Genesis 15
God makes a formal covenant with Abram, promising him descendants as numerous as the stars and the land of Canaan. Abram believes God and it is credited to him as righteousness.
GenesisChapter 15 of 5021 versesBerean Standard Bible
In this passage: AbrahamDamascusChaldea
Read Genesis 15 and keep notes on it in Doxa's Daily Faith Steps.
After these events, the word of the LORD came to Abram in a vision: “Do not be afraid, Abram. I am your shield, your very great reward.”
Quoted in the Daily Lift, day 23: Abram Rescues Lot: The Bible's First War (Genesis 14)
Quoted in the Deeper Dive, day 23: What does Genesis 14 teach us about knowing the God who speaks?
Quoted in the Deeper Dive, day 24: Why did Abram give a tenth, then refuse a fortune?
Quoted in the Deeper Dive, day 45: What does dabar mean in Genesis 24?
But Abram replied, “O Lord GOD, what can You give me, since I remain childless, and the heir of my house is Eliezer of Damascus?”
Abram continued, “Behold, You have given me no offspring, so a servant in my household will be my heir.”
Then 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.”
Quoted in the Deeper Dive, day 27: Sarai's Shortcut to a Son: The House Only God Builds (Genesis 16)
And 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.”
Quoted in the Daily Lift, day 27: Sarai, Hagar, and Abram: Helping God Keep His Promise (Genesis 16)
Quoted in the Daily Lift, day 41: What did God promise Abraham in Genesis 22:15–18?
Abram believed the LORD, and it was credited to him as righteousness.
Abraham believed God and it was credited to him as righteousness
“For what does the Scripture say? “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness.””
Read Romans 4:3›He believed God and it was credited to him as righteousness — Paul in Galatians
“So also, “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness.””
Read Galatians 3:6›Abraham believed God — James on faith and works
“And the Scripture was fulfilled that says, “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness,” and he was called a friend of God.”
Read James 2:23›'Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness.' Paul's key argument: faith has always been the way — even before the law existed.
“For what does the Scripture say? “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness.””
Read Romans 4:3›'Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness.' James and Paul both quote this — real faith always shows up in how you live.
“And the Scripture was fulfilled that says, “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness,” and he was called a friend of God.”
Read James 2:23›The LORD also told him, “I am the LORD, who brought you out of Ur of the Chaldeans to give you this land to possess.”
But Abram replied, “Lord GOD, how can I know that I will possess it?”
Quoted in the Daily Lift, day 47: What does it mean that Abraham died at a ripe old age?
And the LORD said to him, “Bring Me a heifer, a goat, and a ram, each three years old, along with a turtledove and a young pigeon.”
So Abram brought all these to Him, split each of them down the middle, and laid the halves opposite each other. The birds, however, he did not cut in half.
And the birds of prey descended on the carcasses, but Abram drove them away.
As the sun was setting, Abram fell into a deep sleep, and suddenly great terror and darkness overwhelmed him.
Quoted in the Deeper Dive, day 2: What is the deep sleep in Genesis 2:21?
Then the LORD said to Abram, “Know for certain that your descendants will be strangers in a land that is not their own, and they will be enslaved and mistreated four hundred years.
Quoted in the Daily Lift, day 39: Why did Abraham give Abimelech seven lambs?
Quoted in the Deeper Dive, day 39: What does El Olam mean?
But I will judge the nation they serve as slaves, and afterward they will depart with many possessions.
You, however, will go to your fathers in peace and be buried at a ripe old age.
Quoted in the Daily Lift, day 47: What does it mean that Abraham died at a ripe old age?
Quoted in the Deeper Dive, day 47: What did God mean by a ripe old age?
In the fourth generation your descendants will return here, for the iniquity of the Amorites is not yet complete.”
When the sun had set and darkness had fallen, behold, a smoking firepot and a flaming torch appeared and passed between the halves of the carcasses.
On that day the LORD made a covenant with Abram, saying, “To your descendants I have given this land—from the river of Egypt to the great River Euphrates—
the land of the Kenites, Kenizzites, Kadmonites,
Hittites, Perizzites, Rephaites,
Amorites, Canaanites, Girgashites, and Jebusites.”
Read next
How to Hear God’s Voice: A Practical Guide for BelieversScripture is the record of a God who speaks. This guide covers how to hear Him today and keep what He says.Cross-references for Genesis 15
“Do not fear, for I am with you; do not be afraid, for I am your God. I will strengthen you; I will surely help you; I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.”
“You are my hiding place and my shield; I put my hope in Your word.”
“And the Scripture was fulfilled that says, “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness,” and he was called a friend of God.”
“So also, “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness.””
“I have given you every place where the sole of your foot will tread, just as I promised to Moses.”
Cross-references from OpenBible.info, licensed CC BY.
Genesis 15 on Doxa
- Abram Believed God: The Night He Counted the Stars (Genesis 15) · Daily Lift, day 25
- Credited as Righteousness: How Abram Was Made Right (Genesis 15) · Deeper Dive, day 25
- How Can I Know? God Cuts a Covenant with Abram (Genesis 15) · Daily Lift, day 26
- Cutting the Covenant: The Oath God Swore Alone (Genesis 15) · Deeper Dive, day 26
- Abram Rescues Lot: The Bible's First War (Genesis 14) · Quoted in the Daily Lift, day 23
- Abram the Hebrew: Why 318 Men Went to War (Genesis 14) · Quoted in the Deeper Dive, day 23
- Melchizedek and Jesus: The Priesthood That Outranks the Law (Genesis 14) · Quoted in the Deeper Dive, day 24
- Why Does Genesis 24 Tell the Same Story Twice? (Genesis 24:28–49) · Quoted in the Deeper Dive, day 45
- Sarai's Shortcut to a Son: The House Only God Builds (Genesis 16) · Quoted in the Deeper Dive, day 27
- Sarai, Hagar, and Abram: Helping God Keep His Promise (Genesis 16) · Quoted in the Daily Lift, day 27
- Why Did God Swear an Oath to Abraham? (Genesis 22:15–24) · Quoted in the Daily Lift, day 41
- Abraham Dies at 'a Ripe Old Age,' Just as God Told Him (Genesis 25:1–11) · Quoted in the Daily Lift, day 47
- Adam and Eve: How a Potter's Hands Made a Soul (Genesis 2) · Quoted in the Deeper Dive, day 2
- Why Abraham Planted a Tree at Beersheba (Genesis 21:22–34) · Quoted in the Daily Lift, day 39
- El Olam: Why God Was First Called Eternal at a Disputed Well (Genesis 21) · Quoted in the Deeper Dive, day 39
- 'Gathered to His People' Came Before the Burial (Genesis 25:1–11) · Quoted in the Deeper Dive, day 47
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