Genesis 15:16

Genesis 15:16 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)But in the fourth generation they shall come hither again: for the iniquity of the Amorites is not yet full.
• New International Version (NIV)In the fourth generation your descendants will come back here, for the sin of the Amorites has not yet reached its full measure.”
• English Standard Version (ESV)And they shall come back here in the fourth generation, for the iniquity of the Amorites is not yet complete."
• New King James Version (NKJV)But in the fourth generation they shall return here, for the iniquity of the Amorites is not yet complete.”

Context of Genesis 15:16

14But I will punish the nation they serve, and after that they will come out with many possessions. 15But you will die in peace and be buried at a very old age. In the fourth generation your descendants will come back here, because the sin of the Amorites will not have run its course until then.” 17The sun had gone down, and it was dark. Suddenly a smoking oven and a flaming torch passed between the animal pieces. 18At that time the Lord made a promise to Abram. He said, “I will give this land to your descendants. This is the land from the river of Egypt to the great river, the Euphrates.

Genesis 15:16 word by word

וְד֥וֹר רְבִיעִ֖י יָשׁ֣וּבוּ הֵ֑נָּה כִּ֧י לֹא־שָׁלֵ֛ם עֲוֹ֥ן הָאֱמֹרִ֖י עַד־הֵֽנָּה׃Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• But in the fourthרְבִיעִיrebîy‛îy rebi‛îy · fourthH7243
• generationדּוֹרdôr dôr · generationH1755
• they shall come hitherהֵ֫נָּהhênnâh · here/thusH2008
• againשׁוּבshûb · to return: returnH7725
• for the iniquityעָוֺן‛âvôn ‛âvôn · iniquity: crimeH5771
• of the Amoritesאֱמֹרִי'ĕmôrîy · AmoriteH567
• fullשָׁלֵםshâlêm · completeH8003

Cross-references for Genesis 15:16

• Exodus 12:40The Israelites had been living in Egypt for 430 years.
• 1 Kings 21:26He did many disgusting things as a result of worshiping idols as the Amorites had done. (The Lord confiscated their land for Israel.)
• 2 Peter 3:8Dear friends, don’t ignore this fact: One day with the Lord is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like one day.
• Daniel 8:23“In the last days of those kingdoms, when rebellions are finished, a stern-looking king who understands mysterious things will rise to power.
• Zechariah 5:5The angel who was speaking with me came forward. He said, “Look up, and see what’s coming.”
• Matthew 23:32Go ahead, finish what your ancestors started!
• 1 Thessalonians 2:16because they try to keep us from telling people who are not Jewish how they can be saved. The result is that those Jews always commit as many sins as possible. So at last they are receiving ⌞God’s⌟ anger.

Commentaries on Genesis 15:16

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 16In the fourth generation - In former times most people counted by generations, to each of which was assigned a term of years amounting to 20, 25, 30, 33, 100, 108, or 110; for the generation was of various lengths among various people, at different times. It is probable that the fourth generation here means the same as the four hundred years in the preceding verse. Some think it refers to the time when Eleazar, the son of Aaron, the son of Amram, the son…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 1-21Verses 1-21 - 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 in place of Yahweh; but when, as in the present case, יהוה yehovâh and אדני 'ǎdonāy are in apposition, אלהים 'ĕlohı̂ym is read instead of the former. The Jews from a feeling of reverence avoided the utterance of this sacred name except on the most…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 12-16Verses 12-16 A deep sleep fell upon Abram; with this sleep a horror of great darkness fell upon him: a sudden change. The children of light do not always walk in the light. Several things were then foretold. 1. The suffering state of Abram's seed for a long time. They shall be strangers. The heirs of heaven are strangers on earth. They shall be servants; but Canaanites serve under a curse, the Hebrews under a blessing. They shall be suffers. Those that…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 16The reasons for Israel’s bondage included God’s justice. God would tolerate the sins of the Amorites until they fully deserved judgment. is not yet complete: To give the promised land to Israel, God would justly remove those living in the land. Fulfilling promises to Israel also meant judgment for the people in the land. But if they trusted in him, God would save individual people (see Joshua 2:1–15; 6:23–25; Hebrews 11:31; James 2:25). Until then, God…Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 9-219-21. Take me an heifer, &c.--On occasions of great importance, when two or more parties join in a compact, they either observe precisely the same rites as Abram did, or, where they do not, they invoke the lamp as their witness. According to these ideas, which have been from time immemorial engraven on the minds of Eastern people, the Lord Himself condescended to enter into covenant with Abram. The patriarch did not pass between the sacrifice and the…Read the comment

Topics related to Genesis 15:16

• Abraham
• Amorites
• Condescension of God
• Covenant
• God Continued...
• Probation
• Sign
• Vision

In the dictionaries

• Chronology
• Count
• Covenant
• Exceeding
• Exodus
• Fear
• Generation
• Heir
• Horror
• Surety

Commentaries on Genesis 15

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Rashi on Tanakh
• Calvin’s Commentaries
• Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
• John Wesley’s Notes
• Darby Translation Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
• Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings