And, behold, the word of the LORD came unto him, saying, This shall not be thine heir; but he that shall come forth out of thine own bowels shall be thine heir.
Then the Lord spoke to him, saying, 'This man will not be your heir. Instead, a son who comes from your own body will be your heir.'
God is promising Abraham that he will have his own biological son to inherit his family line, not just an adopted heir.
📚 Historical Context
In the book of Genesis, Abram is in a covenant relationship with God, who has promised him numerous descendants despite his old age and childless state. Abram initially worries that his servant Eliezer will inherit his estate, as was common in ancient Near Eastern customs where childless individuals often passed on their possessions to trusted servants. God directly reassures Abram that his heir will come from his own body, highlighting the miraculous fulfillment of this divine promise.
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