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Genesis 15:3

ESV And Abram said, "Behold, you have given me no offspring, and a member of my household will be my heir."
NIV And Abram said, "You have given me no children; so a servant in my household will be my heir."
NASB Abram also said, 'Since You have given me no son, one who has been born in my house is my heir.'
CSB Abram continued, "Look, you have given me no offspring, so a slave born in my house will be my heir."
NLT You have given me no descendants of my own, so one of my servants will be my heir.'
KJV And Abram said, Behold, to me thou hast given no seed: and, lo, one born in my house is mine heir.
NKJV Then Abram said, “Look, You have given me no offspring; indeed one born in my house is my heir!”

What does Genesis 15:3 mean?

The word of the Lord has come to Abram in a vision, offering reassurance that He would continue to protect Abram and reward Him. Beginning in the previous verse and continuing here, Abram responds with his heartfelt concern: God has given him no children. If Abram died at that very moment, all that he owned would be passed on to one of his servants. Being well over seventy-five years old, this is not an unreasonable fear on Abram's part (Genesis 12:4). So far, Abram has responded in faith to the promises of God. All the same, he cannot help but wonder what they could mean to a man who is aging and childless.

Even in this, Abram manages to express faith in God. Those who ask hard questions of God are, in fact, acting in faith. Abram had not ceased to believe. If so, why speak to God, at all? He is not accusing God or rejecting God. Instead, Abram is taking his questions to the source of his hope and waiting, in faith, for God's answer. That response will come in the following verses.
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