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Time after Pentecost · Proper 14 · Year C

Genesis 15:1-6

God's Covenant Promise to Abram

August 13, 2028

Abraham's Vision: the smoking furnace and the flaming torch, Unknown French/Netherlandish illuminator
Abraham's Vision: the smoking furnace and the flaming torch, Unknown French/Netherlandish illuminator, 14th centuryMuseum Meermanno | Huis van het Boek, The Hague, MMW 10 B 23, fol. 22r (CC0)
A manuscript miniature of the covenant at nightfall: the split carcasses laid out, and the furnace and torch passing between them while Abraham sleeps.It is the reading, including the detail that God walks the oath alone and Abraham is asleep for it.Museum Meermanno | Huis van het Boek, The Hague, MMW 10 B 23, fol. 22r (CC0)The oldest book museum in the world, built on a Dutch nobleman's library and devoted to the book as an object.Museum Meermanno | Huis van het Boek, The Hague, MMW 10 B 23, fol. 22r (CC0)
LSB Three-Year Lectionary
GospelLuke 12:22-34Lk 12:22-34
EpistleHeb. 11:1-16Heb 11:1-16
Old TestamentGen. 15:1-6Gn 15:1-6
PsalterPs. 33:12-22Ps 33:12-22

Overview & Insights

"And he believed the LORD, and he counted it to him as righteousness." (Genesis 15:6)

The LORD comes to Abram in a vision and promises to be his shield and great reward. When Abram protests that he is childless, God brings him outside to count the stars as a sign of his offspring, and Abram believes the promise.

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Commentary

Genesis 15 CommentaryGn 15 Commentary Enduring Word · David Guzik

David Guzik walks through the chapter, showing how God moves Abram from counting the stars to trusting the Star-Maker.

Genesis 15 CommentaryGn 15 Commentary Precept Austin

A verse-by-verse breakdown with cross-references showing how Paul and Peter later build on this covenant scene.

Genesis 15:1 CommentariesGn 15:1 Commentaries BibleHub

Aggregates classic commentaries such as Cambridge, Pulpit and Ellicott side by side on the covenant-cutting scene.

Genesis 15 - Barnes' NotesGn 15 - Barnes' Notes StudyLight

Barnes' Notes traces the reasoning behind God's promise being 'counted' to Abram as righteousness.

Genesis 15:1-6 CommentaryGn 15:1-6 Commentary Center for Excellence in Preaching

Scott Hoezee on Abram's unusually candid, doubt-laced conversation with God.

Commentary on Genesis 15:1-6Commentary on Gn 15:1-6 Working Preacher

Connects Abram's promised reward to the battle he had just walked away from empty-handed.

Background & Word Study

Genesis 15:6 InterlinearGn 15:6 Interlinear BibleHub

Shows the Hebrew text word by word, including the accounting term behind 'reckoned' in verse 6.

Genesis 15:1-6 (Hebrew-English)Gn 15:1-6 (Hebrew-English) Sefaria

A Hebrew-English parallel text, useful for hearing the passage's original idiom.

The Church Fathers

Genesis 15 - CatenaGn 15 - Catena Catena

Gathers patristic comment, including Chrysostom and Ambrose, verse by verse on Abram's faith.

Art & Music

Art, music and hymns for Genesis 15:1-6Art, music and hymns for Gn 15:1-6 Vanderbilt

The Vanderbilt Divinity Library index of visual art, hymns and music chosen for this reading.

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