Bible Strands
Genesis 15:9
And the LORD said to him, “Bring Me a heifer, a goat, and a ram, each three years old, along with a turtledove and a young pigeon.”
Berean Standard Bible
Follow its threads on the canvas →
Study note
Setting — The LORD addresses Abram in direct response to his question about possessing the promised land. This command initiates a covenant ritual to verify the divine promise.
The words — קְחָ֥/ה (ke.Cha/h) issues a direct imperative for Abram to "bring" specific livestock. מְשֻׁלֶּ֔שֶׁת (me.shu.Le.shet) specifies that the heifer, goat, and ram must each be "three years old."
The thread — The requirement for turtledoves and young pigeons reappears in Leviticus 14:22 and Leviticus 14:30 as sacrificial provisions, and is echoed in Luke 2:24 for purification offerings.
Why it lands — The text commands Abram to gather specific animals and birds for a ritual. It places the verification of the promise on Abram's preparatory action rather than a visible divine manifestation.
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 he said unto 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.
Cross-references
- Leviticus 14:22 and two turtledoves or two young pigeons, whichever he can afford, one to be a sin offering and the other a burnt offering.
- Leviticus 14:30 Then he must sacrifice the turtledoves or young pigeons, whichever he can afford,
- Luke 2:24 and to offer the sacrifice specified in the Law of the Lord: “A pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons.”
- Leviticus 1:14 If, instead, one’s offering to the LORD is a burnt offering of birds, he is to present a turtledove or a young pigeon.
- Leviticus 3:1 “If one’s offering is a peace offering and he offers an animal from the herd, whether male or female, he must present it without blemish before the LORD.
- Leviticus 3:6 If, however, one’s peace offering to the LORD is from the flock, he must present a male or female without blemish.
- Leviticus 9:2 He said to Aaron, “Take for yourself a young bull for a sin offering and a ram for a burnt offering, both without blemish, and present them before the LORD.
- Genesis 22:13 Then Abraham looked up and saw behind him a ram in a thicket, caught by its horns. So he went and took the ram and offered it as a burnt offering in place of his son.
- Leviticus 1:3 If his offering is a burnt offering from the herd, he is to present an unblemished male. He must bring it to the entrance to the Tent of Meeting for its acceptance before the LORD.
- Leviticus 1:10 If, however, one’s offering is a burnt offering from the flock—from the sheep or goats—he is to present an unblemished male.