New International VersionAs the sun was setting, Abram fell into a deep sleep, and a thick and dreadful darkness came over him.
New Living TranslationAs the sun was going down, Abram fell into a deep sleep, and a terrifying darkness came down over him.
English Standard VersionAs the sun was going down, a deep sleep fell on Abram. And behold, dreadful and great darkness fell upon him.
Berean Standard BibleAs the sun was setting, Abram fell into a deep sleep, and suddenly great terror and darkness overwhelmed him.
King James BibleAnd when the sun was going down, a deep sleep fell upon Abram; and, lo, an horror of great darkness fell upon him.
New King James VersionNow when the sun was going down, a deep sleep fell upon Abram; and behold, horror and great darkness fell upon him.
New American Standard BibleNow when the sun was going down, a deep sleep fell upon Abram; and behold, terror and great darkness fell upon him.
NASB 1995Now when the sun was going down, a deep sleep fell upon Abram; and behold, terror and great darkness fell upon him.
NASB 1977Now when the sun was going down, a deep sleep fell upon Abram; and behold, terror and great darkness fell upon him.
Legacy Standard BibleNow it happened that when the sun was going down, a deep sleep fell upon Abram; and behold, terror and great darkness fell upon him.
Amplified BibleWhen the sun was setting, a deep sleep overcame Abram; and a horror (terror, shuddering fear, nightmare) of great darkness overcame him.
Christian Standard BibleAs the sun was setting, a deep sleep came over Abram, and suddenly great terror and darkness descended on him.
Holman Christian Standard BibleAs the sun was setting, a deep sleep fell on Abram, and suddenly great terror and darkness descended on him.
American Standard VersionAnd when the sun was going down, a deep sleep fell upon Abram; and, lo, a horror of great darkness fell upon him.
Contemporary English VersionAs the sun was setting, Abram fell into a deep sleep, and everything became dark and frightening.
English Revised VersionAnd when the sun was going down, a deep sleep fell upon Abram; and, lo, an horror of great darkness fell upon him.
GOD'S WORD® TranslationAs the sun was just about to set, a deep sleep-a dreadful, deep darkness-came over Abram.
Good News TranslationWhen the sun was going down, Abram fell into a deep sleep, and fear and terror came over him.
International Standard VersionAs the sun began to set, Abram was overcome with deep sleep, and suddenly a frightening and terrifying darkness descended on him.
NET BibleWhen the sun went down, Abram fell sound asleep, and great terror overwhelmed him.
New Heart English BibleWhen the sun was going down, a deep sleep fell on Abram. And look, a terror of great darkness fell on him.
Webster's Bible TranslationAnd when the sun was going down, a deep sleep fell upon Abram; and lo, a horror of great darkness fell upon him. Majority Text Translations Majority Standard BibleAs the sun was setting, Abram fell into a deep sleep, and suddenly great terror and darkness overwhelmed him.
World English BibleWhen the sun was going down, a deep sleep fell on Abram. Now terror and great darkness fell on him. Literal Translations Literal Standard VersionAnd the sun is about to go in, and deep sleep has fallen on Abram, and behold, a terror of great darkness is falling on him;
Young's Literal Translation And the sun is about to go in, and deep sleep hath fallen upon Abram, and lo, a terror of great darkness is falling upon him;
Smith's Literal TranslationAnd the sun shall be going down, and a deep sleep fell upon Abram, and behold terror and great darkness fell upon him. Catholic Translations Douay-Rheims BibleAnd when the sun was setting, a deep sleep fell upon Abram, and a great and darksome horror seized upon him.
Catholic Public Domain VersionAnd when the sun was setting, a deep sleep fell upon Abram, and a dread, great and dark, invaded him.
New American BibleAs the sun was about to set, a deep sleep fell upon Abram, and a great, dark dread descended upon him.
New Revised Standard VersionAs the sun was going down, a deep sleep fell upon Abram, and a deep and terrifying darkness descended upon him. Translations from Aramaic Lamsa BibleAnd when the sun was going down, a deep sleep fell on Abram; and, lo, fear and a great darkness fell upon him.
Peshitta Holy Bible TranslatedAnd it happened that the sun was setting, and silence fell on Abram, and behold, fear and great darkness fell upon him. OT Translations JPS Tanakh 1917And it came to pass, that, when the sun was going down, a deep sleep fell upon Abram; and, lo, a dread, even a great darkness, fell upon him.
Brenton Septuagint TranslationAnd about sunset a trance fell upon Abram, and lo! a great gloomy terror falls upon him.
Additional Translations ... Audio Bible
Context God Confirms His Promise… 11And the birds of prey descended on the carcasses, but Abram drove them away. 12As the sunwassetting,Abramfellintoa deep sleep,and suddenlygreatterrorand darknessoverwhelmedhim.13Then the LORD said to Abram, “Know for certain that your descendants will be strangers in a land that is not their own, and they will be enslaved and mistreated four hundred years.…
Cross References Exodus 10:21-23Then the LORD said to Moses, “Stretch out your hand toward heaven, so that darkness may spread over the land of Egypt—a palpable darkness.” / So Moses stretched out his hand toward heaven, and total darkness covered all the land of Egypt for three days. / No one could see anyone else, and for three days no one left his place. Yet all the Israelites had light in their dwellings.
Deuteronomy 4:11You came near and stood at the base of the mountain, a mountain blazing with fire to the heavens, with black clouds and deep darkness.
1 Samuel 26:12So David took the spear and water jug by Saul’s head, and they departed. No one saw them or knew about it, nor did anyone wake up; they all remained asleep, because a deep sleep from the LORD had fallen on them.
Job 4:13-14In disquieting visions in the night, when deep sleep falls on men, / fear and trembling came over me and made all my bones shudder.
Job 33:15In a dream, in a vision in the night, when deep sleep falls upon men as they slumber on their beds,
Psalm 18:9-11He parted the heavens and came down with dark clouds beneath His feet. / He mounted a cherub and flew; He soared on the wings of the wind. / He made darkness His hiding place, and storm clouds a canopy around Him.
Psalm 91:5-6You will not fear the terror of the night, nor the arrow that flies by day, / nor the pestilence that stalks in the darkness, nor the calamity that destroys at noon.
Isaiah 60:2For behold, darkness covers the earth, and thick darkness is over the peoples; but the LORD will rise upon you, and His glory will appear over you.
Jeremiah 13:16Give glory to the LORD your God before He brings darkness, before your feet stumble on the dusky mountains. You wait for light, but He turns it into deep gloom and thick darkness.
Ezekiel 32:7-8When I extinguish you, I will cover the heavens and darken their stars. I will cover the sun with a cloud, and the moon will not give its light. / All the shining lights in the heavens I will darken over you, and I will bring darkness upon your land,’ declares the Lord GOD.
Joel 2:2a day of darkness and gloom, a day of clouds and blackness. Like the dawn overspreading the mountains a great and strong army appears, such as never was of old, nor will ever be in ages to come.
Amos 5:18Woe to you who long for the Day of the LORD! What will the Day of the LORD be for you? It will be darkness and not light.
Zephaniah 1:15That day will be a day of wrath, a day of trouble and distress, a day of destruction and desolation, a day of darkness and gloom, a day of clouds and blackness,
Matthew 27:45From the sixth hour until the ninth hour darkness came over all the land.
Mark 15:33From the sixth hour until the ninth hour darkness came over all the land.
Treasury of Scripture And when the sun was going down, a deep sleep fell on Abram; and, see, an horror of great darkness fell on him. deep. Genesis 2:21 And the LORD God caused a deep sleep to fall upon Adam, and he slept: and he took one of his ribs, and closed up the flesh instead thereof; 1 Samuel 26:12 So David took the spear and the cruse of water from Saul's bolster; and they gat them away, and no man sawit, nor knewit, neither awaked: for theywere all asleep; because a deep sleep from the LORD was fallen upon them. Job 4:13,14 In thoughts from the visions of the night, when deep sleep falleth on men, … horror. Psalm 4:3-5 But know that the LORD hath set apart him that is godly for himself: the LORD will hear when I call unto him… Acts 9:8,9 And Saul arose from the earth; and when his eyes were opened, he saw no man: but they led him by the hand, and broughthim into Damascus… Jump to Previous AbramCloudDarkDarknessDeepDreadDreadfulFallenFallingFearFellGreatHorrorSettingSleepSunTerrorThickJump to Next AbramCloudDarkDarknessDeepDreadDreadfulFallenFallingFearFellGreatHorrorSettingSleepSunTerrorThickGenesis 15 1.God encourages Abram, who asks for an heir.4.God promises him a son, and a multiplying of his seed.6.Abram is justified by faith.7.Canaan is promised again,9.and confirmed by a sign, and a vision,18.prophetic of the condition of his posterity till brought out of Egypt.As the sun was settingThis phrase indicates the time of day, suggesting a transition from light to darkness, which often symbolizes a shift from clarity to mystery or revelation in biblical narratives. The setting sun can also signify the end of a day, metaphorically representing the end of an era or the beginning of a new covenant, as seen in the context of God's promises to Abram. Abram fell into a deep sleep
The deep sleep Abram experiences is reminiscent of the deep sleep God caused to fall upon Adam inGenesis 2:21. This sleep is not ordinary but divinely induced, suggesting a state where God can communicate profound truths or revelations. It signifies a moment of divine intervention where God is about to reveal His covenant and future plans to Abram. and suddenly great terror and darkness overwhelmed him
The terror and darkness that Abram experiences symbolize the gravity and seriousness of the revelation he is about to receive. Darkness often represents the unknown or the presence of God, as seen inExodus 20:21, where Moses approaches the thick darkness where God was. The terror could foreshadow the future suffering of Abram's descendants, as God reveals the prophecy of their enslavement in Egypt. This moment underscores the weight of the covenant and the trials that will precede the fulfillment of God's promises. Persons / Places / Events 1. AbramLater known as Abraham, he is a central figure in Genesis, chosen by God to be the father of many nations. In this passage, he is in a covenantal encounter with God. 2. The Deep SleepA divinely induced state that Abram falls into, symbolizing a significant moment of revelation and covenant-making with God. 3. Great Terror and DarknessRepresents the overwhelming presence of God and the seriousness of the covenant being established. It also foreshadows the future hardships that Abram's descendants will face. 4. The CovenantThis event is part of the larger account where God makes a covenant with Abram, promising him numerous descendants and the land of Canaan. 5. The Setting SunSymbolizes the transition into a new phase of revelation and the solemnity of the moment. Teaching Points The Significance of Divine EncountersAbram's deep sleep and the accompanying terror and darkness highlight the gravity and holiness of divine encounters. Believers should approach God's presence with reverence and awe. Understanding God's PromisesThe darkness and terror Abram experiences foreshadow the trials his descendants will face. This teaches us that God's promises often come with challenges, but His faithfulness remains. Faith in UncertaintyAbram's experience teaches us to trust God even when we face overwhelming situations. Faith involves believing in God's promises despite not seeing the full picture. The Role of CovenantThis passage underscores the importance of covenant in the biblical account. Understanding God's covenants helps us grasp His redemptive plan throughout Scripture. Preparation for Future GenerationsJust as Abram's experience was pivotal for his descendants, our faithfulness today can impact future generations. We are called to live in a way that prepares the way for God's work in the lives of those who come after us. Lists and Questions Top 10 Lessons from Genesis 15
What is the meaning of being slain in the Spirit?
What is the Abrahamic Covenant?
Does the claim that God caused Saul’s camp to fall into a deep sleep have any natural explanation, or is it purely supernatural? (1 Samuel 26:12)
What is the significance of 400 years in Egypt?(12) When the sun was going down.--The time described was the evening following the night on which he had received the assurance that his seed should be countless as the stars. He had then, in his trance, also asked for some security that Canaan should be the heritage of his posterity, and in answer had received the command to arrange, upon a large scale, the ceremonial of a solemn treaty-making. The morning had been spent in the performance of the command, and after wards he had watched, probably for several hours, by the side of the divided bodies, uncertain what would happen, but occupied in driving away the vultures, which gathered from all quarters round the abundant feast. At sunset the revelation came to him, not in a waking trance, as on the previous night, but in "a deep sleep," and with those accompaniments of terror so powerfully described in Job 4:12-16, and which the creature cannot but feel when brought near to the manifest presence of the Creator ( Daniel 10:8). Lo, an horror of great darkness fell upon him.--Heb.,lo, a terror, even great darkness, falling upon him.The terror was not mental so much as bodily, caused by a deep gloom settling round him, such as would be the effect of an eclipse of the setting sun, and shutting all mortal things away from his view. Verse 12. - And when the sun was going down. Literally, was about to go down (cf. Gesenius, § 132). The vision having commenced the previous evening, an entire day has already passed, the interval being designed to typify the time between the pro-raise and its fulfillment (Kalisch). A deep sleep - tardemah (cf. Adam s sleep, Genesis 2:21); ἔκστασις (LXX.); a supernatural slumber, as the darkness following was not solely due to natural causes - fell upon Abram; and, lo, an horror of great darkness - literally, an, horror, a great darkness, i.e. an overwhelming dread occasioned by the dense gloom with which he was encircled, and which, besides Being designed to conceal the working of the Deity from mortal vision (Knobel), was meant to symbolize the Egyptian bondage (Grotius, Calvin, Rosenmüller, Keil, Aalisch), and perhaps also, since Abram's faith embraced a larger sphere than Canaan ( Hebrews 11:10, 14, 16), and a nobler seed than Sarah's son ( John 8:56), the sufferings of Christ (Wordsworth, Inglis) - fell upon him.
Parallel Commentaries ...
Hebrew As the sunהַשֶּׁ֙מֶשׁ֙(haš·še·meš)Article | Noun - common singular
Strong's 8121:The sun, the east, a ray, a notched battlementwasוַיְהִ֤י(way·hî)Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 1961:To fall out, come to pass, become, besetting,לָב֔וֹא(lā·ḇō·w)Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct
Strong's 935:To come in, come, go in, goAbramאַבְרָ֑ם(’aḇ·rām)Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 87:Abram -- 'exalted father', the original name of Abrahamfellנָפְלָ֣ה(nā·p̄ə·lāh)Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person feminine singular
Strong's 5307:To fall, lieintoעַל־(‘al-)Preposition
Strong's 5921:Above, over, upon, againsta deep sleep,וְתַרְדֵּמָ֖ה(wə·ṯar·dê·māh)Conjunctive waw | Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 8639:A lethargy, tranceand suddenlyוְהִנֵּ֥ה(wə·hin·nêh)Conjunctive waw | Interjection
Strong's 2009:Lo! behold!greatגְדֹלָ֖ה(ḡə·ḏō·lāh)Adjective - feminine singular
Strong's 1419:Great, older, insolentterrorאֵימָ֛ה(’ê·māh)Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 367:Fright, an idoland darknessחֲשֵׁכָ֥ה(ḥă·šê·ḵāh)Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 2825:Darkness, miseryoverwhelmedנֹפֶ֥לֶת(nō·p̄e·leṯ)Verb - Qal - Participle - feminine singular
Strong's 5307:To fall, liehim.עָלָֽיו׃(‘ā·lāw)Preposition | third person masculine singular
Strong's 5921:Above, over, upon, against
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OT Law: Genesis 15:12 When the sun was going down (Gen. Ge Gn) |
