Genesis 12:1
“Now the LORD had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father’s house, unto a land that I will shew thee:”
King James Version (KJV)
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Read Full Chapter →Context
This verse opens the story of Abram, marking God's call to him in Haran and the beginning of His covenant dealings with one family.
What Does Genesis 12:1 Mean?
Genesis 12:1 means that God called Abram to leave behind everything familiar -- his country, his extended family, and his father's household -- and to set out for a land God would only show him along the way. This call marks a decisive new beginning in Scripture, as God singles out one man through whom He will work His purposes for the world.
The command grows more costly with each phrase: leave your "country," then your "kindred," then your "father's house" -- moving from the broad to the intimate, asking Abram to release his deepest ties. And the destination is left undefined: "unto a land that I will shew thee." Abram is not told where he is going, only that God will guide him there. This is the heart of faith -- trusting God enough to take the first step before the whole path is visible. The call requires both letting go and going forward, surrendering security for the sake of obedience. God does not promise an easy road, but He promises His own leading. Abram's willingness to obey such a call becomes a pattern for all who would walk with God.
In the Original Language
The Hebrew "lek lekha" (get thee out) is an emphatic command to go, while "erets" (land, country) names what Abram must leave and the land he is promised.
Cross References
“By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went.”
- Hebrews 11:8
“And said unto him, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and come into the land which I shall shew thee.”
- Acts 7:3
“So Abram departed, as the LORD had spoken unto him; and Lot went with him.”
- Genesis 12:4
Application
When God calls you to step out before you can see the whole way, trust His leading enough to take the first step in obedience.