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Genesis 15:21

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And the Amorites, and the Canaanites, and the Girgashites, and the Jebusites.

And the Amorites {H567}, and the Canaanites {H3669}, and the Girgashites {H1622}, and the Jebusites {H2983}.

the Emori, the Kena'ani, the Girgashi and the Y'vusi."

Amorites, Canaanites, Girgashites, and Jebusites.”

and the Amorite, and the Canaanite, and the Girgashite, and the Jebusite.

Commentary

Genesis 15:21 concludes a significant list of ten nations whose territories God solemnly promised to Abraham and his descendants. This verse specifically names the Amorites, the Canaanites, the Girgashites, and the Jebusites, all inhabitants of the land that would eventually become Israel. This detailed enumeration underscores the precision and certainty of God's covenant with Abraham, a promise that would guide the destiny of a nation for centuries.

Context

This verse is part of the profound covenant ceremony described in Genesis chapter 15, where God formally establishes His promise to Abraham concerning the inheritance of the land. Following Abraham's expression of doubt about having an heir (Genesis 15:3) and God's re-affirmation of a natural son (Genesis 15:4), the focus shifts to the land. The preceding verses (Genesis 15:18-20) already established the geographical boundaries "from the river of Egypt unto the great river, the river Euphrates" and listed six other nations. Verse 21 completes this comprehensive list of peoples whose land God was granting to Abraham's lineage.

Key Themes

  • Divine Promise and Covenant Faithfulness: The meticulous listing of these nations highlights God's absolute commitment to His covenant with Abraham. It demonstrates that God's promises are specific, tangible, and will be fulfilled in His timing, even if it takes generations. This is a foundational theme of the Old Testament.
  • God's Sovereignty Over Nations: The act of God declaring ownership and distribution of these lands, currently inhabited by various peoples, asserts His ultimate sovereignty over all nations and territories. He is the one who sets boundaries and determines the rise and fall of peoples.
  • Fulfillment of Prophecy: This promise, made centuries before the Exodus, foreshadows the eventual conquest of Canaan by the Israelites under Joshua's leadership. The presence of these specific tribes in the land would necessitate divine intervention and warfare, as later detailed in books like Numbers and Joshua.

Linguistic Insights

The names listed – Amorites, Canaanites, Girgashites, and Jebusites – represent various tribal groups inhabiting the region of Canaan during Abraham's time. While "Canaanites" can sometimes refer broadly to all inhabitants of Canaan, here it is listed alongside other specific tribes, indicating distinct groups. The Amorites were a prominent Semitic people known for their strong presence in both Mesopotamia and Canaan. The Jebusites were the inhabitants of Jerusalem before David conquered it (2 Samuel 5:6-7). The Girgashites are less frequently mentioned but are consistently included in these lists of nations to be dispossessed.

Practical Application

For believers today, Genesis 15:21 reinforces the enduring truth of God's faithfulness. Just as God meticulously fulfilled His detailed promise to Abraham regarding the land and its inhabitants, so too can we trust in His promises concerning our lives, salvation, and the future. This passage encourages patience and faith, reminding us that God's plans unfold according to His perfect timeline, often over generations. It also speaks to God's ultimate justice and His right to establish and disestablish nations according to His divine will, offering comfort and assurance that He is always in control.

Note: If the commentary doesn’t appear instantly, please allow 2–5 seconds for it to load. It is generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash (May 20, 2025) using a prompt focused on Biblical fidelity over bias. While the insights have been consistently reliable, we encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit.

Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated — the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • Exodus 33:2 (2 votes)

    And I will send an angel before thee; and I will drive out the Canaanite, the Amorite, and the Hittite, and the Perizzite, the Hivite, and the Jebusite:

  • Exodus 23:23 (2 votes)

    For mine Angel shall go before thee, and bring thee in unto the Amorites, and the Hittites, and the Perizzites, and the Canaanites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites: and I will cut them off.

  • Exodus 23:28 (2 votes)

    And I will send hornets before thee, which shall drive out the Hivite, the Canaanite, and the Hittite, from before thee.

  • Deuteronomy 7:1 (2 votes)

    ¶ When the LORD thy God shall bring thee into the land whither thou goest to possess it, and hath cast out many nations before thee, the Hittites, and the Girgashites, and the Amorites, and the Canaanites, and the Perizzites, and the Hivites, and the Jebusites, seven nations greater and mightier than thou;

  • Exodus 34:11 (2 votes)

    Observe thou that which I command thee this day: behold, I drive out before thee the Amorite, and the Canaanite, and the Hittite, and the Perizzite, and the Hivite, and the Jebusite.

  • Genesis 10:15 (2 votes)

    ¶ And Canaan begat Sidon his firstborn, and Heth,

  • Genesis 10:19 (2 votes)

    And the border of the Canaanites was from Sidon, as thou comest to Gerar, unto Gaza; as thou goest, unto Sodom, and Gomorrah, and Admah, and Zeboim, even unto Lasha.