Genesis 15 · Verse 16

Genesis 15:16

But in the fourth generation they shall come hither again: for the iniquity of the Amorites is not yet full.
Genesis 15:16, King James Version

Genesis 15:16 in other translations

BSBIn the fourth generation your descendants will return here, for the iniquity of the Amorites is not yet complete.”
WEBIn the fourth generation they will come here again, for the iniquity of the Amorite is not yet full.”
ASVAnd in the fourth generation they shall come hither again: for the iniquity of the Amorite is not yet full.
YLTand the fourth generation doth turn back hither, for the iniquity of the Amorite is not yet complete.'
DARBYAnd in the fourth generation they shall come hither again; for the iniquity of the Amorites is not yet full.
BBEAnd in the fourth generation they will come back here; for at present the sin of the Amorite is not full.
WebsterBut in the fourth generation they shall come hither again: for the iniquity of the Amorites is not yet full.

What does Genesis 15:16 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Genesis 15:9-21

9-21. Take me an heifer, &c.--On occasions of great importance, when two or more parties join in a compact, they either observe precisely the same rites as Abram did, or, where they do not, they invoke the lamp as their witness. According to these ideas, which have been from time immemorial engraven on the minds of Eastern people, the Lord Himself condescended to enter into covenant with Abram. The patriarch did not…

Read the full comment on Genesis 15:9-21 →

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 16 In the fourth generation - In former times most people counted by generations, to each of which was assigned a term of years amounting to 20, 25, 30, 33, 100, 108, or 110; for the generation was of various lengths among various people, at different times. It is probable that the fourth generation here means the same as the four hundred years in the preceding verse. Some think it refers to the time when Eleazar, the son of Aaron, the son of Amram, the son of Kohath, came out of Egypt, and divided the land of Canaan to Israel, Jos 14:1. Others think the fourth generation of the Amorites is intended, because it is immediately added, The iniquity of the Amorites is not yet full; but in the fourth generation they should be expelled, and the descendants of Abram established in their place. From these words we learn that there is a certain pitch of iniquity to which nations may arrive before they are destroyed, and beyond which Divine justice does not permit them to pass.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Genesis 15:12-16

A deep sleep fell upon Abram; with this sleep a horror of great darkness fell upon him: a sudden change. The children of light do not always walk in the light. Several things were then foretold. 1. The suffering state of Abram's seed for a long time. They shall be strangers. The heirs of heaven are strangers on earth. They shall be servants; but Canaanites serve under a curse, the Hebrews under a blessing. They…

Read the full comment on Genesis 15:12-16 →

Genesis 15:16 in the original Hebrew

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

וְד֥וֹרve.Dorand [the] generationH1755
רְבִיעִ֖יre.vi.'IfourthH7243
יָשׁ֣וּבוּya.Shu.vuthey will returnH7725
הֵ֑נָּהHe.nahhitherH2008
כִּ֧יkiforH3588
לֹא\־lo'-notH3808
שָׁלֵ֛םsha.Lem[is] completeH8003
עֲוֹ֥ן'a.Von[the] iniquity ofH5771
הָאֱמֹרִ֖יha.'e.mo.Rithe Amorite[s]H567
עַד\־'ad-untilH5704
הֵֽנָּה\׃He.nahnowH2008

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Genesis 15:16

  • 1 Kings 21:26

    And he did very abominably in following idols, according to all things as did the Amorites, whom the Lord cast out before the children of Israel.

  • Daniel 8:23

    And in the latter time of their kingdom, when the transgressors are come to the full, a king of fierce countenance, and understanding dark sentences, shall stand up.

  • Matthew 23:32-35

    Fill ye up then the measure of your fathers. Ye serpents, ye generation of vipers, how can ye escape the damnation of hell? Wherefore, behold, I send unto you prophets, and wise men, and scribes: and some of them ye shall kill and crucify; and some of them shall ye scourge in your synagogues, and persecute them from city to city: That upon you may come all the righteous blood shed upon the earth, from the blood of righteous Abel unto the blood of Zacharias son of Barachias, whom ye slew between the temple and the altar.

  • Exodus 12:40

    Now the sojourning of the children of Israel, who dwelt in Egypt, was four hundred and thirty years.

  • 1 Thessalonians 2:16

    Forbidding us to speak to the Gentiles that they might be saved, to fill up their sins alway: for the wrath is come upon them to the uttermost.

  • 2 Peter 3:8-9

    But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.

  • Zechariah 5:5-11

    Then the angel that talked with me went forth, and said unto me, Lift up now thine eyes, and see what is this that goeth forth. And I said, What is it? And he said, This is an ephah that goeth forth. He said moreover, This is their resemblance through all the earth. And, behold, there was lifted up a talent of lead: and this is a woman that sitteth in the midst of the ephah. And he said, This is wickedness. And he cast it into the midst of the ephah; and he cast the weight of lead upon the mouth thereof. …

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
in the.
Ex 12:40
Amorites.
1Ki 21:26; 2Pe 3:8,9
not.
Da 8:23; Zec 5:5-11; Mt 23:32-35; 1Th 2:16

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • Genesis 15:15

    And thou shalt go to thy fathers in peace; thou shalt be buried in a good old age.

  • Genesis 15:16

    But in the fourth generation they shall come hither again: for the iniquity of the Amorites is not yet full.

  • Genesis 15:17

    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.

Read all of Genesis 15

Genesis 15:16 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Y en la cuarta generación volverán acá: porque aun no está cumplida la maldad del Amorrheo hasta aquí.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Et en la quatrième génération ils reviendront ici, car l’iniquité des Amoréens n’est pas encore venue à son comble.
German
Elberfelder 1871		Und im vierten Geschlecht werden sie hierher zurückkehren; denn die Ungerechtigkeit der Amoriter ist bis hierher noch nicht voll.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Generatione autem quarta revertentur huc: necdum enim completæ sunt iniquitates Amorrhæorum usque ad præsens tempus.