Genesis 15:9 kjv

And he said unto him, Take me an heifer of three years old, and a she goat of three years old, and a ram of three years old, and a turtledove, and a young pigeon.

Genesis 15:9 nkjv

So He said to him, "Bring Me a three-year-old heifer, a three-year-old female goat, a three-year-old ram, a turtledove, and a young pigeon."

Genesis 15:9 niv

So the LORD said to him, "Bring me a heifer, a goat and a ram, each three years old, along with a dove and a young pigeon."

Genesis 15:9 esv

He said to him, "Bring me a heifer three years old, a female goat three years old, a ram three years old, a turtledove, and a young pigeon."

Genesis 15:9 nlt

The LORD told him, "Bring me a three-year-old heifer, a three-year-old female goat, a three-year-old ram, a turtledove, and a young pigeon."

Genesis 15 verses

Genesis 15 9 Meaning

Genesis 15:9 records God's direct instruction to Abram, requiring him to prepare specific animals for a covenant ceremony. This command follows Abram's question about how he could be assured of inheriting the promised land, thereby initiating the formal establishment of the Abrahamic Covenant. The act of bringing these designated animals signifies the solemn and binding nature of the agreement God is about to make, and it sets the stage for a dramatic visual affirmation of God's unwavering promise to Abram regarding his descendants and the land.

Genesis 15 9 Context

Genesis chapter 15 records a pivotal moment in God's relationship with Abram. Following Abram's military victory and his refusal to profit from worldly kings (chapter 14), God appears to him in a vision, reassuring him and reiterating promises. Abram, though faithful, voices his concern about not having an heir (v. 2-3). God then assures him of numerous descendants (v. 4-5) and promises him the land of Canaan (v. 7). When Abram asks "How shall I know that I shall possess it?" (v. 8), God responds by initiating a unique and ancient Near Eastern covenant-making ritual. Verse 9 is God's immediate instruction for this ritual, commanding Abram to prepare the specific animals that will be integral to solemnizing the divine pledge. The ceremony described later in the chapter, including the smoking pot and flaming torch passing between the cut pieces, uniquely portrays God, and not Abram, ratifying the covenant through a unilateral oath.

Historically and culturally, "cutting a covenant" was a common practice in the Ancient Near East. It often involved sacrificing animals, dividing their carcasses, and then the covenanting parties walking between the halves. This ritual symbolized the potential curse upon the party who broke the covenant: "May I be cut in two like these animals if I do not uphold my promise." The inclusion of specific animals (large sacrificial animals and birds) reflects what would become clean animals for sacrifice under Mosaic law, highlighting the purity required for approaching God in covenant. The "three-year-old" age for the larger animals signifies their full maturity, prime vigor, and peak value as an offering.

Genesis 15 9 Word Analysis

• And He said to him: This opening signifies a direct, divine command. It highlights God's initiative in response to Abram's inquiry, demonstrating His sovereignty and willingness to establish His promise firmly.
• Bring Me: A command (imperative form). God explicitly dictates the terms of the ritual. This is not Abram's proposal but God's requirement.
• a three-year-old heifer (Hebrew: ʿeglāh mĕšūlāšāh):
  • ʿeglāh: "heifer," a young female bovine that has not yet had a calf, indicating purity and readiness for sacrifice.
  • mĕšūlāšāh: "three-year-old," "triennial." This indicates full maturity, vigor, and economic value. A three-year-old animal is at its peak strength and is considered a substantial offering.
• a three-year-old female goat (Hebrew: ʿez mĕšūlāšāh):
  • ʿez: "goat." Similar to the heifer, this is a clean animal common for sacrifices.
  • mĕšūlāšāh: "three-year-old." Emphasizes maturity and prime condition.
• a three-year-old ram (Hebrew: ʾayil mĕšūlāš):
  • ʾayil: "ram," a male sheep. Rams were significant in Israelite offerings, representing strength and leadership (e.g., ram of consecration in Exod 29:22).
  • mĕšūlāš: "three-year-old." Consistent with the other large animals, indicating prime condition.
• a turtledove (Hebrew: tōr): This is a common bird, one of two specified in Leviticus (along with pigeons) as an acceptable offering, especially for those who could not afford larger animals (Lev 1:14). Its inclusion shows a completeness of offerings, from the largest clean domesticated animals to birds.
• and a young pigeon (Hebrew: gōzāl yōnhāh):
  • gōzāl: "young bird," "fledgling."
  • yōnhāh: "dove," "pigeon." Like the turtledove, this signifies another accepted avian offering, representing a full scope of sacrifices, from valuable livestock to smaller birds. Its youth implies freshness and purity.

Words-group Analysis:

• "a three-year-old heifer, a three-year-old female goat, and a three-year-old ram": This group represents the three main types of large domesticated animals acceptable for sacrifice in ancient Israelite culture. Their specified age (three years old) suggests they are in their prime, representing a robust and valuable offering. This selection hints at the foundational sacrificial categories that would later be formalized in the Mosaic Law (e.g., Leviticus).
• "a turtledove and a young pigeon": The inclusion of birds, specifically common and clean varieties, demonstrates the comprehensive nature of the commanded offerings. It ensures a spectrum of life is presented, and also foreshadows the flexibility in offerings (Leviticus) where birds could be brought by those of lesser means. Their dual presence ensures a complete representation of flying creatures available for sacred use.
• "Bring Me all these": The combination of various animals, large and small, reflects God's specific and total requirement for this momentous covenant ritual. It indicates the sacred and weighty nature of the divine promise to be ratified.

Genesis 15 9 Bonus section

• The age of "three years old" (Hebrew: mĕšūlāš) might also subtly point to the completeness or divine perfection associated with the number three in biblical numerology, further emphasizing the holistic nature of the offerings and the covenant.
• The precise combination of a cow, a goat, a ram, and two types of birds (turtledove and pigeon) collectively covers the primary domestic animals and flying creatures available for offerings, showcasing the extent of Abraham's commitment or rather God's meticulous command that encompasses varied elements of creation.
• The covenant-cutting ritual, beginning with this command, serves as a powerful visual aid for Abram (and for future generations) to grasp the gravity and unshakeable nature of God's promise. It stands in contrast to common human covenants which could be broken, as this one is divinely instituted and upheld by God alone.

Genesis 15 9 Commentary

Genesis 15:9 is a pivotal instruction marking the commencement of a formal covenant ceremony, which will become the bedrock of God's covenant with Abram. God, in His sovereign power, specifies the exact offerings required, setting the precedent that the terms of interaction with the Divine are solely His prerogative, not human invention. The selection of specific animals – a heifer, a female goat, a ram, all three years old, plus a turtledove and a young pigeon – is rich in theological foresight. These are clean animals that would later constitute the categories of sacrifice in the Mosaic Law, foreshadowing the divine laws governing Israel's worship. The "three-year-old" specification for the larger animals emphasizes their prime condition, indicating a substantial and valuable offering fitting for the gravity of a divine covenant. This is not simply a sacrifice for atonement but an essential element of a legal and spiritual ceremony, preparing the stage for God's unilateral oath of faithfulness in the verses to come. It underscores God's commitment to His promises, even when the human recipient (Abram) has doubts about their fulfillment.