Bless Those Who Curse You: What Does Genesis 12:3 Mean?

Genesis 12:3 reads, “And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed.” King James Version (KJV)

TranslationGenesis 12:3
ESVI will bless those who bless you, and him who dishonors you I will curse, and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.”
NASBAnd I will bless those who bless you, And the one who curses you I will curse. And in you all the families of the earth will be blessed.”
NIVI will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you.”
NLTI will bless those who bless you and curse those who treat you with contempt. All the families on earth will be blessed through you.”

Also see, what does I Am My Beloved and My Beloved Is Mine mean? to learn more.

Bless Those Who Curse You: Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary

12:1-3 God made choice of Abram, and singled him out from among his fellow-idolaters, that he might reserve a people for himself, among whom his true worship might be maintained till the coming of Christ. From henceforward Abram and his seed are almost the only subject of the history in the Bible.

Abram was tried whether he loved God better than all, and whether he could willingly leave all to go with God. His kindred and his father’s house were a constant temptation to him, he could not continue among them without danger of being infected by them.

Those who leave their sins, and turn to God, will be unspeakable gainers by the change. The command God gave to Abram, is much the same with the gospel call, for natural affection must give way to Divine grace. Sin, and all the occasions of it, must be forsaken; particularly bad company.

Here are many great and precious promises. All God’s precepts are attended with promises to the obedient.

1. I will make of thee a great nation. When God took Abram from his own people, he promised to make him the head of another people.

2. I will bless thee. Obedient believers shall be sure to inherit the blessing.

3. I will make thy name great. The name of obedient believers shall certainly be made great.

4. Thou shalt be a blessing. Good men are the blessings of their country.

5. I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee. God will take care that none are losers, by any service done for his people.

6. In thee shall all the families of the earth be blessed. Jesus Christ is the great blessing of the world, the greatest that ever the world possessed. All the true blessedness the world is now, or ever shall be possessed of, is owing to Abram and his posterity.

Through them we have a Bible, a Saviour, and a gospel. They are the stock on which the Christian church is grafted.

Also see, what does I Will Have Mercy On Whom I Will Have Mercy mean? to learn more.

Genesis 12:3 | Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

Ge 12:1-20. Call to Abram.

1. Now the Lord had said unto Abram—It pleased God, who has often been found of them who sought Him not, to reveal Himself to Abraham perhaps by a miracle; and the conversion of Abraham is one of the most remarkable in Bible history.

Get thee out of thy country—His being brought to the knowledge and worship of the true God had probably been a considerable time before.

This call included two promises: the first, showing the land of his future posterity; and the second, that in his posterity all the earth was to be blessed (Ge 12:2). Abraham obeyed, and it is frequently mentioned in the New Testament as a striking instance of his faith (Heb 11:8).

Also see, what does I and the Father Are One mean? to learn more.

Daniel Isaiah Joseph

Daniel's seminary degree is in Exegetical Theology. He was a pastor for 10 years. As a professor, he has taught Bible and theology courses at two Christian universities. Please see his About page for details.

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