Fear not: see 15.1, where the LORD speaks the same words to Abraham.

Am I in the place of God?: in 30.2 this same expression is used by Jacob in reply to Rachel’s complaint of her lack of children. However, in the present context the sense is “I am not God who forgives people’s sins” or “… who judges people.” In translation, if the rhetorical question is kept, it may be necessary to complete it with a negative reply; for example, “Am I in God’s place? Certainly not!” Anchor Bible translates “How could I act for God?” We may also say, for example, “I am not in God’s place,” “It is not for me to play God,” or “I’m not God; I can’t punish you.”

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 .