And he said unto Abram, Know of a surety that thy seed shall be a stranger in a land that is not theirs, and shall serve them; and they shall afflict them four hundred years;
And God said to Abram, 'Know for certain that your descendants will be foreigners in a land that doesn't belong to them. They will be slaves there, and the people will mistreat them for four hundred years.'
God is telling Abram that his descendants will spend 400 years as slaves in a foreign land before being freed.
📚 Historical Context
In Genesis 15, God is making a covenant with Abram, promising him numerous descendants and the land of Canaan, while also revealing future hardships they would face. This verse specifically prophesies the Israelites' enslavement in Egypt, where they would live as strangers, serve oppressors, and endure affliction for about four hundred years, as later detailed in the Exodus narrative. This prophecy underscores God's sovereignty and foreknowledge in guiding His people's history.
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