New International Version
Genesis 15:1
1After this, the word of the Lord came to Abram in a vision: “Do not be afraid, Abram. I am your shield, your very great reward.”
Genesis 15:1 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)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.
- English Standard Version (ESV)After these things the word of the Lord came to Abram in a vision: "Fear not, Abram, I am your shield; your reward shall be very great."
- New King James Version (NKJV)After these things the word of the Lord came to Abram in a vision, saying, “Do not be afraid, Abram. I am your shield, your exceedingly great reward.”
- New Living Translation (NLT)Some time later, the Lord spoke to Abram in a vision and said to him, “Do not be afraid, Abram, for I will protect you, and your reward will be great.”
Context of Genesis 15:1
After this, the word of the Lord came to Abram in a vision: “Do not be afraid, Abram. I am your shield, your very great reward.” 2But Abram said, “Sovereign Lord, what can you give me since I remain childless and the one who will inherit my estate is Eliezer of Damascus?” 3And Abram said, “You have given me no children; so a servant in my household will be my heir.”
Read all of Genesis 15Genesis 15:1 word by word
אַחַ֣ר׀ הַדְּבָרִ֣ים הָאֵ֗לֶּה הָיָ֤ה דְבַר־יְהוָה֙ אֶל־אַבְרָ֔ם בַּֽמַּחֲזֶ֖ה לֵאמֹ֑ר אַל־תִּירָ֣א אַבְרָ֗ם אָנֹכִי֙ מָגֵ֣ן לָ֔ךְ שְׂכָרְךָ֖ הַרְבֵּ֥ה מְאֹֽד׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- Afterאַחַר'achar · afterH310
- these thingsדָּבָרdâbâr · word: thingH1697
- the wordדָּבָרdâbâr · wordH1697
- of the Lordיְהֹוָהyehôvâh · LORDH3068
- cameהָיָהhâyâh · to beH1961
- unto Abramאַבְרָם'abrâm · AbramH87
- in a visionמַחֲזֶהmachăzeh · visionH4236
- sayingאָמַר'âmar · to sayH559
- Fearיָרֵאyârê' · to fearH3372
- thy shieldמָגֵןmâgên meginnâh · shieldH4043
- thy exceedingמְאֹדme'ôd · muchH3966
- greatרָבָהrâbâh · to multiplyH7235
- rewardשָׂכָרώâkâr · wagesH7939
Cross-references for Genesis 15:1
- Genesis 46:2And God spoke to Israel in a vision at night and said, “Jacob! Jacob!” “Here I am,” he replied.
- Numbers 12:6he said, “Listen to my words: “When there is a prophet among you, I, the Lord, reveal myself to them in visions, I speak to them in dreams.
- 1 Samuel 9:9(Formerly in Israel, if someone went to inquire of God, they would say, “Come, let us go to the seer,” because the prophet of today used to be called a seer.)
- Ezekiel 1:1In my thirtieth year, in the fourth month on the fifth day, while I was among the exiles by the Kebar River, the heavens were opened and I saw visions of God.
- Ezekiel 3:4He then said to me: “Son of man, go now to the people of Israel and speak my words to them.
- Ezekiel 11:24The Spirit lifted me up and brought me to the exiles in Babylonia in the vision given by the Spirit of God. Then the vision I had seen went up from me,
- Daniel 10:1In the third year of Cyrus king of Persia, a revelation was given to Daniel (who was called Belteshazzar). Its message was true and it concerned a great war. The understanding of the message came to him in a vision.
- Acts 10:10He became hungry and wanted something to eat, and while the meal was being prepared, he fell into a trance.
- Acts 10:22The men replied, “We have come from Cornelius the centurion. He is a righteous and God-fearing man, who is respected by all the Jewish people. A holy angel told him to ask you to come to his house so that he could hear what you have to say.”
- Hebrews 1:1In the past God spoke to our ancestors through the prophets at many times and in various ways,
- Genesis 15:14But I will punish the nation they serve as slaves, and afterward they will come out with great possessions.
- Genesis 26:24That night the Lord appeared to him and said, “I am the God of your father Abraham. Do not be afraid, for I am with you; I will bless you and will increase the number of your descendants for the sake of my servant Abraham.”
- Genesis 46:3“I am God, the God of your father,” he said. “Do not be afraid to go down to Egypt, for I will make you into a great nation there.
- Exodus 14:13Moses answered the people, “Do not be afraid. Stand firm and you will see the deliverance the Lord will bring you today. The Egyptians you see today you will never see again.
- Deuteronomy 31:6Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.”
- 1 Chronicles 28:20David also said to Solomon his son, “Be strong and courageous, and do the work. Do not be afraid or discouraged, for the Lord God, my God, is with you. He will not fail you or forsake you until all the work for the service of the temple of the Lord is finished.
Commentaries on Genesis 15:1
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 1The word of the Lord came unto Abram - This is the first place where God is represented as revealing himself by his word. Some learned men suppose that the יהוה דבר debar Yehovah, translated here word of the Lord, means the same with the of St. John, John 1:1, and, by the Chaldee paraphrases in the next clause, called מימרי meimeri, "my word," and in other places דיי מימרא meimera daiya, the word of Yeya, a contraction for Jehovah, which they appear…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. 1God encourages Abram. (1) The Divine promise, Abraham is justified by faith. (2-6) God promises Canaan to Abraham for an inheritance. (7-11) The promise confirmed in a vision. (12-16) The promise confirmed by a sign. (17-21) Verse 1 God assured Abram of safety and happiness; that he should for ever be safe. I am thy shield; or, I am a shield to thee, present with thee, actually caring for thee. The consideration that God himself is, and will be a shield…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 1Do not be afraid: Abram did not have a son to inherit his property. The Lord addressed Abram’s anxiety about the future with comforting words. I am your shield: The Hebrew word for shield (magen) comes from the same root word as Melchizedek's word delivered (14:20). The Lord, who had delivered Abram's enemies into his power, would continue to protect him. your very great reward: The promise of children was still unfulfilled (12:2–3; see also Psalm 127:3).Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1-211. After these things--the conquest of the invading kings. the word of the Lord--a phrase used, when connected with a vision, to denote a prophetic message. Fear not, Abram--When the excitement of the enterprise was over, he had become a prey to despondency and terror at the probable revenge that might be meditated against him. To dispel his fear, he was favored with this gracious announcement. Having such a promise, how well did it become him (and all…Read the comment
Topics related to Genesis 15:1
In the dictionaries
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
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