Genesis 9:3

9:3 You may eat any moving thing that lives. As I gave you the green plants, I now give you everything.

Genesis 15:8

15:8 But Abram said, “O sovereign Lord, by what can I know that I am to possess it?”

Genesis 17:2

17:2 Then I will confirm my covenant between me and you, and I will give you a multitude of descendants.”

Genesis 17:6

17:6 I will make you 10  extremely 11  fruitful. I will make nations of you, and kings will descend from you. 12 

Genesis 18:27

18:27 Then Abraham asked, “Since I have undertaken to speak to the Lord 13  (although I am but dust and ashes), 14 

Genesis 31:40

31:40 I was consumed by scorching heat 15  during the day and by piercing cold 16  at night, and I went without sleep. 17 

Genesis 37:30

37:30 returned to his brothers, and said, “The boy isn’t there! And I, where can I go?”

Genesis 42:18

42:18 On the third day Joseph said to them, “Do as I say 18  and you will live, 19  for I fear God. 20 

Genesis 44:28

44:28 The first disappeared 21  and I said, “He has surely been torn to pieces.” I have not seen him since.

Genesis 45:28

45:28 Then Israel said, “Enough! My son Joseph is still alive! I will go and see him before I die.”


tn Heb “every moving thing that lives for you will be for food.”

tn The words “I gave you” are not in the Hebrew text, but are supplied in the translation for stylistic reasons.

tn The perfect verb form describes the action that accompanies the declaration.

tn Here the vav carries adversative force and is translated “but.”

tn Heb “he”; the referent (Abram) has been specified in the translation for clarity.

tn See note on the phrase “sovereign Lord” in 15:2.

tn Or “how.”

tn Following the imperative, the cohortative indicates consequence. If Abram is blameless, then the Lord will ratify the covenant. Earlier the Lord ratified part of his promise to Abram (see Gen 15:18-21), guaranteeing him that his descendants would live in the land. But the expanded form of the promise, which includes numerous descendants and eternal possession of the land, remains to be ratified. This expanded form of the promise is in view here (see vv. 2b, 4-8). See the note at Gen 15:18 and R. B. Chisholm, “Evidence from Genesis,” A Case for Premillennialism, 35-54.

tn Heb “I will multiply you exceedingly, exceedingly.” The repetition is emphatic.

10 tn This verb starts a series of perfect verbal forms with vav (ו) consecutive to express God’s intentions.

11 tn Heb “exceedingly, exceedingly.” The repetition is emphatic.

12 tn Heb “and I will make you into nations, and kings will come out from you.”

13 tn The Hebrew term translated “Lord” here and in vv. 30, 31, 32 is אֲדֹנָי (’adonay).

14 tn The disjunctive clause is a concessive clause here, drawing out the humility as a contrast to the Lord.

15 tn Or “by drought.”

16 tn Heb “frost, ice,” though when contrasted with the חֹרֶב (khorev, “drought, parching heat”) of the day, “piercing cold” is more appropriate as a contrast.

17 tn Heb “and my sleep fled from my eyes.”

18 tn Heb “Do this.”

19 tn After the preceding imperative, the imperative with vav (ו) can, as here, indicate logical sequence.

20 sn For I fear God. Joseph brings God into the picture to awaken his brothers’ consciences. The godly person cares about the welfare of people, whether they live or die. So he will send grain back, but keep one of them in Egypt. This action contrasts with their crime of selling their brother into slavery.

21 tn Heb “went forth from me.”