Devine Scripture

Genesis 12:2

What does Genesis 12:2 mean?

A plain-English look at Genesis 12:2 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.

What Genesis 12:2 means

God outlines the first three of seven magnificent promises to Abram. He would become the progenitor of a "great nation," a clear foundation for Israel. God personalizes the blessing, promising to specifically "bless thee" and to "make thy name great," ensuring Abram's enduring legacy. The command "and be thou a blessing" shifts the focus from receiving to participating in God's redemptive work, indicating that Abram's blessed status was not for his own sake alone but for a larger divine purpose. These promises lay the groundwork for God's covenant with Israel.

Parallel translations

WEB

World English Bible · 2000

and I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and be thou a blessing:

KJV

King James Version · 1611

And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing:

ASV

American Standard Version · 1901

and I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and be thou a blessing:

BBE

Bible in Basic English · 1949

And I will make of you a great nation, blessing you and making your name great; and you will be a blessing:

YLT

Young's Literal Translation · 1862

And I make thee become a great nation, and bless thee, and make thy name great; and be thou a blessing.

DRA

Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752

And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and magnify thy name, and thou shalt be blessed.

DBY

Darby Bible · 1890

And I will make of thee a great nation, and bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing.

Context

This verse details the initial and immediate blessings promised to Abram directly consequent to his obedience from verse 1. Following the call to leave home, these specific promises provide the motivation and assurance for Abram's difficult journey. They serve as the divine guarantee for the sacrifices Abram is called to make, setting the stage for the universal blessing described in the following verse, which clarifies the scope of God's redemptive plan.

v.1Now Jehovah said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father’s house, unto the land that I will show thee:

v.2This passage

v.3and I will bless them that bless thee, and him that curseth thee will I curse: and in thee shall all the families of the earth be blessed.

Cross references

Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.

  • 1 Kings 1:47

    And moreover the king’s servants came to bless our lord king David, saying, Thy God make the name of Solomon better than thy name, and make his throne greater than thy throne: and the king bowed himself upon the bed.

  • Deuteronomy 26:5

    And thou shalt answer and say before Jehovah thy God, A Syrian ready to perish was my father; and he went down into Egypt, and sojourned there, few in number; and he became there a nation, great, mighty, and populous.

  • 1 Kings 3:8

    And thy servant is in the midst of thy people which thou hast chosen, a great people, that cannot be numbered nor counted for multitude.

  • Genesis 35:11

    And God said unto him, I am God Almighty: be fruitful and multiply; a nation and a company of nations shall be of thee, and kings shall come out of thy loins;

  • Galatians 3:14

    that upon the Gentiles might come the blessing of Abraham in Christ Jesus; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.

  • Micah 7:20

    Thou wilt perform the truth to Jacob, and the lovingkindness to Abraham, which thou hast sworn unto our fathers from the days of old.

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