Genesis 15:3-4

15:3 Abram added, ¹  “Since ²  you have not given me a descendant, then look, one born in my house will be my heir!” ³ 

15:4 But look, ⁴  the word of the Lord came to him: “This man ⁵  will not be your heir, ⁶  but instead ⁷  a son ⁸  who comes from your own body will be ⁹  your heir.” ¹⁰ 

[15:3]  ¹ tn Heb “And Abram said.”

[15:3]  ² tn The construction uses הֵן (hen) to introduce the foundational clause (“since…”), and וְהִנֵּה (vÿhinneh) to introduce the main clause (“then look…”).

[15:3]  ³ tn Heb “is inheriting me.”

[15:4]  ⁴ tn The disjunctive draws attention to God’s response and the particle הִנֵּה (hinneh, translated “look”) mirrors Abram’s statement in v. 3 and highlights the fact that God responded to Abram.

[15:4]  ⁵ tn The subject of the verb is the demonstrative pronoun, which can be translated “this one” or “this man.” That the Lord does not mention him by name is significant; often in ancient times the use of the name would bring legitimacy to inheritance and adoption cases.

[15:4]  ⁶ tn Heb “inherit you.”

[15:4]  ⁷ tn The Hebrew כִּי־אִם (ki-’im) forms a very strong adversative.

[15:4]  ⁸ tn Heb “he who”; the implied referent (Abram’s unborn son who will be his heir) has been specified in the translation for clarity.

[15:4]  ⁹ tn The pronoun could also be an emphatic subject: “whoever comes out of your body, he will inherit you.”

[15:4]  ¹⁰ tn Heb “will inherit you.”