Genesis 15:1-7·~1 min

God’s Covenant with Abram

The word of the LORD comes to Abram in a vision, but Abram answers from the ache of remaining childless. He names the gap between promise and present condition.

A¹fter these events, the word of the LORD came to Abram in a vision: ²But Abram replied, “O Lord GOD, what can You give me, since I remain childless, and the heir of my house is Eliezer of Damascus?” ³Abram continued, “Behold, You have given me no offspring, so a servant in my household will be my heir.”

The LORD rejects Abram's assumed heir and promises a son from his own body, then points him to the stars as an image of coming offspring. Abram believes the LORD, and that trust is counted as righteousness.

⁴Then the word of the LORD came to Abram, saying, “This one will not be your heir, but one who comes from your own body will be your heir.” ⁵And the LORD took him outside and said, “Now look to the heavens and count the stars, if you are able.” Then He told him, “So shall your offspring be.” ⁶Abram believed the LORD, and it was credited to him as righteousness.

The LORD names himself as the one who brought Abram from Ur in order to give him this land. The promise of descendants is joined to the promise of place.

⁷The LORD also told him, “I am the LORD, who brought you out of Ur of the Chaldeans to give you this land to possess.”

Section summaryThe LORD answers Abram's fear with reassurance, then answers his childlessness with a promise of his own heir and descendants too many to count. Abram believes, and the chapter marks that trust before the promise of the land is named again.

Role in the chapterThis opening section gathers the chapter's central promises into clear form and places Abram's faith at the center. It prepares for the covenant sign that follows by naming both offspring and land as the gifts in view.