Definition: 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;

Explanation: Okay, let’s break down this verse from Genesis 15:13. It’s a really important passage about God’s plan for Abraham and his descendants. Here's the explanation in simpler terms: Basically, it means: “God told Abram (a man named Abraham) that his family line would become separated from the rest of humanity and be subject to serving people in a specific region for a long time.” Let’s unpack it piece by piece: “And he said unto Abram…” : This is God speaking directly to Abraham. He's giving him a message, a promise. “…that thy seed shall be a stranger in a land [that is] not theirs…” : This is the core of the verse. "Thy" means “your” – it’s referring specifically to Abraham’s family line (meaning all his descendants). It's saying that his descendants will never be part of the established, normal society of the world. They won't be tied to any particular nation or culture. “…and shall serve them; and they shall afflict them four hundred years;” : This is where it gets a little more complex. God says that Abraham’s descendants will be forced to live in a specific location, and they will have to do work for people living there. This “affliction” means they'll be treated poorly or subjected to hardship – essentially, they'll be exploited. It’s expected that this period of service will last four hundred years ! What does this all mean in a bigger picture? This verse is often seen as the beginning of God’s plan to establish a covenant (a special agreement) with Abraham and his descendants. It sets up a long-term relationship where the descendants of Abraham would be separated from the rest of the world, creating a unique path for them to spread out across the globe. Important Note: It's important to remember that this is a promise made by God, not something that happened in the past. It’s about future expectations and a long-term relationship. --- Do you want me to: Explain another part of Genesis 15? Discuss the significance of this verse in the context of the Old Testament?