Bereansearching Bible Studies

Introduction

This is a relatively short post but it is important because of historical misunderstandings associated with the term “seed” as a word found in the Bible, which can easily be confused, because the word “seed” can be interpreted as meaning either singular or plural (whereas the word “seeds” cannot be similarly misunderstood).

The reason that this is important is because of what we find in Galatians 3:16, “Now to Abraham and his seed (σπέρματι (sperma))^G4690 Dative Singular Neuter) were the promises made. He saith not, And to seeds (σπέρμασιν (sperma))^G4690 Dative Plural Neuter), as of many; but as of one, And to thy seed σπέρματί (sperma))^G4690 Dative Singular Neuter), which is Christ.“ This is also consistent with what Paul wrote regarding that same promise by God to Abraham in Romans 4:18, “Who against hope believed in hope, that he might become the father of many nations, according to that which was spoken, So shall thy seed (σπέρμα  (sperma))^G4690 Nominative Singular Neuter) be.“

Understanding Old Testament words that are translated into English often requires a closer look at the original Hebrew words

When we look at the original Hebrew word for “seed” we find something very interesting. The word that is translated into English as “seed”, in almost every case, appears as זֶרַע (zeraʿ)^H2233 (also depicted as זַרְעֲ) and only once in the Bible as זָרַע (zāra)^H2232, which we find in Leviticus 12:2, “Speak unto the children of Israel, saying, If a woman have conceived seed,(זָרַע (zāra))^H2232 and born a man child: then she shall be unclean seven days; according to the days of the separation for her infirmity shall she be unclean.” Zara apparently does refer to a singular seed, as it refers to the resulting singular “a man child”. But that does not help us with this apparent conundrum associated with זֶרַע (zeraʿ)^H2233.

The problem lies with the Hebrew word for seed (זֶרַע (zeraʿ))^H2233, which is both collective and singular (again, much like in English, where “seed” can be interpreted as either singular or plural). Paul would have been well aware of the “collective sense of [seed],” and he appealed to it in Romans 4:18 as mentioned above. Throughout the Hebrew Bible the particular word occurs in the grammatical singular, but with reference to the collective plural sense (and sometimes even to the singular sense); in these respects context is very important.

First, in its original context, this prophecy was fulfilled in the single person of Isaac—not multiple offspring. Issac was the singular son of promise, to serve as a “Type” and forerunner of the Lord Jesus Christ, Who would come from that singular seed and be that singular Seed of Promise. But Paul was noting the greater fulfillment of the promise is not biological but spiritual in Christ.

Moreover, this word appears twice in the following verse, with no hint as to whether the word is singular or collective in meaning, until the last letter of the last word appears in the verse. 

Gen 22:17 (Westminster Leningrad Codex) Source: https://i.stack.imgur.com/KVyOq.png

The Apostle Paul clearly had to have been referring to Genesis 22:17 when he wrote Galatians 3:16, which hinged on the Hebrew letter waw (possessive pronoun masculine singular suffix) which we would interpret in English as “his”. In this respect, the Apostle Paul was able to declare that the ultimate promised seed of Abraham was a singular male person based on the plain and normal reading of Genesis 22:17, “That in blessing I will bless thee, and in multiplying I will multiply thy seed  (זַרְעֲךָ (zeraʿ ))^H2233 as the stars of the heaven, and as the sand which [is] upon the sea shore; and thy seed (זַרְעֲךָ  (zeraʿ ))^H2233 shall possess the gate of his enemies;”

And knowing that this reference is pointing to the Lord Jesus Christ, is it not all the more clear when we read the next verse…Genesis 22:18, “And in thy seed  (זַרְעָ (zeraʿ))^H2233 shall all the nations of the earth be blessed; because thou hast obeyed my voice.“

Note that the “enemies” are the devil and his minions, the gate(s) of Jesus’ enemies is the prison house/Hell. Jesus said to Peter in Matthew 16:18, “And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.“

Isaac was therefore the “Type”, which pointed to that ultimate Seed, or Son, Jesus Christ, Who would be the Sacrifice, and through Whom the blessings of Abraham would flow to the world.

Genesis 3:15, “And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed  (זַרְעָהּ  (zeraʿ))^H2233; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.”

Genesis 12:3, we read, “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 13:15&16, “For all the land which thou seest, to thee will I give it, and to thy seed (זַרְעֲךָ (zeraʿ)^H2233 for ever. And I will make thy seed (זַרְעֲךָ (zeraʿ)^H2233 as the dust of the earth: so that if a man can number the dust of the earth, [then] shall thy seed (זַרְעֲךָ (zeraʿ)^H2233 also be numbered.”

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.”

1 John 3:9, “Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed (σπέρμα (sperma))^G4690 remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God.”

1 John 5:1,”¶Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is born of God: and every one that loveth him that begat loveth him also that is begotten of him.“

Isaiah 43:5, “Fear not: for I [am] with thee: I will bring thy seed זַרְעֶךָ from the east, and gather thee from the west;

It is clear, from the text in that the “seed” is Jesus. Jesus Himself clarified how this seed goes from a singular to a plural seed: 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.” Jesus as the singular Seed died that many “seeds” would come forth by His death.

And this brings us to the Parable of the Sower, wherein Jesus, being the Word of God, is also the seed (see Luke 8:11), but it’s interesting that in John 1:1, the Word of God is Jesus Himself. When the seed, spoken of in the Parable of the Sower, finds a good ground, it “yielded a crop a hundredfold” (Luke 8:8).

Conclusion

So it is Jesus Christ (The Singular “Seed”) Who brings salvation to sinful human beings, such that Jesus makes it possible to them become worthy of being considered “righteous” in front of God. Jesus, justifies (makes just) and begets/yields others too, so that the Father may give to many (plural), what Jesus made possible, that is eternal life. And there is no doubt that Jesus now possesses “the gate of his enemies” as spoken of in Genesis 22:17.

But let us not forget what we read in the last verse of Galatians chapter 3 in Galatians 3:29, “And if ye be Christ’s, then are ye Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.“

POSTCRIPT

The preceding referenced verse, in Galatians chapter 3, refers us back to Abraham and the Covenant of Circumcision, Genesis 17:1-8, “¶And when Abram was ninety years old and nine, the LORD appeared to Abram, and said unto him, I [am] the Almighty God; walk before me, and be thou perfect. And I will make my covenant between me and thee, and will multiply thee exceedingly. And Abram fell on his face: and God talked with him, saying, As for me, behold, my covenant [is] with thee, and thou shalt be a father of many nations. Neither shall thy name any more be called Abram, but thy name shall be Abraham; for a father of many nations have I made thee. And I will make thee exceeding fruitful, and I will make nations of thee, and kings shall come out of thee. 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. And I will give unto thee, and to thy seed after thee, the land wherein thou art a stranger, all the land of Canaan, for an everlasting possession; and I will be their God.“

Moreover in Hebrews 6:13-20 the Apostle Paul expounds, “¶For when God made promise to Abraham, because he could swear by no greater, he sware by himself, Saying, Surely blessing I will bless thee, and multiplyingI will multiply thee. And so, after he had patiently endured, he obtained the promise. For men verily swear by the greater: and an oath for confirmation [is] to them an end of all strife. Wherein God, willing more abundantly to shew unto the heirs of promise the immutability of his counsel, confirmed [it] by an oath: That by two immutable things, in which [it was] impossible for God to lie, we might have a strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us: ¶ Which [hope] we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and stedfast, and which entereth into that within the veil; Whither the forerunner is for us entered, [even] Jesus, made an high priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec.“

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This entry was posted on August 24, 2024 at 10:39 pm and is filed under Bible Studies. You can subscribe via RSS 2.0 feed to this post's comments.

Tags: Bible, Jesus Christ, The Seed of Abraham

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