Genesis 15:5

And he brought him forth abroad, and said, Look now toward heaven, and tell the stars, if thou be able to number them: and he said unto him, So shall thy seed be.

And he brought him forth {H3318} abroad {H2351}, and said {H559}, Look {H5027} now toward heaven {H8064}, and tell {H5608} the stars {H3556}, if thou be able {H3201} to number {H5608} them: and he said {H559} unto him, So {H3541} shall thy seed {H2233} be.

Then he brought him outside and said, "Look up at the sky, and count the stars - if you can count them! Your descendants will be that many!"

And the LORD took him outside and said, “Now look to the heavens and count the stars, if you are able.” Then He told him, “So shall your offspring be.”

And he brought him forth abroad, and said, Look now toward heaven, and number the stars, if thou be able to number them: and he said unto him, So shall thy seed be.

Commentary

Genesis 15:5 marks a profound moment in the narrative of Abraham, where God dramatically illustrates the scope of His promise concerning Abraham's future descendants. This verse follows Abraham's expressed concern about not having an heir, and God's direct reassurance that his own son would be his inheritor.

Context

God had previously called Abraham (then Abram) from Ur of the Chaldees, promising to make him a great nation and to bless all families of the earth through him (Genesis 12:2-3). Despite these grand promises, years passed, and Abraham and his wife Sarah remained childless, causing Abraham to voice his apprehension about his servant Eliezer of Damascus being his heir (Genesis 15:2-3). In response, God not only reaffirmed that Abraham would have a biological son but also powerfully demonstrated the immense scale of the promised offspring through this vivid celestial imagery. This vision sets the stage for the formal covenant God makes with Abraham in the subsequent verses.

Key Themes

  • Divine Promise and Faithfulness: This verse underscores God's unwavering commitment to His word. He promises what seems humanly impossible, demonstrating His omnipotence and faithfulness to bring His purposes to pass, even across generations.
  • Innumerable Descendants: The imagery of the stars, countless and beyond human ability to number, vividly conveys the vast multitude of Abraham's future offspring. This promise was fulfilled not only in the physical nation of Israel but also spiritually in all who share Abraham's faith in God (Romans 4:16).
  • Covenant Foundation: This moment is a cornerstone of the Abrahamic Covenant, establishing the lineage through which God's redemptive plan would unfold. It sets the stage for the birth of Isaac and the formation of the nation of Israel, ultimately leading to the Messiah.

Linguistic Insights

The key word in this verse is "seed" (Hebrew: zera'). While primarily referring to physical descendants, the term can also be singular and collective. In the New Testament, Paul expands on this concept, particularly in Galatians 3:16, where he argues that the "seed" ultimately refers to Christ, through whom all nations are blessed. This highlights the dual fulfillment of God's promise: many physical descendants and one ultimate spiritual descendant who brings salvation.

Practical Application

Genesis 15:5 offers profound encouragement for believers today, reminding us that:

  • God's Promises are Vast: Even when our circumstances seem bleak or our hopes dim, God's plans are grander and more expansive than we can imagine. We are called to trust His vision, which often extends far beyond our immediate sight.
  • Faith is Essential: Following this promise, Abraham believed in the Lord, and it was credited to him as righteousness. Our response to God's word should be one of trust, even when we don't see the immediate path to fulfillment or when the promise seems impossible.
  • Look Beyond the Visible: Like Abraham, we are called to look beyond our immediate limitations and "look toward heaven," trusting in the God who calls things that are not as though they were (Romans 4:17). Our hope is rooted in God's faithfulness, not in our own abilities or circumstances.
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Cross-References

  • Hebrews 11:12 (13 votes)

    Therefore sprang there even of one, and him as good as dead, [so many] as the stars of the sky in multitude, and as the sand which is by the sea shore innumerable.

  • Romans 4:18 (12 votes)

    Who against hope believed in hope, that he might become the father of many nations, according to that which was spoken, So shall thy seed be.

  • Deuteronomy 1:10 (11 votes)

    The LORD your God hath multiplied you, and, behold, ye [are] this day as the stars of heaven for multitude.

  • Exodus 32:13 (10 votes)

    Remember Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, thy servants, to whom thou swarest by thine own self, and saidst unto them, I will multiply your seed as the stars of heaven, and all this land that I have spoken of will I give unto your seed, and they shall inherit [it] for ever.

  • Genesis 22:17 (9 votes)

    That in blessing I will bless thee, and in multiplying I will multiply thy seed as the stars of the heaven, and as the sand which [is] upon the sea shore; and thy seed shall possess the gate of his enemies;

  • Deuteronomy 10:22 (8 votes)

    Thy fathers went down into Egypt with threescore and ten persons; and now the LORD thy God hath made thee as the stars of heaven for multitude.

  • 1 Chronicles 27:23 (7 votes)

    But David took not the number of them from twenty years old and under: because the LORD had said he would increase Israel like to the stars of the heavens.