Devine Scripture

Genesis 15:12

What does Genesis 15:12 mean?

A plain-English look at Genesis 15:12 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.

What Genesis 15:12 means

As the sun began to set, Abram falls into a deep sleep, clearly divinely induced. Concurrent with this deep sleep, he experiences a "horror of great darkness." This profound and unsettling darkness, coupled with the terror, is a significant part of God's preparation for revealing future, difficult truths to Abram. It symbolizes the trials and afflictions that his descendants would face, foreshadowing the oppressive darkness of their Egyptian bondage and the solemn weight of the covenant being affirmed.

Parallel translations

WEB

World English Bible · 2000

And when the sun was going down, a deep sleep fell upon Abram; and, lo, a horror of great darkness fell upon him.

KJV

King James Version · 1611

And when the sun was going down, a deep sleep fell upon Abram; and, lo, an horror of great darkness fell upon him.

ASV

American Standard Version · 1901

And when the sun was going down, a deep sleep fell upon Abram; and, lo, a horror of great darkness fell upon him.

BBE

Bible in Basic English · 1949

Now when the sun was going down, a deep sleep came on Abram, and a dark cloud of fear.

YLT

Young's Literal Translation · 1862

And the sun is about to go in, and deep sleep hath fallen upon Abram, and lo, a terror of great darkness is falling upon him;

DRA

Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752

And when the sun was setting, a deep sleep fell upon Abram, and a great and darksome horror seized upon him.

DBY

Darby Bible · 1890

And as the sun was just going down, a deep sleep fell upon Abram; and behold, a horror, a great darkness, fell upon him.

Context

This verse marks a dramatic shift, transitioning from Abram's active role in preparing the sacrifice to a passive reception of divine revelation. The deep sleep and the "horror of great darkness" directly precede God's detailed prophecies about Abram's descendants and the promised land. This intense experience prepares Abram for the solemn and sobering truths that God is about to impart, grounding the future promises in a profound, even unsettling, encounter.

v.11And the birds of prey came down upon the carcasses, and Abram drove them away.

v.12This passage

v.13And he said unto Abram, Know of a surety that thy seed shall be sojourners in a land that is not theirs, and shall serve them; and they shall afflict them four hundred years;

Cross references

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

  • Genesis 2:21

    And Jehovah God caused a deep sleep to fall upon the man, and he slept; and he took one of his ribs, and closed up the flesh instead thereof:

  • Job 33:15

    In a dream, in a vision of the night, When deep sleep falleth upon men, In slumberings upon the bed;

  • 1 Samuel 26:12

    So David took the spear and the cruse of water from Saul’s head; and they gat them away: and no man saw it, nor knew it, neither did any awake; for they were all asleep, because a deep sleep from Jehovah was fallen upon them.

  • Acts 9:8

    And Saul arose from the earth; and when his eyes were opened, he saw nothing; and they led him by the hand, and brought him into Damascus.

  • Psalms 4:3

    But know that Jehovah hath set apart for himself him that is godly: Jehovah will hear when I call unto him.

  • Daniel 10:8

    So I was left alone, and saw this great vision, and there remained no strength in me; for my comeliness was turned in me into corruption, and I retained no strength.

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