Introduction to Genesis 26:3: The Language of Divine Reassurance
In this pivotal moment, YHWH reaffirms the Abrahamic covenant to Yitsḥaq during a time of famine and geographical uncertainty. The verse contains a fascinating blend of imperative, cohortative, imperfect, and paronomasia—a stylistic echoing of roots—to strengthen the divine promise. This grammatical interplay serves not only to comfort but to affirm divine intent and unchanging purpose.
גּ֚וּר בָּאָ֣רֶץ הַזֹּ֔את וְאֶֽהְיֶ֥ה עִמְּךָ֖ וַאֲבָרְכֶ֑ךָּ כִּֽי־לְךָ֣ וּֽלְזַרְעֲךָ֗ אֶתֵּן֙ אֶת־כָּל־הָֽאֲרָצֹ֣ת הָאֵ֔ל וַהֲקִֽמֹתִי֙ אֶת־הַשְּׁבֻעָ֔ה אֲשֶׁ֥ר נִשְׁבַּ֖עְתִּי לְאַבְרָהָ֥ם אָבִֽיךָ׃
“Paronomastic Promises: Volition, Aspect, and Divine Self-Oath”
This explores volitional forms, imperfect aspect, and the divine oath structure as a theological-grammatical anchor.
Analysis of Key Grammatical Features
1. גּ֚וּר בָּאָ֣רֶץ הַזֹּ֔את – “Dwell in this land”
- גּוּר – Qal imperative masculine singular of ג־ו־ר: “sojourn,” “live as a stranger”
- בָּאָרֶץ הַזֹּאת – prepositional phrase: “in this land”
The imperative גּוּר initiates the divine command with a tone of volitional exhortation. The verb implies not just living but remaining as a non-permanent resident—key for the theology of promise where the land is given but not fully possessed yet.
2. וְאֶֽהְיֶ֥ה עִמְּךָ֖ – “and I will be with you”
- וְאֶהְיֶה – Qal imperfect 1cs of ה־י־ה: “I will be”
- עִמְּךָ – preposition + 2ms suffix: “with you”
The imperfect form אֶהְיֶה expresses continuing divine presence. The grammatical shift from imperative to imperfect allows YHWH to frame obedience with reward. Hebrew tense-aspect here conveys both future and continuous presence—not merely “I will be” but “I will continue to be.”
3. וַאֲבָרְכֶ֑ךָּ – “and I will bless you”
- וַאֲבָרְכֶךָ – Piel waw-consecutive 1cs of ב־ר־ך with 2ms suffix: “I will bless you”
The use of the Piel stem here intensifies the blessing—this is not a passive benefit, but an active bestowal of favor. The prefix-conjugation form, joined with waw-consecutive, implies certainty and imminence in narrative context.
4. כִּֽי־לְךָ֣ וּֽלְזַרְעֲךָ֗ אֶתֵּן֙ – “for to you and to your offspring I will give”
- כִּי – causal conjunction: “because / for”
- לְךָ וּלְזַרְעֲךָ – indirect object with dative preposition: “to you and to your seed”
- אֶתֵּן – Qal imperfect 1cs of נ־ת־ן: “I will give”
The imperfect אֶתֵּן maintains the tone of future certainty. The parallel structure לְךָ וּלְזַרְעֲךָ highlights the patrilineal inheritance and covenantal continuity, reinforced syntactically by the shared preposition לְ.
5. וַהֲקִֽמֹתִי אֶת־הַשְּׁבֻעָה – “and I will establish the oath”
- וַהֲקִמֹתִי – Hiphil waw-consecutive 1cs of קוּם: “I will establish / fulfill”
- אֶת־הַשְּׁבֻעָה – direct object: “the oath”
The Hiphil stem here takes the root קוּם (“to rise”) and gives it a causative, covenantal meaning—“to uphold” or “make effective.” The object הַשְּׁבֻעָה refers to the solemn promise given to Avraham, adding legal and theological gravity to the future actions. The waw-consecutive here reinforces narrative progression with volitional commitment from YHWH.
6. אֲשֶׁר נִשְׁבַּ֖עְתִּי לְאַבְרָהָ֥ם אָבִֽיךָ – “which I swore to Avraham your father”
- נִשְׁבַּעְתִּי – Niphal perfect 1cs of שׁ־ב־ע: “I swore (myself)”
- לְאַבְרָהָם אָבִיךָ – indirect object phrase: “to Avraham your father”
The use of the Niphal voice here is striking: it is a reflexive-passive form used when one swears an oath by oneself, which is exactly what YHWH does (cf. Genesis 22:16). This rare form reflects divine self-binding—a powerful theological and grammatical anchor that secures the promise independently of human merit.
The Grammar of Divine Constancy and Inheritance
This verse blends imperative, imperfect, and Niphal forms to underscore a covenantal narrative. The imperative גּוּר initiates obedience; the imperfects אֶהְיֶה, אֶתֵּן, and אֲבָרְכֶךָ convey a future imbued with promise; and the Niphal נִשְׁבַּעְתִּי conveys divine reliability rooted in YHWH’s own character. The repeated use of paronomastic roots (e.g., קוּם / שָׁבַע) gives this verse a theological rhythm matching its grammatical depth.
Covenant Grammar as Theological Anchor in Genesis 26:3
Genesis 26:3 is more than a reassurance—its grammatical structures function as divine self-disclosure. From imperatives to Niphal oaths, each form reflects theological function: command, companionship, blessing, inheritance, and covenant. Hebrew grammar does not merely convey divine intent—it structurally guarantees it.
