The Call of Abram- Gen. 12:3

Gen. 12:3 And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed.

Bless the families of the earth through him (Gen. 12:3). To bless or curse Abram was to bless or curse Abram’s God. Unfortunately God often had to use other nations to discipline His people because, far from being a blessing to the world, they were usually disobedient. The third promise takes on its greatest fulfillment in the fact that Jesus Christ became the means of blessing to the world (Gal. 3:8, 3:16; cf. Rom. 9:5).

And I will bless...

בּרך

bârak

Definition:

1) to bless, kneel

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to kneel

1a2) to bless

1b) (Niphal) to be blessed, bless oneself

1c) (Piel) to bless

1d) (Pual) to be blessed, be adored

1e) (Hiphil) to cause to kneel

1f) (Hithpael) to bless oneself

2) to praise, salute, curse

Part of Speech: verb

them that bless...

(Pual) to be blessed, be adore

The idea of faith is stressed in these passages. Abram was told to leave several things - his “country,” his people, and his father’s household (Gen. 12:1). But he was told nothing about the land to which he must go. His departure required an unparalleled act of faith.

thee, and curse...

ארר

'ârar

Definition:

1) to curse

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to curse

1a2) cursed be he (participle used pr in curses)

1b) (Niphal) to be cursed, cursed

1c) (Piel) to curse, lay under a curse, put a curse on

1d) (Hophal) to be made a curse, be cursed

Part of Speech: verb

him that curseth...

קלל

qâlal

Definition:

1) to be slight, be swift, be trifling, be of little account, be light

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to be slight, be abated (of water)

1a2) to be swift

1a3) to be trifling, be of little account

1b) (Niphal)

1b1) to be swift, show oneself swift

1b2) to appear trifling, be too trifling, be insignificant

1b3) to be lightly esteemed

1c) (Piel)

1c1) to make despicable

1c2) to curse

1d) (Pual) to be cursed

1e) (Hiphil)

1e1) to make light, lighten

1e2) to treat with contempt, bring contempt or dishonour

1f) (Pilpel)

1f1) to shake

1f2) to whet

1g) (Hithpalpel) to shake oneself, be moved to and fro

Part of Speech: verb

thee: and in thee shall all...

כּול / כּל

kôl / kôl

Definition:

1) all, the whole

1a) all, the whole of

1b) any, each, every, anything

1c) totality, everything

Part of Speech: noun masculine

families...

משׁפּחה

mishpâchâh

Definition:

1) clan, family

1a) clan

1a1) family

1a2) tribe

1a3) people, nation

1b) guild

1c) species, kind

1d) aristocrats

Part of Speech: noun feminine

of the earth...

אדמה

'ădâmâh

Definition:

1) ground, land

1a) ground (as general, tilled, yielding sustenance)

1b) piece of ground, a specific plot of land

1c) earth substance (for building or constructing)

1d) ground as earth’s visible surface

1e) land, territory, country

1f) whole inhabited earth

1g) city in Naphtali

Part of Speech: noun feminine

be blessed...

בּרך

bârak

Definition:

1) to bless, kneel

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to kneel

1a2) to bless

1b) (Niphal) to be blessed, bless oneself

1c) (Piel) to bless

1d) (Pual) to be blessed, be adored

1e) (Hiphil) to cause to kneel

1f) (Hithpael) to bless oneself

2) to praise, salute, curse

Part of Speech: verb

The themes of blessing and cursing are heightened here. In fact this is the central passage of the Book of Genesis. Here begins the program that was so desperately needed in chapters 1-11 (a purpose of which was to show that this blessing was needed). This was the call; Abram responded to it by faith. The ensuing promises were formulated later, under covenant conditions (Gen. 15:8-21).