Some translations begin a new paragraph at verse 7, but most regard verse 7 as continuing the episode that commenced at the end of Gen 12.5. Revised Standard Version begins the verse with Then. Good News Translation has no linking word but continues within the same paragraph. Another possibility is to relate verse 7 to verse 6 by saying, as Biblia Dios Habla Hoy does, “There the Lord appeared….” We may also say, for example, “At that place…” or “While he was in Shechem….”
Then the LORD appeared to Abram: appeared translates a verb that is used of God’s act of revealing or showing himself to someone. It is not stated whether this was in a dream, a vision, or by a messenger, but the verb suggests that God became visible to Abram. We may translate “The LORD showed himself to Abram.”
The LORD’s speech to Abram is in the form of a promise that is more precise than the promises in verses 1-3: To your descendants I will give this land. Descendants translates the word “seed,” which is grammatically singular but collective in meaning. See comments on 3.15; 9.9. This land or “this country” (Good News Translation) has no defined boundaries here. Although the Canaanites are living in the land, it is the LORD who will give it to Abram’s descendants. This element of the promise is well brought out in one translation that links the last part of verse 6 with the beginning of verse 7: “At that time the people called Canaanites who lived in that country were still there, but the LORD showed himself to Abram and told him, ‘This is the country that I’m going to give to your descendants.’ ”
So he built there an altar to the LORD: Revised Standard Version makes this part a consequence of the LORD’s appearance and promise, while Good News Translation makes it a subsequent act: “Then Abram built….” Revised English Bible begins verse 7 with a “when” clause, and the building of the altar then follows as an act of response. Others do not mark the relationship between the LORD’s appearance and Abram’s act. All of these ways are possible. For altar see comments on 8.20. There means at Shechem or near Shechem, and in translation that may need to be stated. To the LORD means “to honor the LORD,” “to worship the LORD,” or “dedicated to the LORD.”
The relative clause who had appeared to him is stated by Biblia Dios Habla Hoy as the reason for building the altar: “… because he [the LORD] had appeared to him [Abram].” Another way of linking this clause with the building of the altar is given by some translations: “So Abram built an altar in order to worship the LORD, at this place where the LORD appeared to him.”
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 .