What Does Genesis 18:18 Mean in the King James?

Seeing that Abraham shall surely become a great and mighty nation, and all the nations of the earth shall be blessed in him?

Genesis 18:18 · KJV

The analysis reads the King James wording.

King James Version The King James Version, first published in 1611. Selah Verse shows the standard text.

This verse in the Selah Decoded Version

THE KEY

The root of “blessed” links blessing with bending the knee, while the verse shows that blessing reaching the nations through Abraham.

THE MEANING

The promise binds Abraham’s becoming a great and mighty nation to all the nations of the earth being blessed in him. His growing reach carries something beyond himself.

WHAT THIS UNDOES

Greatness is only for the benefit of the one who becomes great.

THE ROOT

וְנִבְרְכוּ

wenivrekhu

GROWS FROM

ברך

Bend the knee; bless.

“shall be blessed” in this verse is wenivrekhu. The Hebrew verb comes from ⁨ברך⁩, a root that also names the knee. The verse places the nations’ blessing “in” Abraham, showing it as something that reaches outward through him.

ALSO GROWS

berekh: Knee

בֶּרֶךְ

This branch preserves the root’s image of bending the knee beneath the verse’s word for blessing.

berakhah: Blessing

בְּרָכָה

This noun from the same root names the blessing that the verse says reaches all nations in Abraham.

THE PATTERN

The promise links blessing for the nations with a person through whom it reaches them.

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.

Genesis 12:3 · KJVThe same root for “bless” ties the promise to Abraham’s life to blessing for the families of the earth.

His name shall endure for ever: his name shall be continued as long as the sun: and men shall be blessed in him: all nations shall call him blessed.

Psalm 72:17 · KJVThe verse echoes the pattern of blessing reaching all nations through a person.

And the scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the heathen through faith, preached before the gospel unto Abraham, saying, In thee shall all nations be blessed.

Galatians 3:8 · KJVIt repeats the promise to Abraham as a blessing that reaches the nations.

THE THREAD

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.

Genesis 12:3 · KJV

The same ⁨ברך⁩ (barak, bless) root appears in “bless” and “be blessed,” linking this promise to the earlier words spoken to Abraham. Genesis 18:18 names all the nations of the earth; Genesis 12:3 names all the families of the earth.

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