishment.
• with Abram (אֶת־אַבְרָם, ’et-’avrām): Identifies the direct recipient of this divine promise. It establishes a unique and specific relationship between Yahweh and Abram, the patriarch from whom Israel would descend.
• saying (לֵאמֹר, lē’mor): Introduces the direct speech of God, emphasizing the divine origin and authoritative nature of the promise that follows.
• To your descendants (לְזַרְעֲךָ, lĕzar‘akha): Focuses the promise not just on Abram personally but on his offspring or "seed." This is crucial as it refers both to the literal nation of Israel and, ultimately, to Christ (Gal 3:16) and those who are spiritual heirs by faith in Him. The blessing extends across generations.
• I have given (נָתַתִּי, nātatī): The Hebrew verb is in the perfect tense, expressing a completed action. From God’s eternal perspective, the gift of the land is already an accomplished fact, a guaranteed reality, even though the full physical possession by Israel would occur centuries later. This highlights divine certainty and foreknowledge.
• this land (הָאָרֶץ הַזֹּאת, ha’aretz hazzo’t): Refers specifically to the land of Canaan, where Abram was currently dwelling. This makes the promise concrete and identifiable.
• from the river of Egypt (מִנְּהַר מִצְרַיִם, minnhar mitzrayim): Defines the southwestern boundary. This typically refers to the Wadi El-Arish, a seasonal river in the Sinai, rather than the Nile itself, serving as Israel’s southern limit towards Egypt.
• to the great river (עַד־הַנָּהָר הַגָּדֹל, ‘ad-hannāhār haggadōl): Signifies a major and prominent water body, establishing the northern or eastern limit. Its use suggests significant, expansive territory.
• the River Euphrates (נְהַר פְּרָת, nahar pĕrāt): Precisely names the mighty Euphrates River, located far to the northeast of Canaan. This represents the outermost boundary of the land God promised, encompassing an enormous territory, largely achieved during King Solomon’s reign (1 Kings 4:21).

Genesis 15 18 Bonus section

The promise of "the river of Egypt" (Wadi El-Arish) and the "River Euphrates" outlines the largest extent of the land ever promised to Abraham’s physical descendants. Historically, Israel only fully approached this extent during the reigns of David and Solomon (1 Kings 4:21), even then it wasn't constant and under direct full Israelite control throughout. This discrepancy often leads to discussions on the ultimate, enduring fulfillment. Some interpretations suggest the "greater Israel" vision for the End Times. Others, focusing on New Testament insights, understand the physical land as a type or shadow of a greater, spiritual inheritance: God's people (whether Jewish or Gentile, unified in Christ) inheriting the entire "world" or the "new heavens and new earth" (Rom 4:13, Rev 21:1). The detailed specification of boundaries in Gen 15:18 not only defined Israel's earthly hope but also prefigured the boundless inheritance promised to believers in God's eternal kingdom. This verse encapsulates the foundational principle of God's unconditional grace, where He commits to a promise solely based on His nature and oath.

Genesis 15 18 Commentary

Genesis 15:18 is a cornerstone verse in the biblical narrative, formally sealing God's unconditional land promise to Abram's descendants. Following Abram's faith being "counted as righteousness" (Gen 15:6), God solidifies His word with an unrepeatable act: the solemn covenant ritual. Crucially, it is God alone, symbolized by the fiery elements, who passes between the divided animal pieces. This unique action underscores the unilateral nature of this specific aspect of the Abrahamic Covenant—God's promise to give the land is absolute, not dependent on Abram's future obedience for its fulfillment (though subsequent Israelite possession and enjoyment of the land would indeed be contingent on obedience). The explicitly stated boundaries, "from the river of Egypt to the great river, the River Euphrates," demonstrate the expansive, tangible scope of God's guaranteed inheritance. While Israel achieved significant portions of this territory under David and Solomon, the full, complete realization of this specific extent in a physical sense remains a point of theological discussion, with many viewing it as fulfilled in various ways, including spiritually in Christ and His church (Gal 3:16-29, Heb 8:6-13). This verse powerfully illustrates God's faithfulness, His sovereign decree, and the certainty of His Word for future generations, serving as a foundation for all subsequent promises related to the people and land of Israel, ultimately pointing to a greater, eternal inheritance.