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Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible

Genesis 15:9

‘And he said to him, “Take on my behalf a three year old heiffer, and a three year old she goat, and a three year old ram, and a turtledove and a young pigeon”.'

As a prophet Abram is commanded to act on God's behalf. As he acts it is Yahweh Who, as it were, takes the animals and birds.

“Three years old”, three, the number of completeness, indicates one which is complete and full. It is the equivalent of ‘without spot and blemish'. What follows takes some considerable period of time, lasting until sundown. Abram has asked, and now he must act deliberately on Yahweh's behalf, not knowing fully what He does.

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See also Genesis 15:9 in other biblical comments:

  • Adam Clarke Bible Commentary

    Verse Genesis 15:9. TAKE ME A HEIFER] עגלה _eglah_, a _she-calf_; a _she-goat_, עז ez, a goat, male or female, but distinguished here by the _feminine adjective_; משלשת meshullesheth, a _three-yearli...

  • Albert Barnes' Bible Commentary

    - The Faith of Abram 1. דבר _dābār_, “a word, a thing;” the word being the sign of the thing. 2. אדני _'ǎdonāy_, “Adonai, the Lord;” related: “bring down, lay down.” This is the name usually read...

  • Annotated Bible by A.C. Gaebelein

    CHAPTER 15 THE FOURTH COMMUNICATION AND THE COVENANT AND THE VISION _ 1. The fourth communication (Genesis 15:1)_ 2. Abram's answer (Genesis 15:2) 3. The promised seed (Genesis 15:4) 4. Abram coun...

  • Arthur Peake's Commentary on the Bible

    GENESIS 12:1 TO GENESIS 25:18. THE STORY OF ABRAHAM. In this section the three main sources, J. E, P are present. Gunkel has given strong reasons for holding that J is here made up of two main sources...

  • Arthur Peake's Commentary on the Bible

    THE MAKING OF THE COVENANT. In this scene Abraham is told that he is to inherit Canaan. He asks for confirmation of the promise. Yahweh bids him select three animals and two birds, such as were eligib...

  • B. W. Johnson's Bible Commentary

    TAKE ME. HEIFER OF THREE YEARS OLD. As Noah in the covenant entered into between him and the Lord, stood forth as the representative of the human race; as Abraham, in the "covenant of Christ," which i...

  • Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes

    TAKE ME. take for me: i.e. an offering for me, heifer. See App-15....

  • Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

    _Take me an heifer_, &c. The sign to Abram is the sign of the covenant, of which the ceremonial is here described. This ceremonial is evidently of great antiquity. The writer, perhaps, intends to refe...

  • Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

    The Ratification of the Promise by a Solemn Covenant The occasion of the covenant is distinct from that described in Genesis 15:1; but the connexion of thought is obvious. It is the man of faith who...

  • Coke's Commentary on the Holy Bible

    HE SAID UNTO HIM, TAKE ME AN HEIFER, &C.— i.e.. says Mede, offer unto me the following creatures; the only ones appointed to be offered under the Mosaic law; which strengthens their opinion (and I con...

  • College Press Bible Study Textbook Series

    PART TWENTY-EIGHT THE STORY OF ABRAHAM: DIVINE ELABORATION OF THE PROMISE AND THE COVENANT (Ch. 15) _1. The Biblical Account (ch. 15_) _1. After these things the word of Jehovah came unto Abram in a...

  • Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible

    _AND HE SAID UNTO HIM, TAKE ME AN HEIFER OF THREE YEARS OLD, AND A SHE GOAT OF THREE YEARS OLD, AND A RAM OF THREE YEARS OLD, AND A TURTLEDOVE, AND A YOUNG PIGEON._ And he said unto him, take me an h...

  • Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible

    GOD PROMISES AN HEIR TO ABRAHAM AND THE LAND OF CANAAN FOR HIS DESCENDANTS. THE PROMISE IS RATIFIED BY A COVENANT The passage is from the Primitive source. A somewhat similar account from the Priestl...

  • Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible

    God condescends to confirm the promise of the possession of the land by a visible sign. Abraham is directed to make the usual preparations observed in old times when two parties were about to make an...

  • EasyEnglish Bible Commentaries

    GOD’S ANCIENT PEOPLE GENESIS _ALUN OWEN_ CHAPTER 15 GOD MAKES PROMISES TO ABRAM V1 After these things the *Lord appeared to Abram. The *Lord said, ‘Do not be afraid, Abram. I am protecting you....

  • EasyEnglish Bible Commentaries

    A dove is a kind of bird....

  • Ellicott's Commentary On The Whole Bible

    TAKE ME AN HEIFER... — This form of making a covenant was probably that usual in Babylonia, and thus Abram received the assurance of his inheritance by means of a ceremonial with which he was familiar...

  • ETCBC data on Hebrew bible

    וַ יֹּ֣אמֶר אֵלָ֗יו קְחָ֥ה לִי֙ עֶגְלָ֣ה מְשׁ

  • Expositor's Bible Commentary (Nicoll)

    COVENANT WITH ABRAM Genesis 15:1 OF the nine Divine manifestations made during Abram's life this is the fifth. At Ur, at Kharran, at the oak of Moreh, at the encampment between Bethel and Ai, and now...

  • Frederick Brotherton Meyer's Commentary

    ABRAM'S VISION OF THE FUTURE Genesis 15:1 Abram had good reason to fear the vengeance of the defeated kings; but the divine voice reassured him. For all of us there is need of a shield, because the w...

  • G. Campbell Morgan's Exposition on the Whole Bible

    This is the account of the fourth direct appearance of Jehovah to Abram and evidently it had direct connection with what had immediately preceded. Abram had passed through two conflicts, the first wit...

  • Gary Hampton Commentaries

    THE PROMISED BLESSINGS The words "After these things" in verse one show the importance of remembering the victory God had given. Abram firmly believed God was also the source of his wealth. These fac...

  • Gary Hampton Commentaries

    GOD'S PROMISE TO PROTECT Abram may have faced threats from those around him, but God assured him that he was his shield (Genesis 15:1). That is, God stood ready to protect him like a shield would in b...

  • George Haydock's Catholic Bible Commentary

    _Three years, when these animals have obtained a perfect age._...

  • Hawker's Poor man's commentary

    And when the fowls came down upon the carcases, Abram drove them away. It is not altogether fanciful to trace even in the minute circumstances of sacrifice, somewhat referring to Him unto whom all th...

  • Introductory Lectures - Commentary by William Kelly

    We have had hitherto God's account of that which He had made; then the trial and utter ruin of the creature, with the revelation of divine mercy in Christ the Lord. We have had in fine the judgment of...

  • John Calvin's Bible Commentary

    9._Take me an heifer of three years old_. Some, instead of an heifer of three years old translate the passage, ‘three heifers’ and in each species of animals enumerated, would make the number three. Y...

  • John Darby's Synopsis

    When God had thus revealed Himself, according to His establishment of blessing in power on the earth, through the priestly king Melchisedec, naturally the actual blessing of the chosen people finds it...

  • John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible

    AND HE SAID UNTO HIM, TAKE ME AN HEIFER OF THREE YEARS OLD,.... This, with what follows, is the sign by which Abram might know that he, that is, his seed, should inherit the land of Canaan; for the wh...

  • John Trapp Complete Commentary

    _And he said unto him, Take me an heifer of three years old, and a she goat of three years old, and a ram of three years old, and a turtledove, and a young pigeon._ Ver. 9. _Take me a heifer, &c._] H...

  • Joseph Benson’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

    _Take me a heifer_ Perhaps Abram expected some sign from heaven, but God gives him a sign upon a sacrifice. Those that would receive the assurances of God's favour, must attend instituted ordinances,...

  • KJV Original Language Details

    1 God encourageth Abram. 2 Abram complaineth for want of an heire. 4 God promiseth him a sonne, and a multiplying of his seed. 6 Abram is iustified by faith. 7 Canaan is promised againe, and confi...

  • Kretzmann's Popular Commentary of the Bible

    The covenant Sacrifice...

  • Kretzmann's Popular Commentary of the Bible

    And He said unto him, Take ye an heifer of three years old, and a she-goat of three years old, and a ram of three years old, and a turtle-dove, and a young pigeon. All of these were sacrificial animal...

  • Lange's Commentary on the Holy Scriptures

    FOURTH SECTION _Abram the approved Warrior of Faith, and God his Shield and his Reward. His longing for an Heir, and his thought of Adoption anticipating any exigency in the case. The great Promise o...

  • Leslie M. Grant's Commentary on the Bible

    THE PROMISE OF GOD AND ITS CONFIRMATION Abram having proven that he was not seeking gain for himself, but depending on the God of heaven and earth, then the Lord gives him His word of wonderful encour...

  • Matthew Henry Commentary on the Whole Bible

    7-11 Assurance was given to Abram of the land of Canaan for an inheritance. God never promises more than he is able to perform, as men often do. Abram did as God commanded him. He divided the beasts...

  • Matthew Poole's Concise Commentary On The Bible

    Take and offer at my command, and for my service, AN HEIFER OF THREE YEARS OLD, at which time it is perfect in stature and strength, and therefore fittest for God's service. This and the other creatur...

  • Notes on the Pentateuch by Charles Henry Mackintosh

    "After these things, the word of the Lord came unto Abram in a vision, saying, Fear not, Abram. I am thy shield, and thy exceeding great reward." The Lord would not suffer His servant to be a loser, b...

  • Patchworkid's Personal Study Bible Notes

    Genesis 15:9 said H559 (H8799) Bring H3947 (H8798) three-year-old H8027 (H8794) heifer H5697 three-year-old H8027 ...

  • Spurgeon's Bible Commentary

    Genesis 15:1. _After these things the word of the LORD came unto Abram in a vision, saying, Fear not, Abram: I am thy shield, and thy exceeding great reward. And Abram said, Lord GOD, what wilt thou g...

  • Summarized Bible Commentary

    CONTENTS: Abrahamic covenant confirmed and spiritual seed promised. CHARACTERS: Abram, God. CONCLUSION: The promises to faith are more certain than the conclusions of logic (Genesis 15:2-5). Faith i...

  • Sutcliffe's Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

    Genesis 15:1. _The Word of the Lord_the glorious person of the Messiah, the Angel of the covenant, came in his own name, Jehovah, God. He came with the full powers of future ages in his hand; the powe...

  • The Biblical Illustrator

    _Lord God, whereby shall I know that I shall inherit it?_ THE CONFIRMATION OF FAITH I. FAITH IS CONFIRMED BY THE REMEMBRANCE OF GOD’S PAST DEALINGS. 1. We should call to mind what God is. 2. We sh...

  • The ESV Global Study Bible's Study Notes

    GENESIS—NOTE ON GENESIS 15:9 The ritual described here is possibly a type of oath. God is saying that he will become like the dead animals if he does not keep his word (see Jeremiah 34:18). Anothe

  • The ESV Global Study Bible's Study Notes

    GENESIS—NOTE ON GENESIS 15:1 Verses Genesis 15:1 of ch. Genesis 15:1 focus on Abram’s concern that he is still childle

  • The Preacher's Complete Homiletical Commentary

    CRITICAL NOTES.— Genesis 15:9. Take me.] _Heb. Take for me, i.e.,_ Take and offer for me. _Three years old._ Denoting, say Kalisch, “the perfection of their species.” GENESIS 15:10. DIVIDED THEM.] In...

  • The Pulpit Commentaries

    EXPOSITION GENESIS 15:7 AND HE (Jehovah, or the Word of the Lord) SAID UNTO HIM (after the act of faith on the part of the patriarch, and the act of imputation or justification on the part of God, an...

  • Through The Bible C2000 Serie by Chuck Smith

    Now after these things (Genesis 15:1) That is, after the battle against these kings, after the meeting of Melchizedek, after the refusal of taking the reward and so forth from the king of Sodom. the...

  • Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

    Genesis 22:13 Leviticus 1:3 Leviticus 1:10 Leviticus 1:14 Leviticus

  • Wells of Living Water Commentary

    GOD'S COVENANT WITH ABRAM Genesis 15:1 INTRODUCTORY WORDS 1. The dependency of God. When men make a covenant they may break their covenant. God's covenants are certified. God covenanted with Noah...

  • Wesley's Explanatory Notes

    Take me an heifer — Perhaps Abram expected some sign from heaven, but God gives him a sign upon a sacrifice. Those that would receive the assurances of God's favour, must attend instituted ordinances,...

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