Genesis 15:20

King James Version:

(The Lord speaking is red text)

And the Hittites, and the Perizzites, and the Rephaims,

Complete Jewish Bible:

the Hitti, the P'rizi, the Refa'im,

Berean Standard Bible:

Hittites, Perizzites, Rephaites,

American Standard Version:

and the Hittite, and the Perizzite, and the Rephaim,

KJV with Strong’s Numbers:

And the Hittites^{H2850}, and the Perizzites^{H6522}, and the Rephaims^{H7497},

Cross-References (KJV):

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Commentary for Genesis 15:20

Genesis 15:20 is part of a covenant promise made by God to Abram (later known as Abraham), where God assures Abram that his descendants will inherit the land of Canaan. In this verse, three of the many nations inhabiting Canaan at the time are mentioned: the Hittites, Perizzites, and Rephaim. These groups are representative of the various peoples who occupied the Promised Land, which God had promised to give to Abram's offspring.

**Themes:**
1. **Divine Promise:** The overarching theme is God's promise to Abram, which includes the land of Canaan as an inheritance for his descendants.
2. **Faith and Assurance:** Abram's response to God's promise is one of faith, trusting in God's provision despite his and his wife's old age and childlessness.
3. **Covenant:** This verse is part of the establishment of a covenant between God and Abram, a recurring biblical motif where God enters into a binding agreement with His people.
4. **Land of Canaan:** The mention of specific peoples emphasizes the geographical and historical specificity of God's promise.

**Historical Context:**
- The **Hittites** were an ancient Anatolian people who established an empire centered in modern-day Turkey. They were known for their powerful military and advanced civilization.
- The **Perizzites** are a less well-known group, and their identity and origin are not clearly defined in historical records. They are often mentioned alongside other Canaanite nations in the Bible.
- The **Rephaim** were considered a race of giants in biblical and ancient Near Eastern tradition, and their exact identity is also the subject of scholarly debate. They were associated with the region of Bashan in the Transjordan.

During the time of Abram, these peoples were part of the complex cultural and political landscape of the ancient Near East. The promise of inheriting the land was significant not only because it was a fertile and desirable territory but also because it required the displacement of these powerful and established groups, which would ultimately be accomplished through divine intervention and the military campaigns of the Israelites many years later.

*This commentary is produced by Microsoft/WizardLM-2-8x22B AI model

Strong's Numbers and Definitions:

Note: H = Hebrew (OT), G = Greek (NT)

1. Strong's Number: H2850
   There are 47 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: חִתִּי
   Transliteration: Chittîy
   Pronunciation: khit-tee'
   Description: patronymically from חֵת; a Chittite, or descendant of Cheth; Hittite, Hittities.
   
2. Strong's Number: H6522
   There are 23 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: פְּרִזִּי
   Transliteration: Pᵉrizzîy
   Pronunciation: per-iz-zee'
   Description: for פְּרָזִי; inhabitant of the open country; a Perizzite, one of the Canaanitish tribes; Perizzite.
   
3. Strong's Number: H7497
   There are 24 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: רָפָא
   Transliteration: râphâʼ
   Pronunciation: raw-faw'
   Description: or רָפָה; from רָפָא in the sense of invigorating; a giant; giant, Rapha, Rephaim(-s). See also בֵּית רָפָא.