The Meaning of Genesis 15:9 Explained

Genesis 15:9

KJV: 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.

YLT: And He saith unto him, 'Take for Me a heifer of three years, and a she-goat of three years, and a ram of three years, and a turtle-dove, and a young bird;'

Darby: And he said to him, Take me a heifer of three years old, and a she-goat of three years old, and a ram of three years old, and a turtle-dove, and a young pigeon.

ASV: And he said unto him, Take me a heifer three years old, and a she-goat three years old, and a ram three years old, and a turtle-dove, and a young pigeon.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

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. 

What does Genesis 15:9 Mean?

Context Summary

Genesis 15:1-21 - Abram's Vision Of The Future
Abram had good reason to fear the vengeance of the defeated kings; but the divine voice reassured him. For all of us there is need of a shield, because the world hates us; and for each God will be our compensation for every sacrifice we have made. Refuse to take even the shoe-latchets of Sodom, and God will be your exceeding great reward. The patriarch addressed God as Adonai Jehovah, which occurs only twice more in the Pentateuch. While he was pouring out the bitterness of his soul, the stars came out. Count these, said his Almighty Friend; and he believed. For the first time that mighty word occurs in Scripture, and the Apostle makes much of it. See Romans 4:9; Galatians 3:6. It was as good as done. Henceforth the patriarch reckoned on God's faithfulness. In olden times covenants were ratified by the parties passing between the pieces of the sacrifice. To give strong consolation, the Almighty confirmed His word with an oath. See Hebrews 6:18. But God must wait until the hour for interposition is fully come. [source]

Chapter Summary: Genesis 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

What do the individual words in Genesis 15:9 mean?

So He said to him bring Me a heifer three-year-old and a female goat three-year-old and a ram three-year-old and a turtledove and a young pigeon
וַיֹּ֣אמֶר אֵלָ֗יו קְחָ֥ה לִי֙ עֶגְלָ֣ה מְשֻׁלֶּ֔שֶׁת וְעֵ֥ז מְשֻׁלֶּ֖שֶׁת וְאַ֣יִל מְשֻׁלָּ֑שׁ וְתֹ֖ר וְגוֹזָֽל

וַיֹּ֣אמֶר  So  He  said 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: אָמַר 
Sense: to say, speak, utter.
אֵלָ֗יו  to  him 
Parse: Preposition, third person masculine singular
Root: אֶל  
Sense: to, toward, unto (of motion).
קְחָ֥ה  bring 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperative, masculine singular, third person feminine singular
Root: יָקַח 
Sense: to take, get, fetch, lay hold of, seize, receive, acquire, buy, bring, marry, take a wife, snatch, take away.
לִי֙  Me 
Parse: Preposition, first person common singular
עֶגְלָ֣ה  a  heifer 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular
Root: עֶגְלָה 
Sense: heifer.
מְשֻׁלֶּ֔שֶׁת  three-year-old 
Parse: Verb, Pual, Participle, feminine singular construct
Root: שָׁלַשׁ  
Sense: to do a third time, do three times, divide in three parts.
וְעֵ֥ז  and  a  female  goat 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Noun, feminine singular
Root: עֵז  
Sense: female goat, she-goat, goat, kid.
מְשֻׁלֶּ֖שֶׁת  three-year-old 
Parse: Verb, Pual, Participle, feminine singular construct
Root: שָׁלַשׁ  
Sense: to do a third time, do three times, divide in three parts.
וְאַ֣יִל  and  a  ram 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Noun, masculine singular
Root: אַיִל 
Sense: ram.
מְשֻׁלָּ֑שׁ  three-year-old 
Parse: Verb, Pual, Participle, masculine singular
Root: שָׁלַשׁ  
Sense: to do a third time, do three times, divide in three parts.
וְתֹ֖ר  and  a  turtledove 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Noun, feminine singular
Root: תֹּור  
Sense: dove, turtledove.
וְגוֹזָֽל  and  a  young  pigeon 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Noun, masculine singular
Root: גֹּוזָל  
Sense: a nestling, young (of birds).