Genesis 15:9Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

Just as we, when making a promise, provide a sign or guarantee to assure the other party of our commitment—so that they may find confidence in our words—the loving Lord responds to Abraham’s inquiry: 'By what shall I know?' by saying, 'Here is what I will do for you: “Bring me a three-year-old heifer, a three-year-old goat, a three-year-old sheep, a turtledove, and a young pigeon.”’ Notice the simplicity with which the ever-benevolent Lord chooses to affirm His promise to the patriarch. It was a traditional practice of the ancients to establish and validate agreements in this manner (as detailed in Scripture regarding God’s covenant with Abraham), and thus God employs the same method.

It is customary for the Father to affirm His promises by invoking His own power, which is embodied in the Son. This signifies an oath by Himself, for the Son is inseparable from Him in essence and identity within the Godhead. Thus, the divine Moses presents God swearing, clearly stating: "I lift up My hand to heaven, and ... I say, I live forever!" (Deuteronomy 32:40). The Son acts as the mighty right hand of God the Father, through whom He governs all creation, as if upholding all things and accomplishing divine purposes, even creating ex nihilo and granting grace to what already exists. In this context, the oath serves to strengthen the heirs in their trust in the promise, encompassing the sacrament of our Saviour. Christ is prefigured in the heifer, the goat, and the sheep, as well as in the two birds: the turtledove and the dove.

I will attempt to elucidate the significance of these symbols. Sometimes Christ is referred to as a ram, symbolizing His formidable and divine strength, while at other times, being under the law, He is likened to a heifer. The female always occupies a position beneath the male, which rules and holds authority; in this sense, the Son transcends all creation, offering incomparable qualities that surpass the nature and glory of all beings, with the ultimate source being the Father. Yet, in taking on human form, He became subject to the law, declaring, "I came not to break it, but to fulfil it" (Matthew 5:17). We must consider His weariness in this regard. Thus, Christ is the heifer, with Moses representing the law itself, which was given through him. He is also depicted as a goat because He sacrificed Himself for our sins, as outlined in Scripture (Heb. 9:12; Heb. 10:12; 1 Pet. 1:19, etc.). The goat represents a sin offering under the law (Lev. 16:9). He is also identified with the sheep as the Shepherd of His flock: "One is your Master - Christ" (Matt. 23:8, 10), and "we, your people and your flock of sheep" serve Him, as stated (Ps. 78:13). By aligning Himself with humanity, Christ embodies the role of a sheep and leader; the sheep always lead the flock. He is the heifer, as one who is under the law, the goat as a sin offering, and also the ram, as the guide. In our desire to follow Him earnestly, we shall find ourselves "in a good pen, and ... in a fat pasture," according to the prophet (Ezekiel 34:14), resting within the courts of His holiness. He is both the sheep and the good Shepherd, one of us yet above the law as God—our justification, although He "was counted among the wicked" (Isaiah 53:12) and sacrificed for our sakes. Additionally, He is represented by both the turtledove and the dove. The turtledove, a symbol of purity and joyful sound, descended from heaven, pleasing all creation with the proclamation of the gospel. To Him, the Church, which is His bride, calls out, "show me thy face, let me hear thy voice; for thy voice is sweet, and thy face is pleasant" (Song of Songs 2:14). He is indeed the simple, innocent dove, for "there was no lie in His mouth" (Isaiah 53:9). He is also the three-year-old heifer, indicating complete maturity, which signifies the perfection of the Only Begotten in the Godhead.

If these words had been delivered to Abram as a form of punishment, his offering would not have been deemed acceptable, nor would God have established a covenant with him on that significant day, nor assured him that ten nations would serve his descendants, nor proclaimed that he would pass away in peace at an elder age. The young girl, goat, and ram of three years symbolize that Abram's offspring would eventually be freed from bondage after three generations or indicate that leaders, priests, and prophets would arise from among them.

The dove stood for a different lineage that settled in the promised land, characterized by its gentleness and preference for human dwellings. Therefore, the separation of the birds conveyed the hope of liberation from servitude, while the distinction of the four-legged creatures illustrated the affliction of Egypt. The birds that approached the slain offerings, which Abraham drove away, symbolized the malicious intent of the Egyptians, which the Almighty rendered ineffective, faithfully maintaining the pledges made to Abraham. Just as Abraham shooed away the predatory birds, the Egyptians suffered under the weight of Abraham's exalted position. The vision of the smoking furnace and flaming torches that appeared as the sun set indicated the acceptance of the sacrifices and prefigured the manifestation of the Creator at the appointed time; for in the fire, God appeared to Moses the lawgiver and later revealed Himself to His people. Additionally, the Lord imparted that it would be permissible in the future to present these animals as offerings. Some suggest that, in illustrating the certainty of His promise, God acted in accordance with customary treaty practices, where sacrifices were typically divided in half as oaths were made over them. I have conveyed both interpretations so that readers may select the one they find more compelling.

The goat represents the interval from Joseph’s death to Moses’ birth; during this era, the Egyptians began to impose labor upon the Hebrews, much like milking a goat, enriching themselves from the toil of the Israelites. Lastly, the ram depicts the period from Moses' birth to the Hebrew exodus from Egypt. In this time, despite harsh oppression, the Jewish population flourished immensely. They did not succumb to weariness but, empowered, rose against the Egyptians as if driving them away with horns—through the plagues that God sovereignly executed via Moses and Aaron. After partaking in the Passover lamb, they departed laden with the riches of Egypt.

When the Lord sought to affirm to Abram and his descendants His promise regarding the inheritance of the land of Canaan, He chose to employ this human-like ritual of establishing covenants, demonstrating His gracious condescension to mankind. The Lord instructed Abram to prepare one of each type of animal that would later be specified in the Law as acceptable for sacrifice. Following God's command, Abram slaughtered the perfect three-year-old heifer, goat, and sheep, then cut them in half and arranged them so that there was a clear passageway. However, the birds—the turtledove and the pigeon—were merely slaughtered without being divided, consistent with the practice where birds were placed whole on the altar fire (Leviticus 1:17).

Although the animals were prepared as sacrifices, it appears that none were actually offered in this instance; the subsequent descriptions do not indicate that the slain animals were laid on the altar or burned. Rather, Genesis 15:17 reveals that a smoke and a torch of fire (representing God's presence) passed between the divided pieces of the animals. Following this, it is stated that "in that day the Lord made a covenant with Abram, saying, ‘I will give unto thy seed this land from the river of Egypt unto the great river Euphrates’" (Genesis 15:18).