Genesis 15:17

It came to pass that, when the sun went down, and it was dark, behold, a smoking furnace, and a flaming torch passed between these pieces.

World English Bible
Learn

Your notes

Private to you. Anything you write on this verse, here or while reading, shows up here and in My study.

Other translations

WEBBE

It came to pass that, when the sun went down, and it was dark, behold, a smoking furnace and a flaming torch passed between these pieces.

BSB

When the sun had set and darkness had fallen, behold, a smoking firepot and a flaming torch appeared and passed between the halves of the carcasses.

KJV

And it came to pass, that, when the sun went down, and it was dark, behold a smoking furnace, and a burning lamp that passed between those pieces.

ASV

And it came to pass, that, when the sun went down, and it was dark, behold, a smoking furnace, and a flaming torch that passed between these pieces.

BBE

Then when the sun went down and it was dark, he saw a smoking fire and a flaming light which went between the parts of the bodies.

Original Hebrew

Look up a word

Tap a word to see what it means and everywhere else it's used.

וַיְהִי vay·hi and it was H1961 הַשֶּׁמֶשׁ ha·she·mesh the sun H8121 בָּאָה ba·'ah it had gone H935 וַעֲלָטָה va·'a·la·tah and darkness H5939 הָיָה ha·yah it was H1961 וְהִנֵּה ve·hi·neh and there H2009 תַנּוּר ta·nur a fire pot of H8574 עָשָׁן 'a·shan smoke H6227 וְלַפִּיד ve·la·pid and a torch of H3940 אֵשׁ 'esh fire H784 אֲשֶׁר 'a·sher which H834 עָבַר 'a·var it passed H5674 בֵּין bein between H996 הַגְּזָרִים ha·ge·za·rim the pieces H1506 הָאֵלֶּה ha·'e·leh (the) these H428

The early church

When it is added, "And when the sun was now setting there was a flame, and lo, a smoking furnace, and lamps of fire, which passed through between those pieces," this signifies that at the end of the world the carnal shall be judged by fire. The affliction of the city of God, such as never was before, which is expected to take place under Antichrist, was prefigured by Abraham's horror of great darkness about the going down of the sun. When the end of the world draws nigh, so at the going down of the sun, that is, at the very end of the world, there is signified by that fire the day of judgment, which separates the carnal who are to be saved by fire from the carnal who are to be condemned in the fire. And then the covenant made with Abraham particularly sets forth the land of Canaan and names eleven tribes in it from the river of Egypt even to the great river Euphrates. It is not then from the great river of Egypt, that is, the Nile, but from a small one that separates Egypt from Palestine, where the city of Rhinocorura is.
Augustine of Hippo · d. 430City of God

Commentary

Matthew Henry · Verses 17–21

The smoking furnace and the burning lamp, probably represented the Israelites' severe trials and joyful deliverance, with their gracious supports in the mean time. It is probable that this furnace and lamp, which passed between the pieces, burned and consumed them, and so completed the sacrifice, and testified God's acceptance of it. So it intimates that God's covenants with man are made by sacrifice, Psa 50:5. And we may know that he accepts our sacrifices, if he kindles in our souls pious and devout affections. The bounds of the land granted are stated. Several nations, or tribes, are spoken of, that must be cast out to make room for the seed of Abram. In this chapter we perceive in Abram faith struggling against, and triumphing over, unbelief. Wonder not, believers, if you meet with seasons of darkness and distress. But it is not the will of God that you should be cast down: fear not; for all that he was to Abram he will be to you.

Read Matthew Henry on Genesis 15 →

Cross-references

10

Topics

MiraclesOfferingsFireLamp

Cross-references: Treasury of Scripture Knowledge. Hebrew and Greek data from STEPBible.org (Tyndale House, Cambridge), CC BY 4.0. Library: sources.