And I will give to you, and to your descendants after you, the land of your sojournings: the promise of the land was made in 12.7; 13.15; 15.7. Sojournings translates the noun form of a verb used in 12.10. It refers to staying in a place as a foreigner, usually for a limited length of time. See discussion of 12.10. Good News Translation says “… this land in which you are now a foreigner.” Revised English Bible, New Revised Standard Version use the term “alien.”

All the land of Canaan expands the previous clause by making the extent of the land more definite. This definition of the land contrasts considerably with that given in 15.18-21. Land of Canaan, which was first used in 11.31, may need to be translated as “land called Canaan,” or “land whose name is Canaan,” or “country [area, region] called Canaan.”

For an everlasting possession: that is, “it will be your possession forever.” In some languages it will be more natural to use a verb and say, for example, “You will own it forever,” or as in Good News Translation, “it will belong to your descendants forever.”

And I will be their God repeats the thought “be God to you and to your descendants” in Gen 17.7. The sense is the same as in Gen 17.7.

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 .