I will make you exceedingly fruitful: this metaphor was used to represent fertility in 1.22, 28; 8.17; 9.1, 7. See 1.22 for discussion. Good News Translation renders this figurative expression “I will give you many descendants.” Translators should use a figurative expression if one is available that has the meaning of increasing the number of offspring.

And I will make nations of you: this expression, as translated by Revised Standard Version, may require adjustments in translation. The sense is that the many descendants Abraham will have will eventually become nations.

Some translations take the two promises together, the promises of numerous descendants and the descendants becoming nations, and they say something like “… your descendants will be very very many, and they will take control of the land in many places.”

And kings shall come forth from you: that is, some of Abraham’s descendants will be kings. For comments on kings see 14.1. The expression shall come forth from you is the Hebrew way of saying “you will be the ancestor of…” or “kings will be among your descendants.” Kings is sometimes rendered “big chiefs, great rulers, big leaders.”

Quoted with permission from Reyburn, William D. and Fry, Euan McG. A Handbook on Genesis. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 1997. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .