The call and the promises

In 12:1 the Lord says to Abram — BSB “Then the Lord said”; the Hebrew is the ordinary narrative “and the Lord said” — “Leave your country, your kindred, and your father’s household, and go to the land I will show you.” The Hebrew command is lekh-lekha, “go for yourself” or “go by yourself”; the BSB folds this into “Leave” and “go.” The land is not yet named. 12:2–3 then give the promises: a great nation, blessing, a great name, and “be a blessing” (an imperative; BSB “so that you will be a blessing”). He will bless those who bless Abram and curse the one who curses him (the second verb is singular in the Hebrew; BSB “those who curse you”). “All the families of the earth will be blessed through you”: the Hebrew is bekha, “in you,” and mishpehot ha'adamah, “clans of the ground.” The great name is given, where the builders of 11:4 sought one for themselves; see A name, and not to be scattered and Gen 12:2 → Gen 11:4. The wording is in the language notes on 12:1–3; the Greek of 12:2 reads “you will be blessed,” as the Greek note records. When the word was spoken, and how the niphal of 12:3 is to be read, are taken up in the notes that follow.