THE
Devotional
bible
Includes over 300 devotional thoughts from CWR’s daily Bible-reading notes
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The Devotional Bible copyright © CWR 2009 Published 2009 by CWR, Waverley Abbey House, Waverley Lane, Farnham, Surrey GU9 8EP, UK. Registered Charity No. 294387. Registered Limited Company No. 1990308.
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Holman Christian Standard Bible Copyright © 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission. Holman Christian Standard Bible Holman CSB and HCSB are federally registered trademarks of Holman Bible Publishers.
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Devotional material is taken from issues of CWR’s daily devotional notes Every Day with Jesus, Inspiring Women Every Day, Lucas on Life Every Day and Cover to Cover Every Day, by various named writers. ‘Names of God’ and ‘Emblems of the Holy Spirit’ sections are from Every Day with Jesus by Selwyn Hughes. ‘Bible Characters’ sections, from Cover to Cover Bible Companion and Cover to Cover website, and Introductions to Bible books written by Ian Sewter. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without the prior permission in writing of CWR. For list of National Distributors visit www.cwr.org.uk Concept development, editing, design and production by CWR. Printed in China by Nanjing Amity Printing Co. Ltd. ISBN: 978-1-85345-527-8 Further information and an introduction to the Holman CSB translation can be found on CWR’s website: www.cwr.org.uk/hcsbintro
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Books of the bible
books of the bible old testament Genesis Exodus Leviticus Numbers Deuteronomy Joshua Judges Ruth 1 Samuel 2 Samuel 1 Kings 2 Kings 1 Chronicles 2 Chronicles Ezra Nehemiah Esther Job Psalms Proverbs
Gn Ex Lv Nm Dt Jos Jdg Ru 1 Sm 2 Sm 1 Kg 2 Kg 1 Ch 2 Ch Ezr Neh Est Jb Ps(s) Pr
6 82 143 186 248 300 337 372 378 425 465 512 558 603 655 672 695 707 758 884
Ecclesiastes Song of Songs Isaiah Jeremiah Lamentations Ezekiel Daniel Hosea Joel Amos Obadiah Jonah Micah Nahum Habakkuk Zephaniah Haggai Zechariah Malachi
Ec Sg Is Jr Lm Ezk Dn Hs Jl Am Ob Jnh Mc Nah Hab Zph Hg Zch Mal
932 945 954 1050 1146 1159 1236 1260 1275 1282 1295 1298 1302 1312 1317 1322 1328 1332 1346
1 Tm 2 Tm Ti Phm Heb Jms 1 Pt 2 Pt 1 Jn 2 Jn 3 Jn Jd Rv
1683 1690 1695 1698 1700 1717 1723 1730 1734 1741 1743 1745 1748
new testament Matthew Mark Luke John Acts Romans 1 Corinthians 2 Corinthians Galatians Ephesians Philippians Colossians 1 Thessalonians 2 Thessalonians
Mt Mk Lk Jn Ac Rm 1 Co 2 Co Gl Eph Php Col 1 Th 2 Th
1352 1405 1438 1494 1536 1589 1612 1633 1647 1655 1663 1669 1675 1680
1 Timothy 2 Timothy Titus Philemon Hebrews James 1 Peter 2 Peter 1 John 2 John 3 John Jude Revelation
Additional Material Plan of Salvation
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Holman CSB Bullet notes
1775
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plan of salvation
plan of salvation What do you understand it takes for a person to go to heaven? Consider how the Bible answers this question: It’s a matter of FAITH. F is for FORGIVENESS We cannot have eternal life and heaven without God’s forgiveness.—Read Ephesians 1:7a. A is for AVAILABLE Forgiveness is available. It is— • Available for all. • But not automatic.
—Read John 3:16. —Read Matthew 7:21a.
I is for IMPOSSIBLE It is impossible for God to allow sin into heaven. • Because of who He is: God is loving and just. His judgment is against sin.
—Read James 2:13a.
• Because of who we are: Every person is a sinner.
—Read Romans 3:23.
But how can a sinful person enter heaven, when God allows no sin? T is for TURN Turn means to repent. • Turn from something—sin and self.
—Read Luke 13:3b.
• Turn to Someone; trust Christ only.
—Read Romans 10:9.
H is for HEAVEN Heaven is eternal life. • Here. • Hereafter.
—Read John 10:10b. —Read John 14:3.
How can a person have God’s forgiveness, heaven and eternal life, and Jesus as personal Saviour and Lord? By trusting in Christ and asking Him for forgiveness. Take the step of faith described by another meaning of FAITH: Forsaking All I Trust Him. Prayer: Lord Jesus, I know I am a sinner and have displeased You in many ways. I believe You died for my sin and only through faith in Your death and resurrection can I be forgiven. I want to turn from my sin and ask You to come into my life as my Saviour and Lord. From this day on, I will follow You by living a life that pleases You. Thank You, Lord Jesus for saving me. Amen. After you have received Jesus Christ into your life, tell a Christian friend about this important decision you have made. Follow Christ in believers’ baptism and church membership. Grow in your faith and enjoy new friends in Christ by becoming part of His Church. There, you’ll find others who will love and support you.
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old testament
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introduction
genesis introduction The key word to describe Genesis is ‘beginnings’. Here we see the beginning of creation, the beginning of the human race, the beginning of sin and the beginning of God’s great plan of redemption. Human failure is everywhere met by divine grace.
Key verse ‘In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.’ Genesis 1:1
Christ in Genesis Genesis 3:15 is regarded as the foundational prophecy of a coming Saviour. Jesus is also seen through various characters and events which are described as ‘types’ or ‘patterns’ (see Romans 5:14). Adam is a type of Christ as the progenitor of a new creation; the ark is a symbol of Christ as a means of deliverance from God’s punishment of sin; Melchizedek is an original king and priest with no known ancestors; Isaac is a pattern of Christ as a son sacrificed by his father; Joseph is a type of Christ loved by his father, sold for silver and rejected by his brothers but eventually the means of their salvation. introduction
The Creation In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. 2 Now the earth was a formless and empty, darkness covered the surface of the watery depths, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the surface of the waters. 3Then God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light. 4God saw that the light was good, and God separated the light from the darkness. 5God called the light “day,” and He called the dark-
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ness “night.” Evening came, and then morning: the first day. 6 Then God said, “Let there be an expanse b between the waters, separating water from water.” 7So God made the expanse and separated the water under the expanse from the water above the expanse. And it was so. 8God called the expanse “sky.” c Evening came, and then morning: the second day. 9 Then God said, “Let the water under the sky be gathered into one
a 1:1–2 Or When God began to create the sky and the earth, 2 the earth was b 1:6 The Hb word for expanse is from a root meaning “to spread out, stamp, beat firmly,” which suggests something like a dome; Jb 37:16–18; Is 40:22. c 1:8 Or “heavens”
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GENESIS 1:30
place, and let the dry land appear.” And it was so. 10God called the dry land “earth,” and He called the gathering of the water “seas.” And God saw that it was good. 11Then God said, “Let the earth produce vegetation: seed-bearing plants, and fruit trees on the earth bearing fruit with seed in it, according to their kinds.” And it was so. 12The earth brought forth vegetation: seed-bearing plants according to their kinds and trees bearing fruit with seed in it, according to their kinds. And God saw that it was good. 13 Evening came, and then morning: the third day. 14 Then God said, “Let there be lights in the expanse of the sky to separate the day from the night. They will serve as signs for festivals and for days and years. 15They will be lights in the expanse of the sky to provide light on the earth.” And it was so. 16 God made the two great lights—the greater light to have dominion over the day and the lesser light to have dominion over the night—as well as the stars. 17God placed them in the expanse of the sky to provide light on the earth, 18to dominate the day and the night, and to separate light from darkness. And God saw that it was good. 19Evening came, and then morning: the fourth day. 20 Then God said, “Let the water swarm with a living creatures, and let birds fly above the earth across the expanse of the sky.” 21So God created the large sea-creatures b and every living creature that moves and swarms in the water, according to their kinds. [He also created] every winged bird a e
1:20 Lit with swarms of b 1:21 Or created sea monsters 1:28 Lit and all scurrying animals that scurry
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c
according to its kind. And God saw that it was good. 22So God blessed them, “Be fruitful, multiply, and fill the waters of the seas, and let the birds multiply on the earth.” 23Evening came, and then morning: the fifth day. 24 Then God said, “Let the earth produce living creatures according to their kinds: livestock, creatures that crawl, and the wildlife of the earth according to their kinds.” And it was so. 25So God made the wildlife of the earth according to their kinds, the livestock according to their kinds, and creatures that crawl on the ground according to their kinds. And God saw that it was good. 26 Then God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness. They will rule the fish of the sea, the birds of the sky, the livestock, all the earth, c and the creatures that crawl d on the earth.”
So God created man in His own image; He created him in the image of God; He created them male and female. 27
God blessed them, and God said to them, “Be fruitful, multiply, fill the earth, and subdue it. Rule the fish of the sea, the birds of the sky, and every creature that crawls e on the earth.” 29 God also said, “Look, I have given you every seed-bearing plant on the surface of the entire earth, and every tree whose fruit contains seed. This food will be for you, 30for all the wildlife of the earth, for every bird of the 28
1:26 Syr reads sky, and over every animal of the land
d
1:26 Lit scurry
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GENESIS 1:31
sky, and for every creature that crawls on the earth—everything having the breath of life in it. [I have given] every green plant for food.” And it was so. 31 God saw all that He had made, and it was very good. Evening came, and then morning: the sixth day. So the heavens and the earth and everyt hing in them a were completed. 2By the seventh b day, God completed His work that He had done, and He rested c on the seventh day from all His work that He had done. 3God blessed the seventh day and declared it holy, for on it He rested from His work of creation. d
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Man and Woman in the Garden 4 These are the records of the heavens and the earth, concerning their creation at the time e that the LORD God made the earth and the heavens. 5No shrub of the field had yet [grown] on the land, f and no plant of the field had yet sprouted, for the LORD God had not made it rain on the land, and there was no man to work the ground. 6 But water would come out of the ground and water the entire surface of the land. 7Then the LORD God formed the man out of the dust from the ground and breathed the breath of life into his nostrils, and the man became a living being. 8 The LORD God planted a garden in Eden, in the east, and there He placed the man He had formed. 9The LORD God caused to grow out of the ground every tree pleasing in appearance and good for food, including the tree of life in the midst of the garden, as well as the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.
A river went g out from Eden to water the garden. From there it divided and became the source of four rivers. h 11The name of the first is Pishon, which encircles the entire land of the Havilah, where there is gold. 12Gold from that land is pure; i bdellium j and onyx k are also there. 13 The name of the second river is Gihon, which encircles the entire land of •Cush. 14The name of the third river is the Tigris, which flows to the east of Assyria. And the fourth river is the Euphrates. 15 The LORD God took the man and placed him in the garden of Eden to work it and watch over it. 16And the LORD God commanded the man, “You are free to eat from any tree of the garden, 17but you must not eat l from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for on the day you eat from it, you will certainly die.” 18Then the LORD God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper who is like him.” 19So the LORD God formed out of the ground each wild animal and each bird of the sky, and brought each to the man to see what he would call it. And whatever the man called a living creature, that was its name. 20The man gave names to all the livestock, to the birds of the sky, and to every wild animal; but for the man m no helper was found who was like him. 21So the LORD God caused a deep sleep to come over the man, and he slept. God took one of his ribs and closed the flesh at that place. 22Then the LORD God made the rib He had taken from the man into a woman and brought her to the man. 10
a
2:1 Lit and all their host b 2:2 Sam, LXX, Syr read sixth c 2:2 Or ceased d 2:3 Lit work that God created to make e 2:4 Lit creation on the day f 2:5 Or earth g 2:10 Or goes h 2:10 Lit became four heads i 2:12 Lit good j 2:12 A yellowish, transparent gum resin k 2:12 Identity of this precious stone uncertain l 2:17 Lit eat from it m 2:20 Or for Adam
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GENESIS 3:8
Elohim
A name, when used in the Bible, is not merely a designation; it is a definition. The names of God reveal characteristics about Him which, when we reflect on them, should have a bearing on our own lives and character. As we meditate on God’s greatness, His grace and His love, then every problem we have falls into its proper place. I can tell you from experience that major problems seem exceedingly insignificant when measured against the greatness of an omnipotent God. In the opening verse of Genesis: ‘In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth’, the Hebrew name for God here is Elohim and points to the One who possesses all the divine powers. As the Creator (Elohim) bends down to take the dust of His creation and make out of it a living breathing man, He introduces Himself by a new name – the Lord God or, in the Hebrew, Jehovah Elohim. Often, when God introduces a great change in history, He announces Himself under a new name. Here God’s personal name is added to the name of Elohim as if He wants to soften its solemn title and show Himself not only as a God who can build mountains and create vast seas, but One also who enters into a personal relationship with His human creation. As Elohim, God is a mighty Creator but, as Jehovah Elohim, He is also the tender and loving Lord. names of god 23
And the man said:
This one, at last, is bone of my bone, and flesh of my flesh; this one will be called woman, for she was taken from man. This is why a man leaves his father and mother and bonds with his wife, and they become one flesh. 25Both the man and his wife were naked, yet felt no shame. 24
in the garden. 3But about the fruit of the tree in the middle of the garden, God said, ‘You must not eat it or touch it, or you will die.’ ” 4 “No! You will not die,” the serpent said to the woman. 5“In fact, God knows that when a you eat it your eyes will be opened and you will be like God, b knowing good and evil.” 6 Then the woman saw that the tree was good for food and delightful to look at, and that it was desirable for obtaining wisdom. So she took some of its fruit and ate [it]; she also gave [some] to her husband, [who was] with her, and he ate [it]. 7Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they knew they were naked; so they sewed fig leaves together and made loincloths for themselves.
The Temptation and the Fall Now the serpent was the most cunning of all the wild animals that the LORD God had made. He said to the woman, “Did God really say, ‘You can’t eat from any tree in the garden’?” 2 The woman said to the serpent, Sin’s Consequences 8 “We may eat the fruit from the trees Then the man and his wife heard
3 a
3:5 Lit on the day
b
3:5 Or gods, or divine beings
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GENESIS 3:9
the sound of the LORD God walking in the garden at the time of the evening breeze, a and they hid themselves from the LORD God among the trees of the garden. 9So the LORD God called out to the man and said to him, “Where are you?” 10 And he said, “I heard You b in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked, so I hid.” 11 Then He asked, “Who told you that you were naked? Did you eat from the tree that I had commanded you not to eat from?” 12 Then the man replied, “The woman You gave to be with me—she gave me [some fruit] from the tree, and I ate.” 13 So the LORD God asked the woman, “What is this you have done?” And the woman said, “It was the serpent. He deceived me, and I ate.” 14 Then the LORD God said to the serpent: Because you have done this, you are cursed more than any livestock and more than any wild animal. You will move on your belly and eat dust all the days of your life. 15 I will put hostility between you and the woman, and between your •seed and her seed. He will strike your head, and you will strike his heel. 16
He said to the woman:
I will intensify your labor pains; you will bear children in anguish. a
3:8 Lit at the wind of the day
b
3:10 Lit the sound of You
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c
Your desire will be for your husband, yet he will dominate you. And He said to Adam, “Because you listened to your wife’s voice and ate from the tree about which I commanded you, ‘Do not eat from it’: 17
The ground is cursed because of you. You will eat from it by means of painful labor c all the days of your life. 18 It will produce thorns and thistles for you, and you will eat the plants of the field. 19 You will eat bread d by the sweat of your brow until you return to the ground, since you were taken from it. For you are dust, and you will return to dust.” Adam named his wife Eve e because she was the mother of all the living. 21The LORD God made clothing out of skins for Adam and his wife, and He clothed them. 22 The LORD God said, “Since man has become like one of Us, knowing good and evil, he must not reach out, and also take from the tree of life, and eat, and live forever.” 23So the LORD God sent him away from the garden of Eden to work the ground from which he was taken. 24He drove man out, and east of the garden of Eden He stationed •cherubim with a flaming, whirling sword to guard the way to the tree of life. 20
3:17 Lit it through pain
d
3:19 Or food
e
3:20 Lit Living, or Life
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Devotion / Genesis 3
The picture many of us hold in our minds of the Garden of Eden is of an idyllic paradise of innocence and perfection. And of course in a sense it was. But really it was a testing ground. There was innocence but it was untested, there was perfection but it was incomplete. When God created space for His human beings to occupy there was the potential to walk with Him or walk away from Him, to run to Him or from Him. The first human pair needed divine revelation, but they did not know or need to know everything; they were required to live by trust – trust in God’s Word. They failed to do that and, of course, entered into sin. God’s questions must not be regarded as accusations but as the loving entreaties of a Father. The worst thing about sin is not that it violates God’s law but that it breaks His heart. Remember that when you are next tempted to sin. Every Day with Jesus / Selwyn Hughes
Cain Murders Abel Adam knew his wife Eve intimately, and she conceived and gave birth to Cain. She said, “I have had a male child with the LORD’s help.” a 2Then she also gave birth to his brother Abel. Now Abel became a shepherd of a flock, but Cain cultivated the land. 3In the course of time Cain presented some of the land’s produce as an offering to the LORD. 4 And Abel also presented [an offering]— some of the firstborn of his flock and their fat portions. The LORD had regard for Abel and his offering, 5 but He did not have regard for Cain and his offering. Cain was furious, and he was downcast. b 6 Then the LORD said to Cain, “Why are you furious? And why are you downcast? c 7If you do right, won’t you be accepted? But if you do not do right, sin is crouching at the door. Its desire is for you, but you must master it.” 8 Cain said to his brother Abel, “Let’s go out to the field.” d And while they were in the field, Cain attacked
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a e
his brother Abel and killed him. 9 Then the LORD said to Cain, “Where is your brother Abel?” “I don’t know,” he replied. “Am I my brother’s guardian?” 10 Then He said, “What have you done? Your brother’s blood cries out to Me from the ground! 11So now you are cursed [with alienation] from the ground that opened its mouth to receive your brother’s blood you have shed. e 12If you work the land, it will never again give you its yield. You will be a restless wanderer on the earth.” 13 But Cain answered the LORD, “My punishment f is too great to bear! 14 Since You are banishing me today from the soil, and I must hide myself from Your presence and become a restless wanderer on the earth, whoever finds me will kill me.” 15 Then the LORD replied to him, “In that case, g whoever kills Cain will suffer vengeance seven times over.” h And He placed a mark on Cain so that whoever found him would not kill him. 16Then Cain went out from the
4:1 Lit the Lord b 4:5 Lit and his face fell c 4:6 Lit why has your face fallen d 4:8 Sam, LXX, Syr, Vg; MT omits Let’s go out to the field 4:11 Lit blood from your hand f 4:13 Or sin g 4:15 LXX, Syr, Vg read Not so! h 4:15 Or suffer severely
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GENESIS 4:17
Adam
It is suggested that Adam was named after the dust of the ground from which he was formed, as illustrated in Genesis 2:7. This thought is continued in Genesis 3:19, which reveals that we were made of dust and when we die it is to dust we will return. Yet there is something preciously different about humankind, because when God formed Adam He breathed life into him in a way that did not happen with the rest of creation. In fact the literal translation of Genesis 2:7 is that God breathed the breath of lives (plural) into man. Adam did not just have a physical life but he also possessed a soul and a spirit-life that could commune with God who is Spirit (John 4:24). When Adam sinned it was his spirit that was deadened, and it is that dead spirit that has been passed on to the rest of the human race like a faulty gene. That is why Jesus said that we needed a spiritual birth in addition to our physical birth (John 3:3–8). Just as the first Adam was the progenitor of the sinful human race, Jesus, the second Adam, is the One who gives life to a new people of righteousness (Rom. 5:12–21). Adam was chosen by God to be His image-bearer and represent Him on earth. Where he failed, we have been chosen as a part of the Church of Jesus Christ to be ambassadors to work for God’s kingdom to come on earth as it is in heaven. Above all, we are not just dust of the ground; we have been born again by the precious Word of God and given eternal life, such that when our physical body dies our spirit is released into Paradise with Christ. character profile
LORD’s presence and lived in the land Tubal-cain’s sister was Naamah. 23 of Nod, east of Eden. Lamech said to his wives: The Line of Cain 17 Cain knew his wife intimately, and she conceived and gave birth to Enoch. Then Cain became the builder of a city, and he named the city Enoch after his son. 18Irad was born to Enoch, Irad fathered Mehujael, Mehujael fathered Methushael, and Methushael fathered Lamech. 19Lamech took two wives for himself, one named Adah and the other named Zillah. 20Adah bore Jabal; he was the father of the nomadic herdsmen. a 21His brother was named Jubal; he was the father of all who play the lyre and the flute. 22 Zillah bore Tubal-cain, who made all kinds of bronze and iron tools. a
4:20 Lit the dweller of tent and livestock
b
Adah and Zillah, hear my voice; wives of Lamech, pay attention to my words. For I killed a man for wounding me, a boy for striking me. 24 If Cain is to be avenged seven times over, then for Lamech it will be seventy-seven times! Adam knew his wife intimately again, and she gave birth to a son and named him Seth, for [she said,] “God has given b me another child in place of Abel, since Cain killed him.” 26A son was born to Seth also, and he named 25
4:25 The Hb word translated given sounds like the name Seth.
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GENESIS 6:4
him Enosh. At that time people began fathered Enoch. 19Jared lived 800 to call on the name of a the LORD. years after the birth of Enoch, and he fathered sons and daughters. 20So The Line of Seth Jared’s life lasted 962 years; then he These are the family b records of died. 21 the descendants of Adam. On Enoch was 65 years old when he c the day that God created man, fathered Methuselah. 22And after the He made him in the likeness of God; birth of Methuselah, Enoch walked 2 He created them male and female. with God 300 years and fathered sons When they were created, He blessed and daughters. 23So Enoch’s life lasted them and called them man. c 365 years. 24Enoch walked with God, 3 Adam was 130 years old when and he was not there, because God he fathered [a child] in his likeness, took him. 25 according to his image, and named Methuselah was 187 years old 4 him Seth. Adam lived 800 years after when he fathered Lamech. 26Methuthe birth of Seth, and he fathered sons selah lived 782 years after the birth and daughters. 5So Adam’s life lasted of Lamech, and he fathered sons and 930 years; then he died. daughters. 27So Methuselah’s life 6 Seth was 105 years old when he lasted 969 years; then he died. 28 fathered Enosh. 7Seth lived 807 years Lamech was 182 years old when he after the birth of Enosh, and he fathered a son. 29And he named him fathered sons and daughters. 8So Seth’s Noah, saying, “This one will bring us life lasted 912 years; then he died. relief d from the agonizing labor of our 9 Enosh was 90 years old when he hands, caused by the ground the LORD fathered Kenan. 10Enosh lived 815 has cursed.” 30Lamech lived 595 years years after the birth of Kenan, and after Noah’s birth, and he fathered he fathered sons and daughters. 11So sons and daughters. 31So Lamech’s life Enosh’s life lasted 905 years; then lasted 777 years; then he died. 32 he died. Noah was 500 years old, and he 12 Kenan was 70 years old when he fathered Shem, Ham, and Japheth. fathered Mahalalel. 13Kenan lived 840 years after the birth of Mahalalel, and Sons of God and Daughters of Men he fathered sons and daughters. 14So When mankind began to multiKenan’s life lasted 910 years; then he ply on the earth and daughters died. were born to them, 2the sons of 15 Mahalalel was 65 years old when God saw that the daughters of man e he fathered Jared. 16Mahalalel lived were beautiful, and they took any 830 years after the birth of Jared, and they chose as wives f for themselves. he fathered sons and daughters. 17So 3And the LORD said, “My Spirit will Mahalalel’s life lasted 895 years; then not remain g with h mankind forever, he died. because they are corrupt. i Their days 18 Jared was 162 years old when he will be 120 years.” 4The Nephilim j
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6
a 4:26 Or to worship, or to proclaim or invoke the name of b 5:1 Lit written family c 5:1,2 Or Adam d 5:29 The Hb word translated bring us relief sounds like the name of Noah. e 6:2 Or the human women f 6:2 Or women g 6:3 Or strive h 6:3 Or in i 6:3 Lit flesh j 6:4 Possibly means “fallen ones”; traditionally giants; Nm 13:31–33
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GENESIS 6:5
were on the earth both in those days and afterwards, when the sons of God came to the daughters of man, who bore children to them. They were the powerful men of old, the famous men. Judgment Decreed 5 When the LORD saw that man’s wickedness was widespread on the earth and that every scheme his mind thought of was nothing but evil all the time, 6the LORD regretted that He had made man on the earth, and He was grieved in His heart. 7Then the LORD said, “I will wipe off the face of the earth: man, whom I created, together with the animals, creatures that crawl, and birds of the sky—for I regret that I made them.” 8Noah, however, found favor in the eyes of the LORD. God Warns Noah 9 These are the family records of Noah. Noah was a righteous man, blameless among his contemporaries; Noah walked with God. 10And Noah fathered three sons: Shem, Ham, and Japheth. 11 Now the earth was corrupt in God’s sight, and the earth was filled with violence. a 12God saw how corrupt the earth was, for all flesh had corrupted its way on the earth. 13Then God said to Noah, “I have decided to put an end to all flesh, for the earth is filled with violence a because of them; therefore I am going to destroy them along with the earth. 14 “Make yourself an ark of gofer b wood. Make rooms in the ark, and cover it with pitch inside and outside. 15 This is how you are to make it: The a d
ark will be 450 feet long, 75 feet wide, and 45 feet high. c 16You are to make a roof, d finishing [the sides of the ark] to within 18 inches e [of the roof.] You are to put a door in the side of the ark. Make it with lower, middle, and upper [decks]. 17 “Understand that I am bringing a deluge—floodwaters on the earth to destroy all flesh under heaven with the breath of life in it. Everything on earth will die. 18But I will establish My covenant with you, and you will enter the ark with your sons, your wife, and your sons’ wives. 19You are also to bring into the ark two of every living thing of all flesh, male and female, to keep them alive with you. 20Two of everything—from the birds according to their kinds, from the livestock according to their kinds, and from every animal that crawls on the ground according to its kind— will come to you so that you can keep them alive. 21Take with you every kind of food that is eaten; gather it as food for you and for them.” 22And Noah did this. He did everything that God had commanded him. Entering the Ark Then the LORD said to Noah, “Enter the ark, you and all your household, for I have seen that you [alone] are righteous before Me in this generation. 2You are to take with you seven pairs, a male and its female, of all the clean animals, and two of the animals that are not clean, a male and its female, 3and seven pairs, male and female, of the birds of the sky—in order to keep •offspring alive on the
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6:11,13 Or injustice b 6:14 Unknown species of tree; perhaps pine or cypress 6:16 Or window, or hatch; Hb uncertain e 6:16 Lit to a cubit
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c
6:15 Or 300 cubits long, 50 cubits wide, and 30 cubits high
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GENESIS 7:15
noah
One of the most difficult issues we face in our lives is the courage to be different and not conform to the crowd. Genesis 6:11–12 records how the people on earth at that time were totally corrupt and violent: their thoughts were only of evil. Noah stood out as a shining beacon through his lifestyle as the one exception of righteousness. He refused to join in with the wickedness of those around him. God chose Noah to be the saviour of a world that was destined for judgment; and through his work and witness a remnant was saved to repopulate a new earth. He was, according to 2 Peter 2:5, a preacher of righteousness. In this respect he is a great example to us, for our holy lifestyle and fearless witness is to be a light in the darkness to those around us (Matt. 5:14–16; Eph. 5:8). Noah is also a ‘type’ of Christ. In other words, his life story in some way reflects the life and ministry of Jesus. Noah prepared a way to escape the impending judgment of God for those who would believe and follow him. The ark itself was coated with pitch as a protective covering (Gen. 6:14). The Hebrew word for pitch is kaphar and is translated elsewhere in the Old Testament as atonement. It usually refers to the process where a sinful person is reconciled to God and protected or saved from judgment. In the New Testament it is because of Jesus Christ, our ark of protection and atonement (1 Pet. 3:20–21), that we are reconciled to God (Rom. 5:11) and are saved from judgment (John 3:36). The story of Noah’s drunkenness only serves to prove that God is not looking for perfect people, but for those who, despite their human imperfections, have set their hearts to follow and obey Him to the best of their abilities. character profile
face of the whole earth. 4Seven days from now I will make it rain on the earth 40 days and 40 nights, and I will wipe off the face of the earth every living thing I have made.” 5And Noah did everything that the LORD commanded him. 6 Noah was 600 years old when the deluge came [and] water covered the earth. 7So Noah, his sons, his wife, and his sons’ wives entered the ark because of the waters of the deluge. 8 From the clean animals, unclean animals, birds, and every creature that crawls on the ground, 9two of each, male and female, entered the ark with Noah, just as God had commanded him. 10Seven days later the waters of the deluge came on the earth.
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The Deluge 11 In the six hundredth year of Noah’s life, in the second month, on the seventeenth day of the month, on that day all the sources of the watery depths burst open, the floodgates of the sky were opened, 12and the rain fell on the earth 40 days and 40 nights. 13On that same day Noah along with his sons Shem, Ham, and Japheth, Noah’s wife, and his three sons’ wives entered the ark with him. 14 They [entered it] with all the wildlife according to their kinds, all livestock according to their kinds, every creature that crawls on the earth according to its kind, all birds, every fowl, and everything with wings according to their kinds. 15Two of all flesh that
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GENESIS 7:16
has the breath of life in it entered the ark with Noah. 16Those that entered, male and female of all flesh, entered just as God had commanded him. Then the LORD shut him in. 17 The deluge continued 40 days on the earth; the waters increased and lifted up the ark so that it rose above the earth. 18The waters surged and increased greatly on the earth, and the ark floated on the surface of the water. 19 Then the waters surged even higher on the earth, and all the high mountains under the whole sky were covered. 20The mountains were covered as the waters surged [above them] more than 20 feet. a 21All flesh perished— creatures that crawl on the earth, birds, livestock, wildlife, and all creatures that swarm b on the earth, as well as all mankind. 22Everything with the breath of the spirit of life in its nostrils—everything on dry land died. 23He wiped out every living thing that was on the surface of the ground, from mankind to livestock, to creatures that crawl, to the birds of the sky, and they were wiped off the earth. Only Noah was left, and those that were with him in the ark. 24And the waters surged on the earth 150 days.
days the waters had decreased significantly. 4The ark came to rest in the seventh month, on the seventeenth day of the month, on the mountains of Ararat. d 5 The waters continued to recede until the tenth month; in the tenth month, on the first day of the month, the tops of the mountains were visible. 6After 40 days Noah opened the window of the ark that he had made, 7and he sent out a raven. It went back and forth until the waters had dried up from the earth. 8Then he sent out a dove to see whether the water on the earth’s surface had gone down, 9but the dove found no resting place for her foot. She returned to him in the ark because water covered the surface of the whole earth. He reached out and brought her into the ark to himself. 10So Noah waited seven more days and sent out the dove from the ark again. 11When the dove came to him at evening, there was a plucked olive leaf in her beak. So Noah knew that the water on the earth’s surface had gone down. 12After he had waited another seven days, he sent out the dove, but she did not return to him again. 13In the six hundred and first year, e in the first month, on the first day of the month, the water [that had covered] the earth was dried up. Then Noah removed the ark’s cover and saw that the surface of the ground was drying. 14By the twenty-seventh day of the second month, the earth was dry.
The Flood Recedes God remembered Noah, as well as all the wildlife and all the livestock that were with him in the ark. God caused a wind c to pass over the earth, and the water began to subside. 2The sources of the watery depths and the floodgates of the sky The Lord’s Promise 15 were closed, and the rain from the sky Then God spoke to Noah, 16“Come 3 stopped. The water steadily receded out of the ark, you, your wife, your from the earth, and by the end of 150 sons, and your sons’ wives with you.
8 a
7:20 Lit surged 15 cubits b7:21 Lit all the swarming swarms c 8:1 Or spirit; Gn 1:2
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d
8:4 Turkey or Armenia e 8:13 Dating from the birth of Noah
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Bring out every living thing of all flesh that is with you—birds, livestock, creatures that crawl on the ground—and they will spread over the earth and be fruitful and multiply on the earth.” 18So Noah, along with his sons, his wife, and his sons’ wives, came out. 19All wildlife, all livestock, every bird, and every creature that crawls on the earth came out of the ark by their groups. 20 Then Noah built an altar to the LORD. He took some of every kind of clean animal and every kind of clean bird and offered •burnt offerings on the altar. 21When the LORD smelled the pleasing aroma, He said to Himself, “I will never again curse the ground because of man, even though man’s inclination is evil from his youth. And I will never again strike down every living thing as I have done. 17
22 As long as the earth endures, seedtime and harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter, and day and night will not cease.” God’s Covenant with Noah God blessed Noah and his sons and said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth. 2 The fear and terror of you will be in every living creature on the earth, every bird of the sky, every creature that crawls on the ground, and all the fish of the sea. They are placed under your authority. a 3Every living creature will be food for you; as [I gave] the green plants, I have given you everything. 4However, you must
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a
GENESIS 9:16
not eat meat with its lifeblood in it. 5I will require the life of every animal and every man for your life and your blood. I will require the life of each man’s brother for a man’s life. 6 Whoever sheds man’s blood, his blood will be shed by man, for God made man in His image. But you, be fruitful and multiply; spread out over the earth and multiply on it.” 8 Then God said to Noah and his sons with him, 9“Understand that I am confirming My covenant with you and your descendants after you, 10and with every living creature that is with you—birds, livestock, and all wildlife of the earth that are with you—all the animals of the earth that came out of the ark. 11I confirm My covenant with you that never again will all flesh be wiped out by the waters of a deluge; there will never again be a deluge to destroy the earth.” 12 And God said, “This is the sign of the covenant I am making between Me and you and every living creature with you, a covenant for all future generations: 13I have placed My bow in the clouds, and it will be a sign of the covenant between Me and the earth. 14 Whenever I form clouds over the earth and the bow appears in the clouds, 15I will remember My covenant between Me and you and every living creature of all flesh: water will never again become a deluge to destroy all flesh. 16The bow will be in the clouds, and I will look at it and remember the everlasting covenant between God 7
9:2 Lit are given in your hand
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GENESIS 9:17
and every living creature of all flesh on earth.” 17God said to Noah, “This is the sign of the covenant that I have confirmed between Me and all flesh on earth.” Devotion / Genesis 9:12–17
Reference is made in the Bible to two rainbows – one on earth and one in heaven. The first is found after the abatement of the Flood, speaking of God’s mercy; the second is in Revelation 4:3 surrounding the throne. A rainbow is the blending of heaven and earth. In Christ, heaven’s mercy reached down to earth’s sin, robbed it of its power to hold men and women, and gave every soiled sinner the promise of eternal forgiveness and redemption through faith in Him. A rainbow says, in effect, ‘The storm is over . . . now the sun is about to break through.’ So look again at the heavenly throne. The storm of sin is over. Because of Christ’s suffering on the cross, we are reconciled to God and He to us. Every Day with Jesus / Selwyn Hughes
Prophecies about Noah’s Family 18 Noah’s sons who came out of the ark were Shem, Ham, and Japheth. Ham was the father of Canaan. 19These three were Noah’s sons, and from them the whole earth was populated. 20 Noah, a man of the soil, was the first to plant a a vineyard. 21He drank some of the wine, became drunk, and uncovered himself inside his tent. 22 Ham, the father of Canaan, saw his father naked and told his two broth-
ers outside. 23Then Shem and Japheth took a cloak and placed it over both their shoulders, and walking backwards, they covered their father’s nakedness. Their faces were turned away, and they did not see their father naked. 24 When Noah awoke from his drinking and learned what his youngest son had done to him, 25he said: Canaan will be cursed. He will be the lowest of slaves to his brothers. 26
He also said:
Praise the LORD, the God of Shem; Canaan will be b his slave. 27 God will extend c Japheth; he will dwell in the tents of Shem; Canaan will be his slave. Now Noah lived 350 years after the flood. 29So Noah’s life lasted 950 years; then he died. 28
The Table of Nations These are the family records of Noah’s sons, Shem, Ham, and Japheth. They also had sons after the deluge. 2 Japheth’s sons: Gomer, Magog, Madai, Javan, Tubal, Meshech, and Tiras. 3Gomer’s sons: Ashkenaz, Riphath, and Togarmah. 4And Javan’s sons: Elishah, Tarshish, Kittim, and Dodanim. d 5The coastland peoples spread out into their lands. These are [Japheth’s sons] by their clans, in their nations. Each [group] had its own language.
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a 9:20 Or Noah began to be a farmer and planted b 9:26 As a prophecy; others interpret the verbs in vv. 26–27 as a wish or prayer: let Canaan be . . . c 9:27 The Hb word for extend sounds like Japheth. d 10:4 Some Hb mss, Sam, LXX read Rodanim; 1 Ch 1:7
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GENESIS 11:7
Ham’s sons: Cush, Egypt, Put, and Canaan. 7Cush’s sons: Seba, Havilah, Sabtah, Raamah, and Sabteca. And Raamah’s sons: Sheba and Dedan. 8 Cush fathered Nimrod, who was the first powerful man on earth. 9He was a powerful hunter in the sight of the LORD. That is why it is said, “Like Nimrod, a powerful hunter in the sight of the LORD.” 10His kingdom started with Babylon, Erech, a Accad, b and Calneh, c in the land of •Shinar. d 11 From that land he went to Assyria and built Nineveh, Rehoboth-ir, Calah, 12and Resen, between Nineveh and the great city Calah. 13 Egypt fathered Ludim, Anamim, Lehabim, Naphtuhim, 14Pathrusim, Casluhim (the Philistines came from them), and Caphtorim. 15 Canaan fathered Sidon his firstborn, and the Hittites, 16the Jebusites, the Amorites, the Girgashites, 17the Hivites, the Arkites, the Sinites, 18the Arvadites, the Zemarites, and the Hamathites. Afterwards the Canaanite clans scattered. 19The Canaanite border went from Sidon going toward Gerar as far as Gaza, and going toward Sodom, Gomorrah, Admah, and Zeboiim, as far as Lasha. 20 These are Ham’s sons, by their clans, according to their languages, in their own lands and their nations. 21 And Shem, Japheth’s older brother, also had children. Shem was the father of all the children of Eber. 22Shem’s sons were Elam, Asshur, e Arpachshad, Lud, and Aram. 23 Aram’s sons: Uz, Hul, Gether, and Mash. 24 Arpachshad fathered f Shelah, and 6
Shelah fathered Eber. 25Eber had two sons. One was named Peleg, for during his days the earth was divided; his brother was named Joktan. 26And Joktan fathered Almodad, Sheleph, Hazarmaveth, Jerah, 27Hadoram, Uzal, Diklah, 28Obal, Abimael, Sheba, 29 Ophir, Havilah, and Jobab. All these were Joktan’s sons. 30Their settlements extended from Mesha to Sephar, the eastern hill country. 31 These are Shem’s sons by their clans, according to their languages, in their lands and their nations. 32 These are the clans of Noah’s sons, according to their family records, in their nations. The nations on earth spread out from these after the flood. The Tower of Babylon At one time the whole earth had the same language and vocabulary. g 2As people h migrated from the east, they found a valley in the land of •Shinar and settled there. 3 They said to each other, “Come, let us make oven-fired bricks.” They had brick for stone and asphalt for mortar. 4 And they said, “Come, let us build ourselves a city and a tower with its top in the sky. Let us make a name for ourselves; otherwise, we will be scattered over the face of the whole earth.” 5 Then the LORD came down to look over the city and the tower that the • men were building. 6The LORD said, “If, as one people all having the same language, they have begun to do this, then nothing they plan to do will be impossible for them. 7Come, let Us go down there and confuse i their lan-
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a 10:10 Or Uruk b 10:10 Or Akkad c 10:10 Or and all of them d 10:10 Or in Babylonia e 10:22 Or Assyria f 10:24 LXX reads fathered Cainan, and Cainan fathered; Gn 11:12–13; Lk 3:35–36 g 11:1 Lit one lip and the same words h 11:2 Lit they i 11:7 Or confound
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GENESIS 11:8
guage a so that they will not understand one another’s speech.” b 8So the LORD scattered them from there over the face of the whole earth, and they stopped building the city. 9Therefore its name is called Babylon, c for there the LORD confused the language of the whole earth, and from there the LORD scattered them over the face of the whole earth. From Shem to Abram 10 These are the family records of Shem. Shem lived 100 years and fathered Arpachshad two years after the deluge. 11After he fathered Arpachshad, Shem lived 500 years and fathered [other] sons and daughters. 12Arpachshad lived 35 years d and fathered Shelah. 13After he fathered Shelah, Arpachshad lived 403 years and fathered [other] sons and daughters. 14Shelah lived 30 years and fathered Eber. 15After he fathered Eber, Shelah lived 403 years and fathered [other] sons and daughters. 16 Eber lived 34 years and fathered Peleg. 17After he fathered Peleg, Eber lived 430 years and fathered [other] sons and daughters. 18Peleg lived 30 years and fathered Reu. 19After he fathered Reu, Peleg lived 209 years and fathered [other] sons and daughters. 20Reu lived 32 years and fathered Serug. 21After he fathered Serug, Reu lived 207 years and fathered [other] sons and daughters. 22Serug lived 30 years and fathered Nahor. 23After he fathered Nahor, Serug lived 200 years and fathered [other] sons and daughters. 24Nahor lived 29 years and
fathered Terah. 25After he fathered Terah, Nahor lived 119 years and fathered [other] sons and daughters. 26 Terah lived 70 years and fathered Abram, Nahor, and Haran. 27 These are the family records of Terah. Terah fathered Abram, Nahor, and Haran, and Haran fathered Lot. 28 Haran died in his native land, in Ur of the Chaldeans, during his father Terah’s lifetime. 29Abram and Nahor took wives: Abram’s wife was named Sarai, and Nahor’s wife was named Milcah. She was the daughter of Haran, the father of both Milcah and Iscah. 30Sarai was barren; she had no child. 31 Terah took his son Abram, his grandson Lot (Haran’s son), and his daughter-in-law Sarai, his son Abram’s wife, and they set out together from Ur of the Chaldeans to go to the land of Canaan. But when they came to Haran, they settled there. 32Terah lived 205 years and died in Haran. The Call of Abram The LORD said to Abram:
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Go out from your land, your relatives, and your father’s house to the land that I will show you. 2 I will make you into a great nation, I will bless you, I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing. e 3 I will bless those who bless you, I will curse those who treat you with contempt,
a
11:7 Lit lip b 11:7 Lit understand each man the lip of his companion c 11:9 The Hb word for confuse sounds like Babylon. d 11:12–13 LXX reads years and fathered Cainan. 13 After he fathered Cainan, Arphachshad lived 430 years and fathered [other] sons and daughters, and he died. Cainan lived 130 years and fathered Shelah. After he fathered Shelah, Cainan lived 330 years and fathered [other] sons and daughters, and he died; Gn 10:24; Lk 3:35–36 e 12:2 Or great. Be a blessing! f 12:3 Lit clans
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GENESIS 12:20
and all the peoples f on earth will be blessed a through you. b
Devotion / Genesis 12:1–5
Through Abraham God promised salvation for the whole earth. But taking part in God’s big salvation adventure was not without risk for Abraham, proving that faith involves risky living. Risk is the acknowledged path for most adventurers. We are never too old for adventure – in life or faith. Abraham was 75 when God called him (Gen. 12:4) and 99 years old when God renewed that call (Gen. 17:1). It was an epic adventure, often involving long periods of waiting. Adventurers know that life is not all mountain tops and triumphant returns. They need perseverance and determination, and frequently face frustration, disappointment and pain. And, like Abraham (Gen. 15:6), they need a significant amount of faith.
So Abram went, as the LORD had told him, and Lot went with him. Abram was 75 years old when he left Haran. 5He took his wife Sarai, his nephew Lot, all the possessions they had accumulated, and the people he had acquired in Haran, and they set out for the land of Canaan. When they came to the land of Canaan, 6Abram passed through the land to the site of Shechem, at the oak of Moreh. At that time the Canaanites were in the land. 7 But the LORD appeared to Abram and said, “I will give this land to your • offspring.” So he built an altar there to the LORD who had appeared to him. 8From there he moved on to the hill country east of Bethel and pitched his tent, with Bethel on the west and Ai on the east. There he built an altar Inspiring Women Every Day / Wendy Bray to the LORD and worshiped c Him. 9 Then Abram journeyed by stages to saw her and praised her to Pharaoh, the •Negev. so the woman was taken to Pharaoh’s house. 16He treated Abram well Abram in Egypt because of her, and Abram acquired 10 There was a famine in the land, flocks and herds, male and female so Abram went down to Egypt to live donkeys, male and female slaves, there for a while because the famine and camels. 17 in the land was severe. 11When he was But the LORD struck Pharaoh and about to enter Egypt, he said to his wife his house with severe plagues because Sarai, “Look, I know what a beautiful of Abram’s wife Sarai. 18So Pharaoh woman you are. 12When the Egyp- sent for Abram and said, “What have tians see you, they will say, ‘This is his you done to me? Why didn’t you tell wife.’ They will kill me but let you live. me she was your wife? 19Why did you 13 Please say you’re my sister so it will say, ‘She’s my sister,’ so that I took her go well for me because of you, and my as my wife? Now, here’s your wife. life will be spared on your account.” Take her and go!” 20Then Pharaoh 14 When Abram entered Egypt, the gave [his] men orders about him, and Egyptians saw that the woman was they sent him away, with his wife and very beautiful. 15Pharaoh’s officials all he had. 4
a
12:3 Or will find blessing
b
12:3 Or will bless themselves by you
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c
12:8 Or proclaimed or invoked the name of; lit called on the name of
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