Genesis 15:20 kjv

And the Hittites, and the Perizzites, and the Rephaim,

Genesis 15:20 nkjv

the Hittites, the Perizzites, the Rephaim,

Genesis 15:20 niv

Hittites, Perizzites, Rephaites,

Genesis 15:20 esv

the Hittites, the Perizzites, the Rephaim,

Genesis 15:20 nlt

Hittites, Perizzites, Rephaites,

Genesis 15 verses

Genesis 15 20 Meaning

Genesis 15:20 is a continuation of God's precise description of the land he is granting to Abram's descendants. This verse lists three specific groups among the ten nations whose territories the Israelites would ultimately possess, emphasizing the comprehensiveness of the divine promise and the immense scope of the land grant that would stretch from the Nile to the Euphrates, implying a total claim over Canaan and its surrounding regions occupied by these various peoples.

Genesis 15 20 Context

Genesis chapter 15 records a pivotal moment in Abram's relationship with God: the formalizing of the covenant through which God reiterates His promises of numerous descendants and the inheritance of the land. The chapter begins with Abram expressing concern over his childlessness (v. 2-3). God reassures him with a vision and a concrete promise of offspring (v. 4-5) and Abram believes (v. 6), which is "counted to him as righteousness." This faith sets the stage for the detailed land promise. In verses 7-8, God identifies Himself as the one who brought Abram out of Ur, leading Abram to ask for assurance regarding the land. God then institutes a unique, ancient Near Eastern covenant-making ritual (a "cutting a covenant," symbolized by dividing animals) where God alone passes between the pieces (v. 9-17), demonstrating His sole responsibility and certainty in fulfilling the oath. Verse 16 highlights God's justice, indicating that the possession will not occur until the "iniquity of the Amorites is full." Immediately following the covenant ceremony (v. 18), God specifies the precise geographical bounds "from the river of Egypt unto the great river, the river Euphrates" and proceeds to list the ten nations inhabiting that territory. Genesis 15:20 forms the middle part of this comprehensive list (Gen 15:19-21), firmly establishing the scale of the land to be given and the formidable obstacles, represented by these peoples, that God promises to remove for His people.

Genesis 15 20 Word analysis

• And: Hebrew "waw" (וְ - ve), a conjunctive particle simply linking this phrase to the preceding list of nations. It shows continuation in the comprehensive enumeration of the inhabitants.
• the Hittites: Hebrew: חִתִּים (Chittim or Ḥittim). A prominent people. While the "Great Hittite Empire" existed further north in Anatolia, biblical references to Hittites in Canaan often refer to local Hurrian-related populations or Syrian city-states descended from or allied with the Hittite power, indicating their presence in the promised land at the time. They appear significantly in Abraham's interactions (e.g., buying a burial plot from them in Gen 23) and throughout later Israelite history, including David's time (Uriah the Hittite). Their inclusion highlights the extent of God's land claim, covering peoples both locally influential and historically connected to larger political entities.
• and the Perizzites: Hebrew: פְּרִזִּים (Perizzim). The meaning is somewhat debated but is often associated with "rural dweller" or "unwalled village inhabitant" (from perazi, meaning "unwalled village"). They are consistently listed among the peoples of Canaan destined for expulsion, appearing often alongside the Canaanites themselves. This group signifies the local, less organized, perhaps more widespread population of the land. Their presence indicates God's sovereign claim over both powerful urban centers and scattered rural populations within the promised territory.
• and the Rephaims: Hebrew: רְפָאִים (Rephaim). This term has various associations. It can refer to "shades" or "spirits of the dead" in other biblical contexts, but here it specifically designates a pre-Israelite ethnic group often characterized by extraordinary stature or strength. They are connected to "giants" (like Og, King of Bashan in Deut 3:11, who was of the Rephaim, or the Anakim) and formidable early inhabitants. Their inclusion signifies that even the most formidable or "mythic" (from the ancient perspective) occupants of the land would be displaced by divine power. It underscores the overwhelming nature of the task from a human perspective and thus the omnipotence required from God to fulfill this promise.

Words-group analysis:

• "And the Hittites, and the Perizzites, and the Rephaims": This sequence, like the preceding and following parts of the list, underscores the breadth and specificity of God's promise. It's not a general declaration of "the land" but a precise identification of its current occupants. This comprehensive cataloging demonstrates the authority and power of God to dispossess established nations, no matter how influential (Hittites), pervasive (Perizzites), or formidable (Rephaim) they may seem to human eyes. The listing also foreshadows the future conflicts and divine assistance required for the conquest of Canaan, establishing a key theological precedent for God's faithfulness and ability to act powerfully in human history to fulfill His word.

Genesis 15 20 Bonus section

The exhaustive list of nations in Genesis 15:19-21 (ten in total) is the longest and most complete enumeration of pre-Israelite inhabitants of Canaan in the Pentateuch. Other biblical lists typically contain fewer nations (e.g., seven nations often listed for expulsion, as in Deut 7:1). The extensive nature of this list in Genesis 15 could symbolize the utter totality of the land being claimed by God for Abraham's descendants. It reinforces the idea that no group, no matter how small or great, would be beyond God's power to remove or subject to His chosen people. This detail, communicated early in God's covenant with Abraham, served as both an enormous promise and a future charge, establishing the divinely ordained mandate for the subsequent conquest of Canaan under Joshua.

Genesis 15 20 Commentary

Genesis 15:20, nestled within God's land grant covenant to Abram, signifies several crucial theological points. First, it is part of a detailed inventory of ten specific nations that inhabit the land promised "from the river of Egypt unto the great river, the river Euphrates." This specificity underscores the literal, concrete nature of God's commitment. Second, the diversity of peoples—Hittites (representing established, often politically significant groups), Perizzites (often more localized, rural inhabitants), and Rephaim (denoting ancient, often formidable and large peoples)—demonstrates the comprehensiveness of God's claim and the magnitude of the task ahead. No corner or segment of the promised territory, regardless of its current occupants' status or strength, would be outside the scope of Israel's inheritance. Third, the mere listing of these nations by God is an act of sovereign declaration. Before Abram has any children or any army, God, through His absolute power, is already partitioning and designating the land to Abram's unseen descendants. This passage highlights God's unreserved faithfulness to His covenant, His power to dispossess established powers, and the immense, almost daunting scale of the divine promise which only He could fulfill. It set the stage for generations of Israelite history centered on the struggle for and the living within the promised land.