King James Version:
(The Lord speaking is red text)
And he took unto him all these, and divided them in the midst, and laid each piece one against another: but the birds divided he not.
Complete Jewish Bible:
He brought him all these, cut the animals in two and placed the pieces opposite each other; but he didn't cut the birds in half.
Berean Standard Bible:
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.
American Standard Version:
And he took him all these, and divided them in the midst, and laid each half over against the other: but the birds divided he not.
KJV with Strong’s Numbers:
And he took{H3947} unto him all these, and divided{H1334} them in the midst{H8432}, and laid{H5414} each{H376} piece{H1335} one against{H7125} another{H7453}: but the birds{H6833} divided{H1334} he not.
Cross-References (KJV):
Leviticus 1:17
- And he shall cleave it with the wings thereof, [but] shall not divide [it] asunder: and the priest shall burn it upon the altar, upon the wood that [is] upon the fire: it [is] a burnt sacrifice, an offering made by fire, of a sweet savour unto the LORD.
Jeremiah 34:18
- And I will give the men that have transgressed my covenant, which have not performed the words of the covenant which they had made before me, when they cut the calf in twain, and passed between the parts thereof,
Jeremiah 34:19
- The princes of Judah, and the princes of Jerusalem, the eunuchs, and the priests, and all the people of the land, which passed between the parts of the calf;
Genesis 15:17
- ¶ And it came to pass, that, when the sun went down, and it was dark, behold a smoking furnace, and a burning lamp that passed between those pieces.
2 Timothy 2:15
- Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
Explore This Verse Across Other Resources:
Commentary for Genesis 15:10
Genesis 15:10 is part of a significant covenant-making ceremony between God and Abram (later named Abraham). The historical context of this verse is rooted in the ancient Near Eastern practice of making covenants, which often involved a ritual to symbolize the consequences of breaking the covenant—death and dismemberment of animals.
In this particular event, known as the "Covenant of the Pieces," God promises Abram that his descendants will be as numerous as the stars in the sky, despite Abram's old age and childlessness. Abram questions how he can be sure of this promise, and God responds by instructing him to prepare a covenantal ceremony.
The themes of Genesis 15:10 include:
1. **Divine Promise**: God reaffirms His promise to Abram that he will have countless descendants.
2. **Covenant**: The verse illustrates the solemnity and gravity of the covenant-making process in the ancient world, which God adopts to communicate the certainty of His promise to Abram.
3. **Faith and Trust**: Abram's willingness to participate in the ritual demonstrates his faith in God's promises.
4. **Sacrifice and Ritual**: The dividing of animals (except the birds) is part of a ritual that signifies the self-maledictory nature of the covenant—if either party fails to uphold their side, they invoke a curse upon themselves, symbolized by the cut animals.
5. **Prophetic Vision**: The ceremony culminates in a prophetic vision where God, represented by a smoking firepot and a blazing torch, passes between the pieces, indicating that the covenant is a unilateral promise from God to Abram and his descendants.
The historical context and themes of this verse are deeply intertwined with the concepts of faith, divine promise, and covenantal relationship, which are central to the biblical narrative. It also highlights the unique nature of God's covenant with Abraham, which is foundational to the identity of the Israelite people and their relationship with God.
*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: H3947
There are 909 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: לָקַח
Transliteration: lâqach
Pronunciation: law-kakh'
Description: a primitive root; to take (in the widest variety of applications); accept, bring, buy, carry away, drawn, fetch, get, infold, [idiom] many, mingle, place, receive(-ing), reserve, seize, send for, take (away, -ing, up), use, win. - Strong's Number: H1334
There are 1 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: בָּתַר
Transliteration: bâthar
Pronunciation: baw-thar'
Description: a primitive root,; to chop up; divide. - Strong's Number: H8432
There are 390 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: תָּוֶךְ
Transliteration: tâvek
Pronunciation: taw'-vek
Description: from an unused root meaning to sever; a bisection, i.e. (by implication) the centre; among(-st), [idiom] between, half, [idiom] (there-, where-), in(-to), middle, mid(-night), midst (among), [idiom] out (of), [idiom] through, [idiom] with(-in). - 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: H376
There are 1507 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: אִישׁ
Transliteration: ʼîysh
Pronunciation: eesh
Description: contracted for אֱנוֹשׁ (or perhaps rather from an unused root meaning to be extant); a man as an individual or a male person; often used as an adjunct to a more definite term (and in such cases frequently not expressed in translation); also, another, any (man), a certain, [phrase] champion, consent, each, every (one), fellow, (foot-, husband-) man, (good-, great, mighty) man, he, high (degree), him (that is), husband, man(-kind), [phrase] none, one, people, person, [phrase] steward, what (man) soever, whoso(-ever), worthy. Compare אִשָּׁה. - Strong's Number: H1335
There are 3 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: בֶּתֶר
Transliteration: bether
Pronunciation: beh'-ther
Description: from בָּתַר; a section; part, piece. - Strong's Number: H7125
There are 117 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: קִרְאָה
Transliteration: qirʼâh
Pronunciation: keer-aw'
Description: from קָרָא; an encountering, accidental, friendly or hostile (also adverbially, opposite); [idiom] against (he come), help, meet, seek, [idiom] to, [idiom] in the way. - Strong's Number: H7453
There are 173 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: רֵעַ
Transliteration: rêaʻ
Pronunciation: ray'-ah
Description: or רֵיעַ; from רָעָה; an associate (more or less close); brother, companion, fellow, friend, husband, lover, neighbour, [idiom] (an-) other. - Strong's Number: H6833
There are 36 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: צִפּוֹר
Transliteration: tsippôwr
Pronunciation: tsip-pore'
Description: or צִפֹּר; from צָפַר; a little bird (as hopping); bird, fowl, sparrow.