The 'word of the LORD' in Gen 15:1 is Jesus Christ (incarnation, Jehovah)

[Mike555]

Jesus Christ said, "Your father Abraham rejoiced to see My day, and he saw it and was glad." (John 8:56).

The Jews therefore said to Him,''You are not yet fifty years old, and have You seen Abraham?'' (John 8:57).

'Jesus said to them, ''Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was born, I am.'' (John 8:58).

Jesus Christ is the Word of God. Rev 19:13 'And He is clothed with a robe dipped in blood; and His name is called the Word of God.


The Old Testament: Gen 15:1 After these things the word of the LORD (Yahweh) came to Abram in a vision, saying, ''Do not fear Abram, I am a shield to you; Your reward shall be very great..''

2] And Abram said, ''O Lord (Adonay) God (Yahweh), what wilt Thou give me, since I am childless...

4] Then behold, the word of the LORD came to him, saying ''This man will not be your heir; but one who shall come forth from your own body, he shall be your heir.

5] And He (the word of the LORD) took him outside and said, ''Now look toward the heavens, and count the stars, if you are able to count them.''

The word of the LORD here is Jesus Christ. He appeared to Abram in a vision, He spoke to him, and He took Abram outside.

It was also Jesus Christ who appeared as one of the three 'men' who visited Abraham (Gen chapter 18).



That the word of the LORD in Genesis 15:1 is Jesus Christ has not gone unrecognized.

Excerpt:

Clarke's Commentary on the Bible
The word of the Lord came unto Abram - This is the first place where God is represented as revealing himself by his word. Some learned men suppose that the דבר יהוה debar Yehovah, translated here word of the Lord, means the same with the λογος του Θεου of St. John, John 1:1, and, by the Chaldee paraphrases in the next clause, called מימרי meimeri, "my word," and in other places מימרא דיי meimera daiya, the word of Yeya, a contraction for Jehovah, which they appear always to consider as a person; and which they distinguish from פתגמא pithgama, which signifies merely a word spoken, or any part of speech.
Genesis 15:1 Bible Commentary

Excerpt:

Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible
the word of the Lord came unto Abram in a vision; Christ, the essential Word, appeared to Abram in an human form, visible to him, and with an articulate voice spoke unto him:
Genesis 15:1 Bible Commentary


Jesus Christ is the revealed Person of the Godhead, and it was He who appeared to Abram and declared Himself to be 'God Almighty.'

Gen 17:1 Now when Abram was ninety-nine years old, the LORD appeared to Abram and said to him, ''I am God Almighty; Walk before Me, and be blameless.

In Revelation 1:8 Jesus again identifies Himself as the Almighty.

Revelation 1:8 ''I am the Alpha and the Omega,''says the Lord God, ''who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.''


A Theophany is a pre-incarnation appearance of Jesus Christ. In the Old Testament Jesus Christ as the 'angel of the LORD' manifested Himself as the burning bush (Exodus chapter 3), as the cloud which led Israel by day, and the pillar of fire by night [color="blue"](Exodus 13:21-22),COLOR] and as one of the three 'men' who appeared to Abram (Genesis chapter 18).

The title 'angel of the LORD' does not refer to a created angel, but to the uncreated Second Person of the Godhead, Jesus Christ -Yahweh. The name Yahweh is used for each of the three Persons of the Trinity individually.

Zech 14 clearly refers to Jesus Christ, who when He returns will set foot on the Mount of Olives (Zech 14:4). In Zech 14:3 He is called Yahweh.

Zech 14:3 'Then the LORD (Yahweh) will go forth and fight against those nations, as when He fights on a day of battle. 4] And on that day His feet will stand on the Mount of Olives...'

[whoppers]

Clarke's Commentary: 1832
Gill's Exposition: 1748

Let us know when you upgrade your commentaries, or learn Hebrew so you can comment on the text yourself. Of course - then you would realize why no serious student uses Clarke or Gill anymore.

Some people are on a mission to find as many coded references to Jesus in the Hebrew Bible as they can. If they try hard enough, they can make ANYTHING into a foreshadowing of typology of Jesus.

Oo oo! Let me try! Hmm, opening Bible to random chapter.....and....aha: Judges 13. Perfect! A few choice quotations from the chapter will demonstrate that this is a foreshadowing of Jesus. Ahem. (Puts on determination cap)

But Yahweh's envoy appeared to the woman and said to her, "Look here! You have been barren and childless. But you will be pregnant, and you will bear a son. Be careful now. Drink no wine or beer, and eat nothing unclean. Actually, you are already pregnant and bearing a son. And no razor shall come upon his head. Indeed, the boy will be God's Nazirite from the womb. And he shall begin to liberate Israel from Philistine power."
(Judges 13:3-5, AB)

O my goodness! A woman receives an angelic visit, is told she is going to bear a son who will act as a Messiah for the Israelites, and he is to be a Nazirite. Well! Jesus was all these things, especially since he was from Nazareth! Wow! I found a foreshadowing - NO, a prophecy - of Jesus!

And all it took was some ignoring of context and a bad grasp of Hebrew by confusing Nazirite with Nazareth. Impressive, yes? Somebody tell Clarke and Gills! Oh wait... they've been dead for hundreds of years. Rats.

[Mikelee81]

Great job Mike! Word of the Lord is Jesus Christ!

[Mike555]

Originally Posted by lee9786

Great job Mike! Word of the Lord is Jesus Christ!

Thanks Lee.

Here is another Old Testament verse which shows 'the word of the LORD' to be Jesus Christ.

Psalm 33:6 'By the word of the LORD (Yahweh) the heavens were made, And by the breath of His mouth all their host.'

Of course it is Jesus Christ who did the actual act of creation as seen in John 1:1 'In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2] 'He was in the beginning with God. 3] 'All things came into being through (dia) Him, and apart from Him nothing came into being that has come into being' .

Col 1:16 For by (en - in) Him all things were created, both in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities-- all things have been created through (dia) Him and for Him.

[Prairieparson]

Mike, Great observation, except for one thing. Jesus Christ has a birthday, and today's best guess is that it was about 4 BC. As a result, it isn't really correct to speak of Jesus Christ prior to the incarnation. Therefore, in regards to these theophanies, IMHO, we should speak in terms of the Son of God, the second person of the Trinity. But other than that, for the most part, I believe the theophanies in the OT are almost all the Son of God. It solves many difficult passages in the NT, and fits in perfectly with Biblical Theology. Jesus is the Word, the Word made flesh John 1. That is God promised so send the Messiah, now that word is fulfilled in Jesus, fulfilling the prophecies, the Word of God.

[whoppers]

Prairie, you started out good with your first point, but not so much with your latter point. So you're going to solve difficulties in the NT, by reinterpreting passages in the OT in the light of the NT to make them match with the NT? That sounds dishonest.

Moderator cut: deleted as long as you feel you're doing justice to the Bible by using centuries-old commentaries - instead of thinking for yourself - then I suppose that's what you're gonna do. God forbid (literally) that one would doublecheck those old commentaries with more modern ones (and not necesarrily skeptical and liberal commentaries -whatever those are) to see if modern Christian scholars interpret that passage in the same way. I highly doubt that even the most conservative of modern commentaries would make the same interpretational mistake that Gills and Clarke made (though to be fair to Clarke, he doesn't ascribe the interpretation to himself - he mentions that other people hold the view), which you are now repeating.

I already showed how easy it is to find whatever one is looking for, if one is creative enough. Oh well - everyone likes to feel that they have found out a new "secret" and spread the word - and by that, I don't mean "Jesus": I actually mean "word", just as I wrote.

[Mike555]

Originally Posted by Prairieparson

Mike, Great observation, except for one thing. Jesus Christ has a birthday, and today's best guess is that it was about 4 BC. As a result, it isn't really correct to speak of Jesus Christ prior to the incarnation. Therefore, in regards to these theophanies, IMHO, we should speak in terms of the Son of God, the second person of the Trinity. But other than that, for the most part, I believe the theophanies in the OT are almost all the Son of God. It solves many difficult passages in the NT, and fits in perfectly with Biblical Theology. Jesus is the Word, the Word made flesh John 1. That is God promised so send the Messiah, now that word is fulfilled in Jesus, fulfilling the prophecies, the Word of God.

Thanks. And that is of course true. Jesus is the name of His humanity and not of His deity. The name Jesus signifies His redemptive work in salvation (Matt 1:21).

When you compare all of the passages which speak of the angel of the LORD, it is difficult to explain Him as anything other than a pre-incarnate appearance of Christ.

[Mikelee81]

Originally Posted by Prairieparson

Mike, Great observation, except for one thing. Jesus Christ has a birthday, and today's best guess is that it was about 4 BC. As a result, it isn't really correct to speak of Jesus Christ prior to the incarnation. Therefore, in regards to these theophanies, IMHO, we should speak in terms of the Son of God, the second person of the Trinity. But other than that, for the most part, I believe the theophanies in the OT are almost all the Son of God. It solves many difficult passages in the NT, and fits in perfectly with Biblical Theology. Jesus is the Word, the Word made flesh John 1. That is God promised so send the Messiah, now that word is fulfilled in Jesus, fulfilling the prophecies, the Word of God.

Joshua 5

13And it came to pass, when Joshua was by Jericho, that he lifted up his eyes and looked, and, behold, there stood a man over against him with his sword drawn in his hand: and Joshua went unto him, and said unto him, Art thou for us, or for our adversaries?

14And he said, Nay; but as captain of the host of the LORD am I now come. And Joshua fell on his face to the earth, and did worship, and said unto him, What saith my Lord unto his servant?

15And the captain of the LORD's host said unto Joshua, Loose thy shoe from off thy foot; for the place whereon thou standest is holy. And Joshua did so.


Angels won't allow themselves to be worshiped

Revelation 22

8And I John saw these things, and heard them. And when I had heard and seen, I fell down to worship before the feet of the angel which shewed me these things.

9Then saith he unto me, See thou do it not: for I am thy fellowservant, and of thy brethren the prophets, and of them which keep the sayings of this book: worship God.

Luke 4:5-8

5And the devil, taking him up into an high mountain, shewed unto him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time.

6And the devil said unto him, All this power will I give thee, and the glory of them: for that is delivered unto me; and to whomsoever I will I give it.

7If thou therefore wilt worship me, all shall be thine.

8And Jesus answered and said unto him, Get thee behind me, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.

Only God is to be Worshiped and Served.

Regarding Holy Ground

Exodus 3:4-6

4And when the LORD saw that he turned aside to see, God called unto him out of the midst of the bush, and said, Moses, Moses. And he said, Here am I.

5And he said, Draw not nigh hither: put off thy shoes from off thy feet, for the place whereon thou standest is holy ground.

6Moreover he said, I am the God of thy father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob. And Moses hid his face; for he was afraid to look upon God.

The Captain of the host of the LORD is a pre-incarnation appearance of Jesus Christ. It could have only been YHWH God. Since it was prior to his incarnation, he must have had a Glorified Angelic body in the appearance of a man. Angels appear as men not something with wings as portrayed in art. Many of us have entertained Angels unawares the Scriptures say.

[twin.spin]

Originally Posted by lee9786

Joshua 5

13And it came to pass, when Joshua was by Jericho, that he lifted up his eyes and looked, and, behold, there stood a man over against him with his sword drawn in his hand: and Joshua went unto him, and said unto him, Art thou for us, or for our adversaries?

14And he said, Nay; but as captain of the host of the LORD am I now come. And Joshua fell on his face to the earth, and did worship, and said unto him, What saith my Lord unto his servant?

15And the captain of the LORD's host said unto Joshua, Loose thy shoe from off thy foot; for the place whereon thou standest is holy. And Joshua did so.


Angels won't allow themselves to be worshiped

Revelation 22

8And I John saw these things, and heard them. And when I had heard and seen, I fell down to worship before the feet of the angel which shewed me these things.

9Then saith he unto me, See thou do it not: for I am thy fellowservant, and of thy brethren the prophets, and of them which keep the sayings of this book: worship God.

Luke 4:5-8

5And the devil, taking him up into an high mountain, shewed unto him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time.

6And the devil said unto him, All this power will I give thee, and the glory of them: for that is delivered unto me; and to whomsoever I will I give it.

7If thou therefore wilt worship me, all shall be thine.

8And Jesus answered and said unto him, Get thee behind me, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.

Only God is to be Worshiped and Served.

Regarding Holy Ground

Exodus 3:4-6

4And when the LORD saw that he turned aside to see, God called unto him out of the midst of the bush, and said, Moses, Moses. And he said, Here am I.

5And he said, Draw not nigh hither: put off thy shoes from off thy feet, for the place whereon thou standest is holy ground.

6Moreover he said, I am the God of thy father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob. And Moses hid his face; for he was afraid to look upon God.

The Captain of the host of the LORD is a pre-incarnation appearance of Jesus Christ. It could have only been YHWH God. Since it was prior to his incarnation, he must have had a Glorified Angelic body in the appearance of a man. Angels appear as men not something with wings as portrayed in art. Many of us have entertained Angels unawares the Scriptures say.

That was very good to call to the attention in the OT that angels do not accept worship and Jesus in the NT did.

[saved33]

Originally Posted by lee9786

Joshua 5

13And it came to pass, when Joshua was by Jericho, that he lifted up his eyes and looked, and, behold, there stood a man over against him with his sword drawn in his hand: and Joshua went unto him, and said unto him, Art thou for us, or for our adversaries?

14And he said, Nay; but as captain of the host of the LORD am I now come. And Joshua fell on his face to the earth, and did worship, and said unto him, What saith my Lord unto his servant?

15And the captain of the LORD's host said unto Joshua, Loose thy shoe from off thy foot; for the place whereon thou standest is holy. And Joshua did so.


Angels won't allow themselves to be worshiped

Revelation 22

8And I John saw these things, and heard them. And when I had heard and seen, I fell down to worship before the feet of the angel which shewed me these things.

9Then saith he unto me, See thou do it not: for I am thy fellowservant, and of thy brethren the prophets, and of them which keep the sayings of this book: worship God.

Luke 4:5-8

5And the devil, taking him up into an high mountain, shewed unto him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time.

6And the devil said unto him, All this power will I give thee, and the glory of them: for that is delivered unto me; and to whomsoever I will I give it.

7If thou therefore wilt worship me, all shall be thine.

8And Jesus answered and said unto him, Get thee behind me, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.

Only God is to be Worshiped and Served.

Regarding Holy Ground

Exodus 3:4-6

4And when the LORD saw that he turned aside to see, God called unto him out of the midst of the bush, and said, Moses, Moses. And he said, Here am I.

5And he said, Draw not nigh hither: put off thy shoes from off thy feet, for the place whereon thou standest is holy ground.

6Moreover he said, I am the God of thy father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob. And Moses hid his face; for he was afraid to look upon God.

The Captain of the host of the LORD is a pre-incarnation appearance of Jesus Christ. It could have only been YHWH God. Since it was prior to his incarnation, he must have had a Glorified Angelic body in the appearance of a man. Angels appear as men not something with wings as portrayed in art. Many of us have entertained Angels unawares the Scriptures say.

Great post, Lee.