Abram believed the LORD
This phrase highlights Abram's faith, which is central to his relationship with God. In the context of Genesis 15, God had just promised Abram numerous descendants and land. Abram's belief is significant because it occurs before the fulfillment of these promises, demonstrating trust in God's word. This act of faith is foundational in the biblical narrative and is later referenced in the New Testament, particularly in Romans 4:3 and Galatians 3:6, where Paul uses Abram's faith as a model for Christian belief. Abram's faith is not based on visible evidence but on the assurance of God's promise, illustrating the essence of faith as described in Hebrews 11:1.

and it was credited to him
The term "credited" is an accounting term, indicating that something is reckoned or counted. In the cultural and historical context, this implies a legal or formal acknowledgment of a status or condition. This concept of crediting righteousness is pivotal in understanding the doctrine of justification by faith, which is a cornerstone of Christian theology. It suggests that righteousness is not earned by works but is granted by God through faith. This principle is further elaborated in the New Testament, where it is applied to all believers, showing that righteousness before God is a gift, not a result of human effort.

as righteousness
Righteousness in this context refers to a right standing before God. In the ancient Near Eastern context, righteousness was often associated with fulfilling obligations in relationships, whether with God or with others. Abram's faith is seen as fulfilling his relational obligation to trust God, and thus God considers him righteous. This sets a precedent for the biblical theme that righteousness is based on faith rather than adherence to the law, a theme that is central to the teachings of Jesus and the apostles. The concept of righteousness through faith is also prophetic, pointing to the coming of Jesus Christ, who embodies perfect righteousness and offers it to believers through faith in Him.

1. Abram (Abraham)
A key patriarch in the Bible, Abram is called by God to leave his homeland and is promised to be the father of a great nation. His faith is central to this passage.

2. The LORD (Yahweh)
The covenant-making God who speaks to Abram, promising him descendants as numerous as the stars.

3. Covenant Promise
This event is part of God's covenant with Abram, where God promises him numerous descendants and land.Faith as Righteousness
Abram's belief in God's promise was counted as righteousness, illustrating that faith, not works, is the basis of a right relationship with God.

The Nature of Faith
True faith involves trust and reliance on God's promises, even when circumstances seem impossible.

God's Faithfulness
God's promises are sure, and He is faithful to fulfill them, as seen in His covenant with Abram.

Imputed Righteousness
Just as Abram's faith was credited as righteousness, believers today are justified by faith in Christ.

Living by Faith
Believers are called to live by faith, trusting in God's promises and His plan for their lives.(6) He believed in the Lord (in Jehovah) . . . --We have here the germ of the doctrine of free justification. Abram was both a holy man and one who proved his faith by his works; but nevertheless the inspired narrator inserts this reflection, not after the history of the offering of Isaac, but in the account of this vision, where all that Abram did was to believe, and for that belief's sake was accounted righteous before God. For the definite conclusions deduced from this verse by St. Paul see Romans 4. The quotation there is from the LXX., and gives the general sense, but the correct rendering of the Hebrew is that given in our version.

Verse 6. - And he believed in the Lord. The hiphil of the verb aman, to prop or stay, signifies to build upon, hence to rest one's faith upon; and this describes exactly the mental act of the patriarch, who reposed his confidence in the Divine character, and based his hope of a future seed on the Divine word. And he counted it to him. Ἐλογίσθη αὐτῷ (LXX.), which is followed by nearly all the ancient versions, and by Paul in Romans 4:3; but the suffix ך (a feminine for a neuter, as in Job 5:9; Psalm 12:4; Psalm 27:4; vide Glass, ' Phil,' lib. 3. cp. 1:19), clearly indicates the object of the action expressed by the verb הָשַׁב, to think, to meditate, and then to impute (λογίζομαι), followed by לְ of pers. and acc. of the thing (cf. 2 Samuel 19:20; Psalm 32:2). The thing in this case was his faith in the Divine promise. For righteousness. צְדְקְהְ - εἰς δίκαιοσύνην (LXX.); neither for merit and justice (Rabbi Solomon, Jarchi, Ealiseh), nor as a proof of his probity (Gesenius, Rosenmüller); but unto and with a view to justification (Romans 4:3), so that God treated him as a righteous person (A Lapide), not, however, in the sense that he was now "correspondent to the will of God both in character and conduct" (Keil), but in the sense that he was now before God accepted and forgiven' (Luther, Calvin, Murphy, Candlish), which "passive righteousness, however, ultimately wrought in him an "active righteousness of complete conformity to the Divine will" ('Speaker's Commentary').

CHAPTER 15:7-21

Parallel Commentaries ...

Abram believed
וְהֶאֱמִ֖ן (wə·he·’ĕ·min)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 539: To confirm, support

the LORD,
בַּֽיהוָ֑ה (Yah·weh)
Preposition-b | Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3068: LORD -- the proper name of the God of Israel

and it was credited
וַיַּחְשְׁבֶ֥הָ (way·yaḥ·šə·ḇe·hā)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular | third person feminine singular
Strong's 2803: To think, account

to him
לּ֖וֹ (lōw)
Preposition | third person masculine singular
Strong's Hebrew

as righteousness.
צְדָקָֽה׃ (ṣə·ḏā·qāh)
Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 6666: Rightness, subjectively, objectively


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OT Law: Genesis 15:6 He believed in Yahweh (Gen. Ge Gn)