12:2 bless. Crucial elements of divine blessing and promise in Genesis—fruitfulness and dominion—are evident here and are further spelled out in 22:17 (9:1 note).

make your name great. What the city builders at Babel sought in their own strength (11:4 note), God gave in sovereign grace. Subsequent history confirmed God’s promise—the great names of Abraham and David (2 Sam. 7:9) prefigured that of Jesus Christ (Phil. 2:9–11).

you will be a blessing. This last occurrence of the verb “to bless” is an imperative. Abraham will not only be blessed, but is to be a blessing to others (v. 3).