Who is “Abraham’s Seed”? To whom belong the promises?
Galatians 3:16 – “Now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made. He saith not, And to seeds, as of many; but as of one, And to thy seed, which is Christ.”
Does one letter really matter in Scripture? Absolutely! Every “jot and tittle” is inspired and necessary. The Apostle Paul makes a “big deal” of one little letter “s” in the book of Galatians. However, it is interesting to see what the modern versions have done with the doctrine of Paul’s singular “seed” vs. a plural “seeds”. Compare the “seed” vs. “seeds” in the following passages, along with Galatians 3:16(above):
Should the word “seed” be singular or plural?
The King James Version VS. the Modern Versions
Genesis 12:7 (KJV)
7 And the LORD appeared unto Abram, and said, Unto thy seed will I give this land: and there builded he an altar unto the LORD, who appeared unto him.
7 Then the LORD appeared to Abram and said, “To your descendants I will give this land.” And there he built an altar to the LORD, who had appeared to him. (New KJV)
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Genesis 13:14-15 (KJV)
14 ¶ And the LORD said unto Abram, after that Lot was separated from him, Lift up now thine eyes, and look from the place where thou art northward, and southward, and eastward, and westward: 15 For all the land which thou seest, to thee will I give it, and to thy seed for ever.
14 ¶ And the LORD said to Abram, after Lot had separated from him: “Lift your eyes now and look from the place where you are-northward, southward, eastward, and westward; 15 “for all the land which you see I give to you and your descendants forever. (New KJV)
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Genesis 15:17-18 (KJV)
17 ¶ And it came to pass, that, when the sun went down, and it was dark, behold a smoking furnace, and a burning lamp that passed between those pieces. 18 In the same day the LORD made a covenant with Abram, saying, Unto thy seed have I given this land, from the river of Egypt unto the great river, the river Euphrates:
17 ¶ And it came to pass, when the sun went down and it was dark, that behold, there appeared a smoking oven and a burning torch that passed between those pieces. 18 On the same day the LORD made a covenant with Abram, saying: “To your descendants I have given this land, from the river of Egypt to the great river, the River Euphrates- (New KJV)
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Genesis 17:7 (KJV)
7¶ And I will establish my covenant between me and thee and thy seed after thee in their generations for an everlasting covenant, to be a God unto thee, and to thy seed after thee.
7 ¶ “And I will establish My covenant between Me and you and your descendants after you in their generations, for an everlasting covenant, to be God to you and your descendants after you. (New KJV)
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Genesis 22:17-18 (KJV)
17 That in blessing I will bless thee, and in multiplying I will multiply thy seed as the stars of the heaven, and as the sand which is upon the sea shore; and thy seed shall possess the gate of his enemies; 18 And in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed; because thou hast obeyed my voice.
17 “blessing I will bless you, and multiplying I will multiply your descendants as the stars of the heaven and as the sand which is on the seashore; and your descendants shall possess the gate of their enemies. *18 “In your seed [1] all the nations of the earth shall be blessed, because you have obeyed My voice.” (New KJV)
[1] *Note: One of the very few times that the “New King James” does not replace “seed” with “descendants”, is in verse 18 of Genesis 22. This is a subtle compromise, as most Dispensational-Zionists wouldn’t care if “seed” was singular in verse 18, as long as verse 17 reads a plural “descendants”. After twice reading a plural “descendants” in verse 17, when the reader goes on to verse 18, the brainwashing of “seed” meaning something plural is already complete.
And, in other modern versions the compromise is even worse: New International Version
Genesis 22:17 “…I will surely bless you and make your descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and as the sand on the seashore. Your descendants will take possession of the cities of their enemies, 18 and through your offspring all nations on earth will be blessed, because you have obeyed me.” (NIV)
English Standard Version
Geneis 22:17-18 “…I will surely bless you, and I will surely multiply your offspring as the stars of heaven and as the sand that is on the seashore. And your offspring shall possess the gate of his {ESV Footnote: “or their”} enemies, 18 and in your offspring shall all the nations of the earth be blessed, because you have obeyed my voice.” (ESV)
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Genesis 24:7 (KJV)
7 The LORD God of heaven, which took me from my father’s house, and from the land of my kindred, and which spake unto me, and that sware unto me, saying, Unto thy seed will I give this land; he shall send his angel before thee, and thou shalt take a wife unto my son from thence.
7 “The LORD God of heaven, who took me from my father’s house and from the land of my family, and who spoke to me and swore to me, saying, ‘To your descendants I give this land,’ He will send His angel before you, and you shall take a wife for my son from there. (New KJV)
Did the (SRB) Scofield Reference Bible Notes influence the modern Bible versions?
Are the “thees” and “thous” really that important? Was it really necessary to use “thee” instead of “you” in the old King James Version? Author David W. Daniels makes a very important case for WHY the old King James Bible translators used “thee” and “thou”:
Why Do We Need “Thee” and “Thou”?
In almost every language but modern English, people know whether the speaker is addressing one person or many. In Classical English, if the speaker is talking to one person, he uses “thee” or “thou”. If he is talking to many people, he says “you” or “your”. The King James preserves this. Jesus said to Nicodemus, “Marvel not that I said unto thee (Nicodemus), Ye (all of you people) must be born again.” (John 3:7). Jesus was telling Nicodemus that all people of all times must be born again! A very important doctrine that is lost without “thee” and “thou”.[2]
Noah Webster understood that “thee” meant singular ~ Webster’s original 1828 American Dictionary of the English Language:[3]
[2] The King James Bible Companion – David W. Daniels – Chick Publications, 2000
[3] Webster’s 1828 American Dictionary of the English Language, Republished in Facsimile Edition by the Foundation for American Christian Education, Rosalie Slater, M.A.;1967, “Thee” & “Thou”
“THOU, pron. in the obj. thee. The second personal pronoun, in the singular number…”
“THEE, pron. obj. case of thou.” (bold emphasis mine)
Now, let us examine one of the most misunderstood passages in modern times:
Genesis 12:1-3
“Now the LORD had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father’s house, unto a land that I will shew thee: And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing: 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.”
On page 20 of the SRB, Scofield inserts the words, “For Abraham and his descendants…” (emphasis mine) into his notes, below Genesis chapter 12. Although the promise was to Abraham, Scofield includes Abraham’s “descendants” into the promise. Concerning Abraham’s “descendants”, Scofield goes on to add, “They became distinctively the heirs of promise…” (emphasis mine) After decades of indoctrination by the notes of the SRB, it is little wonder what influenced the “New King James Version” translators to change the word “seed” to “descendants”, in Scripture passages, as shown previously. And, it is little wonder that devoted dispensationalists, such as David Jeremiah and John MacArthur, have chosen to use the “New King James Version” for their best-selling “study Bibles”.
The Promise was to singular Abraham, and His singular Seed!
“Genesis chapter 12 – v1-3 – God calls Abram, and blesses him with a promise of Christ.” [The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge – RA Torrey] Hendrickson Publishers, Genesis 12, p7 (R.A. Torrey & Thomas Scott)
Why did Paul make such a big deal about one small letter “s”? Because Paul understood that the promise was to the seed — the Lord Jesus Christ! He understood that anyone can be counted as a part of “the seed”, and “the children of promise”, if they are “in Christ Jesus” ~
Galatians 3:16 – “Now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made. He saith not, And to seeds, as of many; but as of one, And to thy seed, which is Christ.”
Galatians 3:26 – “For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus.”
Galatians 3:28 -“There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus.” 
Galatians 3:29 – “And if ye be Christ’s, then are ye Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.”
Galatians 4:5-6 -“To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons. And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father.”
Galatians 5:1-6 -“Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage. Behold, I Paul say unto you, that if ye be circumcised, Christ shall profit you nothing. For I testify again to every man that is circumcised, that he is a debtor to do the whole law. Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace. For we through the Spirit wait for the hope of righteousness by faith. For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision; but faith which worketh by love.”
Galatians 6:15 – “For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision, but a new creature.”
2Corinthians 5:17 -“Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.”
Ephesians 2:13 – “But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ. For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us; Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace;”
And so, as one can observe from the examples above, the promise was to singular Abraham, and his singular “seed”. And, NO ONE is counted in the “seed”, unless they are in Christ! ~ adapted from “Who is Israel?“
Hello.. I see that you are unaware about the meaning of the word zehra (seed). This word have a singular usage (genesis 21:13) and a collective one (Genesis 17:7). The last verse I quoted is the very evidence that that word can be used in plural, meaning many people, cause it says “and thy seed after thee in their generations”, and you didn’t put in bold that phrase… please don’t be ignorant and do not lie… Similarly, When in Gen 22 :17 – 18 says ” I will multiply your seed as the stars of the heavens” that means a lot of people… and look at Gen 15: 13-14 “And he said unto Abram, Know of a surety that thy seed shall be a stranger in a land that is not theirs, and shall serve them; and they shall afflict them four hundred years; And also that nation, whom they shall serve, will I judge: and afterward shall they come out with great substance”. YOu see? Abraham’s seed is plural, and its Israel, the nation to whom egiptians enslaved and opressed!!
Hello, Jose Perez… No, we do not misunderstand the word, “seed”. We simply are showing that Christ is THE Seed, and they that are IN Christ are counted as the “seed”, as well (plural). The important pedigree is NOT that physical one of Abraham— the important pedigree is that spiritual one of Christ. Gal 3:7 “Know ye therefore that they which are of faith, the same are the children of Abraham.” Gal 3:29 “And if ye be Christ’s, then are ye Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.” Ga 3:16 “Now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made. He saith not, And to seeds, as of many; but as of one, And to thy seed, which is Christ.”
John 8:37-44 “I know that ye are Abraham’s seed; but ye seek to kill me, because my word hath no place in you. I speak that which I have seen with my Father: and ye do that which ye have seen with your father. They answered and said unto him, Abraham is our father. Jesus saith unto them, If ye were Abraham’s children, ye would do the works of Abraham. But now ye seek to kill me, a man that hath told you the truth, which I have heard of God: this did not Abraham. Ye do the deeds of your father. Then said they to him, We be not born of fornication; we have one Father, even God. Jesus said unto them, If God were your Father, ye would love me: for I proceeded forth and came from God; neither came I of myself, but he sent me. Why do ye not understand my speech? even because ye cannot hear my word. Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.”
John 3:7 “Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye MUST be born again.” (their lineage is not enough)
1Corinthians 15:50 “Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood CANNOT inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption.” (fleshly seeds)
Romans 9:6-9 “…For they are not all Israel, which are of Israel: Neither, because they are the seed of Abraham, are they all children: but, In Isaac shall thy seed be called. That is, They which are the children of the flesh, these are NOT the children of God: but the children of the PROMISE are counted for the seed.” (Children of the Promise = born again by a spiritual birth)
Gal 4:22-31 “For it is written, that Abraham had two sons, the one by a bondmaid, the other by a freewoman. But he who was of the bondwoman was born after the flesh; but he of the freewoman was by promise. Which things are an ALLEGORY: for these are the two covenants; the one from the mount Sinai, which gendereth to bondage, which is Agar. For this Agar is mount Sinai in Arabia, and answereth to Jerusalem which now is, and is in bondage with her children. But Jerusalem which is above is free, which is the mother of us all. For it is written, Rejoice, thou barren that bearest not; break forth and cry, thou that travailest not: for the desolate hath many more children than she which hath an husband. Now we, brethren, as Isaac was, are the children of promise. But as then he that was born after the flesh persecuted him that was born after the Spirit, even so it is now. Nevertheless what saith the scripture? Cast out the bondwoman and her son: for the son of the bondwoman shall not be heir with the son of the freewoman. So then, brethren, we are not children of the bondwoman, but of the free.” (These Two Sons are an ALLEGORY — children of the flesh = unsaved; vs. children of promise = saved)
SO anything to avcoid the truth that like YOU, SEED may be BOTH singular and/or plural?
SEED is a plural noun in MOST places in the BIBLE – BUT there is a specific seed – the Messiah – that has NO bearing on the millions of seed in between. Using your issue of THEE vs YE as an example – it’s just as egregious to use SEED when it could be singular or Plural – the context makes it plain – JUST as the context of YE and THOU. “Descendants” is proper and preferred English.
WE speak modern English – NOT 15th century English NOR Hebrew/Greek./ SOME idioms and wordplays simply do NOT translate – this being ONE of them. TO deliberately distort so many references that are accurately translated in Accurate English to preserve ONE play on words is irrational – and the KJ misses so many others. Eye of a needle and ROPE/Camel for example
And its FALSE to claim it does – such mental gymnastics are NOT edifying, nurturing OR for that matter – Christian – It’s looking for a disputation – and the modern, accurate Scriptures are quite correct in using a common and understandable English word – DESCENDENTS.
Hello, …well, unfortunately, you only see this as a “grammatical” argument. But, Paul (by inspiration) makes a “big deal” about “seed” vs. “seeds”— proving that this argument is not just grammatical, but also theological. Our argument is based on Scripture, and not on Grammar or Linguistics. The point is, “in Christ” we (saved) are ALL of the (singular)”Seed”=Christ! …Whether Old Testament or New Testament, ALL are “seeds”— ONLY through HIM, the “original “Seed”… Just as all apple seeds stem from the original seed, so do ALL Christians (both Jew & Gentile) stem from the Original Seed = Christ. And, Galatians includes this (“in Christ”) theology in chapter 3 (read all of Galatians 3, for context)… Gal 3:16 Now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made. He saith not, And to seeds, as of many; but as of one, And to thy seed, which is Christ. (KJV)
Gal 3:28-29 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus. 29 And if ye be Christ’s, then are ye Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise. (KJV)
Hi –
Thanks for the article explaining that the benefits are to be had in Christ. I know this may sound like a silly question; but I’d like to ask you: how does one be “in Christ”? Thanks in advance.
Hello,
Just as Noah & his family had to get “in the ark” in order to be saved, so it is the same for us, today– we must be “in Christ”.
2Corinthians 5:17 “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.”
See also: Isaiah 45:17, 24-25; Galatians 3:28; 5:6; Ephesians 1:3-4; John 14:20; 15:1-2; Romans 8:1; 1Corinthians 1:30
To be “in Christ”, according to Scripture…
https://mountainviewbaptistcuster.com/the-bible-way-to-heaven/
1. Recognize your lost condition.
For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23).
No one is good enough to go to Heaven on his own merit. No matter how much good we do, we still fall short—(Like an arrow that misses the bullseye).
2. Realize the penalty for sin.
For the wages of sin is death… (Romans 6:23).
Just as we receive wages for working, there is a punishment(wages) for sin. The Bible says the penalty for our sin is eternal death in a place called “Hell; the lake of fire”…
And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them. And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works. And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works. And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire. (Revelation 20:11-15).
3. Believe Christ died for you. (And, that He was buried, and rose again, three days later!)
But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us (Romans 5:8).
Christ’s great love for us was shown when He died on the cross to pay our sin debt.
That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. (Romans 10:9-10)
4. Recognize the difference between “wages” and a “gift”
For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord (Romans 6:23).
For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast. (Ephesians 2:8-9)
Salvation is a gift (free) from God. If we could “earn” salvation, then why did He die for us? …Man-made religion teaches a “good works” salvation, but God’s Word does not.
However, please remember this… a gift isn’t actually yours… until you’ve received it… so,…
5. Trust in Christ alone as your Savior.
…But the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord (Romans 6:23). For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved (Romans 10:13).
Everlasting life is a gift purchased by the blood of Jesus, and offered freely to those who call upon Him by faith in His Word.
Let us help you in wording a prayer. (Please realize it’s not mere words that save, but recognizing yourself as a sinner, and your repentance towards God [the Judge], and placing your faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.)
“Genesis 17:7 (KJV)
7¶ And I will establish my covenant between me and thee and thy seed after thee in their generations for an everlasting covenant, to be a God unto thee, and to thy seed after thee.
7 ¶ “And I will establish My covenant between Me and you and your descendants after you in their generations, for an everlasting covenant, to be God to you and your descendants after you. (New KJV)”:
SO using your definition which you ascribe to Paul – the KJB is inaccurate in that it claims that only ONE person will be the beneficiary of the covered? Really?
Is that one person in every generation or ONLY one person between the time of the promise and the end of the age – spanning the generations in between?
THou creates a LOT of linguistic chaos with thy inconsistent application of English Grammar to ancient writ.
With the (“Thee” vs. “You”) “English Grammar Fact” in mind— consider the difference between these two version translations (& its HUGE ramifications):
(King James Version) Genesis 12:1-3 “Now the LORD had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father’s house, unto a land that I will shew thee: And I will make of THEE a great nation, and I will bless THEE, and make THY name great; and THOU shalt be a blessing: 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… Genesis 12:7 “And the LORD appeared unto Abram, and said, Unto THY SEED will I give this land: and there builded he an altar unto the LORD, who appeared unto him.” (KJV)
* The blessing & cursing was/is in regards to SINGULAR Abram, and his Singular Seed [Gen.12:7] See also: Galatians 3:14-16— the blessings & curses are NOT in regards to the PLURAL “descendants” of Abram!
{“NEW” King James Version} Genesis 12:1-3 “Now the LORD had said to Abram: “Get out of your country, From your family And from your father’s house, To a land that I will show you. I will make YOU a great nation; I will bless YOU And make your name great; And YOU shall be a blessing. I will bless those who bless YOU, And I will curse him who curses YOU; And in YOU all the families of the earth shall be blessed… Genesis 12:7 “Then the LORD appeared to Abram and said, “To your DESCENDANTS I will give this land.” And there he built an altar to the LORD, who had appeared to him.” (NKJV)
THEE = singular man; singular seed [Gen 12:7 & Gal 3:14-16]
YOU = plural descendants
So, which version fits YOUR theology???
(No doubt, this is another reason WHY the modern versions are being subtly edited)
Personally i think seed is like a double maybe triple meaning. Physical and spiritual/Christ. Understanding this word is like understanding the world around you. Just my take on it really. So translating it to dependents or offspring is taking away that spiritual meaning and that correlation to Christ as well. What do you think Admin? I know its been since 2018 idk if you will see this.
I agree! “Seed” has such potential! (No pun intended)… Each seed has potential “seeds” within it, just waiting to multiply. Yet, it can all be called “seed” singular. Christ is the singular Seed, but He has multiplied Himself into many seeds. (John 12:24 — Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone: but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit.) (KJV)
Clearly, those who are asking you these foolish questions do not want the truth. They just want to make waves because you burst their little Zionist fantasy bubble. Thank you for telling the truth. You can tell that they just want to argue because they are acting like petulent children when they do not get their way. Thank you again, sir.