Verse (Click for Chapter) New International Version Then the word of the LORD came to him: “This man will not be your heir, but a son who is your own flesh and blood will be your heir.” New Living Translation Then the LORD said to him, “No, your servant will not be your heir, for you will have a son of your own who will be your heir.” English Standard Version And behold, the word of the LORD came to him: “This man shall not be your heir; your very own son shall be your heir.” Berean Standard Bible Then the word of the LORD came to Abram, saying, “This one will not be your heir, but one who comes from your own body will be your heir.” Berean Literal Bible And behold, the word of YHWH came to him, saying, “This one will not inherit you, but rather one who will come from your inward parts, he will inherit you.” King James Bible And, behold, the word of the LORD came unto him, saying, This shall not be thine heir; but he that shall come forth out of thine own bowels shall be thine heir. New King James Version And behold, the word of the LORD came to him, saying, “This one shall not be your heir, but one who will come from your own body shall be your heir.” New American Standard Bible Then behold, the word of the LORD came to him, saying, “This man will not be your heir; but one who will come from your own body shall be your heir.” NASB 1995 Then behold, the word of the LORD came to him, saying, “This man will not be your heir; but one who will come forth from your own body, he shall be your heir.” NASB 1977 Then behold, the word of the LORD came to him, saying, “This man will not be your heir; but one who shall come forth from your own body, he shall be your heir.” Legacy Standard Bible Then behold, the word of Yahweh came to him, saying, “This one will not be your heir; but one who will come forth from your own body, he shall be your heir.” Amplified Bible Then behold, the word of the LORD came to him, saying, “This man [Eliezer] will not be your heir but he who shall come from your own body shall be your heir.” Berean Annotated Bible Then the word of the LORD {YHWH} came to Abram, saying, “This one will not be your heir, but one who comes from your own body will be your heir. Christian Standard Bible Now the word of the LORD came to him: “This one will not be your heir; instead, one who comes from your own body will be your heir.” Holman Christian Standard Bible Now the word of the LORD came to him: “This one will not be your heir; instead, one who comes from your own body will be your heir.” American Standard Version And, behold, the word of Jehovah came unto him, saying, This man shall not be thine heir; but he that shall come forth out of thine own bowels shall be thine heir. Contemporary English Version The LORD replied, "No, he won't! You will have a son of your own, and everything you have will be his." English Revised Version And, behold, the word of the LORD came unto him, saying, This man shall not be thine heir; but he that shall come forth out of thine own bowels shall be thine heir. GOD'S WORD® Translation Suddenly, the LORD spoke his word to Abram again. He said, "This man will not be your heir. Your own son will be your heir." Good News Translation Then he heard the LORD speaking to him again: "This slave Eliezer will not inherit your property; your own son will be your heir." International Standard Version A message came from the LORD to him again: "This one will not be your heir. Instead, the child who will be born to you will be your heir." NET Bible But look, the word of the LORD came to him: "This man will not be your heir, but instead a son who comes from your own body will be your heir." New Heart English Bible And look, the word of God came to him, saying, "This man will not be your heir, but he who will come forth out of your own body will be your heir." Webster's Bible Translation And behold, the word of the LORD came to him, saying, This shall not be thy heir; but he that shall come forth out of thy own bowels shall be thy heir. Majority Text Translations Majority Standard BibleThen the word of the LORD came to Abram, saying, “This one will not be your heir, but one who comes from your own body will be your heir.” World English Bible Behold, Yahweh’s word came to him, saying, “This man will not be your heir, but he who will come out of your own body will be your heir.” Literal Translations Literal Standard VersionAnd behold, the word of YHWH [is] to him, saying, “This [one] will not be your heir; but he who comes out from your bowels, he will be your heir”; Berean Literal Bible And behold, the word of YHWH came to him, saying, “This one will not inherit you, but rather one who will come from your inward parts, he will inherit you.” Young's Literal Translation And lo, the word of Jehovah is unto him, saying, 'This one doth not heir thee; but he who cometh out from thy bowels, he doth heir thee;' Smith's Literal Translation And behold, the word of Jehovah was to him, saying, This shall not inherit thee, for truly he who shall come forth from thy bowels shall inherit thee. Catholic Translations Douay-Rheims BibleAnd immediately the word of the Lord came to him, saying: He shall not be thy heir: but he that shall come out of thy bowels, him shalt thou have for thy heir. Catholic Public Domain Version And immediately the word of the Lord came to him, saying: “This one will not be your heir. But he who will come from your loins, the same will you have for your heir.” New American Bible Then the word of the LORD came to him: No, that one will not be your heir; your own offspring will be your heir. New Revised Standard Version But the word of the LORD came to him, “This man shall not be your heir; no one but your very own issue shall be your heir.” Translations from Aramaic Lamsa BibleThen the LORD said to him, This man shall not be your heir; but your own son that shall come out of your own loins shall be your heir. Peshitta Holy Bible Translated And LORD JEHOVAH said to him: “This shall not be your heir, but your son who proceeds from your loins, he will be your heir.” OT Translations JPS Tanakh 1917And, behold, the word of the LORD came unto him, saying: 'This man shall not be thine heir; but he that shall come forth out of thine own bowels shall be thine heir.' Brenton Septuagint Translation And immediately there was a voice of the Lord to him, saying, This shall not be thine heir; but he that shall come out of thee shall be thine heir. Additional Translations ... Audio Bible Context God's Covenant with Abram…3Abram continued, “Behold, You have given me no offspring, so a servant in my household will be my heir.” 4Then the word of the LORD came to Abram, saying, “This one will not be your heir, but one who comes from your own body will be your heir.” 5And the LORD took him outside and said, “Now look to the heavens and count the stars, if you are able.” Then He told him, “So shall your offspring be.”… Cross References Then the word of the LORD came to Abram, saying, Genesis 17:1-2 When Abram was ninety-nine years old, the LORD appeared to him and said, “I am God Almighty. Walk before Me and be blameless. / I will establish My covenant between Me and you, and I will multiply you exceedingly.” Genesis 13:14-17 After Lot had departed, the LORD said to Abram, “Now lift up your eyes from the place where you are, and look to the north and south and east and west, / for all the land that you see, I will give to you and your offspring forever. / I will make your offspring like the dust of the earth, so that if one could count the dust of the earth, then your offspring could be counted. … Genesis 12:1-3 Then the LORD said to Abram, “Leave your country, your kindred, and your father’s household, and go to the land I will show you. / I will make you into a great nation, and I will bless you; I will make your name great, so that you will be a blessing. / I will bless those who bless you and curse those who curse you; and all the families of the earth will be blessed through you.” “This one will not be your heir, Galatians 4:30 But what does the Scripture say? “Expel the slave woman and her son, for the slave woman’s son will never share in the inheritance with the free woman’s son.” Genesis 17:19-21 But God replied, “Your wife Sarah will indeed bear you a son, and you are to name him Isaac. I will establish My covenant with him as an everlasting covenant for his descendants after him. / As for Ishmael, I have heard you, and I will surely bless him; I will make him fruitful and multiply him greatly. He will become the father of twelve rulers, and I will make him into a great nation. / But I will establish My covenant with Isaac, whom Sarah will bear to you at this time next year.” Genesis 21:12 But God said to Abraham, “Do not be distressed about the boy and your maidservant. Listen to everything that Sarah tells you, for through Isaac your offspring will be reckoned. but one who comes from your own body will be your heir.” Genesis 17:16 And I will bless her and will surely give you a son by her. I will bless her, and she will be the mother of nations; kings of peoples will descend from her.” Genesis 18:10-14 Then the LORD said, “I will surely return to you at this time next year, and your wife Sarah will have a son!” Now Sarah was behind him, listening at the entrance to the tent. / And Abraham and Sarah were already old and well along in years; Sarah had passed the age of childbearing. / So she laughed to herself, saying, “After I am worn out and my master is old, will I now have this pleasure?” … Genesis 21:1-3 Now the LORD attended to Sarah as He had said, and the LORD did for Sarah what He had promised. / So Sarah conceived and bore a son to Abraham in his old age, at the very time God had promised. / And Abraham gave the name Isaac to the son Sarah bore to him. Romans 4:13-18 For the promise to Abraham and his offspring that he would be heir of the world was not given through the law, but through the righteousness that comes by faith. / For if those who live by the law are heirs, faith is useless and the promise is worthless, / because the law brings wrath. And where there is no law, there is no transgression. … Galatians 3:16 The promises were spoken to Abraham and to his seed. The Scripture does not say, “and to seeds,” meaning many, but “and to your seed,” meaning One, who is Christ. Hebrews 11:11-12 By faith Sarah, even though she was barren and beyond the proper age, was enabled to conceive a child, because she considered Him faithful who had promised. / And so from one man, and he as good as dead, came descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and as countless as the sand on the seashore. Genesis 17:15-19 Then God said to Abraham, “As for Sarai your wife, do not call her Sarai, for her name is to be Sarah. / And I will bless her and will surely give you a son by her. I will bless her, and she will be the mother of nations; kings of peoples will descend from her.” / Abraham fell facedown. Then he laughed and said to himself, “Can a child be born to a man who is a hundred years old? Can Sarah give birth at the age of ninety?” … Romans 9:7-9 Nor because they are Abraham’s descendants are they all his children. On the contrary, “Through Isaac your offspring will be reckoned.” / So it is not the children of the flesh who are God’s children, but it is the children of the promise who are regarded as offspring. / For this is what the promise stated: “At the appointed time I will return, and Sarah will have a son.” Galatians 4:28 Now you, brothers, like Isaac, are children of promise. Genesis 12:2-3 I will make you into a great nation, and I will bless you; I will make your name great, so that you will be a blessing. / I will bless those who bless you and curse those who curse you; and all the families of the earth will be blessed through you.” Treasury of Scripture And, behold, the word of the LORD came to him, saying, This shall not be your heir; but he that shall come forth out of your own bowels shall be your heir. shall come. Genesis 17:16 And I will bless her, and give thee a son also of her: yea, I will bless her, and she shall be a mother of nations; kings of people shall be of her. Genesis 21:12 And God said unto Abraham, Let it not be grievous in thy sight because of the lad, and because of thy bondwoman; in all that Sarah hath said unto thee, hearken unto her voice; for in Isaac shall thy seed be called. 2 Samuel 7:12 And when thy days be fulfilled, and thou shalt sleep with thy fathers, I will set up thy seed after thee, which shall proceed out of thy bowels, and I will establish his kingdom. Jump to Previous Body Bowels Forth Heir Heritage Property WordJump to Next Body Bowels Forth Heir Heritage Property WordGenesis 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. Then the word of the LORD came to Abram, saying, This phrase indicates a direct communication from God to Abram, emphasizing the personal relationship between them. In biblical context, "the word of the LORD" often signifies a divine revelation or promise. This is a pivotal moment in Abram's life, as God is about to clarify His covenant with him. The use of "LORD" in all caps signifies the Hebrew name Yahweh, highlighting God's eternal and covenantal nature. This communication underscores the theme of divine promise and faithfulness that runs throughout the Bible. “This one will not be your heir, but one who comes from your own body will be your heir.” Persons / Places / Events 1. Abram (Abraham)The central figure in this passage, Abram is a man of faith who has been promised by God to be the father of a great nation. At this point, he is childless and concerned about his legacy. 2. The LORD (Yahweh) The covenant-making God who speaks directly to Abram, reassuring him of His promise and faithfulness. 3. Eliezer of Damascus Mentioned earlier in Genesis 15:2-3, he is Abram's servant and the presumed heir before God's promise of a biological heir. 4. Canaan The land where Abram resides, which God has promised to his descendants. 5. The Promise of an Heir A pivotal event where God reassures Abram that his heir will be his own biological son, setting the stage for the birth of Isaac. Teaching Points Faith in God's PromisesAbram's account teaches us to trust in God's promises, even when circumstances seem impossible. Our faith should rest in God's faithfulness, not in our understanding. God's Sovereignty and Timing God's timing is perfect, and His plans are sovereign. We must learn to wait on the Lord, trusting that He will fulfill His promises in His perfect time. The Importance of Patience Patience is a virtue that Abram had to learn. We, too, must cultivate patience as we wait for God's promises to unfold in our lives. God's Personal Relationship with Believers Just as God spoke directly to Abram, He desires a personal relationship with each of us. We should seek to hear His voice through prayer and Scripture. Legacy and God's Plan Our legacy is not just about physical descendants but about spiritual impact. We should focus on living a life that honors God and influences others for His kingdom. Bible Study Questions and Answers 1. What is the meaning of Genesis 15:4?2. How does Genesis 15:4 demonstrate God's faithfulness to His promises to Abram? 3. What does "your own son" reveal about God's plan for Abram's lineage? 4. How can we trust God's promises in our lives, like Abram did? 5. Connect Genesis 15:4 to Romans 4:18-21 regarding faith and God's promises. 6. How can Abram's example in Genesis 15:4 strengthen our faith in challenges? 7. How does Genesis 15:4 challenge the concept of divine promise and human doubt? 8. What does Genesis 15:4 reveal about God's covenant with Abraham? 9. How does Genesis 15:4 address the issue of faith versus sight? 10. What are the top 10 Lessons from Genesis 15? 11. What defines the path of the righteous? 12. How do we address the moral dilemma of Abram fathering a child with his wife's servant (Genesis 16:1–4)? 13. How can patience strengthen your faith in God's timing? 14. What is the Dispensation of Promise? What Does Genesis 15:4 Mean Then the word of the LORD came to Abram, saying• The initiative is entirely God’s. Abram does not conjure up a promise; he receives it. Compare Genesis 12:1 and Hebrews 1:1, where God likewise speaks first. • “The word of the LORD” underscores reliability. Psalm 33:4–6 reminds us that God’s word is upright and creative; when He speaks, reality changes. • Personal address—God calls Abram by name, highlighting relationship (John 10:3). • Assurance often arrives in moments of doubt. Just after Abram voices concern (Genesis 15:2-3), God answers. James 1:5 shows that God gives wisdom generously to those who ask. “This one will not be your heir” • God corrects Abram’s assumption that Eliezer, a household servant, would inherit (Genesis 15:2). • The negative wording removes every alternative plan: no servant, no adoption, no workaround. Isaiah 55:8–9 reminds us God’s ways surpass our solutions. • By closing the door on human substitutes, the Lord preserves the purity of the promise first given in Genesis 12:2-3. • This reversal sets a pattern of divine intervention over natural expectations—seen again when God rejects Ishmael as the covenant heir (Genesis 17:18-19) and later chooses Jacob over Esau (Romans 9:10-13). “but one who comes from your own body will be your heir.” • The promise is literal: a biological son. Genesis 17:16-19 clarifies the child will be Isaac, born to Sarah. • “Your own body” (lit. “loins”) indicates physical descent, affirming God’s power over Abram’s advanced age (Romans 4:19-21). • The statement safeguards the messianic line. Through Isaac would come Jacob, the nation Israel, and ultimately Christ (Galatians 3:16). • God binds Himself to this pledge with a covenant ceremony later in the chapter (Genesis 15:9-18), showing that fulfillment rests on His faithfulness, not Abram’s performance (2 Timothy 2:13). summary Genesis 15:4 captures a pivotal moment where God personally assures Abram that His promise will be fulfilled through a literal, physical son, not an adopted servant. The verse highlights God’s initiative, corrects human assumptions, and guarantees a miraculous heir who secures the unfolding plan of redemption leading to Christ. The certainty of God’s spoken word in Abram’s life strengthens our confidence that every promise He makes will likewise come to pass. Verse 4. - And, behold, the word of the Lord came unto him, saying, This shall not be thine heir; but he that shall come forth out of thine own bowels shall be thine heir.Parallel Commentaries ... Hebrew Thenוְהִנֵּ֨ה (wə·hin·nêh) Conjunctive waw | Interjection Strong's 2009: Lo! behold! the word דְבַר־ (ḏə·ḇar-) Noun - masculine singular construct Strong's 1697: A word, a matter, thing, a cause of the LORD יְהוָ֤ה (Yah·weh) Noun - proper - masculine singular Strong's 3068: LORD -- the proper name of the God of Israel came to him, אֵלָיו֙ (’ê·lāw) Preposition | third person masculine singular Strong's 413: Near, with, among, to saying, לֵאמֹ֔ר (lê·mōr) Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct Strong's 559: To utter, say “This זֶ֑ה (zeh) Pronoun - masculine singular Strong's 2088: This, that one will not לֹ֥א (lō) Adverb - Negative particle Strong's 3808: Not, no be your heir, יִֽירָשְׁךָ֖ (yî·rā·šə·ḵā) Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular | second person masculine singular Strong's 3423: To occupy, to seize, to rob, to inherit, to expel, to impoverish, to ruin but כִּי־ (kî-) Conjunction Strong's 3588: A relative conjunction one ה֖וּא (hū) Pronoun - third person masculine singular Strong's 1931: He, self, the same, this, that, as, are who אֲשֶׁ֣ר (’ă·šer) Pronoun - relative Strong's 834: Who, which, what, that, when, where, how, because, in order that comes from יֵצֵ֣א (yê·ṣê) Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular Strong's 3318: To go, bring, out, direct and proxim your own body מִמֵּעֶ֔יךָ (mim·mê·‘e·ḵā) Preposition-m | Noun - masculine plural construct | second person masculine singular Strong's 4578: The intestines, the abdomen, sympathy, a vest, the stomach, the uterus, the heart will be your heir.” יִֽירָשֶֽׁךָ׃ (yî·rā·še·ḵā) Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular | second person masculine singular Strong's 3423: To occupy, to seize, to rob, to inherit, to expel, to impoverish, to ruin Links Genesis 15:4 NIVGenesis 15:4 NLT Genesis 15:4 ESV Genesis 15:4 NASB Genesis 15:4 KJV Genesis 15:4 BibleApps.com Genesis 15:4 Biblia Paralela Genesis 15:4 Chinese Bible Genesis 15:4 French Bible Genesis 15:4 Catholic Bible OT Law: Genesis 15:4 Behold the word of Yahweh came (Gen. 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