The Meaning of Genesis 22:18 Explained

Genesis 22:18

KJV: And in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed; because thou hast obeyed my voice.

YLT: and blessed themselves in thy seed have all nations of the earth, because that thou hast hearkened to My voice.'

Darby: and in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth bless themselves, because thou hast hearkened to my voice.

ASV: And in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed. Because thou hast obeyed my voice.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

And in thy seed  shall all the nations  of the earth  be blessed;  because  thou hast obeyed  my voice. 

What does Genesis 22:18 Mean?

Context Summary

Genesis 22:14-24 - The Promise Sealed With An Oath
It was only at the last moment that the ram was shown and substituted. It is when we get to the mount of sacrifice that God's deliverance is seen. It was when Pharaoh had almost overtaken Israel that their way was cleft through the Red Sea. It was in the early dawn that Jesus came walking on the water. The angel delivered Peter just before the time of his execution. God is never a moment too soon, or too late. What an outburst of blessing! It was a perfect cloudburst! When we have obeyed God to the uttermost and glorified Him in the fires, there is no limit to the fruit-fullness or increase with which we shall become enriched. God puts His key into the hands of the faith that absolutely trusts Him, saying, "Take what you will." Let us not forget that, as the children of Abraham by faith, we are His heirs, and may reverently lay claim to a share in these glorious promises. See Galatians 3:9. [source]

Chapter Summary: Genesis 22

1  Abraham is tested with the command to offer Isaac
3  He gives proof of his faith and obedience
11  The angel prevents him
13  Isaac is exchanged for a ram
14  The place is called Jehovah-jireh
15  Abraham is again blessed
20  The generations of Nahor unto Rebekah

What do the individual words in Genesis 22:18 mean?

And shall be blessed in your seed all the nations of the earth because that you have obeyed My voice
וְהִתְבָּרֲכ֣וּ בְזַרְעֲךָ֔ כֹּ֖ל גּוֹיֵ֣י הָאָ֑רֶץ עֵ֕קֶב אֲשֶׁ֥ר שָׁמַ֖עְתָּ בְּקֹלִֽי

וְהִתְבָּרֲכ֣וּ  And  shall  be  blessed 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Hitpael, Conjunctive perfect, third person common plural
Root: בָּרַךְ 
Sense: to bless, kneel.
בְזַרְעֲךָ֔  in  your  seed 
Parse: Preposition-b, Noun, masculine singular construct, second person masculine singular
Root: זֶרַע  
Sense: seed, sowing, offspring.
גּוֹיֵ֣י  the  nations 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural construct
Root: גֹּוי 
Sense: nation, people.
הָאָ֑רֶץ  of  the  earth 
Parse: Article, Noun, feminine singular
Root: אֶרֶץ  
Sense: land, earth.
עֵ֕קֶב  because 
Parse: Conjunction
Root: עֵקֶב  
Sense: consequence.
אֲשֶׁ֥ר  that 
Parse: Pronoun, relative
Root: אֲשֶׁר 
Sense: (relative part.).
שָׁמַ֖עְתָּ  you  have  obeyed 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, second person masculine singular
Root: שָׁמַע 
Sense: to hear, listen to, obey.
בְּקֹלִֽי  My  voice 
Parse: Preposition-b, Noun, masculine singular construct, first person common singular
Root: קֹול 
Sense: voice, sound, noise.