Genesis 15:10
in Genesis 15So Abram brought all these to Him, split each of them down the middle, and laid the halves opposite each other. The birds, however, he did not cut in half.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
And he took him all these, and divided them in the midst, and laid each half over against the other: but the birds divided he not.
KJV
And he took unto him all these, and divided them in the midst, and laid each piece one against another: but the birds divided he not.
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This verse in Genesis 15
Commentary
10 notes on this verseDivided them in the midst - The ancient method of making covenants as well as the original word, have been already alluded to, and in a general way explained. See Gen 6:18. The word covenant from con, together, and venio, I come, signifies an agreement, association, or meeting between two or more parties; for it is impossible that a covenant can be made between an individual and himself, whether God or man. This is a theological absurdity into which many have run; there must be at least two parties to contract with each other.
This site's exposition
a heifer, a goat, and a ram
on Genesis 15:9-11
The heifer, the goat, the ram, the turtledove and the pigeon are the whole list the law will allow for sacrifice. The animals are cut in two, which is how a binding agreement was made in that world. The Hebrew idiom for making a covenant is to cut one.
This site's exposition
The birds, however, he did not cut in half
Adam Clarke notes a covenant is a meeting of at least two parties, and the halves laid opposite each other made a path for both. The birds were left whole. Augustine read the undivided turtledove and pigeon as the spiritual people of Israel, who are never divided.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers3 voices
Now notice carefully Abraham is said to have divided the three animals into two parts and to have placed them one against the other. "The birds," says Scripture, "he did not cut in two." Why is this, brothers?
And it is said, "But the birds divided he not," because carnal people are divided among themselves. But those who are spiritual are not divided at all, whether they seclude themselves from the busy conversation of humankind, like the turtledove, or dwell among them, like the pigeon. For both birds are simple and harmless, signifying that even in the Israelite people, to which that land was to be given, there would be individuals who were children of the promise and heirs of the kingdom that is to remain in eternal felicity.
(Verses 10, 11.) And he placed them opposite each other: but he did not separate the birds. However, birds descended upon the carcasses and the divisions thereof, and Abram drove them away. It does not pertain to the present work to explain the sacrament. We only say this, because the Hebrew version has for these words: And birds descended upon the carcasses, and Abram drove them away. For he deservedly often delivered Israel from narrow straits.
The Medieval Church1 voice
The Lord replied: "Take for me a three-year-old heifer, a three-year-old goat, and a three-year-old ram, also a turtledove and a pigeon." He took all these and divided them in half, and placed each half opposite the other, but he did not divide the birds.
The Puritans and the Awakening1 voice
This was not the first instance of Abram's implicit obedience. He divided the beasts in the midst, according to the ceremony used in confirming covenants, Jer. xxxiv. 18, 19 , where it is said, They cut the calf in twain, and passed between the parts.
2 more voices on this verse
The Puritans and the Awakening2 voices
And he took unto him all these,....
But God ensures both to him; and that which made these two, the promised seed and the promised land, comforts indeed to this great believer was that they were both typical of those two invaluable blessings, Christ and heaven; and so, we have reason to think, Abram eyed them. God's Covenant with Abram.
How the passage was read
What the Jewish commentators add
This he did in order that He make the covenant with him, to pass between these parts. He thereby alluded to Abraham that all sacrifices of cattle and fowl will be from these species since the gozeil (young pigeon) mentioned here. In Verse 9 above.
This section is reception history: how the passage was read and kept in the Jewish tradition. Where a reading parts from an essential of the Christian faith, the section says so at that point.
Texts and citation data: Sefaria; each excerpt follows its version’s licence. 3 further sources are cited on this chapter that carry no English text this site may quote or only restate the verse.
The words behind it
17 Hebrew wordsEvery Hebrew word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.
| Hebrew | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| וַיִּֽקַּֽח־ | vaiyikach- | and he brought | H3947 → | 966 times |
| ל֣וֹ | lo | to <the> him | ||
| אֶת־ | ʾet- | <obj.> | H853 → | 10935 times |
| כָּל־ | kol- | all | H3605 → | 5413 times |
| אֵ֗לֶּה | ʾeleh | these | H428 → | 746 times |
| וַיְבַתֵּ֤ר | vayvater | and he cut in pieces | H1334 → | |
| אֹתָם֙ | ʾotam | <obj.> them | H853 → | 10935 times |
| בַּתָּ֔וֶךְ | batavekh | in the middle | H8432 → | 418 times |
| וַיִּתֵּ֥ן | vaiyiten | and he set | H5414 → | 2011 times |
| אִישׁ־ | ʾish- | each | H376 → | 1663 times |
| בִּתְר֖וֹ | bitro | piece its | H1335 → | |
| לִקְרַ֣את | likrat | to meet | H7122 → | 139 times |
| רֵעֵ֑הוּ | reehu | neighbor its | H7453 → | 188 times |
| וְאֶת־ | veet | and <obj.> | H853 → | 10935 times |
| הַצִפֹּ֖ר | hatzipor | the bird[s] | H6833 → | |
| לֹ֥א | lo' | not | H3808 → | 5168 times |
| בָתָֽר׃ | vatar | he cut in two | H1334 → |
וַיִּֽקַּֽח־and he brought
vaiyikach-H3947 →966 times
ל֣וֹto <the> him
lo
אֶת־<obj.>
ʾet-H853 →10935 times
כָּל־all
kol-H3605 →5413 times
אֵ֗לֶּהthese
ʾelehH428 →746 times
וַיְבַתֵּ֤רand he cut in pieces
vayvaterH1334 →
אֹתָם֙<obj.> them
ʾotamH853 →10935 times
בַּתָּ֔וֶךְin the middle
batavekhH8432 →418 times
וַיִּתֵּ֥ןand he set
vaiyitenH5414 →2011 times
אִישׁ־each
ʾish-H376 →1663 times
בִּתְר֖וֹpiece its
bitroH1335 →
לִקְרַ֣אתto meet
likratH7122 →139 times
רֵעֵ֑הוּneighbor its
reehuH7453 →188 times
וְאֶת־and <obj.>
veetH853 →10935 times
הַצִפֹּ֖רthe bird[s]
hatziporH6833 →
לֹ֥אnot
lo'H3808 →5168 times
בָתָֽר׃he cut in two
vatarH1334 →
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 stopsEach card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.
Through
2 Timothy 2:15Make every effort to present yourself approved to God, an unashamed workman who accurately handles the word of truth.
it leads to
- 1 Thessalonians 2:4
Instead, we speak as those approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel, not in order to please men but God, who examines our hearts.
- 2 Peter 1:10
Therefore, brothers, strive to make your calling and election sure. For if you practice these things you will never stumble,
- 1 Timothy 4:6
By pointing out these things to the brothers, you will be a good servant of Christ Jesus, nourished by the words of faith and sound instruction that you have followed.
- 2 Corinthians 10:18
For it is not the one who commends himself who is approved, but the one whom the Lord commends.
- 2 Corinthians 5:9
So we aspire to please Him, whether we are here in this body or away from it.
- 1 Thessalonians 2:4
Through
Genesis 15:17When the sun had set and darkness had fallen, behold, a smoking firepot and a flaming torch appeared and passed between the halves of the carcasses.
it leads to
- Jeremiah 34:18–19
And those who have transgressed My covenant and have not fulfilled the terms of the covenant they made before Me, I will treat like the calf they cut in two in order to pass…
- Judges 6:21
Then the angel of the LORD extended the tip of the staff that was in his hand and touched the meat and the unleavened bread. And fire flared from the rock and consumed the…
- Jeremiah 11:4
which I commanded your forefathers when I brought them out of the land of Egypt, out of the iron furnace, saying, ‘Obey Me, and do everything I command you, and you will be My…
- Jeremiah 34:18–19
Where this verse is studied
On this page
Studies36
On this verse
On this chapter
- Abraham
- The Armor of God
- Caleb
- Chaldea
- Fear Not: How Often Scripture Says It
- Covenant Theology and Dispensationalism
Show the next 6 titles
Show the next 6 titles
About Genesis
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Augustine of Hippo, City of God; Augustine of Hippo, City of God 16.24; Bede, Commentary on Genesis (Hexaemeron); Caesarius of Arles, SERMON 82.2; Jerome, Hebrew Questions on Genesis; John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament (1748-1763) and Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible.