Devine Scripture

Genesis 12:6

What does Genesis 12:6 mean?

A plain-English look at Genesis 12:6 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.

What Genesis 12:6 means

Abram continued his journey into the land of Canaan, arriving at the significant location of Shechem, specifically near the prominent "oak of Moreh." The mention that "the Canaanite was then in the land" is crucial, highlighting that the land God promised Abram was already inhabited by others. This detail immediately introduces a potential challenge and emphasizes God's sovereign power in fulfilling His promise despite the existing inhabitants, underscoring that the land's possession would be by divine intervention.

Parallel translations

WEB

World English Bible · 2000

And Abram passed through the land unto the place of Shechem, unto the oak of Moreh. And the Canaanite was then in the land.

KJV

King James Version · 1611

And Abram passed through the land unto the place of Sichem, unto the plain of Moreh. And the Canaanite was then in the land.

ASV

American Standard Version · 1901

And Abram passed through the land unto the place of Shechem, unto the oak of Moreh. And the Canaanite was then in the land.

BBE

Bible in Basic English · 1949

And Abram went through the land till he came to Shechem, to the holy tree of Moreh. At that time, the Canaanites were still living in the land.

YLT

Young's Literal Translation · 1862

And Abram passeth over into the land, unto the place Shechem, unto the oak of Moreh; and the Canaanite <FI>is<Fi> then in the land.

DRA

Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752

Abram passed through the country unto the place of Sichem, as far as the noble vale: now the Chanaanite was at that time in the land.

DBY

Darby Bible · 1890

And Abram passed through the land to the place of Shechem, to the oak of Moreh. And the Canaanite was then in the land.

Context

This verse describes Abram's initial entry and movement within the promised land, building directly upon his arrival in Canaan mentioned in verse 5. The specific geographical details, particularly the presence of the Canaanites, establish the immediate setting for God's next interaction with Abram. This context is vital because it immediately introduces a tension between God's promise of the land and the reality of its current inhabitants, making God's subsequent reaffirmation of the land promise even more significant.

v.5And Abram took Sarai his wife, and Lot his brother’s son, and all their substance that they had gathered, and the souls that they had gotten in Haran; and they went forth to go into the land of Canaan; and into the land of Canaan they came.

v.6This passage

v.7And Jehovah appeared unto Abram, and said, Unto thy seed will I give this land: and there builded he an altar unto Jehovah, who appeared unto him.

Cross references

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

  • Acts 7:16

    and they were carried over unto Shechem, and laid in the tomb that Abraham bought for a price in silver of the sons of Hamor in Shechem.

  • Joshua 24:32

    And the bones of Joseph, which the children of Israel brought up out of Egypt, buried they in Shechem, in the parcel of ground which Jacob bought of the sons of Hamor the father of Shechem for a hundred pieces of money: and they became the inheritance of the children of Joseph.

  • John 4:5

    So he cometh to a city of Samaria, called Sychar, near to the parcel of ground that Jacob gave to his son Joseph:

  • Genesis 10:15

    And Canaan begat Sidon his first-born, and Heth,

  • Joshua 20:7

    And they set apart Kedesh in Galilee in the hill-country of Naphtali, and Shechem in the hill-country of Ephraim, and Kiriath-arba (the same is Hebron) in the hill-country of Judah.

  • Genesis 33:18

    And Jacob came in peace to the city of Shechem, which is in the land of Canaan, when he came from Paddan-aram; and encamped before the city.

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