Offspring

Literally, physical descendants, and figuratively, the recipients of a spiritual inheritance.

Physical offspring

Offspring as physical descendants

Genesis 12:7 See also Genesis 13:15–16; Numbers 18:19; Ruth 4:12; Isaiah 61:9

Then the LORD appeared to Abram and said, “I will give this land to your offspring.” So Abram built an altar there to the LORD, who had appeared to him.

Offspring as a blessing to parents

Psalm 127:3–5 See also Genesis 21:6–7; Deuteronomy 7:14; Luke 1:41–45

Children are indeed a heritage from the LORD, and the fruit of the womb is His reward. Like arrows in the hand of a warrior, so are children born in one’s youth. Blessed is the man whose quiver is full of them. He will not be put to shame when he confronts the enemies at the gate.

Offspring as a blessing to others

Genesis 28:14 See also Genesis 22:17–18; 2 Samuel 7:12–13 parallel 1 Chronicles 17:11–12; Luke 1:76–79

Your descendants will be like the dust of the earth, and you will spread out to the west and east and north and south. All the families of the earth will be blessed through you and your offspring.

Absence of offspring seen as a sadness or curse

Genesis 15:2–3 See also Leviticus 20:20; Psalm 109:9; Jeremiah 22:30

But Abram replied, “O Lord GOD, what can You give me, since I remain childless, and the heir of my house is Eliezer of Damascus?” Abram continued, “Behold, You have given me no offspring, so a servant in my household will be my heir.”

Steps to be taken to provide offspring under the law

Deuteronomy 25:5–6 See also Ruth 4:10, Ruth 4:13; Matthew 22:24 parallels Mark 12:19, Luke 20:28

When brothers dwell together and one of them dies without a son, the widow must not marry outside the family. Her husband’s brother is to take her as his wife and fulfill the duty of a brother-in-law for her. The first son she bears will carry on the name of the dead brother, so that his name will not be blotted out from Israel.

Offspring as a result of God's special intervention

Hebrews 11:11 See also Genesis 21:1–2, Genesis 25:21; Judges 13:2–3; Luke 1:11–13; Romans 4:18–21

By faith Sarah, even though she was barren and beyond the proper age, was enabled to conceive a child, because she considered Him faithful who had promised.

God's claim on the firstborn offspring

Exodus 13:1–2 See also Exodus 13:11–16, Exodus 34:19–20; Numbers 3:11–13, Numbers 8:15–18; Luke 2:22–24

Then the LORD said to Moses, “Consecrate to Me every firstborn male. The firstborn from every womb among the Israelites belongs to Me, both of man and beast.”

Offspring can inherit parents' blessing or punishment

Exodus 20:5–6 parallel Deuteronomy 5:9–10 See also Leviticus 26:39; Jeremiah 22:28–30; Hosea 9:15–17

You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on their children to the third and fourth generations of those who hate Me, but showing loving devotion to a thousand generations of those who love Me and keep My commandments.

The fate of the offspring of the wicked

Job 27:13–14 See also Psalm 37:28; Isaiah 14:20–22

This is the wicked man’s portion from God — the heritage the ruthless receive from the Almighty. Though his sons are many, they are destined for the sword; and his offspring will never have enough food.

Spiritual offspring

Human beings, the offspring of God through creation

Acts 17:26–29

From one man He made every nation of men, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and He determined their appointed times and the boundaries of their lands. God intended that they would seek Him and perhaps reach out for Him and find Him, though He is not far from each one of us. ‘For in Him we live and move and have our being.’ As some of your own poets have said, ‘We are His offspring.’ Therefore, being offspring of God, we should not think that the Divine Being is like gold or silver or stone, an image formed by man’s skill and imagination.

The offspring of Abraham

Galatians 3:29 See also John 8:31–41; Romans 4:13–17, Romans 9:6–8

And if you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s seed and heirs according to the promise.

Believers, spiritual offspring through new birth

1 Peter 1:23 See also John 3:3–8; 1 John 3:9; Revelation 12:17

For you have been born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the living and enduring word of God.