Gen 22:17 | NET2full | STEP | I will indeed bless you, and I will greatly multiply your descendants so that they will be as countless as the stars in the sky or the grains of sand on the seashore . Your descendants will take possession of the strongholds of their enemies .

‏ Genesis 22:17

17 I will indeed bless you, ^{▼▼tn The use of the infinitive absolute before the finite verbal form (either an imperfect or cohortative) emphasizes the certainty of the blessing.} and I will greatly multiply ^{▼▼tn Here too the infinitive absolute is used for emphasis before the following finite verb (either an imperfect or cohortative).} ^{▼▼sn I will greatly multiply. The Lord here ratifies his earlier promise to give Abram a multitude of descendants. For further discussion see R. B. Chisholm, “Evidence from Genesis,” A Case for Premillennialism, 35-54.} your descendants ^{▼▼tn The Hebrew term זֶרַע (zeraʿ) occurring here and in v. 18 may mean “seed” (for planting), “offspring” (occasionally of animals, but usually of people), or “descendants” depending on the context.} so that they will be as countless as the stars in the sky or the grains of sand on the seashore. Your descendants will take possession of ^{▼▼tn Or “inherit.”} the strongholds ^{▼▼tn Heb “gate,” which here stands for a walled city. To break through the gate complex would be to conquer the city, for the gate complex was the main area of defense (hence the translation “stronghold”).} of their enemies.