Gen 15:13 | NET2full | STEP | Then the Lord said to Abram , “ Know for certain that your descendants will be strangers in a foreign country . They will be enslaved and oppressed for 400 years .

‏ Genesis 15:13

13 Then the Lord said to Abram, “Know for certain ^{▼▼tn The Hebrew construction is emphatic, with the Qal infinitive absolute followed by the imperfect from יָדַע (yadaʿ, “know”). The imperfect here has an obligatory or imperatival force.} that your descendants will be strangers ^{▼▼tn The Hebrew word גֵּר (ger, “sojourner, stranger”) is related to the verb גּוּר (gur, “to sojourn, to stay for awhile”). Abram’s descendants will stay in a land as resident foreigners without rights of citizenship.} in a foreign country. ^{▼▼tn Heb “in a land not theirs.”} They will be enslaved and oppressed ^{▼▼tn Heb “and they will serve them and they will oppress them.” The verb עִנּוּ, (ʾinnu, a Piel form from עָנָה, ʾanah, “to afflict, to oppress, to treat harshly”), is used in Exod 1:11 to describe the oppression of the Israelites in Egypt.} for 400 years.