Genesis – Chapter 15

Old Testament • 21 Verses

Chapter Summary

"Now when these things were done, the word of the Lord came to Abram by a vision, saying: Fear not, Abram, I am thy protector, and thy…" — so begins Genesis 15. Abraham stands at the center of this chapter. Across its 21 verses, two threads run through the text: family and covenant relationships and faith and trust in God. Read slowly, this chapter rewards the kind of prayerful attention the Church calls lectio divina.

1Now when these things were done, the word of the Lord came to Abram by a vision, saying: Fear not, Abram, I am thy protector, and thy reward exceeding great.

2And Abram said: Lord God, what wilt thou give me? I shall go without children: and the son of the steward of my house is this Damascus Eliezer.

3And Abram added: But to me thou hast not given seed: and lo my servant born in my house, shall be my heir.

4And immediately the word of the Lord came to him, saying : He shall not be thy heir: but he that shall come out of thy bowels, him shalt thou have for thy heir.

5And he brought him forth abroad, and said to him: Look up to heaven and number the stars if thou canst. And he said to him: So shall thy seed be.

6Abram believed God, and it was reputed to him unto justice.

7And he said to him: I am the Lord who brought thee out from Ur of the Chaldees, to give thee this land, and that thou mightest possess it.

8But he said: Lord God, whereby may I know that I shall possess it?

9And the Lord answered, and said: Take me a cow of three years old, and a she-goat of three years. and a ram of three years, a turtle also, and a pigeon.

10And he took all these, and divided them in the midst, and laid the two pieces of each one against the other: but the birds he divided not.

11And the fowls came down upon the carcasses, and Abram drove them away.

12And when the sun was setting, a deep sleep fell upon Abram, and a great and darksome horror seized upon him.

13And it was said unto him: Know thou beforehand that thy seed shall be a stranger in a land not their own, and they shall bring them under bondage, and afflict them four hundred years.

14But I will judge the nation which they shall serve, and after this they shall come out with great substance.

15And thou shalt go to thy fathers in peace, and be buried in a good old age.

16But in the fourth generation they shall return hither: for as yet the iniquities of the Amorrhites are not at the full until this present time.

17And when the sun was set, there arose a dark mist, and there appeared a smoking furnace, and a lamp of fire passing between those divisions.

18That day God made a covenant with Abram, saying: To thy seed will I give this land, from the river to Egypt even to the great river Euphrates.

19The Cineans, and Cenezites, the Cedmonites,

20And the Hethites, and the Pherezites, the Raphaim also,

21And the Amorrhites, and the Chanaanites, and the Gergesites, and the Jebusites.

Important Verses in Genesis 15

“Now when these things were done, the word of the Lord came to Abram by a vision, saying: Fear not, Abram, I am thy protector, and thy reward exceeding great.”

Genesis 15:1

“And immediately the word of the Lord came to him, saying : He shall not be thy heir: but he that shall come out of thy bowels, him shalt thou have for thy heir.”

Genesis 15:4

“And he said to him: I am the Lord who brought thee out from Ur of the Chaldees, to give thee this land, and that thou mightest possess it.”

Genesis 15:7

“That day God made a covenant with Abram, saying: To thy seed will I give this land, from the river to Egypt even to the great river Euphrates.”

Genesis 15:18

Historical Context

Genesis addresses the people of Israel, to root their identity in God's creation and the covenant with the patriarchs within the broader story of God's covenant people. Chapter 15 of 50 belongs to the early movement of the book, where the narrative or argument is still unfolding. It is a prophetic oracle addressed to Israel in a moment of covenant crisis or renewal with 21 verses in the Douay-Rheims translation. Abraham appear at the center of the events recorded here. The passage starts with these words: "Now when these things were done, the word of the Lord came to Abram by a vision, saying: Fear not, Abram, I am thy…" It concludes: "And the Amorrhites, and the Chanaanites, and the Gergesites, and the Jebusites. " In terms of historical background, Genesis was composed to give Israel its foundational identity: one God created all things good, sin entered through human choice, and God responded with a plan of salvation beginning with Abraham. Scholarly and ecclesial tradition places the composition of Genesis around Traditions reaching back to the 2nd millennium BC, compiled in final form between the 10th and 5th centuries BC.

Who Wrote It

Traditionally attributed to Moses; Catholic scholarship recognizes the work of inspired editors drawing on ancient oral and written traditions

When It Was Written

Traditions reaching back to the 2nd millennium BC, compiled in final form between the 10th and 5th centuries BC

Catholic Commentary

The prophet addresses Israel with a message rooted in covenant fidelity and the hope of restoration. A pivotal line is verse 1: "Now when these things were done, the word of the Lord came to Abram by a vision, saying: Fear not, Abram, I am thy protector, and thy reward exceeding great." The passage repeatedly touches on family and covenant relationships.

Catholic exegesis reads Genesis 15 within the unity of Scripture and Tradition. the Catechism teaches that Genesis reveals God's plan of salvation from the beginning (CIC 54-64). St. Jerome and other Fathers of the Church saw in texts like this a preparation for or reflection of Christ, the center of revelation (CIC 2215).

Applied to the life of faith, the passage supports the Church's conviction that God's faithful covenant love. Whether read privately or heard in the liturgy, Genesis 15 calls for a response of faith, repentance, and charity.

Main Teachings

  • ✓The family is the first school of faith, where love, obedience, and forgiveness are learned.
  • ✓Faith is a gift and a decision: entrusting ourselves entirely to God and to His promises.
  • ✓God defends the poor and the oppressed, and calls His people to act with justice.

People in This Chapter

Abraham8 mentions

Reflection for Today

Genesis Chapter 15 contains the formal covenant ceremony between God and Abraham, which Catholic theology recognizes as a foundational moment in salvation history. The Catechism teaches that this covenant establishes the pattern of God's relationship with His people—a relationship based on divine promise and human faith (CIC 60, 145-146). Abraham's faith, credited to him as righteousness, becomes the model for all believers.

The mysterious vision of the smoking fire pot and flaming torch passing between the divided animals represents God's solemn oath. In ancient covenant ceremonies, both parties would pass between the pieces, invoking upon themselves the fate of the animals if they broke the covenant. Here, only God passes through, signifying that the covenant depends entirely on His faithfulness. The Church Fathers saw in this a prefigurement of the Cross, where God Himself bears the curse of broken covenant.

God's promise that Abraham's descendants will be as numerous as the stars has been fulfilled in the Church, which gathers believers from every nation. The prophecy of Israel's sojourn in Egypt and eventual liberation anticipates the Exodus, the central saving event of the Old Testament. This chapter teaches us that salvation is God's work from beginning to end—we contribute only our faith, and even that is God's gift.

💡Catholic Reflection • Church Teachings

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Genesis Chapter 15 about?

Genesis 15 contains 21 verses. It opens with "Now when these things were done, the word of the Lord came to Abram by a vision, saying: Fear not, Abram, I am thy…" and closes with "And the Amorrhites, and the Chanaanites, and the Gergesites, and the Jebusites. ". The book as a whole is narrative with genealogies and covenant accounts.

What is a key verse in Genesis 15?

One of the most significant verses is verse 1: "Now when these things were done, the word of the Lord came to Abram by a vision, saying: Fear not, Abram, I am thy protector, and thy reward exceeding great." It is often cited in Catholic teaching and preaching.

Who appears in Genesis Chapter 15?

This chapter mentions Abraham.

Who wrote Genesis and when?

Traditionally attributed to Moses; Catholic scholarship recognizes the work of inspired editors drawing on ancient oral and written traditions. Traditions reaching back to the 2nd millennium BC, compiled in final form between the 10th and 5th centuries BC.

Related Chapters

Romans 4Shares people and themes with this chapterExodus 4Shares people and themes with this chapterIsaiah 51Shares people and themes with this chapter

Prayers Related to This Chapter

🙏Prayer for the Family🙏Novena to the Holy Family🙏The Apostles' Creed🙏Acts of Faith, Hope, and Love

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