Genesis 15:8
◄  Genesis 15:8  ►
New International Version (©2011)
But Abram said, "Sovereign LORD, how can I know that I will gain possession of it?"

New Living Translation (©2007)
But Abram replied, "O Sovereign LORD, how can I be sure that I will actually possess it?"

English Standard Version (©2001)
But he said, “O Lord GOD, how am I to know that I shall possess it?”

New American Standard Bible (©1995)
He said, "O Lord GOD, how may I know that I will possess it?"

King James Bible (Cambridge Ed.)
And he said, Lord GOD, whereby shall I know that I shall inherit it?

Holman Christian Standard Bible (©2009)
But he said, "Lord GOD, how can I know that I will possess it?"

International Standard Version (©2012)
But he replied, "Lord GOD, how will I know that I will inherit it?"

NET Bible (©2006)
But Abram said, "O sovereign LORD, by what can I know that I am to possess it?"

GOD'S WORD® Translation (©1995)
Abram asked, "Almighty LORD, how can I be certain that I will take possession of it?"

King James 2000 Bible (©2003)
And he said, Lord GOD, how shall I know that I shall inherit it?

American King James Version
And he said, LORD God, whereby shall I know that I shall inherit it?

American Standard Version
And he said, O Lord Jehovah, whereby shall I know that I shall inherit it?

Douay-Rheims Bible
But he said: Lord God, whereby may I know that I shall possess it?

Darby Bible Translation
And he said, Lord Jehovah, how shall I know that I shall possess it?

English Revised Version
And he said, O Lord GOD, whereby shall I know that I shall inherit it?

Webster's Bible Translation
And he said, Lord GOD, by what shall I know that I shall inherit it?

World English Bible
He said, "Lord Yahweh, how will I know that I will inherit it?"

Young's Literal Translation
and he saith, 'Lord Jehovah, whereby do I know that I possess it?'

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary

15:7-11 Assurance was given to Abram of the land of Canaan for an inheritance. God never promises more than he is able to perform, as men often do. Abram did as God commanded him. He divided the beasts in the midst, according to the ceremony used in confirming covenants, Jer 34:18,19. Having prepared according to God's appointment, he set himself to wait for the sign God might give him. A watch must be kept upon our spiritual sacrifices. When vain thoughts, like these fowls, come down upon our sacrifices, we must drive them away, and seek to attend on God without distraction.

Pulpit Commentary

Verse 8. - And he said, Lord God (Adonai Jehovah; vide Ver. 2), whereby shall I know that I shall inherit it? Not the language of doubt, though slight misgivings are not incompatible with faith (cf. Judges 6:17; 2 Kings 20:8; Luke 1:34), and questioning with God "is rather a proof of faith than a sign of incredulity" (Calvin); but of desire for a sign in confirmation of the grant (Luther), either for the strengthening of his own faith (Chrysostom, Augustine, Keil, 'Speaker's Commentary'), or for the sake of his posterity (Jarchi, Michaelis), or for some intimation as to the time and mode of taking possession (Murphy). Rosenmüller conceives the question put in Abram's mouth to be only a device of the narrator's to lead up to the subject following.

Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible

And he said, Lord God, whereby shall I know that I shall inherit it? Not as questioning or doubting whether he should or not; but this he asked for the further confirmation of his faith in the promise, and for the sake of his posterity, that they might more easily and strongly believe that they should inherit the land given and promised to them; nor is it culpable to ask a sign of God with such a view; good men have done it, as Gideon, Judges 6:36, and Hezekiah, 2 Kings 20:8, without being blamed for it; yea, Ahaz is blamed for not asking one, Isaiah 7:10.

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God Confirms His Promise
8And he said, LORD God, whereby shall I know that I shall inherit it? 9And he said to 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. 10And he took to him all these, and divided them in the middle, and laid each piece one against another: but the birds divided he not. …

Luke 1:18 Zechariah asked the angel, "How can I be sure of this? I am an old man and my wife is well along in years."
Genesis 15:9 So the LORD said to him, "Bring me a heifer, a goat and a ram, each three years old, along with a dove and a young pigeon."
Genesis 28:4 May he give you and your descendants the blessing given to Abraham, so that you may take possession of the land where you now reside as a foreigner, the land God gave to Abraham."
Genesis 50:24 Then Joseph said to his brothers, "I am about to die. But God will surely come to your aid and take you up out of this land to the land he promised on oath to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob."
Judges 6:36 Gideon said to God, "If you will save Israel by my hand as you have promised--