Keraia
Genesis 15

Genesis 15:10

God Confirms His Promise · Genesis 15:8–21
Read Genesis 15

Translations

Modern
So Abram brought all these to Him, split each of them down the middle, and laid the halves opposite each other. The birds, however, he did not cut in half.
Traditional
And he took unto him all these, and divided them in the midst, and laid each piece one against another: but the birds divided he not.
Literal
And he brought to Him all these, and he cut them in two in the middle and placed each piece opposite the other; and the bird he did not cut in two.
Latin
Qui tollens universa hæc, divisit ea per medium, et utrasque partes contra se altrinsecus posuit; aves autem non divisit.

Original

Hebrew
English
So Abram brought all these to Him, split each of them down the middle, and laid the halves opposite each other. The birds, however, he did not cut in half.

Notes

Genesis 15:10

Obeying God's instructions, Abram collected three herd animals for the ceremony and cut them in half. Cutting the animals symbolized the oath. It showed that the person making the covenant risked his own life if he did not keep his promise (Jeremiah 34:18).

Genesis 15:7–21

In a special ceremony, God made a covenant with Abram and promised to do what he had said.

Genesis 15:1–21

God made a covenant (a special agreement) with Abram. In this covenant, God confirmed the promises he had made earlier when he summoned Abram to leave his country (12:1–3). Abram's descendants would experience a long period of slavery before God made these promises come true.

Parallels

Numbers 34:1–15 Romans 4:13–25

Glossary

Bible, Manuscripts and Text of the (New Testament) Circumcision Covenant Curse, Cursed Ebla Tablets Genesis, Book of Heir History of Israel Land Mamre (Place) Patriarchs, Period of the Pigeon Prayer Promise Torah

Topics

Abraham: Canaan Given To Condescension of God: Enters Into Covenant with Abraham Covenant of Men with Men by offering a Sacrifice Covenants: Made by Passing Between the Pieces of the Divided Sacrifices Sacrifices: The Covenants of God Confirmed By Sheep: Offered in Sacrifice from the Earliest Age Sign: Asked for By, and Given to Abraham Symbols and Similitudes: Sacrificial Animals The Covenant: Made With: Abraham Vision of Abraham: Concerning his Descendants