Genesis 15:14

KJV

And also that nation, whom they shall serve, will I judge: and afterward shall they come out with great substance.

KJV (with Strong's)

And also that nation {H1471}, whom they shall serve {H5647}, will I judge {H1777}: and afterward {H310}{H3651} shall they come out {H3318} with great {H1419} substance {H7399}.

Complete Jewish Bible

But I will also judge that nation, the one that makes them slaves. Afterwards, they will leave with many possessions.

Berean Standard Bible

But I will judge the nation they serve as slaves, and afterward they will depart with many possessions.

American Standard Version

and also that nation, whom they shall serve, will I judge: and afterward shall they come out with great substance.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Genesis 15:14 stands as a profound declaration within God's unilateral covenant with Abram, revealing the divine blueprint for his descendants, Israel. It unequivocally prophesies God's righteous judgment upon the nation that would enslave them, followed by their triumphant liberation and abundant provision, a promise fulfilled centuries later in the miraculous Exodus from Egypt. This verse underscores God's absolute sovereignty, foreknowledge, and unwavering faithfulness to His covenant promises.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse is an integral part of the covenant ceremony described in [Genesis 15](/genesis/15 "Genesis 15 - The Abrahamic Covenant"). Immediately preceding it, in [Genesis 15:13](/genesis/15-13 "God's Prophecy of Affliction"), God reveals to Abram that his descendants will be "strangers in a land that is not theirs, and shall serve them; and they shall afflict them four hundred years." Verse 14 then provides the divine assurance of justice and ultimate deliverance, serving as a counterpoint to the impending hardship. The entire chapter details God's solemn, unconditional covenant with Abram, established through a unique "cutting of a covenant" ritual ([Genesis 15:9-12](/genesis/15-9-12 "The Covenant Ceremony in Genesis 15:9-12")) where God alone passes through the divided pieces, signifying His sole responsibility for its fulfillment. This context highlights the absolute certainty of God's word.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** In the ancient Near East, covenant-making often involved rituals where both parties would walk between divided animals, symbolizing the fate of the party who broke the covenant. However, in [Genesis 15](/genesis/15 "Genesis 15 - The Abrahamic Covenant"), only God, represented by a smoking pot and a flaming torch, passes through, emphasizing the unilateral and unconditional nature of this covenant. The concept of "serving" (slavery) was common in the ancient world, often as a result of war, debt, or birth. God's foreknowledge of Israel's enslavement in Egypt, centuries before it occurred, speaks to His transcendent understanding of history, distinct from any human prognostication. The promise of coming out "with great substance" would have resonated with the idea of restitution for forced labor, a common legal principle in the ancient world, though here divinely orchestrated.
* **Key Themes:** [Genesis 15:14](/genesis/15-14 "Genesis 15:14 - God's Promise of Judgment and Deliverance") contributes significantly to several overarching themes within the book of Genesis and the broader biblical narrative. Foremost among these are **God's Covenant Faithfulness**, demonstrating His unwavering commitment to His promises despite intervening periods of hardship. It powerfully illustrates **Divine Sovereignty and Foreknowledge**, as God declares future events with precise detail, highlighting His ultimate control over the destinies of nations and individuals. The verse also introduces the theme of **Divine Justice and Judgment**, revealing God as an active participant in human history who holds nations accountable for their oppression. Finally, it foreshadows **God's Redemptive Provision**, assuring that His people will not only be delivered from bondage but will also be richly blessed, turning suffering into a testament of His power and grace, a pattern seen throughout the biblical narrative, from the [Exodus](/exodus/12 "The Exodus from Egypt") to the ultimate redemption found in Christ.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
Genesis 15:14, though concise, is packed with profound prophetic and theological significance, detailing God's sovereign plan for Abram's descendants.

#### Key Word Analysis
* **nation (Hebrew, _gôwy'_):** (H1471) This word primarily refers to a "foreign nation" or "Gentile." In this context, it specifically points to Egypt, the foreign power that would enslave Abram's descendants. The use of this term highlights the distinct identity of Israel as God's chosen people, set apart from the nations around them, even those they would interact with in hardship.
* **judge (Hebrew, _dîyn'_):** (H1777) This word carries the primary sense of "a straight course" or "to sail direct," which in a legal or moral context implies setting things right, governing, or executing righteous judgment. While it can involve punishment, its core meaning here is God's active intervention to establish justice and order against the oppressing nation, ensuring that the wrongs committed against His people are addressed and rectified.
* **great (Hebrew, _gâdôwl'_):** (H1419) This word means "great" in any sense, implying magnitude, abundance, or significance.
* **substance (Hebrew, _rᵉkûwsh'_):** (H7399) This word refers to "property (as gathered), good, riches." Combined with "great," "great substance" signifies not merely a modest departure but a significant acquisition of wealth and possessions, far surpassing what might be expected from a people leaving servitude, underscoring God's abundant provision and restitution.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"And also that nation, whom they shall serve, will I judge:"** This clause serves as a divine promise of retribution and justice. God explicitly identifies the future oppressor ("that nation," referring to Egypt) and declares His intention to "judge" them. This judgment is not merely passive observation but an active, decisive intervention to hold the oppressor accountable for the affliction inflicted upon His covenant people. It underscores God's righteous character and His commitment to vindicate the oppressed.
* **"and afterward shall they come out with great substance."** This second clause provides the hopeful resolution to the period of affliction. The phrase "afterward" signifies a definitive end to their servitude. Their departure is not one of escape in poverty, but a triumphant exit, empowered by God, "with great substance." This material wealth serves as both divine restitution for their years of forced labor and a tangible sign of God's abundant blessing and faithfulness, demonstrating His ability to turn suffering into prosperity.

#### Literary Devices
The verse employs several significant literary devices. **Prophecy** is central, as God reveals future events centuries before their occurrence, demonstrating His omniscience and sovereign control over history. This specific prophecy of affliction, judgment, and deliverance functions as **Foreshadowing**, setting the stage for the dramatic events of the [Exodus](/exodus/12 "The Exodus Account"), where the Israelites indeed served in Egypt, God judged Egypt with plagues, and they departed with great wealth ([Exodus 12:35-36](/exodus/12-35-36 "Israel's Departure with Egyptian Plunder")). Furthermore, the entire declaration is a **Divine Oracle**, a direct utterance from God, carrying absolute authority and certainty, reinforcing the unshakeable nature of His covenant promises to Abram.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Genesis 15:14 provides a foundational understanding of God's character as a covenant-keeping God who is both just and redemptive. It reveals His active involvement in human history, orchestrating events to fulfill His promises, even through periods of hardship. The prophecy of judgment on the oppressing nation highlights God's unwavering commitment to justice, demonstrating that no act of oppression against His people goes unnoticed or unpunished. Simultaneously, the promise of "great substance" underscores His abundant provision and His power to transform suffering into blessing, ensuring that His people emerge not only free but also enriched. This divine pattern of affliction followed by judgment and glorious deliverance is a recurring motif throughout Scripture, pointing to God's ultimate plan for His people.

* [Exodus 3:21-22](/exodus/3-21-22 "God's Promise of Egyptian Plunder")
* [Psalm 105:37](/psalms/105-37 "God Brings Israel Out with Silver and Gold")
* [Acts 7:6-7](/acts/7-6-7 "Stephen's Recounting of the Abrahamic Covenant")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Genesis 15:14 offers profound encouragement for believers today, affirming that God is faithful to His word, even when circumstances seem bleak or His promises appear delayed. It reminds us that God is a righteous judge who will ultimately bring accountability to those who inflict harm, and that His justice will prevail. For those enduring seasons of hardship or oppression, this verse provides a powerful assurance that God sees, God remembers His covenants, and God will act. Furthermore, the "great substance" signifies that God not only delivers His people from adversity but also provides for them abundantly, often turning past suffering into future blessing. Understanding God's long-term plan, as revealed here, encourages patience and endurance through trials, knowing that God's good purposes will ultimately be accomplished, and that His provision is always more than sufficient.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How does God's foreknowledge in this verse strengthen your trust in His sovereignty over your own life and current circumstances?**
* **In what ways have you experienced God's justice or provision in your life, even after a period of difficulty or "serving"?**
* **What does this verse teach us about God's perspective on oppression and His commitment to the oppressed?**

### FAQ
**Why did God allow Abram's descendants to suffer for 400 years?**

Answer: God's allowing a period of suffering was part of His sovereign and intricate plan, serving multiple divine purposes. It provided time for the "iniquity of the Amorites" to reach its fullness ([Genesis 15:16](/genesis/15-16 "The Iniquity of the Amorites")), demonstrating God's patience and His timing for judgment on sinful nations. For Israel, this period of affliction in a foreign land served to forge their identity as a distinct people, dependent solely on God for their deliverance, preventing assimilation and preparing them for nationhood. It also served as a powerful demonstration of God's miraculous power and faithfulness through their dramatic Exodus, establishing a foundational narrative of redemption for all future generations.

**How was the "great substance" literally fulfilled?**

Answer: The "great substance" was literally and powerfully fulfilled during the Exodus from Egypt. As the Israelites departed, God caused the Egyptians to look favorably upon them, leading the Israelites to request and receive articles of silver, gold, and clothing from their former taskmasters. [Exodus 12:35-36](/exodus/12-35-36 "Israel Plunders the Egyptians") explicitly states, "And the children of Israel did according to the word of Moses; and they borrowed of the Egyptians jewels of silver, and jewels of gold, and raiment: And the LORD gave the people favour in the sight of the Egyptians, so that they lent unto them such things as they required. And they spoiled the Egyptians." This act was a divine act of restitution for their years of forced labor and a testament to God's abundant provision.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Genesis 15:14, with its profound themes of judgment, deliverance from bondage, and abundant provision, finds its ultimate and spiritual fulfillment in Jesus Christ. Just as God sovereignly judged Egypt to deliver Israel from physical slavery, Christ's atoning work on the cross represents God's ultimate and decisive judgment on sin, death, and the powers of darkness, thereby delivering humanity from spiritual bondage. The "great substance" Israel received upon their Exodus, a tangible sign of restitution and blessing, powerfully foreshadows the immeasurable spiritual riches and eternal inheritance believers receive through Christ. Through Him, we gain redemption from sin, imputation of righteousness, adoption into God's family, and the promise of eternal life, spiritual blessings that far surpass any material wealth ([Ephesians 1:3-14](/ephesians/1-3-14 "Spiritual Blessings in Christ")). Christ, as the true Seed of Abraham ([Galatians 3:16](/galatians/3-16 "Christ, the Seed of Abraham")), fulfills the covenant promises, extending God's blessings and deliverance to all who believe, transcending the boundaries of a single nation and establishing a new covenant people ([Hebrews 8:6-13](/hebrews/8-6-13 "The New Covenant")). Thus, the pattern of God's faithfulness to deliver and provide, first seen in the Exodus, culminates in the glorious and eternal redemption offered through Jesus Christ.

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

Exodus 6:5

And I have also heard the groaning of the children of Israel, whom the Egyptians keep in bondage; and I have remembered my covenant.

Exodus 6:6

Wherefore say unto the children of Israel, I [am] the LORD, and I will bring you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians, and I will rid you out of their bondage, and I will redeem you with a stretched out arm, and with great judgments:

Nehemiah 9:9

And didst see the affliction of our fathers in Egypt, and heardest their cry by the Red sea;

Nehemiah 9:11

And thou didst divide the sea before them, so that they went through the midst of the sea on the dry land; and their persecutors thou threwest into the deeps, as a stone into the mighty waters.

Exodus 12:32

Also take your flocks and your herds, as ye have said, and be gone; and bless me also.

Exodus 12:38

And a mixed multitude went up also with them; and flocks, and herds, [even] very much cattle.

Joshua 24:4

And I gave unto Isaac Jacob and Esau: and I gave unto Esau mount Seir, to possess it; but Jacob and his children went down into Egypt.