Discovery BoxGenesis 22:16-17 
Context22:16 and said, “‘I solemnly swear by my own name,’ 1 decrees the Lord, 2 ‘that because you have done this and have not withheld your son, your only son, 22:17 I will indeed bless you, 3 and I will greatly multiply 4 your descendants 5 so that they will be as countless as the stars in the sky or the grains of sand on the seashore. Your descendants will take possession 6 of the strongholds 7 of their enemies.
1 tn Heb “By myself I swear.”
2 tn Heb “the oracle of the
3 tn The use of the infinitive absolute before the finite verbal form (either an imperfect or cohortative) emphasizes the certainty of the blessing.
4 tn Here too the infinitive absolute is used for emphasis before the following finite verb (either an imperfect or cohortative).
sn I will greatly multiply. The
5 tn The Hebrew term זֶרַע (zera’) occurring here and in v. 18 may mean “seed” (for planting), “offspring” (occasionally of animals, but usually of people), or “descendants” depending on the context.
6 tn Or “inherit.”
7 tn Heb “gate,” which here stands for a walled city. To break through the gate complex would be to conquer the city, for the gate complex was the main area of defense (hence the translation “stronghold”).
