Genesis 15:21 Meaning and Explanation
“And the Amorites, and the Canaanites, and the Girgashites, and the Jebusites.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →God completes the list of nations, naming the Amorites, Canaanites, Girgashites, and Jebusites.
The Context of Genesis 15:21
God completes the enumeration of nations, sealing the full scope of the land covenant.
What Does Genesis 15:21 Mean?
The final group includes the Amorites (specifically named earlier as the subject of God's judgment in verse 16), the Canaanites (the primary inhabitants of the land), the Girgashites, and the Jebusites. With these names, God completes the roster of peoples whose land is promised to Abram's seed. Ten nations in all are listed—a complete enumeration suggesting the totality of what will be given.
The Jebusites notably hold Jerusalem, the city that will become the spiritual center of Israel. The mention here looks forward to Jerusalem's eventual capture and role in God's covenant purposes. The completed list represents the full scope of what is being sworn to Abram: a land inhabited by powerful, established nations that will ultimately be displaced as God's word is fulfilled.
Frequently Asked Questions About Genesis 15:21
What does Genesis 15:21 mean?
God completes the list of nations, naming the Amorites, Canaanites, Girgashites, and Jebusites.
What is the context of Genesis 15:21?
God completes the enumeration of nations, sealing the full scope of the land covenant.