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Adam Clarke Bible Commentary

Genesis 15:5

Verse Genesis 15:5. Look now toward heaven] It appears that this whole transaction took place in the evening; Genesis 13:14. Abram had either two visions, that recorded in Genesis 15:1, and that in Genesis 15:12, c. or what is mentioned in the beginning of this chapter is a part of the occurrences which took place after the sacrifice mentioned Genesis 15:9, c.: but it is more likely that there was a vision of that kind already described, and afterwards a second, in which he received the revelation mentioned Genesis 15:13-1. After the first vision he is brought forth abroad to see if he can number the stars and as he finds this impossible, he is assured that as they are to him innumerable, so shall his posterity be; and that all should spring from one who should proceed from his own bowels - one who should be his own legitimate child.

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See also Genesis 15:5 in other biblical comments:

  • Albert Barnes' Bible Commentary

    - The Faith of Abram 1. דבר _dābār_, “a word, a thing;” the word being the sign of the thing. 2. אדני _'ǎdonāy_, “Adonai, the Lord;” related: “bring down, lay down.” This is the name usually read...

  • Annotated Bible by A.C. Gaebelein

    CHAPTER 15 THE FOURTH COMMUNICATION AND THE COVENANT AND THE VISION _ 1. The fourth communication (Genesis 15:1)_ 2. Abram's answer (Genesis 15:2) 3. The promised seed (Genesis 15:4) 4. Abram coun...

  • Arthur Peake's Commentary on the Bible

    GENESIS 12:1 TO GENESIS 25:18. THE STORY OF ABRAHAM. In this section the three main sources, J. E, P are present. Gunkel has given strong reasons for holding that J is here made up of two main sources...

  • Arthur Peake's Commentary on the Bible

    From some unnamed cause Abraham is afraid; Yahweh encourages him in a vision with the assurance of Divine protection; some deed is deemed worthy of the promise, thy reward shall be exceeding great (_m...

  • B. W. Johnson's Bible Commentary

    GOD'S COVENANT WITH ABRAHAM.-- Genesis 15:5-18. GOLDEN TEXT. --_ Fear not, Abram,. am thy shield and thy exceeding great reward._ -- Genesis 15:1. TIME. --About B. C. 1913. PLACE. --By the oaks of Mam...

  • Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes

    LOOK. See note on Genesis 13:14. NOW. steadfastly. STARS. See on Genesis 13:16. the heavenly calling in Israel (Hebrews 3:1;...

  • Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

    _tell the stars_ i.e. count. A proverbial expression for the infinite and innumerable, as in Genesis 22:17; Genesis 26:4. The word "tell" is Old English for "count," as in Psalms 22:17, "I may tell a...

  • Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

    The Promise of an Heir 1. _After these things_ A vague note of time. Cf. Genesis 22:1; Genesis 22:20; Genesis 40:1; Genesis 48:1. t

  • Coke's Commentary on the Holy Bible

    HE BROUGHT HIM FORTH ABROAD, &C.— This was done most probably towards the decline of the _night,_ for reasons we shall presently assign: but the reader is desired to take notice, that there is nothing...

  • College Press Bible Study Textbook Series

    PART TWENTY-EIGHT THE STORY OF ABRAHAM: DIVINE ELABORATION OF THE PROMISE AND THE COVENANT (Ch. 15) _1. The Biblical Account (ch. 15_) _1. After these things the word of Jehovah came unto Abram in a...

  • Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible

    _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 abroad. I...

  • Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible

    GOD PROMISES AN HEIR TO ABRAHAM AND THE LAND OF CANAAN FOR HIS DESCENDANTS. THE PROMISE IS RATIFIED BY A COVENANT The passage is from the Primitive source. A somewhat similar account from the Priestl...

  • Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible

    HE BROUGHT HIM FORTH] This was probably part of the vision. TELL THE STARS] i.e. count them....

  • EasyEnglish Bible Commentaries

    GOD’S ANCIENT PEOPLE GENESIS _ALUN OWEN_ CHAPTER 15 GOD MAKES PROMISES TO ABRAM V1 After these things the *Lord appeared to Abram. The *Lord said, ‘Do not be afraid, Abram. I am protecting you....

  • EasyEnglish Bible Commentaries

    It was night and the sky was very clear. Abram could see very many stars. There were so many stars that nobody could count them. God told Abram that nobody would count his *descendants. Nobody could c...

  • Ellicott's Commentary On The Whole Bible

    HE BROUGHT HIM FORTH. — There is no reason for regarding this as a poetical description of a merely mental emotion. With his senses dormant, but alive to every spiritual impression, Abram feels himsel...

  • ETCBC data on Hebrew bible

    וַ יֹּוצֵ֨א אֹתֹ֜ו הַ ח֗וּצָה וַ יֹּ֨אמֶר֙

  • Expositor's Bible Commentary (Nicoll)

    COVENANT WITH ABRAM Genesis 15:1 OF the nine Divine manifestations made during Abram's life this is the fifth. At Ur, at Kharran, at the oak of Moreh, at the encampment between Bethel and Ai, and now...

  • Frederick Brotherton Meyer's Commentary

    ABRAM'S VISION OF THE FUTURE Genesis 15:1 Abram had good reason to fear the vengeance of the defeated kings; but the divine voice reassured him. For all of us there is need of a shield, because the w...

  • G. Campbell Morgan's Exposition on the Whole Bible

    This is the account of the fourth direct appearance of Jehovah to Abram and evidently it had direct connection with what had immediately preceded. Abram had passed through two conflicts, the first wit...

  • Gary Hampton Commentaries

    GOD'S PROMISE TO PROTECT Abram may have faced threats from those around him, but God assured him that he was his shield (Genesis 15:1). That is, God stood ready to protect him like a shield would in b...

  • Hawker's Poor man's commentary

    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. God had before promised, that his se...

  • Introductory Lectures - Commentary by William Kelly

    We have had hitherto God's account of that which He had made; then the trial and utter ruin of the creature, with the revelation of divine mercy in Christ the Lord. We have had in fine the judgment of...

  • James Nisbet's Church Pulpit Commentary

    _RIGHTEOUSNESS BY FAITH_ ‘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 bel...

  • John Darby's Synopsis

    When God had thus revealed Himself, according to His establishment of blessing in power on the earth, through the priestly king Melchisedec, naturally the actual blessing of the chosen people finds it...

  • John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible

    AND HE BROUGHT HIM FORTH ABROAD,.... Out of his tent into the open air, which was done through his call, and at his direction; or by an impulse upon his mind; or this might not be real and local, only...

  • John Trapp Complete Commentary

    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. Ver. 5. _And he brought him forth ab...

  • Joseph Benson’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

    _And he brought him forth_ It seems, early in the morning; _and said, Look now toward heaven, and tell the stars: so shall thy seed be_ 1st, So _innumerable_, for so the stars seem to a common eye. Ab...

  • KJV Original Language Details

    1 God encourageth Abram. 2 Abram complaineth for want of an heire. 4 God promiseth him a sonne, and a multiplying of his seed. 6 Abram is iustified by faith. 7 Canaan is promised againe, and confi...

  • Kretzmann's Popular Commentary of the Bible

    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. God's patience has a wonderful sustaini...

  • Kretzmann's Popular Commentary of the Bible

    GOD'S PROMISE TO ABRAHAM...

  • Lange's Commentary on the Holy Scriptures

    FOURTH SECTION _Abram the approved Warrior of Faith, and God his Shield and his Reward. His longing for an Heir, and his thought of Adoption anticipating any exigency in the case. The great Promise o...

  • Leslie M. Grant's Commentary on the Bible

    THE PROMISE OF GOD AND ITS CONFIRMATION Abram having proven that he was not seeking gain for himself, but depending on the God of heaven and earth, then the Lord gives him His word of wonderful encour...

  • Matthew Henry Commentary on the Whole Bible

    2-6 Though we must never complain of God, yet we have leave to complain to him; and to state all our grievances. It is ease to a burdened spirit, to open its case to a faithful and compassionate frie...

  • Matthew Poole's Concise Commentary On The Bible

    QUEST. Seeing the sun was not yet _going down,_ GENESIS 15:12, how could he see the stars? ANSW. 1. He might see them by representation in a vision, or by a Divine power strengthening his eyes to beh...

  • Notes on the Pentateuch by Charles Henry Mackintosh

    "After 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." The Lord would not suffer His servant to be a loser, b...

  • Patchworkid's Personal Study Bible Notes

    Genesis 15:5 brought H3318 (H8686) outside H2351 said H559 (H8799) Look H5027 (H8685) heaven H8064 count...

  • Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible

    ‘And he brought him outside and said, “Look now towards heaven and name the stars by number if you are able to number them.” And he said to him, “So will your seed be”.' The repetition of ‘He said to...

  • Sermon Bible Commentary

    Genesis 15:5 These two verses lie close together on one page of the Bible. They are part of a brief story of a brief event in one human life. Yet, as we read them, they seem to separate from each othe...

  • Spurgeon's Bible Commentary

    Genesis 15:1. _After 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. And Abram said, Lord GOD, what wilt thou g...

  • Summarized Bible Commentary

    CONTENTS: Abrahamic covenant confirmed and spiritual seed promised. CHARACTERS: Abram, God. CONCLUSION: The promises to faith are more certain than the conclusions of logic (Genesis 15:2-5). Faith i...

  • Sutcliffe's Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

    Genesis 15:1. _The Word of the Lord_the glorious person of the Messiah, the Angel of the covenant, came in his own name, Jehovah, God. He came with the full powers of future ages in his hand; the powe...

  • The Biblical Illustrator

    _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 H...

  • The ESV Global Study Bible's Study Notes

    GENESIS—NOTE ON GENESIS 15:1 Verses Genesis 15:1 of ch. Genesis 15:1 focus on Abram’s concern that he is still childle

  • The Preacher's Complete Homiletical Commentary

    CRITICAL NOTES.— Genesis 15:1. The word of the Lord came to Abram.] _Heb. There was a word of Jehovah to Abram._ The force of the expression is, that the word efficaciously was; was made to be. This i...

  • The Pulpit Commentaries

    EXPOSITION GENESIS 15:1 AFTER THESE THINGS—the events just recorded—THE WORD OF THE LORD_—Debar Jehovah_;_ _the first occurrence of this remarkable phrase, afterwards so common in the Hebrew Scriptur...

  • Through The Bible C2000 Serie by Chuck Smith

    Now after these things (Genesis 15:1) That is, after the battle against these kings, after the meeting of Melchizedek, after the refusal of taking the reward and so forth from the king of Sodom. the...

  • Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

    tell. Deuteronomy 1:10 Psalms 147:4 Jeremiah 33:22 Romans 9:7 Romans 9:8

  • Wells of Living Water Commentary

    GOD'S COVENANT WITH ABRAM Genesis 15:1 INTRODUCTORY WORDS 1. The dependency of God. When men make a covenant they may break their covenant. God's covenants are certified. God covenanted with Noah...

  • Wesley's Explanatory Notes

    And he brought him forth — It seems, early in the morning, and said, look now toward heaven, and tell the stars: so shall thy seed be — So innumerable, for so the stars seem to a common eye. Abram fea...

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