Font Size
Genesis 15:3-5
New English Translation
Genesis 15:3-5
New English Translation
3 Abram added,[a] “Since[b] you have not given me a descendant, then look, one born in my house will be my heir!”[c]
4 But look,[d] the Lord’s message came to him: “This man[e] will not be your heir, but instead[f] a son[g] who comes from your own body will be your heir.” 5 The Lord[h] took him outside and said, “Gaze into the sky and count the stars—if you are able to count them!” Then he said to him, “So will your descendants be.”
Read full chapterFootnotes
- Genesis 15:3 tn Heb “And Abram said.”
- Genesis 15:3 tn The construction uses הֵן (hen) to introduce the foundational clause (“since…”), and וְהִנֵּה (vehinneh) to introduce the main clause (“then look…”).
- Genesis 15:3 tn Heb “is inheriting me.”
- Genesis 15:4 tn The disjunctive draws attention to God’s response and the particle הִנֵּה (hinneh, translated “look”) mirrors Abram’s statement in v. 3 and highlights the fact that God responded to Abram.
- Genesis 15:4 tn The subject of the verb is the demonstrative pronoun, which can be translated “this one” or “this man.” That the Lord does not mention him by name is significant; often in ancient times the use of the name would bring legitimacy to inheritance and adoption cases.
- Genesis 15:4 tn The Hebrew כִּי־אִם (ki ʾim) forms a very strong adversative.
- Genesis 15:4 tn Heb “he who.”
- Genesis 15:5 tn Heb “he”; the referent (the Lord) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
New English Translation (NET)
NET Bible® copyright ©1996-2017 by Biblical Studies Press, L.L.C. http://netbible.com All rights reserved.