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Parashat Lech Lecha

Abram Obeys the Calling

12 Then Adonai said to Abram,

“Get going out from your land,

and from your relatives,

and from your father’s house,

to the land that I will show you.

My heart’s desire is to make you into a great nation, to bless you,

to make your name great so that you may be a blessing.

My desire is to bless those who bless you,

but whoever curses you I will curse,[a]

and in you all the families of the earth will be blessed.[b]

So Abram went, just as Adonai had spoken to him. Also Lot went with him. (Now Abram was 75 years old when he departed from Haran.) Abram took Sarai his wife, and Lot his nephew, and all their possessions that they had acquired, and the people that they acquired in Haran, and they left to go to the land of Canaan, and they entered the land of Canaan. Abram passed through the land as far as the place of Shechem, as far as Moreh’s big tree. (The Canaanites were in the land then.)[c]

Then Adonai appeared to Abram, and said, “I will give this land to your seed.” So there he built an altar to Adonai, who had appeared to him. From there he moved to the mountain to the east of Beth-El and erected his tent (with Beth-El to the west and Ai to the east). There he built an altar to Adonai and called on the Name of Adonai. So Abram kept on journeying southward.[d]

Abram and Sarai in Egypt

10 Now there was a famine in the land. So Abram went down to Egypt to live as an outsider there, because the famine was severe in the land. 11 Just as he was about to enter Egypt he said to Sarai his wife, “Look, please, I know that you are an attractive woman. 12 So when the Egyptians see you they’ll say, ‘This is his wife.’ And they’ll kill me; but you, they’ll let live. 13 Please say that you are my sister, so that I’ll be treated well for your sake, and my life will be spared because of you.”

14 When Abram came to Egypt, the Egyptians did see that the woman was very beautiful. 15 Indeed, Pharaoh’s officials saw her and they raved about her to Pharaoh. Then the woman was taken into Pharaoh’s house. 16 But Abram was treated well for her sake, and he got sheep, cattle, male donkeys, male and female slaves, female donkeys and camels.

17 But Adonai struck Pharaoh and his household with great plagues because of Sarai, Abram’s wife. 18 So Pharaoh called Abram and said, “What’s this that you did to me? Why didn’t you tell me that she is your wife? 19 Why did you say, ‘She is my sister,’ so that I took her to be my wife? Now, here is your wife. Take—and go!” 20 Then Pharaoh instructed men concerning him, and they expelled him, with his wife, and everything that belonged to him.

13 So Abram went up from Egypt—he and his wife and everything that belonged to him, and Lot with him—to the Negev. Now Abram was very rich in livestock, silver and gold. He proceeded by stages from the Negev as far as Beth-El—to the place where his tent had been at the beginning, between Beth-El and Ai, to the place of the altar that he had made there at first, and there Abram called on the Name of Adonai.

Lot Separates From Abram

Now Lot, who was going with Abram, also had sheep and cattle and tents, so that the land could not support them living together, because their possessions were many, and they were not able to stay together. So there was a quarrel between the shepherds of Abram’s livestock and the shepherds of Lot’s livestock. (Now the Canaanites and the Perizzites were living in the land then.)

So Abram said to Lot, “Please, let there be no strife between me and you, or between my shepherds and yours, since we are relatives. Isn’t the whole land before you? Please separate yourself from me. If to the left, then I’ll go to the right, and if to the right, then I’ll go to the left.”

10 Lot lifted up his eyes and saw that the whole area surrounding the Jordan was well watered in its entirety (before Adonai destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah)—like Adonai’s garden, like the land of Egypt—till you come to Zoar. 11 So Lot chose for himself the whole area surrounding the Jordan. Lot journeyed to the east, and they separated from each other. 12 Abram dwelled in the land of Canaan, and Lot dwelled in the cities of the valley. And he moved his tent from place to place near Sodom. 13 But the people of Sodom were evil—very great sinners against Adonai.

14 After Lot separated himself from him, Adonai had said to Abram, “lift up your eyes, now, and look from the place where you are, to the north, south, east and west. 15 For all the land that you are looking at, I will give to you and to your seed forever. 16 I will make your seed like the dust of the earth so that if one could count the dust of the earth, then your seed could also be counted. 17 Get up! Walk about the land through its length and width—for I will give it to you.”

18 So Abram moved his tent from place to place, and came and dwelt by Mamre’s large trees, which are in Hebron, and there built an altar to Adonai.

Abram Rescues Lot

14 Now it came about in the days of Amraphel king of Shinar, Arioch king of Ellasar, Chedorlaomer king of Elam, and Tidal king of Goiim, that they made war with Bera king of Sodom, Birsha king of Gomorrah, Shinab king of Admah, Shemeber king of Zeboiim, and the king of Bela (this is Zoar). All of these kings joined forces in the Valley of the Siddim (this is the Salt Sea). For 12 years they had served Chedorlaomer, but in the thirteenth year they rebelled. In the fourteenth year Chedorlaomer came with the kings who were with him, and they defeated the Rephaim in Ashterot-karnaim, the Zuzim in Ham, and the Emim in Shaveh-kiryataim, and the Horites in the hill country of Seir as far as El-Paran, which is beside the wilderness. Then they came again to En-mishpat (this is Kadesh), and they subdued all the territory of the Amalekites, as well as the Amorites who live in Hazazon-tamar.

Then the king of Sodom, the king of Gomorrah, the king of Admah, the king of Zeboiim, and the king of Bela (this is Zoar) went out and lined themselves up for battle with them in the Valley of the Siddim, against Chedorlaomer king of Elam, Tidal king of Goiim, Amraphel king of Shinar, and Arioch king of Ellasar: four kings against five. 10 Now the Valley of the Siddim was full of tar pits, and as the kings of Sodom and Gomorrah fled, they fell into them, and those who remained fled to the hills. 11 So they took all of Sodom and Gomorrah’s possessions and their food and left. 12 They also took Lot, Abram’s nephew, and his possessions, and they left (as he was living in Sodom).

13 Then a survivor came and told Abram the Hebrew, who was dwelling by the large trees belonging to Mamre the Amorite, the brother of Eschol and the brother of Aner—they were Abram’s allies. 14 When Abram heard that his kinsman had been taken captive, he rallied his trained men, those born in his household, 318 of them, and went in pursuit as far as Dan. 15 Then he divided his servants against them at night, and he defeated them and pursued them as far as Hovah, which is north of Damascus. 16 He brought back all the possessions, and also brought back his kinsman Lot and his possessions, as well as the women and the other people.

Melech-Tzedek, King of Salem

17 Now after he returned from defeating Chedorlaomer and the kings who were with him, the king of Sodom went out to meet him in the Valley of Shaveh (this is the King’s Valley). 18 Then Melchizedek, king of Salem, brought out bread and wine—he was a priest of El Elyon. [e] 19 He blessed him and said,

“Blessed be Abram by El Elyon,
Creator of heaven and earth,
20 and blessed be El Elyon,
Who gave over your enemies into your hand.”
Then Abram gave him a tenth of everything.

21 Then the king of Sodom said to Abram, “Give me the people—the possessions take for yourself.”

22 But Abram said to the king of Sodom, “I raise my hand in oath to Adonai, El Elyon, Creator of heaven and earth. 23 Not a thread or even a sandal strap of all that is yours will I take, so you will not say, ‘I’ve made Abram rich!’ 24 I claim nothing but what the young men have eaten, and the share of the men who went with me—Aner, Eschol, and Mamre—let them take their share.”

Cutting a Covenant

15 After these things the word of Adonai came to Abram in a vision saying,
“Do not fear, Abram.
    I am your shield,
        your very great reward.”

But Abram said, “My Lord Adonai, what will You give me, since I am living without children, and the heir of my household is Eliezer of Damascus?” Then Abram said, “Look! You have given me no seed, so a house-born servant is my heir.”

Then behold, the word of Adonai came to him saying, “This one will not be your heir, but in fact, one who will come from your own body will be your heir. He took him outside and said, “Look up now, at the sky, and count the stars—if you are able to count them.” Then He said to him, “So shall your seed be.”

Then he believed in Adonai and He reckoned it to him as righteousness.

Then He said to him, “I am Adonai who brought you out from Ur of the Chaldeans, in order to give you this land to inherit it.”

So he said, “My Lord Adonai, how will I know that I will inherit it?”

Then He said to him, “Bring Me a three year old young cow, a three year old she-goat, a three year old ram, a turtle-dove and a young bird.”

10 So he brought all these to Him and cut them in half, and put each piece opposite the other; but he did not cut the birds. 11 Then birds of prey came down upon the carcasses, but Abram drove them away. 12 When the sun was about to set and a deep sleep fell on Abram, behold, terror of great darkness was falling upon him! 13 Then He said to Abram, “Know for certain that your seed will be strangers in a land that is not theirs, and they will be enslaved and oppressed 400 years. 14 But I am going to judge the nation that they will serve. Afterward they will go out with many possessions. 15 But you, you will come to your fathers in peace. You will be buried at a good old age. 16 Then in the fourth generation they will return here—for the iniquity of the Amorites is not yet complete.” 17 When the sun set and it became dark, behold, there was a smoking oven and a fiery torch that passed between these pieces.

18 On that day Adonai cut a covenant with Abram, saying, “I give this land to your seed, from the river of Egypt to the great river, the Euphrates River: 19 the Kenite, the Kenizzites, the Kadmonites, 20 the Hittites, the Perizzites, the Raphaites, 21 the Amorites, the Canaanites, the Girgashites, and the Jebusites.”

Hagar and Ishmael

16 Now Sarai, Abram’s wife, had not borne him children. But she had an Egyptian slave-girl—her name was Hagar. So Sarai said to Abram, “Look now, Adonai has prevented me from having children. Go, please, to my slave-girl. Perhaps I’ll get a son by her.”

Abram listened to Sarai’s voice. So Sarai, Abram’s wife, took her slave-girl Hagar the Egyptian—after Abram had lived ten years in the land of Canaan—and gave her to Abram her husband to be his wife. Then he went to Hagar and she became pregnant. When she saw that she was pregnant, in her eyes her mistress was belittled.

So Sarai said to Abram, “The wrong done to me is because of you! I myself placed my slave-girl in your embrace. Now that she saw that she became pregnant, so in her eyes I am belittled. May Adonai judge between you and me!”

Abram said to Sarai, “Look! Your slave-girl is in your hand. Do to her what is good in your eyes.”

So Sarai afflicted her, and she fled from her presence. Then the angel of Adonai[f] found her by the spring of water in the wilderness, next to the spring on the way to Shur. He said, “Hagar, Sarai’s slave-girl, where have you come from and where are you going?”

She said, “I am fleeing from the presence of my mistress Sarai.”

The angel of Adonai said, “Return to your mistress and humble yourself under her hand.” 10 Then the angel of Adonai said to her, “I will bountifully multiply your seed, and they will be too many to count.” 11 Then the angel of Adonai said to her,

Behold, you are pregnant
    and about to bear a son,
        and you shall name him Ishmael—
    for Adonai has heard your affliction.
12 He will be a wild donkey of a man.
His hand will be against everyone,
    and everyone’s hand against him,
        and away from all his brothers will he dwell.

13 So she called Adonai who was speaking to her, “You are the God who sees me.” For she said, “Would I have gone here indeed looking for Him who looks after me?” 14 That is why the well is named, the Well of the Living One Who Sees Me. (Behold, it is between Kadesh and Bered.)

15 Then Hagar gave birth to a son for Abram, and Abram named his son, whom Hagar bore, Ishmael. 16 Abram was 86 years old when Hagar gave birth to Ishmael for Abram.

Covenant of Circumcision

17 When Abram was 99 years old, Adonai appeared to Abram, and He said to him, “I am El Shaddai. Continually walk before Me and you will be blameless. My heart’s desire is to make My covenant between Me and you, and then I will multiply you exceedingly much.”

Abram fell on his face, and God spoke with him, saying, “For My part, because My covenant is with you, you will be the father of a multitude of nations. No longer will your name be Abram, but your name will be Abraham, because I make you the father of a multitude of nations. Yes, I will make you exceedingly fruitful, and I will make you into nations, and kings will come forth from you. Yes, I will establish My covenant between Me and you and your seed after you throughout their generations for an everlasting covenant, in order to be your God and your seed’s God after you. I will give to you and to your seed after you the land where you are an outsider—the whole land of Canaan—as an everlasting possession, and I will be their God.”

God also said to Abraham, “As for you, My covenant you must keep, you and your seed after you throughout their generations. 10 This is My covenant that you must keep between Me and you and your seed after you: all your males must be circumcised. 11 You must be circumcised in the flesh of your foreskin, and this will become a sign of the covenant between Me and you. 12 Also your eight-day-olds must be circumcised, every male, throughout your generations, including a house-born slave or a slave bought with money from any foreigner who is not of your seed. 13 Your house-born slave and your purchased slave must surely be circumcised. So My covenant will be in your flesh for an everlasting covenant. 14 But the uncircumcised male who is not circumcised in the flesh of his foreskin—that person will be cut off from his people; he has broken My covenant.”

15 God also said to Abraham, “As for Sarai your wife, you shall not call her by the name Sarai. Rather, Sarah is her name. 16 And I will bless her, and moreover, I will give you a son from her. I will bless her and she will give rise to nations. Kings of the peoples will come from her.”

17 Then Abraham fell on his face and laughed, and said to his heart, “Will a son be born to a 100-year-old man? Or will Sarah—who is 90 years old—give birth?” 18 So Abraham said to God, “If only Ishmael might live before you!”

19 But God said, “On the contrary, Sarah your wife will bear you a son and you must name him Isaac. So I will confirm My covenant with him as an everlasting covenant for his seed after him. 20 As for Ishmael, I have heard you. See, I have blessed him and I will make him fruitful, and I will multiply him very very much. He will father twelve princes and I will make him a great nation. 21 But My covenant will I establish with Isaac whom Sarah will bear to you at this set time next year.”

22 When He finished speaking with him, God went up from Abraham.

23 Then Abraham took Ishmael his son and all of his house-born slaves and all his purchased slaves—every male among the men of Abraham’s house—and he circumcised the flesh of their foreskin on this very same day, just as God had spoken with him. 24 Abraham was 99 years old when he was circumcised in the flesh of his foreskin, 25 and his son Ishmael was 13 years old when he was circumcised in the flesh of his foreskin. 26 On this very same day Abraham and Ishmael his son were circumcised. 27 Also all the men of his house, house-born slaves and slaves purchased from a foreigner, were circumcised with him.

Footnotes

  1. Genesis 12:3 Or, reviles.
  2. Genesis 12:3 cf. Acts 3:25; Gal. 3:8.
  3. Genesis 12:6 Or, terebinth or oak.
  4. Genesis 12:9 Or, to the Negev.
  5. Genesis 14:19 Meaning, King of Righteousness; Ps. 110:4; Heb. 5:6; 6:20; 7:1-10.
  6. Genesis 16:7 Or, Messenger.
Book name not found: Gen for the version: SBL Greek New Testament.

The Call of Abram

12 The Lord had said to Abram, “Go from your country, your people and your father’s household(A) to the land(B) I will show you.(C)

“I will make you into a great nation,(D)
    and I will bless you;(E)
I will make your name great,
    and you will be a blessing.[a](F)
I will bless those who bless you,
    and whoever curses you I will curse;(G)
and all peoples on earth
    will be blessed through you.(H)[b]

So Abram went, as the Lord had told him; and Lot(I) went with him. Abram was seventy-five years old(J) when he set out from Harran.(K) He took his wife Sarai,(L) his nephew Lot, all the possessions they had accumulated(M) and the people(N) they had acquired in Harran, and they set out for the land of Canaan,(O) and they arrived there.

Abram traveled through the land(P) as far as the site of the great tree of Moreh(Q) at Shechem.(R) At that time the Canaanites(S) were in the land. The Lord appeared to Abram(T) and said, “To your offspring[c] I will give this land.(U)(V) So he built an altar there to the Lord,(W) who had appeared to him.

From there he went on toward the hills east of Bethel(X) and pitched his tent,(Y) with Bethel on the west and Ai(Z) on the east. There he built an altar to the Lord and called on the name of the Lord.(AA)

Then Abram set out and continued toward the Negev.(AB)

Abram in Egypt(AC)

10 Now there was a famine in the land,(AD) and Abram went down to Egypt to live there for a while because the famine was severe.(AE) 11 As he was about to enter Egypt, he said to his wife Sarai,(AF) “I know what a beautiful woman(AG) you are. 12 When the Egyptians see you, they will say, ‘This is his wife.’ Then they will kill me but will let you live. 13 Say you are my sister,(AH) so that I will be treated well for your sake and my life will be spared because of you.”

14 When Abram came to Egypt, the Egyptians saw that Sarai was a very beautiful woman.(AI) 15 And when Pharaoh’s officials saw her, they praised her to Pharaoh, and she was taken into his palace. 16 He treated Abram well for her sake, and Abram acquired sheep and cattle, male and female donkeys, male and female servants, and camels.(AJ)

17 But the Lord inflicted(AK) serious diseases on Pharaoh and his household(AL) because of Abram’s wife Sarai. 18 So Pharaoh summoned Abram. “What have you done to me?”(AM) he said. “Why didn’t you tell me she was your wife?(AN) 19 Why did you say, ‘She is my sister,’(AO) so that I took her to be my wife? Now then, here is your wife. Take her and go!” 20 Then Pharaoh gave orders about Abram to his men, and they sent him on his way, with his wife and everything he had.

Abram and Lot Separate

13 So Abram went up from Egypt(AP) to the Negev,(AQ) with his wife and everything he had, and Lot(AR) went with him. Abram had become very wealthy(AS) in livestock(AT) and in silver and gold.

From the Negev(AU) he went from place to place until he came to Bethel,(AV) to the place between Bethel and Ai(AW) where his tent had been earlier and where he had first built an altar.(AX) There Abram called on the name of the Lord.(AY)

Now Lot,(AZ) who was moving about with Abram, also had flocks and herds and tents. But the land could not support them while they stayed together, for their possessions were so great that they were not able to stay together.(BA) And quarreling(BB) arose between Abram’s herders and Lot’s. The Canaanites(BC) and Perizzites(BD) were also living in the land(BE) at that time.

So Abram said to Lot,(BF) “Let’s not have any quarreling between you and me,(BG) or between your herders and mine, for we are close relatives.(BH) Is not the whole land before you? Let’s part company. If you go to the left, I’ll go to the right; if you go to the right, I’ll go to the left.”(BI)

10 Lot looked around and saw that the whole plain(BJ) of the Jordan toward Zoar(BK) was well watered, like the garden of the Lord,(BL) like the land of Egypt.(BM) (This was before the Lord destroyed Sodom(BN) and Gomorrah.)(BO) 11 So Lot chose for himself the whole plain of the Jordan and set out toward the east. The two men parted company: 12 Abram lived in the land of Canaan,(BP) while Lot(BQ) lived among the cities of the plain(BR) and pitched his tents near Sodom.(BS) 13 Now the people of Sodom(BT) were wicked and were sinning greatly against the Lord.(BU)

14 The Lord said to Abram after Lot had parted from him, “Look around from where you are, to the north and south, to the east and west.(BV) 15 All the land that you see I will give to you and your offspring[d] forever.(BW) 16 I will make your offspring like the dust of the earth, so that if anyone could count the dust, then your offspring could be counted.(BX) 17 Go, walk through the length and breadth of the land,(BY) for I am giving it to you.”(BZ)

18 So Abram went to live near the great trees of Mamre(CA) at Hebron,(CB) where he pitched his tents. There he built an altar to the Lord.(CC)

Abram Rescues Lot

14 At the time when Amraphel was king of Shinar,[e](CD) Arioch king of Ellasar, Kedorlaomer(CE) king of Elam(CF) and Tidal king of Goyim, these kings went to war against Bera king of Sodom, Birsha king of Gomorrah, Shinab king of Admah, Shemeber king of Zeboyim,(CG) and the king of Bela (that is, Zoar).(CH) All these latter kings joined forces in the Valley of Siddim(CI) (that is, the Dead Sea Valley(CJ)). For twelve years they had been subject to Kedorlaomer,(CK) but in the thirteenth year they rebelled.

In the fourteenth year, Kedorlaomer(CL) and the kings allied with him went out and defeated the Rephaites(CM) in Ashteroth Karnaim, the Zuzites in Ham, the Emites(CN) in Shaveh Kiriathaim and the Horites(CO) in the hill country of Seir,(CP) as far as El Paran(CQ) near the desert. Then they turned back and went to En Mishpat (that is, Kadesh),(CR) and they conquered the whole territory of the Amalekites,(CS) as well as the Amorites(CT) who were living in Hazezon Tamar.(CU)

Then the king of Sodom, the king of Gomorrah,(CV) the king of Admah, the king of Zeboyim(CW) and the king of Bela (that is, Zoar)(CX) marched out and drew up their battle lines in the Valley of Siddim(CY) against Kedorlaomer(CZ) king of Elam,(DA) Tidal king of Goyim, Amraphel king of Shinar and Arioch king of Ellasar—four kings against five. 10 Now the Valley of Siddim(DB) was full of tar(DC) pits, and when the kings of Sodom and Gomorrah(DD) fled, some of the men fell into them and the rest fled to the hills.(DE) 11 The four kings seized all the goods(DF) of Sodom and Gomorrah and all their food; then they went away. 12 They also carried off Abram’s nephew Lot(DG) and his possessions, since he was living in Sodom.

13 A man who had escaped came and reported this to Abram the Hebrew.(DH) Now Abram was living near the great trees of Mamre(DI) the Amorite, a brother[f] of Eshkol(DJ) and Aner, all of whom were allied with Abram. 14 When Abram heard that his relative(DK) had been taken captive, he called out the 318 trained(DL) men born in his household(DM) and went in pursuit as far as Dan.(DN) 15 During the night Abram divided his men(DO) to attack them and he routed them, pursuing them as far as Hobah, north of Damascus.(DP) 16 He recovered(DQ) all the goods(DR) and brought back his relative Lot and his possessions, together with the women and the other people.

17 After Abram returned from defeating Kedorlaomer(DS) and the kings allied with him, the king of Sodom(DT) came out to meet him in the Valley of Shaveh (that is, the King’s Valley).(DU)

18 Then Melchizedek(DV) king of Salem(DW) brought out bread(DX) and wine.(DY) He was priest of God Most High,(DZ) 19 and he blessed Abram,(EA) saying,

“Blessed be Abram by God Most High,(EB)
    Creator of heaven and earth.(EC)
20 And praise be to God Most High,(ED)
    who delivered your enemies into your hand.”

Then Abram gave him a tenth of everything.(EE)

21 The king of Sodom(EF) said to Abram, “Give me the people and keep the goods(EG) for yourself.”

22 But Abram said to the king of Sodom,(EH) “With raised hand(EI) I have sworn an oath to the Lord, God Most High,(EJ) Creator of heaven and earth,(EK) 23 that I will accept nothing belonging to you,(EL) not even a thread or the strap of a sandal, so that you will never be able to say, ‘I made Abram rich.’ 24 I will accept nothing but what my men have eaten and the share that belongs to the men who went with me—to Aner, Eshkol and Mamre.(EM) Let them have their share.”

The Lord’s Covenant With Abram

15 After this, the word of the Lord came to Abram(EN) in a vision:(EO)

“Do not be afraid,(EP) Abram.
    I am your shield,[g](EQ)
    your very great reward.[h](ER)

But Abram said, “Sovereign Lord,(ES) what can you give me since I remain childless(ET) and the one who will inherit[i] my estate is Eliezer of Damascus?(EU) And Abram said, “You have given me no children; so a servant(EV) in my household(EW) will be my heir.”

Then the word of the Lord came to him: “This man will not be your heir, but a son who is your own flesh and blood will be your heir.(EX) He took him outside and said, “Look up at the sky and count the stars(EY)—if indeed you can count them.” Then he said to him, “So shall your offspring[j] be.”(EZ)

Abram believed the Lord, and he credited it to him as righteousness.(FA)

He also said to him, “I am the Lord, who brought you out(FB) of Ur of the Chaldeans(FC) to give you this land to take possession of it.”(FD)

But Abram said, “Sovereign Lord,(FE) how can I know(FF) that I will gain possession of it?”(FG)

So the Lord said to him, “Bring me a heifer,(FH) a goat and a ram, each three years old,(FI) along with a dove and a young pigeon.(FJ)

10 Abram brought all these to him, cut them in two and arranged the halves opposite each other;(FK) the birds, however, he did not cut in half.(FL) 11 Then birds of prey came down on the carcasses,(FM) but Abram drove them away.

12 As the sun was setting, Abram fell into a deep sleep,(FN) and a thick and dreadful darkness came over him. 13 Then the Lord said to him, “Know for certain that for four hundred years(FO) your descendants will be strangers in a country not their own and that they will be enslaved(FP) and mistreated there. 14 But I will punish the nation they serve as slaves, and afterward they will come out(FQ) with great possessions.(FR) 15 You, however, will go to your ancestors(FS) in peace and be buried at a good old age.(FT) 16 In the fourth generation(FU) your descendants will come back here,(FV) for the sin of the Amorites(FW) has not yet reached its full measure.”

17 When the sun had set and darkness had fallen, a smoking firepot with a blazing torch(FX) appeared and passed between the pieces.(FY) 18 On that day the Lord made a covenant with Abram(FZ) and said, “To your descendants I give this land,(GA) from the Wadi[k] of Egypt(GB) to the great river, the Euphrates(GC) 19 the land of the Kenites,(GD) Kenizzites, Kadmonites, 20 Hittites,(GE) Perizzites,(GF) Rephaites,(GG) 21 Amorites, Canaanites, Girgashites and Jebusites.”(GH)

Hagar and Ishmael

16 Now Sarai,(GI) Abram’s wife, had borne him no children.(GJ) But she had an Egyptian slave(GK) named Hagar;(GL) so she said to Abram, “The Lord has kept me from having children.(GM) Go, sleep with my slave; perhaps I can build a family through her.”(GN)

Abram agreed to what Sarai said. So after Abram had been living in Canaan(GO) ten years,(GP) Sarai his wife took her Egyptian slave Hagar and gave her to her husband to be his wife. He slept with Hagar,(GQ) and she conceived.

When she knew she was pregnant, she began to despise her mistress.(GR) Then Sarai said to Abram, “You are responsible for the wrong I am suffering. I put my slave in your arms, and now that she knows she is pregnant, she despises me. May the Lord judge between you and me.”(GS)

“Your slave is in your hands,(GT)” Abram said. “Do with her whatever you think best.” Then Sarai mistreated(GU) Hagar; so she fled from her.

The angel of the Lord(GV) found Hagar near a spring(GW) in the desert; it was the spring that is beside the road to Shur.(GX) And he said, “Hagar,(GY) slave of Sarai, where have you come from, and where are you going?”(GZ)

“I’m running away from my mistress Sarai,” she answered.

Then the angel of the Lord told her, “Go back to your mistress and submit to her.” 10 The angel added, “I will increase your descendants so much that they will be too numerous to count.”(HA)

11 The angel of the Lord(HB) also said to her:

“You are now pregnant
    and you will give birth to a son.(HC)
You shall name him(HD) Ishmael,[l](HE)
    for the Lord has heard of your misery.(HF)
12 He will be a wild donkey(HG) of a man;
    his hand will be against everyone
    and everyone’s hand against him,
and he will live in hostility
    toward[m] all his brothers.(HH)

13 She gave this name to the Lord who spoke to her: “You are the God who sees me,(HI)” for she said, “I have now seen[n] the One who sees me.”(HJ) 14 That is why the well(HK) was called Beer Lahai Roi[o];(HL) it is still there, between Kadesh(HM) and Bered.

15 So Hagar(HN) bore Abram a son,(HO) and Abram gave the name Ishmael(HP) to the son she had borne. 16 Abram was eighty-six years old(HQ) when Hagar bore him Ishmael.

The Covenant of Circumcision

17 When Abram was ninety-nine years old,(HR) the Lord appeared to him(HS) and said, “I am God Almighty[p];(HT) walk before me faithfully and be blameless.(HU) Then I will make my covenant between me and you(HV) and will greatly increase your numbers.”(HW)

Abram fell facedown,(HX) and God said to him, “As for me, this is my covenant with you:(HY) You will be the father of many nations.(HZ) No longer will you be called Abram[q]; your name will be Abraham,[r](IA) for I have made you a father of many nations.(IB) I will make you very fruitful;(IC) I will make nations of you, and kings will come from you.(ID) I will establish my covenant(IE) as an everlasting covenant(IF) between me and you and your descendants after you for the generations to come, to be your God(IG) and the God of your descendants after you.(IH) The whole land of Canaan,(II) where you now reside as a foreigner,(IJ) I will give as an everlasting possession to you and your descendants after you;(IK) and I will be their God.(IL)

Then God said to Abraham, “As for you, you must keep my covenant,(IM) you and your descendants after you for the generations to come.(IN) 10 This is my covenant with you and your descendants after you, the covenant you are to keep: Every male among you shall be circumcised.(IO) 11 You are to undergo circumcision,(IP) and it will be the sign of the covenant(IQ) between me and you. 12 For the generations to come(IR) every male among you who is eight days old must be circumcised,(IS) including those born in your household or bought with money from a foreigner—those who are not your offspring. 13 Whether born in your household or bought with your money, they must be circumcised.(IT) My covenant in your flesh is to be an everlasting covenant.(IU) 14 Any uncircumcised male, who has not been circumcised(IV) in the flesh, will be cut off from his people;(IW) he has broken my covenant.(IX)

15 God also said to Abraham, “As for Sarai(IY) your wife, you are no longer to call her Sarai; her name will be Sarah.(IZ) 16 I will bless her and will surely give you a son by her.(JA) I will bless her so that she will be the mother of nations;(JB) kings of peoples will come from her.”

17 Abraham fell facedown;(JC) he laughed(JD) and said to himself, “Will a son be born to a man a hundred years old?(JE) Will Sarah bear a child at the age of ninety?”(JF) 18 And Abraham said to God, “If only Ishmael(JG) might live under your blessing!”(JH)

19 Then God said, “Yes, but your wife Sarah will bear you a son,(JI) and you will call him Isaac.[s](JJ) I will establish my covenant with him(JK) as an everlasting covenant(JL) for his descendants after him. 20 And as for Ishmael, I have heard you: I will surely bless him; I will make him fruitful and will greatly increase his numbers.(JM) He will be the father of twelve rulers,(JN) and I will make him into a great nation.(JO) 21 But my covenant(JP) I will establish with Isaac, whom Sarah will bear to you(JQ) by this time next year.”(JR) 22 When he had finished speaking with Abraham, God went up from him.(JS)

23 On that very day Abraham took his son Ishmael and all those born in his household(JT) or bought with his money, every male in his household, and circumcised them, as God told him.(JU) 24 Abraham was ninety-nine years old(JV) when he was circumcised,(JW) 25 and his son Ishmael(JX) was thirteen; 26 Abraham and his son Ishmael were both circumcised on that very day. 27 And every male in Abraham’s household(JY), including those born in his household or bought from a foreigner, was circumcised with him.

Footnotes

  1. Genesis 12:2 Or be seen as blessed
  2. Genesis 12:3 Or earth / will use your name in blessings (see 48:20)
  3. Genesis 12:7 Or seed
  4. Genesis 13:15 Or seed; also in verse 16
  5. Genesis 14:1 That is, Babylonia; also in verse 9
  6. Genesis 14:13 Or a relative; or an ally
  7. Genesis 15:1 Or sovereign
  8. Genesis 15:1 Or shield; / your reward will be very great
  9. Genesis 15:2 The meaning of the Hebrew for this phrase is uncertain.
  10. Genesis 15:5 Or seed
  11. Genesis 15:18 Or river
  12. Genesis 16:11 Ishmael means God hears.
  13. Genesis 16:12 Or live to the east / of
  14. Genesis 16:13 Or seen the back of
  15. Genesis 16:14 Beer Lahai Roi means well of the Living One who sees me.
  16. Genesis 17:1 Hebrew El-Shaddai
  17. Genesis 17:5 Abram means exalted father.
  18. Genesis 17:5 Abraham probably means father of many.
  19. Genesis 17:19 Isaac means he laughs.

27 Why do you say, O Jacob,
and assert, O Israel,
“My way is hidden from Adonai,
and the justice due me escapes
    the notice of my God”?
28 Have you not known?
Have you not heard?
Adonai is the eternal God,
the Creator of the ends of the earth.
He does not grow tired or weary.
His understanding is unsearchable.
29 He gives strength to the weary,
and to one without vigor He adds might.
30 Even youths grow tired and weary,
and young men stumble and fall,
31 but they who wait for Adonai
    will renew their strength.
They will soar up with wings as eagles.
They will run, and not grow weary.
They will walk, and not be faint.

Coming Conqueror

41 “Be silent before Me, O islands!
Let peoples renew their strength.
Let them draw near, then let them speak.
Let us come together for judgment.
Who has stirred up one from the east?
He calls justice to His feet.
He gives nations over to him and subdues kings.
He makes them like dust with his sword, as driven stubble with his bow.
He pursues them, passing on safely,
by a path his feet had not traveled.
Who has performed and done it?
Calling forth the generations from the beginning,
I, Adonai, am the first and the last,
    I am He!”
The coastlands have seen and fear.
The ends of the earth tremble.
They draw near and come.
Each one helps his neighbor
and says to his brother, “Be strong!”
The craftsman encourages the smith,
who smooths with the hammer,
who strikes with the anvil,
saying of the soldering, “It’s good!”
as he fastens it with nails so that it will not totter.

My Servant, My Friend

“But you, Israel, My servant,
Jacob whom I have chosen,
descendant of Abraham, My friend—
I took hold of you from the ends of the earth,
and called from its uttermost parts,
and said to you, ‘You are My servant—
I have chosen you, not rejected you.[a]
10 Fear not, for I am with you,
be not dismayed, for I am your God.
I will strengthen you.
Surely I will help you.
I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.
11 Behold, all who were angry at you
    will be ashamed and disgraced.
Those who quarrel with you
    will be as nothing and perish.
12 Though you will look for those who contended with you,
    you will not find them.
Those who warred against you
    will be as nothing at all.
13 For I am Adonai your God who upholds your right hand,
who says to you,
    “Fear not, I will help you.”
14 Fear not, you worm Jacob,
you men of Israel!
I will help you.”
It is a declaration of Adonai,
your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel.
15 “Look, I will make you a threshing sledge,
new, with sharp, double-edged spikes.
You will thresh the mountains and grind them up,
and will make the hills like chaff.
16 You will winnow them,
and a wind will carry them away,
a storm-wind will scatter them.
But you will rejoice in Adonai.
You will glory in the Holy One of Israel.

Footnotes

  1. Isaiah 41:9 cf. Rom. 11:1-2.
Book name not found: Isa for the version: SBL Greek New Testament.

27 Why do you complain, Jacob?
    Why do you say, Israel,
“My way is hidden from the Lord;
    my cause is disregarded by my God”?(A)
28 Do you not know?
    Have you not heard?(B)
The Lord is the everlasting(C) God,
    the Creator(D) of the ends of the earth.(E)
He will not grow tired or weary,(F)
    and his understanding no one can fathom.(G)
29 He gives strength(H) to the weary(I)
    and increases the power of the weak.
30 Even youths grow tired and weary,
    and young men(J) stumble and fall;(K)
31 but those who hope(L) in the Lord
    will renew their strength.(M)
They will soar on wings like eagles;(N)
    they will run and not grow weary,
    they will walk and not be faint.(O)

The Helper of Israel

41 “Be silent(P) before me, you islands!(Q)
    Let the nations renew their strength!(R)
Let them come forward(S) and speak;
    let us meet together(T) at the place of judgment.

“Who has stirred(U) up one from the east,(V)
    calling him in righteousness(W) to his service[a]?(X)
He hands nations over to him
    and subdues kings before him.
He turns them to dust(Y) with his sword,
    to windblown chaff(Z) with his bow.(AA)
He pursues them and moves on unscathed,(AB)
    by a path his feet have not traveled before.
Who has done this and carried it through,
    calling(AC) forth the generations from the beginning?(AD)
I, the Lord—with the first of them
    and with the last(AE)—I am he.(AF)

The islands(AG) have seen it and fear;
    the ends of the earth(AH) tremble.
They approach and come forward;
    they help each other
    and say to their companions, “Be strong!(AI)
The metalworker(AJ) encourages the goldsmith,(AK)
    and the one who smooths with the hammer
    spurs on the one who strikes the anvil.
One says of the welding, “It is good.”
    The other nails down the idol so it will not topple.(AL)

“But you, Israel, my servant,(AM)
    Jacob, whom I have chosen,(AN)
    you descendants of Abraham(AO) my friend,(AP)
I took you from the ends of the earth,(AQ)
    from its farthest corners I called(AR) you.
I said, ‘You are my servant’;(AS)
    I have chosen(AT) you and have not rejected you.
10 So do not fear,(AU) for I am with you;(AV)
    do not be dismayed, for I am your God.
I will strengthen(AW) you and help(AX) you;
    I will uphold you(AY) with my righteous right hand.(AZ)

11 “All who rage(BA) against you
    will surely be ashamed and disgraced;(BB)
those who oppose(BC) you
    will be as nothing and perish.(BD)
12 Though you search for your enemies,
    you will not find them.(BE)
Those who wage war against you
    will be as nothing(BF) at all.
13 For I am the Lord your God
    who takes hold of your right hand(BG)
and says to you, Do not fear;
    I will help(BH) you.
14 Do not be afraid,(BI) you worm(BJ) Jacob,
    little Israel, do not fear,
for I myself will help(BK) you,” declares the Lord,
    your Redeemer,(BL) the Holy One(BM) of Israel.
15 “See, I will make you into a threshing sledge,(BN)
    new and sharp, with many teeth.
You will thresh the mountains(BO) and crush them,
    and reduce the hills to chaff.(BP)
16 You will winnow(BQ) them, the wind will pick them up,
    and a gale(BR) will blow them away.(BS)
But you will rejoice(BT) in the Lord
    and glory(BU) in the Holy One(BV) of Israel.

Footnotes

  1. Isaiah 41:2 Or east, / whom victory meets at every step

Abraham Set Right by Faith

What then shall we say that Abraham, our forefather according to the flesh, has found? For if Abraham was set right by works, he has something to boast about—but not before God. For what does the Scripture say? “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness.” [a] Now to the one who works, the pay is not credited as a gift, but as what is due. But to the one who does not work, but trusts in Him who justifies the ungodly, his trust is credited as righteousness— just as David also speaks of the blessing on the man to whom God credits righteousness apart from works:

“Blessed are those whose lawless deeds are forgiven and whose sins are covered.

Blessed is the man whose sin Adonai will never count against him.”[b]

Is this blessing then only on the circumcised, or also on the uncircumcised? For we say, “trust was credited to Abraham as righteousness.”[c]

10 In what state then was it credited? While circumcised, or uncircumcised? Not while circumcised, but while uncircumcised! 11 And he received the sign of circumcision as a seal of the righteousness of the trust he had while he was uncircumcised, so he might be the father of all who are trusting while uncircumcised—that righteousness might be credited to them as well. 12 Also he is the father of the circumcised, to those not only circumcised but also walking in the footsteps of the trust of our father Abraham before his circumcision.[d]

Trusting in the Promise

13 For the promise to Abraham or to his seed—to become heir of the world—was not through law, but through the righteousness based on trust. 14 For if those who are of the Torah are heirs, trust has become empty and the promise is made ineffective. 15 For the Torah brings about wrath; but where there is no law, neither is there a violation.

16 For this reason it depends on trust, so that the promise according to grace might be guaranteed to all the offspring—not only to those of the Torah but also to those of the faith of Abraham. He is the father of us all 17 (as it is written, “I have made you a father of many nations”[e]). He is our father in the sight of God in whom he trusted, who gives life to the dead and calls into existence that which does not exist. 18 In hope beyond hope, he trusted that he would become the father of many nations according to what was spoken—“So shall your descendants be.” [f] 19 And without becoming weak in faith, he considered his own body—as good as dead, since he was already a hundred years old—and the deadness of Sarah’s womb. 20 Yet he did not waver in unbelief concerning the promise of God. Rather, he was strengthened in faith, giving glory to God. 21 He was fully convinced that what God has promised, He also is able to do. [g] 22 That is why “it was credited to him as righteousness.”[h]

23 Now not only for his sake was it written that it was credited to him, 24 but for our sake as well. It is credited to us as those who trust in Him who raised Yeshua our Lord from the dead. 25 He was handed over for our transgressions and raised up for the sake of setting us right.[i]

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Τί οὖν ἐροῦμεν [a]εὑρηκέναι Ἀβραὰμ τὸν [b]προπάτορα [c]ἡμῶν κατὰ σάρκα; εἰ γὰρ Ἀβραὰμ ἐξ ἔργων ἐδικαιώθη, ἔχει καύχημα· ἀλλ’ οὐ [d]πρὸς θεόν, τί γὰρ ἡ γραφὴ λέγει; Ἐπίστευσεν δὲ Ἀβραὰμ τῷ θεῷ καὶ ἐλογίσθη αὐτῷ εἰς δικαιοσύνην. τῷ δὲ ἐργαζομένῳ ὁ μισθὸς οὐ λογίζεται κατὰ χάριν ἀλλὰ κατὰ ὀφείλημα· τῷ δὲ μὴ ἐργαζομένῳ, πιστεύοντι δὲ ἐπὶ τὸν δικαιοῦντα τὸν ἀσεβῆ, λογίζεται ἡ πίστις αὐτοῦ εἰς δικαιοσύνην, καθάπερ καὶ Δαυὶδ λέγει τὸν μακαρισμὸν τοῦ ἀνθρώπου ᾧ ὁ θεὸς λογίζεται δικαιοσύνην χωρὶς ἔργων· Μακάριοι ὧν ἀφέθησαν αἱ ἀνομίαι καὶ ὧν ἐπεκαλύφθησαν αἱ ἁμαρτίαι, μακάριος ἀνὴρ [e]οὗ οὐ μὴ λογίσηται κύριος ἁμαρτίαν.

Ὁ μακαρισμὸς οὖν οὗτος ἐπὶ τὴν περιτομὴν ἢ καὶ ἐπὶ τὴν ἀκροβυστίαν; λέγομεν [f]γάρ· Ἐλογίσθη τῷ Ἀβραὰμ ἡ πίστις εἰς δικαιοσύνην. 10 πῶς οὖν ἐλογίσθη; ἐν περιτομῇ ὄντι ἢ ἐν ἀκροβυστίᾳ; οὐκ ἐν περιτομῇ ἀλλ’ ἐν ἀκροβυστίᾳ· 11 καὶ σημεῖον ἔλαβεν περιτομῆς, σφραγῖδα τῆς δικαιοσύνης τῆς πίστεως τῆς ἐν τῇ ἀκροβυστίᾳ, εἰς τὸ εἶναι αὐτὸν πατέρα πάντων τῶν πιστευόντων δι’ ἀκροβυστίας, εἰς τὸ [g]λογισθῆναι αὐτοῖς τὴν δικαιοσύνην, 12 καὶ πατέρα περιτομῆς τοῖς οὐκ ἐκ περιτομῆς μόνον ἀλλὰ καὶ τοῖς στοιχοῦσιν τοῖς ἴχνεσιν τῆς [h]ἐν ἀκροβυστίᾳ πίστεως τοῦ πατρὸς ἡμῶν Ἀβραάμ.

13 Οὐ γὰρ διὰ νόμου ἡ ἐπαγγελία τῷ Ἀβραὰμ ἢ τῷ σπέρματι αὐτοῦ, τὸ κληρονόμον αὐτὸν [i]εἶναι κόσμου, ἀλλὰ διὰ δικαιοσύνης πίστεως· 14 εἰ γὰρ οἱ ἐκ νόμου κληρονόμοι, κεκένωται ἡ πίστις καὶ κατήργηται ἡ ἐπαγγελία· 15 ὁ γὰρ νόμος ὀργὴν κατεργάζεται, οὗ [j]δὲ οὐκ ἔστιν νόμος, οὐδὲ παράβασις.

16 Διὰ τοῦτο ἐκ πίστεως, ἵνα κατὰ χάριν, εἰς τὸ εἶναι βεβαίαν τὴν ἐπαγγελίαν παντὶ τῷ σπέρματι, οὐ τῷ ἐκ τοῦ νόμου μόνον ἀλλὰ καὶ τῷ ἐκ πίστεως Ἀβραάμ (ὅς ἐστιν πατὴρ πάντων ἡμῶν, 17 καθὼς γέγραπται ὅτι Πατέρα πολλῶν ἐθνῶν τέθεικά σε), κατέναντι οὗ ἐπίστευσεν θεοῦ τοῦ ζῳοποιοῦντος τοὺς νεκροὺς καὶ καλοῦντος τὰ μὴ ὄντα ὡς ὄντα· 18 ὃς παρ’ ἐλπίδα ἐπ’ ἐλπίδι ἐπίστευσεν εἰς τὸ γενέσθαι αὐτὸν πατέρα πολλῶν ἐθνῶν κατὰ τὸ εἰρημένον· Οὕτως ἔσται τὸ σπέρμα σου· 19 καὶ μὴ ἀσθενήσας τῇ [k]πίστει κατενόησεν τὸ ἑαυτοῦ [l]σῶμα νενεκρωμένον, ἑκατονταετής που ὑπάρχων, καὶ τὴν νέκρωσιν τῆς μήτρας Σάρρας, 20 εἰς δὲ τὴν ἐπαγγελίαν τοῦ θεοῦ οὐ διεκρίθη τῇ ἀπιστίᾳ ἀλλὰ ἐνεδυναμώθη τῇ πίστει, δοὺς δόξαν τῷ θεῷ 21 καὶ πληροφορηθεὶς ὅτι ὃ ἐπήγγελται δυνατός ἐστιν καὶ ποιῆσαι. 22 [m]διὸ ἐλογίσθη αὐτῷ εἰς δικαιοσύνην. 23 Οὐκ ἐγράφη δὲ δι’ αὐτὸν μόνον ὅτι ἐλογίσθη αὐτῷ, 24 ἀλλὰ καὶ δι’ ἡμᾶς οἷς μέλλει λογίζεσθαι, τοῖς πιστεύουσιν ἐπὶ τὸν ἐγείραντα Ἰησοῦν τὸν κύριον ἡμῶν ἐκ νεκρῶν, 25 ὃς παρεδόθη διὰ τὰ παραπτώματα ἡμῶν καὶ ἠγέρθη διὰ τὴν δικαίωσιν ἡμῶν.

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Footnotes

  1. ΠΡΟΣ ΡΩΜΑΙΟΥΣ 4:1 εὑρηκέναι Treg NIV ] – WH RP
  2. ΠΡΟΣ ΡΩΜΑΙΟΥΣ 4:1 προπάτορα WH Treg NIV ] πατέρα RP
  3. ΠΡΟΣ ΡΩΜΑΙΟΥΣ 4:1 ἡμῶν WH Treg NIV ] + εὑρηκέναι RP
  4. ΠΡΟΣ ΡΩΜΑΙΟΥΣ 4:2 πρὸς WH Treg NIV ] + τὸν RP
  5. ΠΡΟΣ ΡΩΜΑΙΟΥΣ 4:8 οὗ WH Treg NIV ] ᾧ RP
  6. ΠΡΟΣ ΡΩΜΑΙΟΥΣ 4:9 γάρ WH Treg NIV ] + ὅτι RP
  7. ΠΡΟΣ ΡΩΜΑΙΟΥΣ 4:11 λογισθῆναι WH Treg NIV ] + καὶ RP NA
  8. ΠΡΟΣ ΡΩΜΑΙΟΥΣ 4:12 ἐν ἀκροβυστίᾳ πίστεως WH Treg NIV ] πίστεως τῆς ἐν τῇ ἀκροβυστίᾳ RP
  9. ΠΡΟΣ ΡΩΜΑΙΟΥΣ 4:13 εἶναι WH Treg NIV ] + τοῦ RP
  10. ΠΡΟΣ ΡΩΜΑΙΟΥΣ 4:15 δὲ WH Treg NIV ] γὰρ RP
  11. ΠΡΟΣ ΡΩΜΑΙΟΥΣ 4:19 πίστει WH Treg NIV ] + οὐ RP
  12. ΠΡΟΣ ΡΩΜΑΙΟΥΣ 4:19 σῶμα Holmes WHmarg ] + ἤδη WH Treg NIV RP
  13. ΠΡΟΣ ΡΩΜΑΙΟΥΣ 4:22 διὸ Holmes WHmarg ] + καὶ WH Treg NIV RP

Abraham Justified by Faith

What then shall we say(A) that Abraham, our forefather according to the flesh,(B) discovered in this matter? If, in fact, Abraham was justified by works, he had something to boast about—but not before God.(C) What does Scripture say? “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness.”[a](D)

Now to the one who works, wages are not credited as a gift(E) but as an obligation. However, to the one who does not work but trusts God who justifies the ungodly, their faith is credited as righteousness.(F) David says the same thing when he speaks of the blessedness of the one to whom God credits righteousness apart from works:

“Blessed are those
    whose transgressions are forgiven,
    whose sins are covered.
Blessed is the one
    whose sin the Lord will never count against them.”[b](G)

Is this blessedness only for the circumcised, or also for the uncircumcised?(H) We have been saying that Abraham’s faith was credited to him as righteousness.(I) 10 Under what circumstances was it credited? Was it after he was circumcised, or before? It was not after, but before! 11 And he received circumcision as a sign, a seal of the righteousness that he had by faith while he was still uncircumcised.(J) So then, he is the father(K) of all who believe(L) but have not been circumcised, in order that righteousness might be credited to them. 12 And he is then also the father of the circumcised who not only are circumcised but who also follow in the footsteps of the faith that our father Abraham had before he was circumcised.

13 It was not through the law that Abraham and his offspring received the promise(M) that he would be heir of the world,(N) but through the righteousness that comes by faith.(O) 14 For if those who depend on the law are heirs, faith means nothing and the promise is worthless,(P) 15 because the law brings wrath.(Q) And where there is no law there is no transgression.(R)

16 Therefore, the promise comes by faith, so that it may be by grace(S) and may be guaranteed(T) to all Abraham’s offspring—not only to those who are of the law but also to those who have the faith of Abraham. He is the father of us all.(U) 17 As it is written: “I have made you a father of many nations.”[c](V) He is our father in the sight of God, in whom he believed—the God who gives life(W) to the dead and calls(X) into being things that were not.(Y)

18 Against all hope, Abraham in hope believed and so became the father of many nations,(Z) just as it had been said to him, “So shall your offspring be.”[d](AA) 19 Without weakening in his faith, he faced the fact that his body was as good as dead(AB)—since he was about a hundred years old(AC)—and that Sarah’s womb was also dead.(AD) 20 Yet he did not waver through unbelief regarding the promise of God, but was strengthened(AE) in his faith and gave glory to God,(AF) 21 being fully persuaded that God had power to do what he had promised.(AG) 22 This is why “it was credited to him as righteousness.”(AH) 23 The words “it was credited to him” were written not for him alone, 24 but also for us,(AI) to whom God will credit righteousness—for us who believe in him(AJ) who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead.(AK) 25 He was delivered over to death for our sins(AL) and was raised to life for our justification.(AM)

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Footnotes

  1. Romans 4:3 Gen. 15:6; also in verse 22
  2. Romans 4:8 Psalm 32:1,2
  3. Romans 4:17 Gen. 17:5
  4. Romans 4:18 Gen. 15:5