Genesis 12:2

Genesis 12:2

And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing:

a. NLT: I will make you into a great nation. I will bless you and make you famous, and you will be a blessing to others.

b. NIV: “I will make you into a great nation, and I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing.

c. YLT: And I make thee become a great nation, and bless thee, and make thy name great; and be thou a blessing.

d. Amplified Bible: And I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you [with abundant increase of favors] and make your name famous and distinguished, and you will be a blessing [dispensing good to others].

e. Septuagint: And I will make thee a great nation, and I will bless thee and magnify thy name, and thou shalt be blessed. 

f. Stone Edition Torah/Writings/Prophets: And I will make of you a great nation; I will bless you, and make your name great, and you shall be a blessing.

1. “And I will make of thee a great nation…”

a. I will make of thee [6213 * ‘asah] [Strong: a primitive root; to do or make, in the broadest sense and widest application (as follows):--accomplish, advance, appoint, apt, be at, become, bear, bestow, bring forth, bruise, be busy, X certainly, have the charge of, commit, deal (with), deck, + displease, do, (ready) dress(-ed), (put in) execute(-ion), exercise, fashion, + feast, (fight-)ing man, + finish, fit, fly, follow, fulfill, furnish, gather, get, go about, govern, grant, great, + hinder, hold ((a feast)), X indeed, + be industrious, + journey, keep, labour, maintain, make, be meet, observe, be occupied, offer, + officer, pare, bring (come) to pass, perform, pracise, prepare, procure, provide, put, requite, X sacrifice, serve, set, shew, X sin, spend, X surely, take, X thoroughly, trim, X very, + vex, be (warr-)ior, work(-man), yield, use.]

b. a great [1419 * gadowl] [Strong: from 1431; great (in any sense); hence, older; also insolent:--+ aloud, elder(-est), + exceeding(-ly), + far, (man of) great (man, matter, thing,-er,-ness), high, long, loud, mighty, more, much, noble, proud thing, X sore, (X ) very.]

c. nation [1471 * gowy] [Strong: apparently from the same root as 1465 (in the sense of massing); a foreign nation; hence, a Gentile; also (figuratively) a troop of animals, or a flight of locusts:--Gentile, heathen, nation, people.]

1). This was fulfilled in Israel, but God broadened it to many nations. Abram’s name was changed to Abraham-a father of many nations.

a). Genesis 17:5, 6 Neither shall thy name any more be called Abram, but thy name shall be Abraham; for a father of many nations have I made thee.

17:6 And I will make thee exceeding fruitful, and I will make nations of thee, and kings shall come out of thee.

b). Fulfilled physically in Isaac: Genesis 17:15-17; 15:21; in Ishmael: Genesis 17:20; the children of Keturah: Genesis 25:1-4; and concubines: Genesis 25:5, 6.

2). The Milennial Kingdom, John Walvoord, p.140.  “Abraham himself is promised that he would be the father of a great nation (Genesis 12:2), compared to the dust of the earth and the stars of the heaven in number (Genesis 13:16; 15:5), and including kings and nations other than the “seed” itself (Genesis 17:6). God promises His personal blessing on Abraham. His name shall be great and he himself shall be a blessing. All of this has had already the most literal fulfillment and continues to be fulfilled.”

2. “…and I will bless thee, and make thy name great…”

a. I will bless thee [1288 * barak] [Strong: a primitive root; to kneel; by implication to bless God (as an act of adoration), and (vice-versa) man (as a benefit); also (by euphemism) to curse (God or the king, as treason):--X abundantly, X altogether, X at all, blaspheme, bless, congratulate, curse, X greatly, X indeed, kneel (down), praise, salute, X still, thank.]

b. and make…great [1431 * gadal] [Strong:  a primitive root; properly, to twist (Compare 1434), i.e. to be (causatively make) large (in various senses, as in body, mind, estate or honor, also in pride):--advance, boast, bring up, exceed, excellent, be(-come, do, give, make, wax), great(-er, come to...estate, + things), grow(up),increase, lift up, magnify(-ifical), be much set by, nourish (up), pass, promote, proudly (spoken), tower.]

c. thy name [8034 * shem] [Strong: a primitive word (perhaps rather from 7760 through the idea of definite and conspicuous position; Compare 8064); an appellation, as a mark or memorial of individuality; by implication honor, authority, character:--+ base, (in-)fame(-ous), named(-d), renown, report.]

1). The three largest religions of the earth all claim Abraham as their progenitor; Judaism, Christianity, and Islam making Abraham one of the greatest personalities in human history.

3. “…and thou shalt be a blessing:”

a. thou shalt be a blessing [1293 * Brakah] [Strong: from 1288; benediction; by implication prosperity:--blessing, liberal, pool, present.]