King James Version:
(The Lord speaking is red text)
¶ And Abram passed through the land unto the place of Sichem, unto the plain of Moreh. And the Canaanite [was] then in the land.
Complete Jewish Bible:
Avram passed through the land to the place called Sh’khem, to the oak of Moreh. The Kena‘ani were then in the land.
Berean Standard Bible:
Abram traveled through the land as far as the site of the Oak of Moreh at Shechem. And at that time the Canaanites were in the land.
American Standard Version:
And Abram passed through the land unto the place of Shechem, unto the oak of Moreh. And the Canaanite was then in the land.
KJV with Strong’s Numbers:
And Abram{H87} passed through{H5674} the land{H776} unto the place{H4725} of Sichem{H7927}, unto the plain{H436} of Moreh{H4176}. And the Canaanite{H3669} was then{H227} in the land{H776}.
Cross-References (KJV):
Deuteronomy 11:30
- [Are] they not on the other side Jordan, by the way where the sun goeth down, in the land of the Canaanites, which dwell in the champaign over against Gilgal, beside the plains of Moreh?
Hebrews 11:9
- By faith he sojourned in the land of promise, as [in] a strange country, dwelling in tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise:
Genesis 35:4
- And they gave unto Jacob all the strange gods which [were] in their hand, and [all their] earrings which [were] in their ears; and Jacob hid them under the oak which [was] by Shechem.
Genesis 15:18
- In the same day the LORD made a covenant with Abram, saying, Unto thy seed have I given this land, from the river of Egypt unto the great river, the river Euphrates:
Genesis 15:21
- And the Amorites, and the Canaanites, and the Girgashites, and the Jebusites.
Genesis 10:18
- And the Arvadite, and the Zemarite, and the Hamathite: and afterward were the families of the Canaanites spread abroad.
Genesis 10:19
- And the border of the Canaanites was from Sidon, as thou comest to Gerar, unto Gaza; as thou goest, unto Sodom, and Gomorrah, and Admah, and Zeboim, even unto Lasha.
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Commentary for Genesis 12:6
**Themes:**
1. **Divine Promises and Journeys:** Genesis 12:6 is part of the narrative where Abram (later named Abraham) is responding to God's call to leave his native land and journey to a new land that God will show him (Genesis 12:1-3). This journey is a central theme in the biblical narrative, as it marks the beginning of God's covenant with Abraham and his descendants, which will eventually lead to the establishment of the nation of Israel.
2. **Faith and Obedience:** Abram's act of passing through the land to the place of Shechem demonstrates his faith and obedience to God's command. This sets a precedent for the importance of faith and trust in God's promises throughout the biblical narrative.
3. **Inheritance and Possession:** The verse hints at the theme of the Promised Land, which will be inherited by Abram's descendants. The mention of the Canaanites in the land underscores the fact that the fulfillment of this promise is not immediate and will involve future challenges and conflicts.
**Historical Context:**
During the time of Abram, which is estimated to be around the early second millennium BCE, the land of Canaan was inhabited by various peoples, including the Canaanites. These inhabitants were a collection of ethnic groups who shared a common culture and language but were not unified into a single political entity.
Abram's arrival in Shechem, located in the central highlands of Canaan, is significant because this area would later become an important religious and political center in Israelite history. The "plain of Moreh" may refer to a specific location associated with a prominent tree or landmark, as "Moreh" can be translated as "teacher" or "oracle giver," suggesting a place where divine guidance was sought.
The presence of the Canaanites in the land indicates that Abram was entering a region that was already settled and cultivated, which would eventually raise issues of land rights and conflicts between the indigenous population and the Hebrews, Abram's descendants.
In summary, Genesis 12:6 reflects themes of divine guidance, faith, and the promise of a future homeland for Abraham's descendants, set against the historical backdrop of the early second millennium BCE in the land of Canaan, which was then occupied by the Canaanites.
*This commentary is produced by Microsoft/WizardLM-2-8x22B AI model
Strong's Numbers and Definitions:
Note: H = Hebrew (OT), G = Greek (NT)
- Strong's Number: H87
There are 17014 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: אַבְרָם
Transliteration: ʼAbrâm
Pronunciation: ab-rawm'
Description: contracted from אֲבִירָם; high father; Abram, the original name of Abraham; Abram. - Strong's Number: H5674
There are 493 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: עָבַר
Transliteration: ʻâbar
Pronunciation: aw-bar'
Description: a primitive root; to cross over; used very widely of any transition (literal or figurative; transitive, intransitive, intensive, causative); specifically, to cover (in copulation); alienate, alter, [idiom] at all, beyond, bring (over, through), carry over, (over-) come (on, over), conduct (over), convey over, current, deliver, do away, enter, escape, fail, gender, get over, (make) go (away, beyond, by, forth, his way, in, on, over, through), have away (more), lay, meddle, overrun, make partition, (cause to, give, make to, over) pass(-age, along, away, beyond, by, -enger, on, out, over, through), (cause to, make) [phrase] proclaim(-amation), perish, provoke to anger, put away, rage, [phrase] raiser of taxes, remove, send over, set apart, [phrase] shave, cause to (make) sound, [idiom] speedily, [idiom] sweet smelling, take (away), (make to) transgress(-or), translate, turn away, (way-) faring man, be wrath. - Strong's Number: H776
There are 2739 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: אֶרֶץ
Transliteration: ʼerets
Pronunciation: eh'-rets
Description: from an unused root probably meaning to be firm; the earth (at large, or partitively a land); [idiom] common, country, earth, field, ground, land, [idiom] natins, way, [phrase] wilderness, world. - Strong's Number: H4725
There are 379 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: מָקוֹם
Transliteration: mâqôwm
Pronunciation: maw-kome'
Description: or מָקֹם; also (feminine) מְקוֹמָה; or מְקֹמָה; from קוּם; properly, a standing, i.e. a spot; but used widely of a locality (general or specific); also (figuratively) of a condition (of body or mind); country, [idiom] home, [idiom] open, place, room, space, [idiom] whither(-soever). - Strong's Number: H7927
There are 54 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: שְׁכֶם
Transliteration: Shᵉkem
Pronunciation: shek-em'
Description: the same as שְׁכֶם; ridge; Shekem, a place in Palestine; Shechem. - Strong's Number: H436
There are 33 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: אֵלוֹן
Transliteration: ʼêlôwn
Pronunciation: ay-lone'
Description: prolonged from אַיִל; an oak or other strong tree; plain. See also אֵילוֹן. - Strong's Number: H4176
There are 3 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: מוֹרֶה
Transliteration: Môwreh
Pronunciation: mo-reh'
Description: or מֹרֶה; the same as מוֹרֶה; Moreh, a Canaanite; also a hill (perhaps named from him); Moreh. - Strong's Number: H3669
There are 71 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: כְּנַעַנִי
Transliteration: Kᵉnaʻanîy
Pronunciation: ken-ah-an-ee'
Description: patrial from כְּנַעַן; a Kenaanite or inhabitant of Kenaan; by implication, a pedlar (the Canaanites standing for their neighbors the Ishmaelites, who conducted mercantile caravans); Canaanite, merchant, trafficker. - Strong's Number: H227
There are 113 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: אָז
Transliteration: ʼâz
Pronunciation: awz
Description: a demonstrative adverb; at that time or place; also as a conjunction, therefore; beginning, for, from, hitherto, now, of old, once, since, then, at which time, yet.