Genesis

Genesis 12:1–8

¹Then the LORD said to Abram, “Leave your country, your kindred, and your father’s household, and go to the land I will show you.^a

²I will make you into a great nation,

and I will bless you;

I will make your name great,

so that you will be a blessing.

³I will bless those who bless you

and curse those who curse you;

and all the families of the earth

will be blessed through you.^b”

⁴So Abram departed, as the LORD had directed him, and Lot went with him. Abram was seventy-five years old when he left Haran. ⁵And Abram took his wife Sarai, his nephew Lot, and all the possessions and people they had acquired in Haran, and set out for the land of Canaan.

When they came to the land of Canaan, ⁶Abram traveled through the land as far as the site of the Oak^c of Moreh at Shechem. And at that time the Canaanites were in the land.

⁷Then the LORD appeared to Abram and said, “I will give this land to your offspring.^d” So Abram built an altar there to the LORD, who had appeared to him.

⁸From there Abram moved on to the hill country east of Bethel and pitched his tent, with Bethel to the west and Ai to the east. There he built an altar to the LORD, and he called on the name of the LORD.

Footnotes

a 12:1 Cited in Acts 7:3|ACT 7:3
b 12:3 See Galatians 3:8|GAL 3:8
c 12:6 Or Terebinth or Great Tree
d 12:7 Cited in Galatians 3:16|GAL 3:16

Read all of Genesis 12

Word by word

Each English word or phrase beside the Hebrew it translates, in the order of the English. Choose a number to open that word’s study.

Genesis 12:1

English	Hebrew	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
Then the LORD	יְהוָה֙	Yah·weh	Noun - proper - masculine singular	H3068 Yahweh
said	וַיֹּ֤אמֶר	way·yō·mer	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular	H559 utter, say
to	אֶל־	’el-	Preposition	H413 motion to
Abram	אַבְרָ֔ם	’aḇ·rām	Noun - proper - masculine singular	H87 Abram
Leave	לֶךְ־	leḵ-	Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine singular	H1980 go, come, walk
your	לְךָ֛	lə·ḵā	Preposition; second person masculine singular
country	מֵאַרְצְךָ֥	mê·’ar·ṣə·ḵā	Preposition-m; Noun - feminine singular construct; second person masculine singular	H776 earth, land
your kindred	וּמִמּֽוֹלַדְתְּךָ֖	ū·mim·mō·w·laḏ·tə·ḵā	Conjunctive waw, Preposition-m; Noun - feminine singular construct; second person masculine singular	H4138 nativity, lineage, native country
and your father’s	אָבִ֑יךָ	’ā·ḇî·ḵā	Noun - masculine singular construct; second person masculine singular	H1 father
household	וּמִבֵּ֣ית	ū·mib·bêṯ	Conjunctive waw, Preposition-m; Noun - masculine singular construct	H1004 house
and go to	אֶל־	’el-	Preposition	H413 motion to
the land	הָאָ֖רֶץ	hā·’ā·reṣ	Article; Noun - feminine singular	H776 earth, land
I will show you	אַרְאֶֽךָּ׃	’ar·’e·kā	Verb - Hifil - Imperfect - first person common singular; second person masculine singular	H7200 see

Genesis 12:2

English	Hebrew	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
I will make	וְאֶֽעֶשְׂךָ֙	wə·’e·‘eś·ḵā	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Conjunctive imperfect Cohortative if contextual - first person common singular; second person masculine singular	H6213 do, make
you into a great	גָּד֔וֹל	gā·ḏō·wl	Adjective - masculine singular	H1419 great
nation	לְג֣וֹי	lə·ḡō·w	Preposition-l; Noun - masculine singular	H1471 nation, people
and I will bless you	וַאֲבָ֣רֶכְךָ֔	wa·’ă·ḇā·reḵ·ḵā	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Piel - Conjunctive imperfect Cohortative if contextual - first person common singular; second person masculine singular	H1288 kneel, bless
I will make your name	שְׁמֶ֑ךָ	šə·me·ḵā	Noun - masculine singular construct; second person masculine singular	H8034 name
great	וַאֲגַדְּלָ֖ה	wa·’ă·ḡad·də·lāh	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Piel - Conjunctive imperfect Cohortative - first person common singular	H1431 grow up, become great
so that you will be	וֶהְיֵ֖ה	weh·yêh	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine singular	H1961 fall out, come to pass, become, be
a blessing	בְּרָכָֽה׃	bə·rā·ḵāh	Noun - feminine singular	H1293 blessing

Genesis 12:3

English	Hebrew	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
I will bless	וַאֲבָֽרֲכָה֙	wa·’ă·ḇā·ră·ḵāh	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Piel - Conjunctive imperfect Cohortative - first person common singular	H1288 kneel, bless
those who bless you	מְבָ֣רְכֶ֔יךָ	mə·ḇā·rə·ḵe·ḵā	Verb - Piel - Participle - masculine plural construct; second person masculine singular	H1288 kneel, bless
and curse	אָאֹ֑ר	’ā·’ōr	Verb - Qal - Imperfect - first person common singular	H779 curse
those who curse you	וּמְקַלֶּלְךָ֖	ū·mə·qal·lel·ḵā	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Piel - Participle - masculine singular construct; second person masculine singular	H7043 be slight, swift, trifling
and all	כֹּ֖ל	kōl	Noun - masculine singular construct	H3605 the whole, all
the families	מִשְׁפְּחֹ֥ת	miš·pə·ḥōṯ	Noun - feminine plural construct	H4940 clan
of the earth	הָאֲדָמָֽה׃	hā·’ă·ḏā·māh	Article; Noun - feminine singular	H127 ground, land
will be blessed	וְנִבְרְכ֣וּ	wə·niḇ·rə·ḵū	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Nifal - Conjunctive perfect - third person common plural	H1288 kneel, bless
through you	בְךָ֔	ḇə·ḵā	Preposition; second person masculine singular

Genesis 12:4

English	Hebrew	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
So Abram	אַבְרָ֗ם	’aḇ·rām	Noun - proper - masculine singular	H87 Abram
departed	וַיֵּ֣לֶךְ	way·yê·leḵ	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular	H1980 go, come, walk
as	כַּאֲשֶׁ֨ר	ka·’ă·šer	Preposition-k; Pronoun - relative	H834 particle of relation
the LORD	יְהוָ֔ה	Yah·weh	Noun - proper - masculine singular	H3068 Yahweh
had directed him	דִּבֶּ֤ר	dib·ber	Verb - Piel - Perfect - third person masculine singular	H1696 speak
and Lot	ל֑וֹט	lō·wṭ	Noun - proper - masculine singular	H3876 Lot
went	וַיֵּ֥לֶךְ	way·yê·leḵ	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular	H1980 go, come, walk
with him	אִתּ֖וֹ	’it·tōw	Preposition; third person masculine singular	H854 with
Abram	וְאַבְרָ֗ם	wə·’aḇ·rām	Conjunctive waw; Noun - proper - masculine singular	H87 Abram
was seventy-five	חָמֵ֤שׁ	ḥā·mêš	Number - feminine singular	H2568 five
years	שָׁנָ֔ה	šā·nāh	Noun - feminine singular	H8141 year
old	בֶּן־	ben-	Noun - masculine singular construct	H1121 son
when he left	בְּצֵאת֖וֹ	bə·ṣê·ṯōw	Preposition-b; Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct; third person masculine singular	H3318 go or come out
Haran	מֵחָרָֽן׃	mê·ḥā·rān	Preposition-m; Noun - proper - feminine singular	H2771 Charan

Genesis 12:5

English	Hebrew	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
And Abram	אַבְרָם֩	’aḇ·rām	Noun - proper - masculine singular	H87 Abram
took	וַיִּקַּ֣ח	way·yiq·qaḥ	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular	H3947 take
his wife	אִשְׁתּ֜וֹ	’iš·tōw	Noun - feminine singular construct; third person masculine singular	H802 woman, wife, female
Sarai	שָׂרַ֨י	śā·ray	Noun - proper - feminine singular	H8297 Sarai
his nephew	בֶּן־	ben-	Noun - masculine singular construct	H1121 son
Lot	ל֣וֹט	lō·wṭ	Noun - proper - masculine singular	H3876 Lot
and all	כָּל־	kāl-	Noun - masculine singular construct	H3605 the whole, all
the possessions	רְכוּשָׁם֙	rə·ḵū·šām	Noun - masculine singular construct; third person masculine plural	H7399 property, goods
and people	הַנֶּ֖פֶשׁ	han·ne·p̄eš	Article; Noun - feminine singular	H5315 soul, living being, life, self, person, desire, appetite, emotion, and passion
they had acquired	עָשׂ֣וּ	‘ā·śū	Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person common plural	H6213 do, make
in Haran	בְחָרָ֑ן	ḇə·ḥā·rān	Preposition-b; Noun - proper - feminine singular	H2771 Charan
and set out	וַיֵּצְא֗וּ	way·yê·ṣə·’ū	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural	H3318 go or come out
for the land	אַ֣רְצָה	’ar·ṣāh	Noun - feminine singular; third person feminine singular	H776 earth, land
of Canaan	כְּנַ֔עַן	kə·na·‘an	Noun - proper - masculine singular	H3667 Canaan
When they came	וַיָּבֹ֖אוּ	way·yā·ḇō·’ū	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural	H935 come in, come, go in, go
to the land	אַ֥רְצָה	’ar·ṣāh	Noun - feminine singular; third person feminine singular	H776 earth, land
of Canaan	כְּנָֽעַן׃	kə·nā·‘an	Noun - proper - masculine singular	H3667 Canaan

Genesis 12:6

English	Hebrew	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
Abram	אַבְרָם֙	’aḇ·rām	Noun - proper - masculine singular	H87 Abram
traveled	וַיַּעֲבֹ֤ר	way·ya·‘ă·ḇōr	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular	H5674 pass over, through, by, pass on
through the land	בָּאָ֔רֶץ	bā·’ā·reṣ	Preposition-b, Article; Noun - feminine singular	H776 earth, land
as far as	עַ֚ד	‘aḏ	Preposition	H5704 as far as, even to, up to, until, while
the site	מְק֣וֹם	mə·qō·wm	Noun - masculine singular construct	H4725 standing, spot, condition
of the Oak	אֵל֣וֹן	’ê·lō·wn	Noun - masculine singular construct	H436 terebinth
of Moreh	מוֹרֶ֑ה	mō·w·reh	Noun - proper - masculine singular	H4176 teacher
at Shechem	שְׁכֶ֔ם	šə·ḵem	Noun - proper - masculine singular	H7927 shoulder
And at that time	אָ֥ז	’āz	Adverb	H227 at that time, then
the Canaanites	וְהַֽכְּנַעֲנִ֖י	wə·hak·kə·na·‘ă·nî	Conjunctive waw, Article; Noun - proper - masculine singular	H3669 trader, merchant
were in the land	בָּאָֽרֶץ׃	bā·’ā·reṣ	Preposition-b, Article; Noun - feminine singular	H776 earth, land

Genesis 12:7

English	Hebrew	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
Then the LORD	יְהוָה֙	Yah·weh	Noun - proper - masculine singular	H3068 Yahweh
appeared	וַיֵּרָ֤א	way·yê·rā	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Nifal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular	H7200 see
to	אֶל־	’el-	Preposition	H413 motion to
Abram	אַבְרָ֔ם	’aḇ·rām	Noun - proper - masculine singular	H87 Abram
and said	וַיֹּ֕אמֶר	way·yō·mer	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular	H559 utter, say
I will give	אֶתֵּ֖ן	’et·tên	Verb - Qal - Imperfect - first person common singular	H5414 give, put, set
this	הַזֹּ֑את	haz·zōṯ	Article; Pronoun - feminine singular	H2063 this
land	הָאָ֣רֶץ	hā·’ā·reṣ	Article; Noun - feminine singular	H776 earth, land
to your offspring	לְזַ֨רְעֲךָ֔	lə·zar·‘ă·ḵā	Preposition-l; Noun - masculine singular construct; second person masculine singular	H2233 sowing, seed, offspring
So	וַיִּ֤בֶן	way·yi·ḇen	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular	H1129 build
an altar	מִזְבֵּ֔חַ	miz·bê·aḥ	Noun - masculine singular	H4196 altar
there	שָׁם֙	šām	Adverb	H8033 there, thither
to the LORD	לַיהוָ֖ה	Yah·weh	Preposition-l; Noun - proper - masculine singular	H3068 Yahweh
who had appeared	הַנִּרְאֶ֥ה	han·nir·’eh	Article; Verb - Nifal - Participle - masculine singular	H7200 see
to him	אֵלָֽיו׃	’ê·lāw	Preposition; third person masculine singular	H413 motion to

Genesis 12:8

English	Hebrew	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
From there	מִשָּׁ֜ם	miš·šām	Preposition-m; Adverb	H8033 there, thither
moved on	וַיַּעְתֵּ֨ק	way·ya‘·têq	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Hifil - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular	H6275 move, proceed, advance
to the hill country	הָהָ֗רָה	hā·hā·rāh	Article; Noun - masculine singular; third person feminine singular	H2022 mountain, hill, hill-country
east	מִקֶּ֛דֶם	miq·qe·ḏem	Preposition-m; Noun - masculine singular	H6924 front, east, aforetime
of	לְבֵֽית־	lə·ḇêṯ-	Preposition	H1008 Bethel
Bethel	אֵ֖ל	’êl	Preposition; Noun - proper - feminine singular	H1008 Bethel
and pitched	וַיֵּ֣ט	way·yêṭ	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular	H5186 stretch out, spread out, extend, incline, bend
his tent	אָהֳלֹ֑ה	ʾå̄·ho·lōh	Noun - masculine singular construct; third person masculine singular	H168 tent
with Bethel	בֵּֽית־	bêṯ-	Preposition	H1008 Bethel
to the west	מִיָּם֙	mî·yām	Preposition-m; Noun - masculine singular	H3220 sea
and Ai	וְהָעַ֣י	wə·hā·‘ay	Conjunctive waw, Article; Noun - proper - feminine singular	H5857 Ai, Aja, Ajath
to the east	מִקֶּ֔דֶם	miq·qe·ḏem	Preposition-m; Noun - masculine singular	H6924 front, east, aforetime
There	שָׁ֤ם	šām	Adverb	H8033 there, thither
he built	וַיִּֽבֶן־	way·yi·ḇen-	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular	H1129 build
an altar	מִזְבֵּ֙חַ֙	miz·bê·aḥ	Noun - masculine singular	H4196 altar
to the LORD	לַֽיהוָ֔ה	Yah·weh	Preposition-l; Noun - proper - masculine singular	H3068 Yahweh
and he called	וַיִּקְרָ֖א	way·yiq·rā	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular	H7121 call, proclaim, read
on the name	בְּשֵׁ֥ם	bə·šêm	Preposition-b; Noun - masculine singular construct	H8034 name
of the LORD	יְהוָֽה׃	Yah·weh	Noun - proper - masculine singular	H3068 Yahweh