Genesis 12:2

Old Testament Law (Torah) ASV (1901)

What does Genesis 12:2 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “and I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make they name great; and be thou a blessing;” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

and I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make they name great; and be thou a blessing;
Genesis 12:2 — American Standard Version

Context — Genesis 12

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
2and I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make they name great; and be thou a blessing;

What do historical commentaries say?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · 18th-century historical commentary
“And I will make of thee a great nation, etc.] In a literal sense, as the people of the Jews were that descended from him, and in a spiritual sense believers in all ages and of all nations, that walk in the steps of the faith of Abram, who are his children, and are blessed with him: and I will bless thee; not only with temporal blessings, but principally with spiritual ones, since Abram in person had no share of the land of Canaan; even with the adoption of children and friendship with God; with justification by the imputed righteousness of Christ, which blessedness came upon him when uncircumcised; with a large measure of faith, and every other grace; with the sanctification of the Spirit,…”
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Barnes' Notes
Albert Barnes (1798–1870) · Notes on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“- The Call of Abram 6. שׁכם shekem Shekem, “the upper part of the back.” Here it is the name of a person, the owner of this place, where afterward is built the town called at first Shekem, then Flavia Neapolis, and now Nablous. אלון 'ēlôn “the oak;” related: “be lasting, strong.” מורה môreh In Onkelos “plain;” Moreh, “archer, early rain, teacher.” Here the name of a man who owned the oak that marked the spot. In the Septuagint it is rendered ὑψηγήν hupseegeen. 8. בית־אל bēyt-'êl, Bethel, “house of God.” ים yam “sea, great river, west.” עי ‛ay, ‘Ai, “heap.” 9. נגב negeb “south.” The narrative now takes leave of the rest of the Shemites, as well as the other branches of the human…”
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Tyndale Open Study Notes
Tyndale House Publishers · Tyndale Open Study Notes · Modern study notes
“12:2 make you famous (literally make your name great): Abram received the fame sought by the builders of Babel (see 11:4 and study note). • and you will be a blessing (or so that you will be a blessing): This clause is a command in Hebrew, but it is also a promise conditioned upon Abram’s obedience to God’s command (12:1): “Go . . . so that you will be a blessing. Be a blessing, so that I can bless and curse others.””
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Related study paths

Sources and verification