Genesis 15:8 But Abram said, "Sovereign LORD, how can I know that I will gain possession of it?"

◄ Genesis 15:8 ►

Parallel Verses

New International Version
But Abram said, "Sovereign LORD, how can I know that I will gain possession of it?"

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

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

King James Bible
And he said, Lord GOD, whereby shall I know that I shall inherit it?

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

International Standard Version
But he replied, "Lord GOD, how will I know that I will 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?

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

Cross References

Luke 1:18
And Zacharias said to the angel, Whereby shall I know this? for I am an old man, and my wife well stricken in years.

Genesis 15:9
And 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.

Genesis 28:4
And give you the blessing of Abraham, to you, and to your seed with you; that you may inherit the land wherein you are a stranger, which God gave to Abraham.

Genesis 50:24
And Joseph said to his brothers, I die: and God will surely visit you, and bring you out of this land to the land which he swore to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob.

Judges 6:36
And Gideon said to God, If you will save Israel by my hand, as you have said,

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Commentaries

Matthew Henry's 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.

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown

4. This shall not be thine heir—To the first part of his address no reply was given; but having renewed it in a spirit of more becoming submission, "whereby shall I know that I shall inherit it" [Ge 15:8], he was delighted by a most explicit promise of Canaan, which was immediately confirmed by a remarkable ceremony.