Genesis 15:13 Then the LORD said to Abram, "Know for certain that your descendants will be strangers in a land that is not their own, and they will be enslaved and mistreated four hundred years.

◄ Genesis 15:13 ►

New International Version
Then the LORD said to him, “Know for certain that for four hundred years your descendants will be strangers in a country not their own and that they will be enslaved and mistreated there.

New Living Translation
Then the LORD said to Abram, “You can be sure that your descendants will be strangers in a foreign land, where they will be oppressed as slaves for 400 years.

English Standard Version
Then the LORD said to Abram, “Know for certain that your offspring will be sojourners in a land that is not theirs and will be servants there, and they will be afflicted for four hundred years.

Berean Standard Bible
Then the LORD said to Abram, “Know for certain that your descendants will be strangers in a land that is not their own, and they will be enslaved and mistreated four hundred years.

King James Bible
And 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;

New King James Version
Then He said to Abram: “Know certainly that your descendants will be strangers in a land that is not theirs, and will serve them, and they will afflict them four hundred years.

New American Standard Bible
Then God said to Abram, “Know for certain that your descendants will be strangers in a land that is not theirs, where they will be enslaved and oppressed for four hundred years.

NASB 1995
God said to Abram, “Know for certain that your descendants will be strangers in a land that is not theirs, where they will be enslaved and oppressed four hundred years.

NASB 1977
And God said to Abram, “Know for certain that your descendants will be strangers in a land that is not theirs, where they will be enslaved and oppressed four hundred years.

Legacy Standard Bible
Then God said to Abram, “Know for certain that your seed will be sojourners in a land that is not theirs, and they will be enslaved and mistreated four hundred years.

Amplified Bible
God said to Abram, “Know for sure that your descendants will be strangers [living temporarily] in a land (Egypt) that is not theirs, where they will be enslaved and oppressed for four hundred years.

Christian Standard Bible
Then the LORD said to Abram, “Know this for certain: Your offspring will be resident aliens for four hundred years in a land that does not belong to them and will be enslaved and oppressed.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Then the LORD said to Abram, “Know this for certain: Your offspring will be foreigners in a land that does not belong to them; they will be enslaved and oppressed 400 years.

American Standard Version
And he said unto Abram, Know of a surety that thy seed shall be sojourners in a land that is not theirs, and shall serve them; and they shall afflict them four hundred years;

English Revised Version
And 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;

GOD'S WORD® Translation
God said to Abram, "You can know for sure that your descendants will live in a land that is not their own, where they will be slaves, and they will be oppressed for 400 years.

Good News Translation
The LORD said to him, "Your descendants will be strangers in a foreign land; they will be slaves there and will be treated cruelly for four hundred years.

International Standard Version
Then the LORD told Abram, "You can be certain about this: Your descendants will be foreigners in a land that isn't theirs. They will be slaves there and will be oppressed for 400 years.

Majority Standard Bible
Then the LORD said to Abram, “Know for certain that your descendants will be strangers in a land that is not their own, and they will be enslaved and mistreated four hundred years.

NET Bible
Then the LORD said to Abram, "Know for certain that your descendants will be strangers in a foreign country. They will be enslaved and oppressed for four hundred years.

New Heart English Bible
And he said to Abram, "Know for certain that your descendants will live as foreigners in a land that is not theirs; and they will be servants there. And they will oppress them four hundred years.

Webster's Bible Translation
And he said to Abram, Know certainly 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;

World English Bible
He said to Abram, “Know for sure that your offspring will live as foreigners in a land that is not theirs, and will serve them. They will afflict them four hundred years.

Literal Translations

Literal Standard Version
and He says to Abram, “knowing—know that your seed is a sojourner in a land not theirs, and they have served them, and they have afflicted them four hundred years,

Young's Literal Translation
and He saith to Abram, 'knowing -- know that thy seed is a sojourner in a land not theirs, and they have served them, and they have afflicted them four hundred years,

Smith's Literal Translation
And he will say to Abram, Knowing thou shalt know that thy seed shall be a sojourner in the land not to them; and they shall serve them and they shall humble them four hundred years.

Catholic Translations

Douay-Rheims Bible
And it was said unto him: Know thou beforehand that thy seed shall be a stranger in a land not their own, and they shall bring them under bondage, and afflict them four hundred years.

Catholic Public Domain Version
And it was said to him: “Know beforehand that your future offspring will be sojourners in a land not their own, and they will subjugate them in servitude and afflict them for four hundred years.

New American Bible
Then the LORD said to Abram: Know for certain that your descendants will reside as aliens in a land not their own, where they shall be enslaved and oppressed for four hundred years.

New Revised Standard Version
Then the LORD said to Abram, “Know this for certain, that your offspring shall be aliens in a land that is not theirs, and shall be slaves there, and they shall be oppressed for four hundred years;

Translations from Aramaic

Lamsa Bible
And the LORD said to Abram, Know of a surety that your descendants shall be strangers in a land that is not theirs, and shall be in servitude: and they shall afflict them for four hundred years;

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And he said to Abram, “Surely you shall know that your seed shall be an inhabitant in a land that is not theirs, and they shall serve them, and they shall subject them four hundred years;

OT Translations

JPS Tanakh 1917
And 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;

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And it was said to Abram, Thou shalt surely know that thy seed shall be a sojourner in a land not their won, and they shall enslave them, and afflict them, and humble them four hundred years.

Additional Translations ...

Audio Bible

Context

God Confirms His Promise
…12As the sun was setting, Abram fell into a deep sleep, and suddenly great terror and darkness overwhelmed him. 13Then the LORD said to Abram, “Know for certain that your descendants will be strangers in a land that is not their own, and they will be enslaved and mistreated four hundred years. 14But I will judge the nation they serve as slaves, and afterward they will depart with many possessions.…

Berean Standard Bible · Download

Cross References

Exodus 12:40-41
Now the duration of the Israelites’ stay in Egypt was 430 years. / At the end of the 430 years, to the very day, all the LORD’s divisions went out of the land of Egypt.

Acts 7:6-7
God told him that his descendants would be foreigners in a strange land, and that they would be enslaved and mistreated four hundred years. / ‘But I will punish the nation that enslaves them,’ God said, ‘and afterward they will come forth and worship Me in this place.’

Exodus 1:8-14
Then a new king, who did not know Joseph, came to power in Egypt. / “Look,” he said to his people, “the Israelites have become too numerous and too powerful for us. / Come, let us deal shrewdly with them, or they will increase even more; and if a war breaks out, they may join our enemies, fight against us, and leave the country.” ...

Deuteronomy 26:5-6
and you are to declare before the LORD your God, “My father was a wandering Aramean, and he went down to Egypt few in number and lived there and became a great nation, mighty and numerous. / But the Egyptians mistreated us and afflicted us, putting us to hard labor.

Psalm 105:23-25
Then Israel entered Egypt; Jacob dwelt in the land of Ham. / And the LORD made His people very fruitful, more numerous than their foes, / whose hearts He turned to hate His people, to conspire against His servants.

Exodus 3:7-10
The LORD said, “I have indeed seen the affliction of My people in Egypt. I have heard them crying out because of their oppressors, and I am aware of their sufferings. / I have come down to rescue them from the hand of the Egyptians and to bring them up out of that land to a good and spacious land, a land flowing with milk and honey—the home of the Canaanites, Hittites, Amorites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites. / And now the cry of the Israelites has reached Me, and I have seen how severely the Egyptians are oppressing them. ...

Exodus 6:5-6
Furthermore, I have heard the groaning of the Israelites, whom the Egyptians are enslaving, and I have remembered My covenant. / Therefore tell the Israelites: ‘I am the LORD, and I will bring you out from under the yoke of the Egyptians and deliver you from their bondage. I will redeem you with an outstretched arm and with mighty acts of judgment.

Exodus 1:1-7
These are the names of the sons of Israel who went to Egypt with Jacob, each with his family: / Reuben, Simeon, Levi, and Judah; / Issachar, Zebulun, and Benjamin; ...

Exodus 2:23-25
After a long time, the king of Egypt died. The Israelites groaned and cried out under their burden of slavery, and their cry for deliverance from bondage ascended to God. / So God heard their groaning, and He remembered His covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. / God saw the Israelites and took notice.

Exodus 11:1
Then the LORD said to Moses, “I will bring upon Pharaoh and Egypt one more plague. After that, he will allow you to leave this place. And when he lets you go, he will drive you out completely.

Exodus 12:35-36
Furthermore, the Israelites acted on Moses’ word and asked the Egyptians for articles of silver and gold, and for clothing. / And the LORD gave the people such favor in the sight of the Egyptians that they granted their request. In this way they plundered the Egyptians.

Exodus 13:14
In the future, when your son asks you, ‘What does this mean?’ you are to tell him, ‘With a mighty hand the LORD brought us out of Egypt, out of the house of slavery.

Exodus 14:30-31
That day the LORD saved Israel from the hand of the Egyptians, and Israel saw the Egyptians dead on the shore. / When Israel saw the great power that the LORD had exercised over the Egyptians, the people feared the LORD and believed in Him and in His servant Moses.

Acts 13:17
The God of the people of Israel chose our fathers. He made them into a great people during their stay in Egypt, and with an uplifted arm He led them out of that land.

Hebrews 11:9-10
By faith he dwelt in the promised land as a stranger in a foreign country. He lived in tents, as did Isaac and Jacob, who were heirs with him of the same promise. / For he was looking forward to the city with foundations, whose architect and builder is God.

Treasury of Scripture

And he said to Abram, Know of a surety that your seed shall be a stranger in a land that is not their's, and shall serve them; and they shall afflict them four hundred years;

thy.

Genesis 17:8
And I will give unto thee, and to thy seed after thee, the land wherein thou art a stranger, all the land of Canaan, for an everlasting possession; and I will be their God.

Exodus 1:1-2:25
Now these are the names of the children of Israel, which came into Egypt; every man and his household came with Jacob…

Exodus 5:1-23
And afterward Moses and Aaron went in, and told Pharaoh, Thus saith the LORD God of Israel, Let my people go, that they may hold a feast unto me in the wilderness…

four.

Exodus 12:40,41
Now the sojourning of the children of Israel, who dwelt in Egypt, was four hundred and thirty years…

Galatians 3:17
And this I say, that the covenant, that was confirmed before of God in Christ, the law, which was four hundred and thirty years after, cannot disannul, that it should make the promise of none effect.

Jump to Previous

Abram Afflict Afflicted Assuredly Country Cruel Descendants Enslaved Foreigners Four Hundred Live Oppressed Seed Servants Serve Served Slaves Sojourner Sojourners Stranger Strangers Sure Surety Theirs

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Genesis 15

1. God encourages Abram, who asks for an heir.
4. God promises him a son, and a multiplying of his seed.
6. Abram is justified by faith.
7. Canaan is promised again,
9. and confirmed by a sign, and a vision,
18. prophetic of the condition of his posterity till brought out of Egypt.

Berean Study Bible

Then the LORD said to Abram
This phrase marks a divine communication, emphasizing the direct interaction between God and Abram. The Hebrew word for "LORD" here is "YHWH," the sacred name of God, which signifies His eternal and unchanging nature. This encounter underscores the personal relationship God has with Abram, setting a foundation for the covenantal promises that follow. The use of "said" indicates a definitive and authoritative declaration, highlighting the certainty and importance of the message.

Know for certain
The phrase "know for certain" is a call to absolute assurance. In Hebrew, the word "yada" (to know) implies an intimate, experiential knowledge. God is not merely informing Abram; He is ensuring that Abram understands the inevitability and truth of what is to come. This certainty is crucial for Abram's faith journey, as it reassures him of God's sovereign plan despite future hardships.

that your descendants
"Descendants" refers to Abram's offspring, the Hebrew word "zera" meaning seed. This term is significant as it connects to the Abrahamic covenant, where God promises Abram numerous descendants. It is a reminder of God's faithfulness to His promises, as Abram, who was childless at the time, is assured of a future lineage that will play a pivotal role in God's redemptive plan.

will be strangers in a land that is not theirs
The word "strangers" (Hebrew "ger") indicates foreigners or sojourners, highlighting a lack of belonging and the transient nature of their stay. This foreshadows the Israelites' future in Egypt, where they would live as outsiders. The phrase "a land that is not theirs" emphasizes the temporary and challenging nature of their existence, yet it also points to God's sovereignty in orchestrating their journey and eventual deliverance.

and they will be enslaved and mistreated
This part of the prophecy reveals the harsh reality of the Israelites' future in Egypt. The Hebrew word for "enslaved" (abad) conveys servitude and oppression, while "mistreated" (anah) suggests affliction and suffering. This foretells the Israelites' bondage under Pharaoh, yet it also sets the stage for God's mighty acts of deliverance, demonstrating His power and faithfulness.

four hundred years
The specific time frame of "four hundred years" provides a prophetic timeline for the duration of Israel's sojourn and suffering in Egypt. This period is significant in biblical history, as it marks the time from Abram's descendants entering Egypt to their exodus. It underscores God's perfect timing and His control over history, assuring Abram that despite the lengthy period of hardship, God's promises will ultimately be fulfilled.

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

(13) Four hundred years.--The exact duration of the sojourn in Egypt was 430 years (Exodus 12:40-41), and with this agrees the genealogy of Jehoshua (1Chronicles 7:23-27).

Pulpit Commentary

Verse 13. - And he said unto Abram, Know of a surety - literally, knowing know (cf. Genesis 2:17; vide Ewald's 'Hebrew Syntax,' § 312) - that thy seed shall be a stranger in a land which is not there (literally, not to them, viz., Egypt, or Egypt and Canaan, according to the view which is taken of the point of departure for the reckoning of the 400 years), and shall serve them (i.e. the inhabitants of that alien country); and they (i.e. these foreigners) shall afflict them - three different stages of adverse fortune are described: -

(1) exile;

(2) bondage;

(3) affliction (Murphy); . . .

Parallel Commentaries ...

Hebrew

Then the LORD said
וַיֹּ֣אמֶר (way·yō·mer)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 559: To utter, say

to Abram,
לְאַבְרָ֗ם (lə·’aḇ·rām)
Preposition-l | Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 87: Abram -- 'exalted father', the original name of Abraham

“Know
יָדֹ֨עַ (yā·ḏō·a‘)
Verb - Qal - Infinitive absolute
Strong's 3045: To know

for certain
תֵּדַ֜ע (tê·ḏa‘)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine singular
Strong's 3045: To know

that
כִּי־ (kî-)
Conjunction
Strong's 3588: A relative conjunction

your descendants
זַרְעֲךָ֗ (zar·‘ă·ḵā)
Noun - masculine singular construct | second person masculine singular
Strong's 2233: Seed, fruit, plant, sowing-time, posterity

will be
יִהְיֶ֣ה (yih·yeh)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 1961: To fall out, come to pass, become, be

strangers
גֵ֣ר ׀ (ḡêr)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 1616: A guest, a foreigner

in a land
בְּאֶ֙רֶץ֙ (bə·’e·reṣ)
Preposition-b | Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 776: Earth, land

that is not their own;
לֹ֣א (lō)
Adverb - Negative particle
Strong's 3808: Not, no

they will be enslaved
וַעֲבָד֖וּם (wa·‘ă·ḇā·ḏūm)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person common plural | third person masculine plural
Strong's 5647: To work, to serve, till, enslave

and mistreated
וְעִנּ֣וּ (wə·‘in·nū)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Piel - Conjunctive perfect - third person common plural
Strong's 6031: To be bowed down or afflicted

four
אַרְבַּ֥ע (’ar·ba‘)
Number - feminine singular construct
Strong's 702: Four

hundred
מֵא֖וֹת (mê·’ō·wṯ)
Number - feminine plural
Strong's 3967: A hundred

years.
שָׁנָֽה׃ (šā·nāh)
Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 8141: A year

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OT Law: Genesis 15:13 He said to Abram Know for sure (Gen. Ge Gn)