Genesis 12:2
And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing:
Study Note
Study Note
The sevenfold promise given to Abram — great nation, blessing, great name, being a blessing, blessing to those who bless, cursing to those who curse, and blessing to all families — is one of the most architecturally significant verses in the entire Hebrew Bible, providing the structural foundation for the Abrahamic covenants that follow in chapters 15 and 17. The imperative 'be a blessing' implies that Abram is not only a passive recipient but an active mediator of divine grace to the wider world. Paul interprets the promise christologically in Galatians 3:8, identifying the 'blessing to all nations' with the gospel itself. The verse establishes that particular election (one man, one family) is the instrument of universal blessing, a tension that drives the entire biblical narrative.
Other Translations
and I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and be thou a blessing:
And I make thee become a great nation, and bless thee, and make thy name great; and be thou a blessing.
And I will make of you a great nation, blessing you and making your name great; and you will be a blessing:
Cross References
Know ye therefore that they which are of faith, the same are the children of Abraham.
That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the promise of …
And I will make thy seed as the dust of the earth: so that if a man can number the …
And when Abram heard that his brother was taken captive, he armed his trained servants, born in his own house, …
And he brought back all the goods, and also brought again his brother Lot, and his goods, and the women …
And he brought him forth abroad, and said, Look now toward heaven, and tell the stars, if thou be able …
As for me, behold, my covenant is with thee, and thou shalt be a father of many nations.
And I will make thee exceeding fruitful, and I will make nations of thee, and kings shall come out of …
Seeing that Abraham shall surely become a great and mighty nation, and all the nations of the earth shall be …
And it came to pass, when God destroyed the cities of the plain, that God remembered Abraham, and sent Lot …