Genesis 15 8

Genesis 15:8 kjv

And he said, LORD God, whereby shall I know that I shall inherit it?

Genesis 15:8 nkjv

And he said, "Lord GOD, how shall I know that I will inherit it?"

Genesis 15:8 niv

But Abram said, "Sovereign LORD, how can I know that I will gain possession of it?"

Genesis 15:8 esv

But he said, "O Lord GOD, how am I to know that I shall possess it?"

Genesis 15:8 nlt

But Abram replied, "O Sovereign LORD, how can I be sure that I will actually possess it?"

Genesis 15 verses

Genesis 15 8 Meaning

Genesis 15:8 captures Abraham's earnest inquiry to the Lord GOD following God's reiteration of His promise to give him the land of Canaan. It expresses a natural human desire for a tangible sign or mechanism to confirm how such an incredible and future-distant promise of inheritance will come to pass. It is not an expression of doubt in God's power or word, especially coming after Abraham's faith was counted as righteousness in verse 6, but rather a request for the specific assurance or ratification method.

Genesis 15 8 Context

The immediate context of Genesis chapter 15 revolves around God formalizing His covenant with Abraham concerning his descendants and the land. Earlier in Genesis 12, God had made initial promises. In Genesis 15:1-6, God reassured Abraham as his shield and reward, despite Abraham's concern about not having an heir. God then confirmed that Abraham's own son would be his heir and promised descendants as numerous as the stars. Importantly, verse 6 states that Abraham "believed the LORD, and He counted it to him as righteousness," a pivotal statement for understanding salvation by faith.

Immediately after this, in verse 7, God re-identifies Himself as the One who brought Abraham out of Ur of the Chaldeans to give him this land (the specific promise of Canaan). It is in direct response to this emphatic statement about the land that Abraham poses his question in verse 8. Historically, land ownership was crucial for survival and identity in the Ancient Near East. Kings and powerful entities made treaties and sworn promises often ratified by specific, visible rituals. Abraham's query is situated within this cultural framework of seeking tangible assurance for a significant oath or covenant, especially for a promise that would only fully materialize generations later. His request for "how I am to know" leads directly to the extraordinary covenant ceremony that follows in verses 9-21, where God Himself binds Himself by oath.

Genesis 15 8 Word analysis

• But he said: Signifies a direct, personal interaction and response from Abraham to God, continuing the dialogue from earlier in the chapter. This immediate address highlights Abraham's attentiveness and engagement with God's word.
• 'Lord GOD,': In Hebrew, Adonai Yahweh (אֲדֹנָי יְהוִה).
  • Adonai (אֲדֹנָי): Means "my Lord" or "my Master," emphasizing sovereignty and authority. It is often a substitute reading for the ineffable name Yahweh (YHWH).
  • Yahweh (יְהוִה): This is God's personal covenant name, revealing His active presence and faithfulness to His promises (related to "I AM WHO I AM" in Exo 3:14). Abraham addresses God recognizing His absolute sovereignty (Adonai) and His covenantal relationship (Yahweh), expressing profound reverence and dependence. This particular combination is common in Abraham's interactions with God, underlining the personal and covenantal nature of their relationship.
• 'how am I to know: In Hebrew, Ba-mmeh eda' (בַּמָּה אֵדַע).
  • Ba-mmeh (בַּמָּה): Literally "in what?" or "by what?" or "by means of what?" It probes the method or proof for knowing.
  • Eda' (אֵדַע): From the root yada' (יָדַע), meaning "to know," "to perceive," "to understand," or "to be assured." This is a sophisticated query, not necessarily one of doubt (as opposed to Zacharias in Luk 1:18, whose doubt resulted in temporary muteness), but rather a desire for confirmation or the means by which the promise will be ratified and demonstrated. It seeks understanding of God's chosen means to accomplish what seems humanly impossible and far off. It seeks the tangible sign or guarantee God will provide.
• that I shall possess it?': In Hebrew, Ki ireishenah (כִּי אִירָשֶׁנָּה).
  • Ki (כִּי): A conjunction meaning "that," "indeed," "because." Here, it introduces the content of what Abraham seeks to know about.
  • Ireishenah (אִירָשֶׁנָּה): From the root yarash (יָרַשׁ), meaning "to inherit," "to possess," "to take possession of." The suffix '-enah' refers to 'it,' specifically the land mentioned in the preceding verse. Abraham is asking how he will actually come into possession of this promised land, implying a need for tangible evidence or an assuring action from God. The question acknowledges the promise but seeks its mechanism of fulfillment, especially given the vastness of the promise and Abraham's advanced age without an heir.

• "Lord GOD, how am I to know that I shall possess it?": This entire phrase encapsulates Abraham's deep, respectful inquiry, seeking assurance from his Sovereign, Covenant God. It is a humble request for understanding the basis upon which he can be sure of inheriting the land, rather than an expression of disbelief. It moves from intellectual assent (v. 6) to seeking experiential certainty, paving the way for the profound covenant ceremony where God Himself acts to guarantee His word. The question implies a recognition that this promise, given its scale and long-term nature, would require a supernatural guarantee beyond mere words. It reveals Abraham's human desire for a firm, divinely established ground for his hope.

Genesis 15 8 Bonus section

The type of "knowing" Abraham seeks (yada') implies a practical or experiential knowing, beyond mere intellectual assent. It seeks an active assurance or a means by which future generations could also know the promise would be fulfilled. This foreshadows the physical possession of the land by Israel centuries later. God's response (Gen 15:9-17), a unilateral covenant by blood, directly addresses Abraham's request for "how I am to know." This is a significant theological point: God's covenant with Abraham is entirely dependent on His own faithfulness and self-binding oath, not on Abraham's performance. The cutting of animals, in an Ancient Near Eastern context, implied that the one who passed between the pieces would suffer the same fate if they broke the covenant. By having only God (represented by the smoking firepot and flaming torch) pass between the pieces, God signifies that if the covenant is broken, He alone bears the consequences (though, as God, He cannot break His word), thereby guaranteeing the promise unilaterally. This act in turn offers an utterly secure foundation for faith.

Genesis 15 8 Commentary

Genesis 15:8 stands as a pivotal moment revealing both Abraham's humble humanity and God's gracious condescension. After God pronounced Abraham righteous by faith in verse 6, this question is not a regression into unbelief but rather a longing for assurance regarding the long-term, tangible promise of land possession. Abraham acknowledges God's absolute sovereignty ("Lord GOD") but asks for "how" (the means, the sign, the ratification) rather than "if." In Ancient Near Eastern culture, covenants and great promises were typically sealed with visible rituals or oaths to establish their validity and ensure their future performance. Abraham's query anticipates this need for a tangible assurance for a spiritual promise. God's immediate response, detailed in the following verses (15:9-21), is the profound covenant of the pieces, a self-maledictory oath taken by God alone. This act serves as the ultimate answer to Abraham's "how," demonstrating that God binds Himself irrevocably to His word, providing an unshakeable foundation for Abraham's, and our, faith.