The Meaning of Genesis 13:15 Explained

Genesis 13:15

KJV: For all the land which thou seest, to thee will I give it, and to thy seed for ever.

YLT: for the whole of the land which thou are seeing, to thee I give it, and to thy seed -- to the age.

Darby: for all the land that thou seest will I give to thee, and to thy seed for ever.

ASV: for all the land which thou seest, to thee will I give it, and to thy seed for ever.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

For all the land  which thou seest,  to thee will I give it,  and to thy seed  for  ever. 

What does Genesis 13:15 Mean?

Context Summary

Genesis 13:14-18 - Abram At Hebron Lot Taken Captive
Lot lifted up his eyes for himself, but when the last of Lot's followers had streamed out of the camp, God bade Abram lift up his eyes, not to choose, but to behold what God had chosen for him. He must first estimate his possessions, and then enjoy them. Let us count up our treasures in Christ, and use them. Lot grasped at and lost his all. Abram left and inherited all. Notice how prodigal God's provision is: "All the land"¦ for ever"¦ as the dust"¦ the length and breadth." It was a far cry from the valley of the Euphrates to Sodom, and the little confederate kings dared to rebel against Chedorlaomer, who swept over their lands like a sirocco, and marched up the valley of the Jordan, laden with booty, and carrying Lot. You cannot have the sweets of the world and miss its bitters. The path of separation is the only way of safety and peace! [source]

Chapter Summary: Genesis 13

1  Abram and Lot return with great riches out of Egypt
6  Strife arises between Abram's herdsmen and those of Lot
8  Abram allows Lot to choose his part of the country,
10  and Lot goes toward Sodom
14  God renews his promise to Abram
18  He moves to Hebron, and there builds an altar

What do the individual words in Genesis 13:15 mean?

For - all the land which you see to you I give and your descendants even to ever
כִּ֧י אֶת־ כָּל־ הָאָ֛רֶץ אֲשֶׁר־ אַתָּ֥ה רֹאֶ֖ה לְךָ֣ אֶתְּנֶ֑נָּה וּֽלְזַרְעֲךָ֖ עַד־ עוֹלָֽם

אֶת־  - 
Parse: Direct object marker
Root: אֹות 
Sense: sign of the definite direct object, not translated in English but generally preceding and indicating the accusative.
הָאָ֛רֶץ  the  land 
Parse: Article, Noun, feminine singular
Root: אֶרֶץ  
Sense: land, earth.
רֹאֶ֖ה  see 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Participle, masculine singular
Root: רָאָה 
Sense: to see, look at, inspect, perceive, consider.
לְךָ֣  to  you 
Parse: Preposition, second person masculine singular
אֶתְּנֶ֑נָּה  I  give 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, first person common singular, third person feminine singular
Root: יָתַן 
Sense: to give, put, set.
וּֽלְזַרְעֲךָ֖  and  your  descendants 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Preposition-l, Noun, masculine singular construct, second person masculine singular
Root: זֶרַע  
Sense: seed, sowing, offspring.
עַד־  even  to 
Parse: Preposition
Root: עַד  
Sense: as far as, even to, until, up to, while, as far as.
עוֹלָֽם  ever 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: עֹולָם  
Sense: long duration, antiquity, futurity, for ever, ever, everlasting, evermore, perpetual, old, ancient, world.