Genesis 17:8 kjv

And I will give unto thee, and to thy seed after thee, the land wherein thou art a stranger, all the land of Canaan, for an everlasting possession; and I will be their God.

Genesis 17:8 nkjv

Also I give to you and your descendants after you the land in which you are a stranger, all the land of Canaan, as an everlasting possession; and I will be their God."

Genesis 17:8 niv

The whole land of Canaan, where you now reside as a foreigner, I will give as an everlasting possession to you and your descendants after you; and I will be their God."

Genesis 17:8 esv

And I will give to you and to your offspring after you the land of your sojournings, all the land of Canaan, for an everlasting possession, and I will be their God."

Genesis 17:8 nlt

And I will give the entire land of Canaan, where you now live as a foreigner, to you and your descendants. It will be their possession forever, and I will be their God."

Genesis 17 verses

Genesis 17 8 Meaning

Genesis 17:8 proclaims God's unconditional covenantal promise to Abraham and his descendants: they will inherit the land of Canaan, where Abraham currently lives as a sojourner, as an everlasting possession. Crucially, this promise is deeply interwoven with God's personal pledge to be their exclusive God, signifying a foundational and perpetual relationship.

Genesis 17 8 Context

Genesis 17 details God's solemn reaffirmation and expansion of the Abrahamic covenant established in Genesis 12 and 15. Abram (now Abraham, Father of Many Nations) receives the sign of circumcision, symbolizing a lasting mark of the covenant. The promise of land is a key component, ensuring a dwelling place for the perpetually numerous "seed" that will come from Abraham. This verse specifically grounds Abraham and his lineage in the very territory they are currently sojourning in, declaring it their eternal inheritance. Historically and culturally, land was synonymous with life, identity, and the very essence of a people's existence. The declaration "I will be their God" asserts the unique, exclusive, and relational bond between YHWH and this chosen people, differentiating Him from the local, territorial deities of surrounding polytheistic cultures. It’s a bold assertion of YHWH’s sovereignty over the land and its future inhabitants, countering any notion that another god controls this territory.

Genesis 17 8 Word analysis

• And I will give: A strong, unilateral divine initiative. God is the sovereign grantor. It is a gracious bestowal, not earned or bargained for.
• unto thee: Directly to Abraham. This promise begins personally with him.
• and to thy seed after thee: (Hebrew: we·le·zar·‘a·ḵā) The promise extends generationally. "Seed" (zera‘) is often singular in Hebrew, representing descendants collectively, but later the New Testament interprets this singularly pointing to Christ (Gal 3:16).
• the land: A tangible, physical reality. A specific geographical region.
• wherein thou art a stranger: (Hebrew: mĕ·ḡū·re·ḵā from gûr, "to sojourn, to dwell as an alien"). Highlights Abraham's current unsettled status. Emphasizes God's power to grant settled possession where Abraham now only wanders.
• all the land of Canaan: Explicitly defines the geographical boundaries. This was a specific, inhabited region with existing peoples.
• for an everlasting possession: (Hebrew: lĕ·’ă·ḥuz·zat ‘ō·w·lām). "Everlasting" (‘ō·w·lām) signifies an enduring, perpetual, or enduring possession unto the vanishing point of human history, indicating permanence. "Possession" ('aḥuzat) implies permanent holding or ownership, not just temporary use. This points to a right that persists through time and beyond temporary dispossessions.
• and I will be their God: (Hebrew: wĕ·hā·yî·ṯî lā·hem lē·’lō·hîm). This is the quintessential covenant formula found throughout the Bible (e.g., Exod 6:7, Jer 31:33, Heb 8:10). It signifies a deeply personal, exclusive, and reciprocal relationship. God promises to be their protector, provider, guide, and the exclusive object of their worship and allegiance. It underpins the land promise, ensuring God's active involvement with His people in their inherited land.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• "And I will give unto thee, and to thy seed after thee": Establishes the divine Giver and the two primary beneficiaries: Abraham himself, but more profoundly, his multitude of descendants. The promise's continuity and breadth are key.
• "the land wherein thou art a stranger, all the land of Canaan": Juxtaposes Abraham's current temporary state ("stranger," sojourner) with the absolute, divinely guaranteed ownership ("all the land of Canaan"). It transitions from the temporary to the permanent.
• "for an everlasting possession; and I will be their God": Links the eternal land promise directly to the divine relationship. The "everlasting possession" is intrinsically connected to the "everlasting God" being their God. It's not just land; it's land with God. This phrase signifies the heart of the covenant, implying divine presence, blessing, and responsibility within that designated space.

Genesis 17 8 Bonus section

The dual promise in Gen 17:8 (land and relationship with God) has multifaceted fulfillments. Historically, Israel occupied and possessed the land, albeit with periods of exile due to disobedience. Spiritually, through Christ, the true Seed of Abraham, the "land" expands to encompass a heavenly inheritance (Heb 11:10, 16) and ultimately a New Heavens and New Earth (Rev 21:1-4), where the covenantal declaration "I will be their God" finds its ultimate and perfected reality in God dwelling among His people without hindrance. This progression demonstrates the dynamic nature of God's promises, fulfilled in increasing measure from the physical to the spiritual, yet retaining the core integrity of the original pledge.

Genesis 17 8 Commentary

Genesis 17:8 encapsulates two pillars of the Abrahamic covenant: the physical land promise and the spiritual, relational promise. God's declaration that He will give "all the land of Canaan" as an "everlasting possession" underscores His unyielding commitment, signifying a divine right of ownership that transcends temporary occupations or dispossessions in Israel's history. The term "everlasting" (Hebrew 'olam) suggests enduring validity, pointing towards the land's critical role throughout Israel's historical narrative and its future significance, eventually expanding into an eschatological hope for the New Heavens and New Earth, where God's people dwell eternally with Him.

Even more profoundly, "and I will be their God" unveils the core essence of the covenant: an intimate, personal, and exclusive relationship between the Creator and His chosen people. This phrase is foundational to biblical theology, appearing from Exodus through Revelation, always signifying God's covenant fidelity, protection, provision, and call for singular allegiance. It means more than merely bestowing a gift; it is the gift of God Himself in relationship. The land becomes the place where this unique divine-human fellowship is to be lived out, with God actively present among His people. While the enjoyment of the land was historically tied to Israel's obedience (e.g., Deut 28), the initial granting and the overarching promise remain rooted in God's unchangeable character.