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KING JAMES BIBLE · PCE

Genesis 15:3–6

TEXT EDITION
Pure Cambridge Edition selected
And Abram said, Behold, to me thou hast given no seed: and, lo, one born in my house is mine heir.
And, behold, the word of the Lord came unto him, saying, This shall not be thine heir; but he that shall come forth out of thine own bowels shall be thine heir.
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 believed in the Lord; and he counted it to him for righteousness.
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SCRIPTURE WITH SCRIPTURE

Cross References

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From verse 3

  1. Genesis 14:14Rank 1 from verse 3
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    14And when Abram heard that his brother was taken captive, he armed his trained servants, born in his own house, three hundred and eighteen, and pursued them unto Dan.

  2. Proverbs 29:21Rank 2 from verse 3
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    21He that delicately bringeth up his servant from a child shall have him become his son at the length.

  3. Ecclesiastes 2:7Rank 3 from verse 3
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    7I got me servants and maidens, and had servants born in my house; also I had great possessions of great and small cattle above all that were in Jerusalem before me:

  4. Hebrews 10:35–36Rank 4 from verse 3
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    35Cast not away therefore your confidence, which hath great recompence of reward.

    36For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise.

  5. Jeremiah 12:1Rank 5 from verse 3
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    1RIGHTEOUS art thou, O Lord, when I plead with thee: yet let me talk with thee of thy judgments: Wherefore doth the way of the wicked prosper? wherefore are all they happy that deal very treacherously?

  6. Genesis 12:2Rank 6 from verse 3
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    2And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing:

  7. Genesis 13:16Rank 7 from verse 3
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    16And I will make thy seed as the dust of the earth: so that if a man can number the dust of the earth, then shall thy seed also be numbered.

  8. Proverbs 13:12Rank 8 from verse 3
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    12Hope deferred maketh the heart sick: but when the desire cometh, it is a tree of life.

  9. Proverbs 30:23Rank 9 from verse 3
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    23For an odious woman when she is married; and an handmaid that is heir to her mistress.

From verse 4

  1. Genesis 17:16Rank 1 from verse 4
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    16And I will bless her, and give thee a son also of her: yea, I will bless her, and she shall be a mother of nations; kings of people shall be of her.

  2. 2 Samuel 7:12Rank 2 from verse 4
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    12¶ And when thy days be fulfilled, and thou shalt sleep with thy fathers, I will set up thy seed after thee, which shall proceed out of thy bowels, and I will establish his kingdom.

  3. Galatians 4:28Rank 3 from verse 4
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    28Now we, brethren, as Isaac was, are the children of promise.

  4. Genesis 21:12Rank 4 from verse 4
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    12¶ And God said unto Abraham, Let it not be grievous in thy sight because of the lad, and because of thy bondwoman; in all that Sarah hath said unto thee, hearken unto her voice; for in Isaac shall thy seed be called.

  5. 2 Chronicles 32:21Rank 5 from verse 4
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    21¶ And the Lord sent an angel, which cut off all the mighty men of valour, and the leaders and captains in the camp of the king of Assyria. So he returned with shame of face to his own land. And when he was come into the house of his god, they that came forth of his own bowels slew him there with the sword.

  6. Philemon 1:12Rank 6 from verse 4
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    12Whom I have sent again: thou therefore receive him, that is, mine own bowels:

  7. 2 Samuel 16:11Rank 7 from verse 4
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    11And David said to Abishai, and to all his servants, Behold, my son, which came forth of my bowels, seeketh my life: how much more now may this Benjamite do it? let him alone, and let him curse; for the Lord hath bidden him.

From verse 5

  1. Hebrews 11:12Rank 1 from verse 5
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    12Therefore 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.

  2. Romans 4:18Rank 2 from verse 5
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    18Who 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.

  3. Deuteronomy 1:10Rank 3 from verse 5
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    10The Lord your God hath multiplied you, and, behold, ye are this day as the stars of heaven for multitude.

  4. Exodus 32:13Rank 4 from verse 5
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    13Remember 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.

  5. Genesis 22:17Rank 5 from verse 5
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    17That 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;

  6. Deuteronomy 10:22Rank 6 from verse 5
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    22Thy 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.

  7. Jeremiah 33:22Rank 7 from verse 5
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    22As the host of heaven cannot be numbered, neither the sand of the sea measured: so will I multiply the seed of David my servant, and the Levites that minister unto me.

  8. 1 Chronicles 27:23Rank 8 from verse 5
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    23¶ 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.

  9. Psalms 147:4Rank 9 from verse 5
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    4He telleth the number of the stars; he calleth them all by their names.

  10. Romans 9:7–8Rank 10 from verse 5
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    7Neither, because they are the seed of Abraham, are they all children: but, In Isaac shall thy seed be called.

    8That is, They which are the children of the flesh, these are not the children of God: but the children of the promise are counted for the seed.

  11. Genesis 12:2Rank 11 from verse 5
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    2And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing:

  12. Genesis 16:10Rank 12 from verse 5
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    10And the angel of the Lord said unto her, I will multiply thy seed exceedingly, that it shall not be numbered for multitude.

  13. Genesis 26:4Rank 13 from verse 5
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    4And I will make thy seed to multiply as the stars of heaven, and will give unto thy seed all these countries; and in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed;

  14. Genesis 28:14Rank 14 from verse 5
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    14And thy seed shall be as the dust of the earth, and thou shalt spread abroad to the west, and to the east, and to the north, and to the south: and in thee and in thy seed shall all the families of the earth be blessed.

  15. Genesis 13:16Rank 15 from verse 5
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    16And I will make thy seed as the dust of the earth: so that if a man can number the dust of the earth, then shall thy seed also be numbered.

From verse 6

  1. James 2:23Rank 1 from verse 6
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    23And 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.

  2. Galatians 3:6–14Rank 2 from verse 6
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    6Even as Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.

    7Know ye therefore that they which are of faith, the same are the children of Abraham.

    8And the scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the heathen through faith, preached before the gospel unto Abraham, saying, In thee shall all nations be blessed.

    9So then they which be of faith are blessed with faithful Abraham.

    10For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse: for it is written, Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them.

    11But that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God, it is evident: for, The just shall live by faith.

    12And the law is not of faith: but, The man that doeth them shall live in them.

    13Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree:

    14That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.

  3. Romans 4:9Rank 3 from verse 6
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    9Cometh this blessedness then upon the circumcision only, or upon the uncircumcision also? for we say that faith was reckoned to Abraham for righteousness.

  4. Romans 4:20–25Rank 4 from verse 6
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    20He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God;

    21And being fully persuaded that, what he had promised, he was able also to perform.

    22And therefore it was imputed to him for righteousness.

    23Now it was not written for his sake alone, that it was imputed to him;

    24But for us also, to whom it shall be imputed, if we believe on him that raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead;

    25Who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification.

  5. Romans 4:3–6Rank 5 from verse 6
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    3For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness.

    4Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt.

    5But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.

    6Even as David also describeth the blessedness of the man, unto whom God imputeth righteousness without works,

  6. Hebrews 11:8Rank 6 from verse 6
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    8By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went.

  7. Psalms 106:31Rank 7 from verse 6
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    31And that was counted unto him for righteousness unto all generations for evermore.

  8. Romans 4:11Rank 8 from verse 6
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    11And he received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness of the faith which he had yet being uncircumcised: that he might be the father of all them that believe, though they be not circumcised; that righteousness might be imputed unto them also:

  9. 2 Corinthians 5:19Rank 9 from verse 6
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    19To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation.

WORDS IN THIS PASSAGE

Definitions

Open a word for its full definition and concordance.

DEFINED WORDS

Genesis 15:3

COMBINED MEANING

behold

↗

1. Used as an attention word or command directing someone to look at or take notice of the person, thing, statement, or event presented: look; see; take notice. 2. As a verb, to look upon, see, observe, or witness.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

thou

↗

The singular second-person subject pronoun, meaning you when directly addressing one person, being, or individually treated addressee.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references · Webster 1828

COMBINED MEANING

hast

↗

Sense 1: Have: possess, hold, receive, or experience. Sense 2: Used as an auxiliary verb.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

seed

↗

Sense 1: The reproductive substance of a plant or creature, especially what is sown to produce after its kind. Sense 2: Offspring, descendants, or lineage. Sense 3: A beginning, source, or thing sown that produces a result.

Meaning drawn from: Direct Scripture definition · KJV context and cross-references · Webster 1828

COMBINED MEANING

lo

↗

An exclamation meaning look, see, behold, observe, or take notice, used to call immediate attention to what follows.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

in

↗

1. A preposition marking position, presence, state, circumstance, manner, means, sphere, reference, relation, association, or participation. 2. As an adverb, inward, inside, or into the place or position referred to.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

house

↗

Sense 1: A building or dwelling. Sense 2: The people of a household or family. Sense 3: A lineage or family line. Sense 4: As a verb, to shelter, lodge, or provide a dwelling for.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

heir

↗

One entitled or appointed to receive an inheritance.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references · Webster 1828

DEFINED WORDS

Genesis 15:4

COMBINED MEANING

behold

↗

1. Used as an attention word or command directing someone to look at or take notice of the person, thing, statement, or event presented: look; see; take notice. 2. As a verb, to look upon, see, observe, or witness.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

word

↗

Sense 1: A spoken or written expression, saying, message, command, promise, report, or matter. Sense 2: God's revealed word.

Meaning drawn from: Direct Scripture definition · KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

shall

↗

An auxiliary verb expressing future action, intention, promise, command, requirement, or determination.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references · Webster 1828

COMBINED MEANING

heir

↗

One entitled or appointed to receive an inheritance.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references · Webster 1828

COMBINED MEANING

but

↗

Sense 1: However; marking contrast or qualification. Sense 2: Except or unless; excluding all others or alternatives. Sense 3: Only; no more than what follows.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references · Skeat 1893 · Webster 1828

COMBINED MEANING

forth

↗

1. Outward, away, or forward from a place, person, possession, or former position. 2. In constructions of bearing or producing, into birth, growth, fruit, or another stated result. 3. With verbs such as put, stretch, spread, or reach, outward by extension or exertion. 4. In constructions of showing, speaking, issuing, or displaying, into view, expression, publication, or effect. 5. Onward from a stated time or point, as in from that time forth.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

out

↗

Outside, away from within, forth, absent, or no longer in a stated condition.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

bowels

↗

1. Figuratively, deep inward feeling or affection, especially compassion, mercy, or distress; also one deeply loved. 2. The inward organs or inner parts of the body. 3. The womb or inward bodily source of offspring.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references · Webster 1828

DEFINED WORDS

Genesis 15:5

COMBINED MEANING

forth

↗

1. Outward, away, or forward from a place, person, possession, or former position. 2. In constructions of bearing or producing, into birth, growth, fruit, or another stated result. 3. With verbs such as put, stretch, spread, or reach, outward by extension or exertion. 4. In constructions of showing, speaking, issuing, or displaying, into view, expression, publication, or effect. 5. Onward from a stated time or point, as in from that time forth.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

abroad

↗

Out of doors or away from one’s usual place; outward, away, or throughout a wide area.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references · Skeat 1893

COMBINED MEANING

look

↗

Sense 1: To direct the eyes or attention; to behold, observe, expect, or take heed. Sense 2: An appearance, countenance, expression, or aspect.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references · Webster 1828

COMBINED MEANING

toward

↗

1. In the direction of or in relation to. 2. Approaching. 3. Inclined or ready.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references · Skeat 1893

COMBINED MEANING

heaven

↗

Sense 1: The firmament or expanse above the earth, including the sky and the region of the sun, moon, stars, clouds, rain, and flying creatures. Sense 2: The realm above spoken of as God's throne and dwelling place, and as the place of angels, heavenly beings, and the righteous. Sense 3: By metonymy, God, heavenly authority or source, or those who dwell there.

Meaning drawn from: Direct Scripture definition · KJV context and cross-references · Webster 1828

COMBINED MEANING

tell

↗

1. To speak, relate, declare, report, inform, explain, reveal, recount, or make known. 2. To know, discern, or determine, especially in 'cannot tell' or 'who can tell.' 3. To count, number, or enumerate.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

stars

↗

1. Lights seen in the heavens. 2. Persons or powers represented by stars.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

thou

↗

The singular second-person subject pronoun, meaning you when directly addressing one person, being, or individually treated addressee.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references · Webster 1828

COMBINED MEANING

able

↗

Having physical power sufficient; having competent power or strength, bodily or mental.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

number

↗

Sense 1: A count or quantity. Sense 2: To count, reckon, appoint, or include among a group.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

shall

↗

An auxiliary verb expressing future action, intention, promise, command, requirement, or determination.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references · Webster 1828

COMBINED MEANING

seed

↗

Sense 1: The reproductive substance of a plant or creature, especially what is sown to produce after its kind. Sense 2: Offspring, descendants, or lineage. Sense 3: A beginning, source, or thing sown that produces a result.

Meaning drawn from: Direct Scripture definition · KJV context and cross-references · Webster 1828

DEFINED WORDS

Genesis 15:6

COMBINED MEANING

believed

↗

Past-tense, participial, or adjectival form of believe. Sense 1: To accept as true on testimony or evidence; to be persuaded. Sense 2: To trust or place confidence in.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

in

↗

1. A preposition marking position, presence, state, circumstance, manner, means, sphere, reference, relation, association, or participation. 2. As an adverb, inward, inside, or into the place or position referred to.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

counted

↗

Sense 1: Past tense or past participle of count: numbered or calculated. Sense 2: Past tense or past participle of count: reckoned, regarded, esteemed, or accounted as.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

for

↗

1. In behalf of or in the place of. 2. With respect to, concerning, or toward. 3. Because of or on account of. 4. During or throughout. 5. In order to obtain or reach. 6. As a conjunction, because or seeing that.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

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READ THE PASSAGE

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Suggested context · Genesis 15:1–21

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Read all 21 verses in Genesis 15:1–21

15:1AFTER these things the word of the Lord came unto Abram in a vision, saying, Fear not, Abram: I am thy shield, and thy exceeding great reward.

15:2And Abram said, Lord God, what wilt thou give me, seeing I go childless, and the steward of my house is this Eliezer of Damascus?

15:3And Abram said, Behold, to me thou hast given no seed: and, lo, one born in my house is mine heir.

Selected passage

15:4And, behold, the word of the Lord came unto him, saying, This shall not be thine heir; but he that shall come forth out of thine own bowels shall be thine heir.

Selected passage

15:5And 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.

Selected passage

15:6And he believed in the Lord; and he counted it to him for righteousness.

Selected passage

15:7And he said unto him, I am the Lord that brought thee out of Ur of the Chaldees, to give thee this land to inherit it.

15:8And he said, Lord God, whereby shall I know that I shall inherit it?

15:9And he said unto him, Take me an heifer of three years old, and a she goat of three years old, and a ram of three years old, and a turtledove, and a young pigeon.

15:10And he took unto him all these, and divided them in the midst, and laid each piece one against another: but the birds divided he not.

15:11And when the fowls came down upon the carcases, Abram drove them away.

15:12And when the sun was going down, a deep sleep fell upon Abram; and, lo, an horror of great darkness fell upon him.

15:13And he said unto Abram, Know of a surety that thy seed shall be a stranger in a land that is not theirs, and shall serve them; and they shall afflict them four hundred years;

15:14And also that nation, whom they shall serve, will I judge: and afterward shall they come out with great substance.

15:15And thou shalt go to thy fathers in peace; thou shalt be buried in a good old age.

15:16But in the fourth generation they shall come hither again: for the iniquity of the Amorites is not yet full.

15:17And it came to pass, that, when the sun went down, and it was dark, behold a smoking furnace, and a burning lamp that passed between those pieces.

15:18In the same day the Lord made a covenant with Abram, saying, Unto thy seed have I given this land, from the river of Egypt unto the great river, the river Euphrates:

15:19The Kenites, and the Kenizzites, and the Kadmonites,

15:20And the Hittites, and the Perizzites, and the Rephaims,

15:21And the Amorites, and the Canaanites, and the Girgashites, and the Jebusites.

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