King James Version:
(The Lord speaking is red text)
And the LORD appeared unto Abram, and said, Unto thy seed will I give this land: and there builded he an altar unto the LORD, who appeared unto him.
Complete Jewish Bible:
Adonai appeared to Avram and said, “To your descendants I will give this land.” So he built an altar there to Adonai, who had appeared to him.
Berean Standard Bible:
Then the LORD appeared to Abram and said, “I will give this land to your offspring.” So Abram built an altar there to the LORD, who had appeared to him.
American Standard Version:
And Jehovah appeared unto Abram, and said, Unto thy seed will I give this land: and there builded he an altar unto Jehovah, who appeared unto him.
KJV with Strong’s Numbers:
And the LORD{H3068} appeared{H7200} unto Abram{H87}, and said{H559}, Unto thy seed{H2233} will I give{H5414} this{H2063} land{H776}: and there builded{H1129} he an altar{H4196} unto the LORD{H3068}, who appeared{H7200} unto him.
Cross-References (KJV):
Galatians 3:16
- Now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made. He saith not, And to seeds, as of many; but as of one, And to thy seed, which is Christ.
Genesis 17:1
- ¶ And when Abram was ninety years old and nine, the LORD appeared to Abram, and said unto him, I [am] the Almighty God; walk before me, and be thou perfect.
Genesis 17:8
- And I will give unto thee, and to thy seed after thee, the land wherein thou art a stranger, all the land of Canaan, for an everlasting possession; and I will be their God.
Genesis 18:1
- ¶ And the LORD appeared unto him in the plains of Mamre: and he sat in the tent door in the heat of the day;
Genesis 13:15
- For all the land which thou seest, to thee will I give it, and to thy seed for ever.
Genesis 13:4
- Unto the place of the altar, which he had made there at the first: and there Abram called on the name of the LORD.
Psalms 105:9
- Which [covenant] he made with Abraham, and his oath unto Isaac;
Explore This Verse Across Other Resources:
Commentary for Genesis 12:7
Genesis 12:7 is a pivotal verse in the narrative of Abraham (at this point still named Abram), which encapsulates several key themes in the early books of the Bible. This verse continues the story of Abram's journey after God's initial call to him in Genesis 12:1-3, where Abram is promised to be made into a great nation and to be blessed so that he will be a blessing to others.
The historical context of this verse is set within the patriarchal narratives, which describe the origins and journeys of the ancestors of the Israelite people. Abram is a central figure in these narratives, and his story is foundational to the Jewish, Christian, and Islamic traditions. The promise of land is particularly significant, as it sets the stage for the future occupation of Canaan by the Israelites and is a recurring theme throughout the Pentateuch.
In this verse, God reaffirms the covenantal promise made to Abram, specifying that his descendants will inherit the land upon which Abram currently stands. The act of God appearing to Abram underscores the personal and direct relationship between God and the patriarch, a relationship that is characterized by both divine initiative and human response.
Abram's response to God's appearance and promise is to build an altar to the Lord. This act of worship and acknowledgment of God's sovereignty is a common practice among the patriarchs in the book of Genesis. It serves as a physical and spiritual marker of God's presence and faithfulness, as well as Abram's faith and obedience. The building of an altar also signifies Abram's trust in God's promise, as he has no children at this point and the fulfillment of the promise is contingent upon the future existence of his offspring.
In summary, Genesis 12:7 highlights the themes of divine promise, the importance of the land of Canaan, and the response of faith and worship. It reflects the special covenant relationship between God and Abram, which will eventually lead to the formation of the nation of Israel. This verse is foundational in understanding the theological significance of the land and the lineage of Abraham in the biblical narrative.
*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: H3068
There are 5521 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: יְהֹוָה
Transliteration: Yᵉhôvâh
Pronunciation: yeh-ho-vaw'
Description: from הָיָה; (the) self-Existent or Eternal; Jehovah, Jewish national name of God; Jehovah, the Lord. Compare יָהּ, יְהֹוִה. - Strong's Number: H7200
There are 1212 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: רָאָה
Transliteration: râʼâh
Pronunciation: raw-aw'
Description: a primitive root; to see, literally or figuratively (in numerous applications, direct and implied, transitive, intransitive and causative); advise self, appear, approve, behold, [idiom] certainly, consider, discern, (make to) enjoy, have experience, gaze, take heed, [idiom] indeed, [idiom] joyfully, lo, look (on, one another, one on another, one upon another, out, up, upon), mark, meet, [idiom] be near, perceive, present, provide, regard, (have) respect, (fore-, cause to, let) see(-r, -m, one another), shew (self), [idiom] sight of others, (e-) spy, stare, [idiom] surely, [idiom] think, view, visions. - 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: H559
There are 4434 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: אָמַר
Transliteration: ʼâmar
Pronunciation: aw-mar'
Description: a primitive root; to say (used with great latitude); answer, appoint, avouch, bid, boast self, call, certify, challenge, charge, [phrase] (at the, give) command(-ment), commune, consider, declare, demand, [idiom] desire, determine, [idiom] expressly, [idiom] indeed, [idiom] intend, name, [idiom] plainly, promise, publish, report, require, say, speak (against, of), [idiom] still, [idiom] suppose, talk, tell, term, [idiom] that is, [idiom] think, use (speech), utter, [idiom] verily, [idiom] yet. - Strong's Number: H2233
There are 205 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: זֶרַע
Transliteration: zeraʻ
Pronunciation: zeh'-rah
Description: from זָרַע; seed; figuratively, fruit, plant, sowing-time, posterity; [idiom] carnally, child, fruitful, seed(-time), sowing-time. - Strong's Number: H5414
There are 1816 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: נָתַן
Transliteration: nâthan
Pronunciation: naw-than'
Description: a primitive root; to give, used with greatest latitude of application (put, make, etc.); add, apply, appoint, ascribe, assign, [idiom] avenge, [idiom] be (healed), bestow, bring (forth, hither), cast, cause, charge, come, commit, consider, count, [phrase] cry, deliver (up), direct, distribute, do, [idiom] doubtless, [idiom] without fail, fasten, frame, [idiom] get, give (forth, over, up), grant, hang (up), [idiom] have, [idiom] indeed, lay (unto charge, up), (give) leave, lend, let (out), [phrase] lie, lift up, make, [phrase] O that, occupy, offer, ordain, pay, perform, place, pour, print, [idiom] pull, put (forth), recompense, render, requite, restore, send (out), set (forth), shew, shoot forth (up), [phrase] sing, [phrase] slander, strike, (sub-) mit, suffer, [idiom] surely, [idiom] take, thrust, trade, turn, utter, [phrase] weep, [phrase] willingly, [phrase] withdraw, [phrase] would (to) God, yield. - Strong's Number: H2063
There are 38 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: זֹאת
Transliteration: zôʼth
Pronunciation: zothe'
Description: irregular feminine of זֶה; this (often used adverb); hereby (-in, -with), it, likewise, the one (other, same), she, so (much), such (deed), that, therefore, these, this (thing), thus. - 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: H1129
There are 345 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: בָּנָה
Transliteration: bânâh
Pronunciation: baw-naw'
Description: a primitive root; to build (literally and figuratively); (begin to) build(-er), obtain children, make, repair, set (up), [idiom] surely. - Strong's Number: H4196
There are 338 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: מִזְבֵּחַ
Transliteration: mizbêach
Pronunciation: miz-bay'-akh
Description: from זָבַח; an altar; altar.