language · Gen 12:2–3 · ✓ Approved

A great nation, a great name and blessing

Says וְאֶעֶשְׂךָ לְגוֹי גָּדוֹל (“and I will make you into a great nation”), וַאֲבָרֶכְךָ (“and I will bless you”) and וַאֲגַדְּלָה שְׁמֶךָ (“and I will make your name great”) are the Lord’s acts. וֶהְיֵה בְּרָכָה is an imperative, “and be a blessing”; BSB has “so that you will be a blessing,” the Greek “ἔσῃ εὐλογητός” (“you will be blessed”). The root “bless” comes five times in 12:2–3.

Says In 12:3 וַאֲבָרֲכָה מְבָרְכֶיךָ (“and I will bless those who bless you”) is plural, but וּמְקַלֶּלְךָ אָאֹר is singular: “and the one who treats you lightly I will curse,” with two different verbs. וְנִבְרְכוּ בְךָ כֹּל מִשְׁפְּחֹת הָאֲדָמָה is “and in you all the clans of the ground will be blessed” (BSB “through you”).

Implies The great name is given, where the builders of 11:4 set out to make one for themselves.

Uncertain The form וְנִבְרְכוּ may be passive (“be blessed”) or reflexive (“bless themselves”); 22:18 has another form, וְהִתְבָּרֲכוּ. Keil holds it passive only and ties it to Gal 3:8. Skinner prefers “bless themselves.” Driver allows either and still compares Gal 3:8. Calvin allows the narrower sense but extends the promise. No lean is taken here.

Claims

Saysוְאֶעֶשְׂךָ לְגוֹי גָּדוֹל (“and I will make you into a great nation”), וַאֲבָרֶכְךָ (“and I will bless you”) and וַאֲגַדְּלָה שְׁמֶךָ (“and I will make your name great”) are the Lord’s acts. וֶהְיֵה בְּרָכָה is an imperative, “and be a blessing”; BSB has “so that you will be a blessing,” the Greek “ἔσῃ εὐλογητός” (“you will be blessed”). The root “bless” comes five times in 12:2–3.
SaysIn 12:3 וַאֲבָרֲכָה מְבָרְכֶיךָ (“and I will bless those who bless you”) is plural, but וּמְקַלֶּלְךָ אָאֹר is singular: “and the one who treats you lightly I will curse,” with two different verbs. וְנִבְרְכוּ בְךָ כֹּל מִשְׁפְּחֹת הָאֲדָמָה is “and in you all the clans of the ground will be blessed” (BSB “through you”).
ImpliesThe great name is given, where the builders of 11:4 set out to make one for themselves.
UncertainThe form וְנִבְרְכוּ may be passive (“be blessed”) or reflexive (“bless themselves”); 22:18 has another form, וְהִתְבָּרֲכוּ. Keil holds it passive only and ties it to Gal 3:8. Skinner prefers “bless themselves.” Driver allows either and still compares Gal 3:8. Calvin allows the narrower sense but extends the promise. No lean is taken here.

Citations

OSHB CC BY 4.0 Gen 12:2–3 (WLC/OSHB; morph HC/Vqv2ms HC/Vprmsc/Sp2ms HC/VNp3cp)
BSB public domain Gen 12:2–3 (BSB)
LXX (Swete) CC BY-SA 4.0 Gen 12:2, text and apparatus. LXX: Swete, vol. 1 (1901), p. 19 (leaf n50). Checked against the printed page (scan).
Keil–Delitzsch, Pentateuch 1 public domain Keil, Pentateuch vol. 1 (Clark, Martin trans., 1868), on Gen 12:3, p. 195 (leaf n198); checked against the printed page (scan); paraphrased
Skinner, Genesis (ICC) public domain Skinner, Genesis (ICC, 1910), on Gen 12:3, p. 244 (leaf n345); checked against the printed page (scan); paraphrased
Driver, Genesis (Westminster) public domain Driver, The Book of Genesis (Westminster, 4th ed.), on Gen 12:3, p. 145 (leaf n246); checked against the printed page (scan); paraphrased
Calvin, Genesis (King) 1 public domain Calvin, Genesis 1 (King, CTS 1847), on Gen 12:3, p. 348 (leaf n357); checked against the printed page (scan); paraphrased

Sources OSHB CC BY 4.0 BSB public domain LXX (Swete) CC BY-SA 4.0 Keil–Delitzsch, Pentateuch 1 public domain Skinner, Genesis (ICC) public domain Driver, Genesis (Westminster) public domain Calvin, Genesis (King) 1 public domain

Quotations from LXX (Swete) are used under CC BY-SA 4.0 · Credits

2026-11-12

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