New American Standard Bible 1995

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Galatians

Note Journal Prayer

3

:

16

“

Now the promises were spoken to Abraham and to his seed. He does not say, "And to seeds," as referring to many, but rather to one, "And to your seed," that is, Christ.

Lexicon

Verse part Definition: Part of speech: Strong's: Greek: Transliteration:
Now but, and, now, (a connective or adversative particle) Conj H1161 δὲ de
the promises a summons, a promise N-NFP H1860 ἐπαγγελίαι epangeliai
were spoken to say V-PIA-3S H3004 λέγει legei
to Abraham Abraham, the Heb. patriarch N-DMS H11 Ἀβραὰμ abraam
Analysis:
Read more about: Abraham
and to his seed. that which is sown, i.e. seed N-DNS H4690 σπέρματι spermati
He does not say, to say V-PIA-3S H3004    
"And to seeds," that which is sown, i.e. seed N-DNS H4690 σπέρμασιν spermasin
as [referring] to many, much, many Adj-GNP H4183 πολλῶν pollōn
but [rather] to one, one Adj-GNS H1520 ἑνός enos
Analysis:

One: God

Refers to HaShem (God), Who is One. This number can also refer to unity. The first place the number "one" occurs is in Genesis 1:5. There one reads, "And there was an evening and there was a morning— one day". Later on in this same book of Genesis, it is stated concerning the man and his wife, "And they became one flesh" (Genesis 2:24). It is very significant that in both of these examples there was a multiplicity for the subject. In the first example, the evening and the morning became one day and in the second example, it was Adam and Eve who became one flesh.

One of the most famous passages in the Torah concerning HaShem is Deuteronomy 6:4 which states, "Hear O Israel the Lord your God the Lord is One." The question that a person must ask himself is what is the connection between the use of the Hebrew word אחד "one" which identifies a multiplicity being one and the fact that the Lord God of Israel is One? The answer is that the Hebrew word אחד can relate to the concept for one as in "unification". There is another Hebrew word that would have been possible to be used if the author wanted to refer to an absolute oneness or singleness. This is the Hebrew word יחיד. In fact, there is a well-known prayer in Judaism which states, "אחד ואין יחיד כיחודו". This phrase should be translated as, "(God is) One and there is no singularity as His singularity." The idea that is being expressed in this prayer is that the Lord God of Israel is One; but not an absolute One; rather there is a uniqueness and a complexity to His Oneness.

The number one is frequently employed to express in the Scriptures one object, such as one man or one tabernacle. This usage would be the simple or common purpose that the number one or for that matter any number, would appear in a Biblical text. Often the appearance of a number does not contain any of the significance that Hebrew numerology might offer. Therefore, the reader must always consider when coming across a verse which contains a number, that the number only expresses an amount and no additional significance. 

Because the number one is often associated with God, there is a unique phenomenon in the Scriptures concerning this number. Sometimes the number one is employed to express a unique relationship that the object has to HaShem. For example,

"And it will be one day, it will be known to HaShem..." Zechariah 14:7

In the text above, Zechariah could have stated simply, "And it will be a day…" The fact that the prophet said "one day" is to convey that this day is uniquely related to God. Similarly, it is stated by the prophet Ezekiel in chapter 37, "one King", "one nation" and "one Shepherd" (see Ezekiel 37:22, 24). Each of these objects—King, nation and Shepherd—has a connection to HaShem. The King and Shepherd is Messiah Yeshua, the Son of God and the one nation is Israel, the people of God.

Loveisrael.org - Baruch Korman, Ph.D. - All Rights Reserved - Used with Permission 2016
"And to your seed," that which is sown, i.e. seed N-DNS H4690 σπέρματι spermati
that is, Christ. the Anointed One, Messiah, Christ N-NMS H5547 Χριστός christos

People

Abraham

 The father of the Jewish nation. His original name was Abraham    Abraham  father of a multitude, son of Terah, named ( Genesis 11:27 ) before his older brothers Nahor and Haran, because he was the heir of the promises. Till the age of seventy, Abram sojourned among his kindred in his native country of Chaldea. He then, with his father and his family and household, quitted the city of Ur, in which he had hitherto... View Details

Parallel Verses

Removed text
Added text
New American Standard Bible 1995 Now the promises were spoken to Abraham and to his seed. He does not say, "And to seeds," as referring to many, but rather to one, "And to your seed," that is, Christ.
King James Bible Now the promises were spoken to Abraham and to his seed. seed were the promises made. He does not say, "And saith not, And to seeds," seeds, as referring to many, of many; but rather to as of one, "And And to your seed," that is, thy seed, which is Christ.
Berean Bible Now the promises were spoken to Abraham and to his seed. He It does not say, "And say “and to seeds," seeds” as referring to many, of many but rather to one, "And “and to your seed," that is, seed” as of One, who is Christ.
Hebrew Greek English Now the promises were spoken to Abraham and to his seed. He does not say, "And to seeds," as referring to many, but rather to one, "And to your seed," that is, Christ.