Genesis 15:3 kjv

And Abram said, Behold, to me thou hast given no seed: and, lo, one born in my house is mine heir.

Genesis 15:3 nkjv

Then Abram said, "Look, You have given me no offspring; indeed one born in my house is my heir!"

Genesis 15:3 niv

And Abram said, "You have given me no children; so a servant in my household will be my heir."

Genesis 15:3 esv

And Abram said, "Behold, you have given me no offspring, and a member of my household will be my heir."

Genesis 15:3 nlt

You have given me no descendants of my own, so one of my servants will be my heir."

Genesis 15 verses

Genesis 15 3 Meaning

This verse captures Abram's candid expression of a deeply personal grievance to God, highlighting his continued childlessness despite divine promises. He articulates his despair by stating that since God has not given him a direct biological heir, the legal and social reality of his time dictates that a trusted servant, a "son of his household" like Eliezer, will inevitably become his inheritor. It reflects Abram's human understanding and practical proposed solution in the face of an unfulfilled promise, demonstrating his struggle to reconcile God's word with his present barren reality.

Genesis 15 3 Context

Genesis 15 opens with God assuring Abram in a vision, stating, "Do not fear, Abram, I am a shield to you; your reward shall be very great." This divine reassurance, intended to allay any fears after his military victory in chapter 14, prompts Abram to voice his most pressing and deeply personal concern: his continued childlessness, first articulated in verse 2. Verse 3 is a direct continuation of this lament, a pragmatic statement stemming from the social and legal realities of ancient Near Eastern inheritance laws. At this point, Abram has been dwelling in Canaan for at least a decade, with no heir of his own body. In cultures of that era, particularly as evidenced by Nuzi tablets, a childless man would often adopt a loyal servant (like Eliezer, identified in verse 2 as "Eliezer of Damascus") as his heir. This adopted son would serve as guardian of the household and its property, fulfilling responsibilities typically undertaken by a biological son, and ensuring the master's name and estate would continue. Abram's words in verse 3 reflect his deep yearning for a direct descendant, but also his understanding of the prevailing social and legal customs for succession, proposing a practical solution based on his present circumstances. It sets the stage for God's clear counter-promise that an heir from Abram's own body, not an adopted servant, would inherit, highlighting the supernatural nature of God's covenant fulfillment which transcends human customs and limitations.

Genesis 15 3 Word analysis

• But Abram said: This phrase (וַיֹּאמֶר אַבְרָם, va'yomer Avram) marks a direct, honest, and personal dialogue between Abram and God. It signifies the continuation of a heartfelt conversation, showing Abram’s profound burden and willingness to lay it openly before his Lord.
• Behold: The Hebrew term Hinneh (הִנֵּה) is an emphatic interjection, often translated as "look!" or "truly!" In this context, it emphasizes the stark, undeniable reality Abram presents. It's an expression of dismay and highlights the tangible problem, drawing God's attention to the perceived lack despite His earlier promises.
• You have given me no offspring: This is a direct and somewhat blunt statement. Lo natata li zera (לֹא נָתַתָּה לִי זָרַע). Lo (לֹא) is the emphatic negative "not." Natata (נָתַתָּה), "You have given," is in the perfect tense, suggesting a completed (or uncompleted) action, attributing the absence of offspring directly to God’s non-action. Zera (זָרַע) means "seed, offspring, descendant" and is a critical component of God’s covenant with Abram, representing the continuation of his line and the fulfillment of God’s promise to make him a great nation. Abram confronts God with the contradiction between the divine promise of multitudinous "seed" and his current barren state.
• so a son of my household is my heir: This clause presents Abram's logical conclusion and the human alternative. Uven beti hu yoreshi (וּבֶן בֵּיתִי הוּא יוֹרֵשִׁי).
  • Uven beti (וּבֶן בֵּיתִי): "and a son of my house/household." This refers specifically to a highly trusted servant or steward (Eliezer of Damascus, from Gen 15:2), rather than a literal son from his bloodline. This person was expected to manage the master's affairs and be the provisional heir in the absence of biological children, particularly among elite families in the ancient Near East.
  • Hu (הוּא): "he" or "he is," acting as a copula, making a direct identification.
  • Yoreshi (יוֹרֵשִׁי): "my heir," derived from yarash (יָרַשׁ), "to inherit." This legal term highlights the accepted succession custom. Abram posits this outcome as a natural and inescapable reality given his barrenness, suggesting he believes God must now work through human established means.

Genesis 15 3 Words-group by words-group analysis

• "But Abram said, 'Behold, You have given me no offspring'": This powerful opening of Abram’s address establishes a tension between divine promise and present human reality. Abram’s use of "behold" is not one of reverence for God's presence, but rather a direct challenge, demanding God acknowledge the unfulfilled aspect of His promise concerning an heir. He directly attributes the lack of offspring to God's hand ("You have given... no offspring"), revealing his frustration and desperate plea in a strikingly honest manner. This immediate counter-response to God's reassurance in verse 1 indicates the deep-seated nature of Abram's burden concerning his legacy and the covenant.
• "'so a son of my household is my heir.'": This statement represents Abram's pragmatic human solution, born out of his understanding of social and legal conventions of his time. With no biological child, he turns to the most logical next step: a loyal and capable steward, like Eliezer of Damascus, becoming his heir by custom, preserving his estate and legacy. This cultural solution stands in direct contrast to God's supernatural promise. Abram is laying out his "Plan B," unwittingly inviting God to either confirm this human solution or reveal an entirely divine, unforeseen method to fulfill the promise. It underscores the human tendency to limit divine action within the boundaries of observable reality and known custom.

Genesis 15 3 Bonus section

The depth of Abram's concern regarding his childlessness underscores a crucial aspect of ancient Near Eastern patriarchal society: the continuity of family, name, and legacy through male descendants. A man without a natural heir faced a significant cultural and existential dilemma; his name and possessions could be lost. Eliezer, as the "son of my household," implies not just a slave, but a deeply trusted steward who managed Abram's affairs. In such cases, if a natural son were later born, the adopted servant's inheritance rights could be revoked, providing an ordered system for succession. Abram's mention of Eliezer confirms his recognition of this existing system. However, God's immediate and unequivocal response to Abram in Genesis 15:4 ("No, but a son who comes from your own body shall be your heir") definitively rejects human solutions as a substitute for God's supernatural and specific method of covenant fulfillment. It teaches that God’s promises are fulfilled not through man’s ingenuity or legal frameworks, but through His unique, often miraculous, design.

Genesis 15 3 Commentary

Genesis 15:3 is a pivotal verse, encapsulating Abram's wrestling between divine promise and the harsh reality of his advanced age and barrenness. Abram, an aged patriarch without a direct descendant, voices his concern directly to God, articulating a humanly logical solution based on the customs of his era – adopting a faithful servant as an heir. This moment of honest lament serves to set up God's subsequent, astonishing reaffirmation: the true heir would not be an adopted steward, but a son born directly from Abram's own body (Gen 15:4). This dialogue highlights God's patience with human doubt and how He confronts perceived impossibilities, ensuring that His covenant fulfillment is by divine power, not human arrangement. The verse is crucial context for Gen 15:6, where Abram believes God's seemingly impossible promise, and that faith is "reckoned to him as righteousness." It's a reminder that faith is often exercised in the gap between a present reality and a future divine promise.

• Practical usage: This passage encourages believers to bring their honest doubts and difficulties directly to God in prayer, trusting that He patiently listens and often provides a resolution that transcends human logic. It also reminds us not to limit God's power to our understanding or human traditions.