Bible Strands
Genesis 15:3
Abram continued, “Behold, You have given me no offspring, so a servant in my household will be my heir.”
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — Abram speaks to the LORD in Genesis 15 immediately after God’s covenant promise, noting his current childlessness and the practical succession of a household servant.
The words — The Hebrew נָתַ֖תָּה זָ֑רַע (na.Ta.tah Za.ra') literally means “you have given offspring,” while הֵ֣ן (hen) operates as a pointed “behold” or “here.”
The thread — The succession concern mirrors Genesis 14:14’s inventory of men born in the household and directly sets up Genesis 15:4, where God replaces the servant heir with a biological son.
Why it lands — The passage requires the reader to evaluate human contingency against divine declaration, demanding a direct reckoning with God’s timeline rather than acceptance of available human alternatives.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Hebrew words
King James Version
And Abram said, Behold, to me thou hast given no seed: and, lo, one born in my house is mine heir.
Cross-references
- Genesis 14:14 And when Abram heard that his relative had been captured, he mobilized the 318 trained men born in his household, and they set out in pursuit as far as Dan.
- Proverbs 29:21 A servant pampered from his youth will bring grief in the end.
- Ecclesiastes 2:7 I acquired menservants and maidservants, and servants were born in my house. I also owned more herds and flocks than anyone in Jerusalem before me,
- Jeremiah 12:1 Righteous are You, O LORD, when I plead before You. Yet about Your judgments I wish to contend with You: Why does the way of the wicked prosper? Why do all the faithless live at ease?
- Hebrews 10:35 So do not throw away your confidence; it holds a great reward.
- Genesis 12:2 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.
- Genesis 13:16 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.
- Proverbs 13:12 Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but desire fulfilled is a tree of life.
- Proverbs 30:23 an unloved woman who marries, and a maidservant who supplants her mistress.