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Genesis 15:6

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And he believed in the LORD; and he counted it to him for righteousness.

And he believed {H539} in the LORD {H3068}; and he counted {H2803} it to him for righteousness {H6666}.

He believed in ADONAI, and he credited it to him as righteousness.

Abram believed the LORD, and it was credited to him as righteousness.

And he believed in Jehovah; and he reckoned it to him for righteousness.

Commentary

Genesis 15:6 is a cornerstone verse in the Bible, particularly significant for understanding the concept of faith and righteousness. It describes Abraham's response to God's promise and how God viewed that response.

Context

This verse appears during a pivotal moment in Abraham's life. God had called Abraham out of Ur and made great promises to him, including a vast lineage and land (Genesis 12:1-3). In Genesis 15, Abraham expresses concern about not having a son to inherit his possessions. In response, God takes him outside, shows him the stars, and promises that his descendants will be as numerous. It is immediately after this reaffirmation of the promise that Abraham's reaction is recorded in verse 6.

Key Themes

  • Faith as Righteousness: The central theme is that Abraham's belief in God's promise was considered by God as righteousness. This is a foundational concept, illustrating that a right standing before God is based on trusting Him, not on works or merit.
  • The Nature of Belief: Abraham's belief wasn't just intellectual assent but a profound trust and reliance on God and His word, even when the promise seemed impossible from a human perspective.
  • God's Grace: This verse highlights God's gracious act of attributing righteousness to Abraham based on his faith, setting a precedent for how humanity can be reconciled with God.

Linguistic Insights

The Hebrew word translated "believed" is 'aman (אָמַן), which carries the sense of firmness, reliability, and trust. It implies leaning on, being sure of, and relying upon God. The word translated "counted" or "reckoned" is chashab (חָשַׁב), meaning to think, calculate, or attribute. God "calculated" or "attributed" righteousness to Abraham's account because of his active trust.

Reflection

Genesis 15:6 is profoundly significant as it is quoted multiple times in the New Testament to explain the doctrine of justification by faith (Romans 4:3, Galatians 3:6). It demonstrates that salvation has always been by grace through faith, prefiguring the work of Christ. Abraham's example encourages us to place our trust fully in God and His promises, knowing that He is faithful and that our belief is the basis upon which He attributes righteousness to us through Christ.

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

  • James 2:23 (80 votes)

    And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God.

  • Galatians 3:6 (56 votes)

    ¶ Even as Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.

  • Galatians 3:14 (56 votes)

    That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.

  • Romans 4:9 (54 votes)

    ¶ [Cometh] this blessedness then upon the circumcision [only], or upon the uncircumcision also? for we say that faith was reckoned to Abraham for righteousness.

  • Romans 4:20 (47 votes)

    He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God;

  • Romans 4:25 (47 votes)

    Who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification.

  • Romans 4:3 (45 votes)

    For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness.