Genesis 26:4 kjv

And I will make thy seed to multiply as the stars of heaven, and will give unto thy seed all these countries; and in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed;

Genesis 26:4 nkjv

And I will make your descendants multiply as the stars of heaven; I will give to your descendants all these lands; and in your seed all the nations of the earth shall be blessed;

Genesis 26:4 niv

I will make your descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and will give them all these lands, and through your offspring all nations on earth will be blessed,

Genesis 26:4 esv

I will multiply your offspring as the stars of heaven and will give to your offspring all these lands. And in your offspring all the nations of the earth shall be blessed,

Genesis 26:4 nlt

I will cause your descendants to become as numerous as the stars of the sky, and I will give them all these lands. And through your descendants all the nations of the earth will be blessed.

Genesis 26 verses

Genesis 26 4 Meaning

Genesis 26:4 is Yahweh's solemn reaffirmation of the Abrahamic Covenant to Isaac, specifically reiterating three primary promises. First, it ensures the extraordinary proliferation of Isaac's physical offspring, likened to the uncountable "stars of heaven." Second, it guarantees possession of specific geographic "lands" for these descendants. Third and most expansively, it declares that through Isaac's ultimate "seed"—prophetically understood as Christ—all "nations of the earth shall be blessed," signifying a universal spiritual benefit extending beyond ethnic Israel. This tripartite promise establishes God's faithfulness across generations, laying foundational expectations for both Israel's national identity and humanity's redemption.

Genesis 26 4 Context

Genesis chapter 26 recounts Isaac's stay in Gerar during a severe famine, a circumstance that tested his faith and brought him into contact with Abimelech, king of the Philistines, much like his father Abraham had experienced. This chapter highlights Isaac's obedience in not migrating to Egypt as the famine intensified, adhering to God's specific instruction (Gen 26:2). It is within this immediate context of obedience and potential vulnerability that God definitively appears to Isaac, commanding him, "Dwell in this land, and I will be with you and bless you; for to you and your descendants I give all these lands, and I will perform the oath which I swore to Abraham your father" (Gen 26:3). This divine affirmation directly precedes verse 4, which then spells out the precise, tripartite nature of that promised oath. The reaffirmation of these promises to Isaac serves to confirm him as the legitimate heir to the Abrahamic Covenant, chosen by God to continue the lineage of blessing, distinguishing him from his half-brother Ishmael. Historically, for the nomadic patriarchs surrounded by various polytheistic tribes, such explicit divine promises of innumerable descendants and specific land possession, sealed by an oath from Yahweh, underscored His singular sovereignty over life and territory, challenging the notion that fertility or prosperity originated from local idols.

Genesis 26 4 Word analysis

• And I will make your descendants multiply: The Hebrew is "וְהִרְבֵּיתִי אֶת־זַרְעֲךָ" (vehirbeiti et-zarcha), literally "And I will multiply your seed."

  • "multiply" (וְהִרְבֵּיתִי - vehirbeiti): This verb form (Hiphil perfect with waw-consecutive) signifies God as the direct and effective agent of multiplication. It underscores His active, powerful intervention to ensure the prolific growth of Isaac's line, a promise independent of human capacity or limitation.
  • "your descendants" (אֶת־זַרְעֲךָ - et-zarcha): This phrase uses the Hebrew word "זֶרַע" (zera), meaning "seed" or "offspring." While often translated as a collective plural ("descendants"), grammatically it is singular. This inherent duality in the term "zera" is pivotal: it refers to the physical lineage of Isaac (Israel) as well as, profoundly, to the singular "Seed" (Jesus Christ) through whom the universal blessing is realized, as explicitly interpreted in Galatians 3:16.

• as the stars of heaven: כְּכוֹכְבֵי הַשָּׁמַיִם (kechochvei ha-shamayim).

  • "stars" (כּוֹכְבֵי - kokhvei): This powerful metaphor denotes an innumerable, uncountable multitude, beyond human enumeration. First used in God's promise to Abraham in Gen 15:5, its repetition to Isaac underscores the vast scope of the covenant's demographic promise, contrasting the celestial vastness with the patriarchs' small beginnings and reinforcing God's supernatural ability to fulfill His word.

• and I will give to your descendants all these lands: וְנָתַתִּי לְזַרְעֲךָ אֵת כָּל־הָאֲרָצֹת הָאֵלֶּה (venatati lezarcha et kol-ha'aratzot ha'elleh).

  • "I will give" (וְנָתַתִּי - venatati): This verb, a perfect tense with waw-consecutive, highlights the certainty and divine source of the land's possession. The land is not to be earned or conquered by human might, but divinely bestowed, demonstrating God's sovereign authority over territory and history.
  • "all these lands" (כָּל־הָאֲרָצֹת הָאֵלֶּה - kol-ha'aratzot ha'elleh): This refers specifically to the promised territory of Canaan. The use of "all" implies the full extent of the divinely designated boundaries, which were outlined in Gen 15:18-21 as extending from the River of Egypt to the Euphrates, emphasizing the comprehensive nature of this territorial grant.

• and in your seed all the nations of the earth shall be blessed: וְהִתְבָּרְכוּ בְזַרְעֲךָ כֹּל גּוֹיֵי הָאָרֶץ (vehitbarekhu vezarcha kol goyei ha'aretz).

  • "shall be blessed" (וְהִתְבָּרְכוּ - vehitbarekhu): This Niph'al stem verb (בָּרַךְ - barak) signifies "to bless." While often rendered passively ("shall be blessed"), in this covenantal context, the Niph'al often conveys a reflexive or reciprocal meaning: "they shall bless themselves by means of you/your seed" or "they shall find blessing through you/your seed." This implies the nations will identify with and find true blessing by aligning themselves with the source of blessing provided through Isaac's ultimate Seed.
  • "in your seed" (בְזַרְעֲךָ - vezarcha): The preposition "בְּ" (be) can mean "in," "through," or "by means of." This phrase critically identifies the singular "Seed"—Jesus Christ—as the unique conduit through whom God's universal salvific grace flows. This connection establishes Christ as the means by which humanity, regardless of ethnic background, receives spiritual redemption.
  • "all the nations of the earth" (כֹּל גּוֹיֵי הָאָרֶץ - kol goyei ha'aretz): This universalistic phrase encompasses all non-Israelite peoples, demonstrating the covenant's expansive redemptive scope beyond ethnic or national boundaries. It foresees God's plan for salvation for all humanity, fulfilled ultimately in the New Covenant, establishing the global reach of divine grace.

• Words-group Analysis:

  • "And I will make your descendants multiply... as the stars of heaven": This promise primarily assures the astounding demographic growth of Isaac's physical lineage (Israel). It showcases God's sovereign control over life and fruitfulness, signifying a numerous nation from whom the redemptive plan would proceed. This sets the stage for the physical growth necessary for a nation to inherit the land and to eventually bring forth the promised "Seed."
  • "and I will give to your descendants all these lands": This promise defines the territorial inheritance for Israel. It is an unconditional divine grant, ensuring the covenant people would have a designated homeland, providing stability, identity, and the specific geographic location from which the "Seed" of promise would emerge and His redemptive work unfold.
  • "and in your seed all the nations of the earth shall be blessed": This profoundly universalistic declaration transcends ethnic and national boundaries. It shifts the focus from a solely Israel-centric prosperity to global spiritual benefit. This is the messianic core of the Abrahamic Covenant, pointing to the ultimate, singular "Seed," Jesus Christ, through whom all humanity finds grace, forgiveness, and eternal life by faith. It reveals that the covenant's ultimate purpose extends far beyond Israel's material well-being to embrace the spiritual redemption of the entire world.

Genesis 26 4 Bonus section

The direct and exclusive reaffirmation of these multifaceted covenant promises to Isaac serves to clearly define the chosen Messianic lineage. By specifically reiterating this oath to Isaac, God underscored His sovereign election, differentiating the line of blessing from Ishmael and later Esau. This specific choice strengthens the theological thread leading from Abraham through Isaac and Jacob to the eventual birth of Jesus Christ. Furthermore, the land promise is not just about physical space but sets the stage for God's redemptive drama, highlighting the centrality of a specific territory from which the promised King would come (Mic 5:2) and upon which His kingdom would be founded. The inherent universality in the "nations... shall be blessed" declaration reveals God's missionary heart from antiquity, underscoring that even the particular election of Israel had a universal scope—to be a light and a channel of blessing to the world, ultimately fulfilled in the Church's multi-ethnic composition.

Genesis 26 4 Commentary

Genesis 26:4 powerfully re-establishes the core elements of God's covenant with Abraham directly to Isaac, emphasizing divine faithfulness across generations. It asserts three intertwined, unconditional promises: Israel's vast numerical growth, their secure possession of the promised land of Canaan, and, most significantly, a global spiritual blessing made available to "all nations of the earth" through the singular "Seed." This verse moves beyond the physical blessings of a nation and land, clearly indicating a redemptive purpose that culminates in Christ, through whom believers from every nation partake in the promised blessings. It solidifies God's long-term plan for salvation, revealing a heart for all humanity even in the early patriarchal narratives. It demonstrates that the promises of God are irrevocable, not dependent on human performance but solely on His unchangeable character.

• Practical application: This verse assures us that God's promises are secure and extend through chosen lines, ultimately finding their highest fulfillment in Christ for all who believe. It reminds us that our spiritual inheritance in Christ unites people from every tongue, tribe, and nation. In times of uncertainty, it calls us to trust God's unwavering faithfulness, just as Isaac did.