To many people, the subject of Abraham’s seed is somewhat of an enigma. The purpose of this article is to clarify thinking about:

(1). What is the seed of Abraham -- is it genetic only?

(2). What is “offspring” -- what is the meaning of the expression "offspring of David"?

(3). What is the difference between “seed”, “offspring”, “children”, “fruit”, etc.?

(4). Why it is necessary to divide between these things that are different?

The Different Words for “Seed”

In most common translations the Hebrew and Greek words pertaining to this subject are often badly translated, and the various translations are inconsistent. So, for a start let us look at all the words in Strong’s Concordance and Thayer’s Lexicon for “seed”, “offspring”, “fruit”, “generation”, etc.

Old Testament:

Strong's H2233 zera or zerah Seed; fig. fruit, plant, sowing time, posterity -- carnally, child, fruitful, seed -- time, sowing time.

Strong's H6631 tse’etsa Offspring, issue, that is, produce, children, -- that which cometh forth [out].

New Testament:

Strong's G1074 genea From a presumed der. of 1085. A generation, by impl. an age [the period or the persons]: age generation, nation, time. Fathered, birth, nativity; that which has been begotten, men of the same stock, a family. The several ranks of natural descent, the successive members of a genealogy. Metaph. a race of men very like each other in endowments, pursuits, character -- esp. in a bad sense, a perverse race. The whole multitude of men living at the same time. An age (that is, the time ordinarily occupied be each successive generation), a space of 30 - 33 years.

Strong's G1078 genesis From the same as G1074; nativity, fig. nature, generation, nature[ -- ral]. Source, origin -- a book of one's lineage, that is, in which his ancestry or progeny are enumerated. Used of birth, nativity. Of that which follows origin, viz. existence, life -- the wheel of life (Jas 3:6), other explain it, the wheel of human origin which as soon as men are born begins to run, that is, its course of life.

Strong's G1081 gennema From 1080: offspring, by anal. produce [lit or fig.] fruit, generation. That which has been born or begotten -- the offspring or progeny of men or animals; the fruits of the earth, the produce of agriculture.

Strong's G1085 genos From G1096; kin [abstr. or con., lit. or fig., indiv. or coll.]: born, country [man], diversity, generation, kin, kindred, nation, offspring, stock. Race -- offspring; family; stock, race; nation that is, nationality or descent from a particular people. The aggregate of many individuals of the same nature, kind, sort.

Strong's G4687 speiro To sow, scatter, seed.

Strong's G4690 sperma Seed; that from which a plant germinates, the seed that is, the grain or kernel which contains within itself the germ of the future plants. metaph. a seed that is, residue, or a few survivors reserved as the germ of a new race (just as seed is kept from the harvest for the sowing). The semen virile; the product of this semen, seed, children, offspring, progeny; family, race, posterity. Whatever possesses vital force or life giving power; of divine energy of the holy spirit operating within the soul by which we are regenerated

Strong's G4703 sporas From G4687; a sowing; a scattering [of seed], that is, [concr.] seed [as sown].

It can be seen that there are a number of words in the original languages which need to be rightly divided.

Seed in the Old Testament

The word zera is used of the genetic seed of both men and plants. In Genesis 1, these seeds always produce after their own miyn (kind or species). In Genesis 1:11 in the expression whose seed is in itself, we see a principle. There is a later principle established that mixed seeds should not be sown together. Sentimental Christians might like to think that all seeds of men are the same as far as YEHOVAH God is concerned, but separation is shown very early in the Bible pages. It is YEHOVAH God who separates the seeds of mankind. It is for us to believe YEHOVAH God.

In the early part of the Old Testament, we have a story about the one special seed of Israel that was commanded by YEHOVAH God to utterly destroy certain other seeds [races]. This shows that there was a difference between the two groups. According to the common teaching, this separation is not supposed to continue into the New Testament, so we will have a look and see if it does. Within the Law, the Psalms and the Prophets there is no pattern of prophecy forecasting any change by YEHOVAH God to this position; therefore any change in teaching must be questioned from the full foundation of the Law and the Prophets.

The Two Seeds in Genesis 3:15

Genesis 3:15: "And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, between thy seed [zera] and her seed [zera]; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel."

Both seeds are the same word zera so we must accept the genetic context. Notice there is no enmity between the seeds at the time of speaking, because the seeds to be affected did not exist at that point in time. We have been taught that YEHOVAH God is not like that; that He does not put enmity between differing seeds, but, in fact, YEHOVAH God is still sovereign! If YEHOVAH God wants to separate seeds, that is His business. If YEHOVAH wants to put enmity between seeds, that too is His business. Yet, the hypothesis of the Church of Everyone/World Church is that YEHOVAH God made all races and seeds of men to be one, and that they should be mixed together. To use the expression that they might be one of John 17:21 as justification is to take the expression out of the context of "those that thou hast given me" of verse 9. YEHOVAH God made no such extension -- so where does that leave the World Church?

In the passage from Genesis above, there are stated to be two seeds. The seed of the woman and the seed of the serpent need to be identified before we can have any understanding of the issues. The seed of the woman refers to the Adamic line, and the remainder of the Bible deals only with the history of the Adamic line and its refinement to the seed of Jacob only. Somewhere along the line we have to come to a conclusion as to whether the difference between the seed of the woman and the seed of the serpent is a matter of:

(a) Belief

(b) A genetic difference

(c) A combination of these

What happened in Eden? Satan beguiled Eve by clearly misusing and misapplying YEHOVAH God’s words. Eve was remiss by failing to quote YEHOVAH’s words precisely -- she altered YEHOVAH’s words and hence was led into a trap. Adam, on the other hand, simply disobeyed. He saw Eve eating and without fancy discussion, went ahead and disobeyed YEHOVAH God’s commandment. The capacity or facility to disregard YEHOVAH God was now manifest in the physical make-up of Adam’s line. The Bible account of what happened to these people, down to Noah, shows us how they generally followed the ways of natural man (those of Genesis 1).

In Abram and Sarai, YEHOVAH God wrought a major change in the Adamic line. The spirit that had been breathed into Adam was dissipated to such a low level, that something needed to change if this human line of spirit-carrying people were to continue into the future. When Isaac was conceived, YEHOVAH changed Abram’s name to Abraham and Sarai’s name to Sarah. This commemorated the fixing of the spirit in Abraham and Sarah so that everyone conceived of their line received the same amount of spirit as Isaac.

Esau also received the same amount of spirit as Isaac and Jacob. But whereas Isaac and Jacob chose to believe YEHOVAH God, Esau rejected YEHOVAH by rejecting his birthright. He compounded the matter by marrying into the families that YEHOVAH God had rejected and declared as not suitable for marriage with Israel. This was no mere prohibition but enshrined in the Law -- much to the astonishment of modern Christians. To act contrary to this Law is the willful pursuit of those who live like the natural man of Genesis 1. It was the giving over of himself to Satan’s ways that made him and his progeny the seed of Satan as surely as if Satan had been their physical father. The whole of Esau’s line is devoted to the destruction of Israel -- as is Satan. This is the enmity foretold by YEHOVAH God in Genesis 3:15. Hence Esau’s line is the seed of the serpent through acts of disbelief and it is a genetic line because it applies to all who are descended from that line.

Abraham’s Seed is Genetic

Let us look closer at the promises made to Abraham. These promises are also made to Abraham’s zera through Isaac. It is here suggested that the readers go to the trouble to pick up a Strong’s Concordance, page 896-7 and look through the multitude of references which use zera (Strong’s ref 2233). Every Old Testament reference to the seed of men, as a line, is to genetic seeds. There are no exceptions! Therefore it cannot refer to any spiritual seed in this context.

Leviticus 15:17: "And every garment, and every skin, whereon is the Seed of copulation…"

Now, how would one get some spiritual seed on his skin and garments? This seed is zera! “Copulation” is just copulation. So, could zera here be spiritualized to be a spiritual seed? Remember that zera is also used for animals. Abraham’s seed is always a genetic seed. Please do not pass on reading until you have satisfied yourself that this is so. To go through Young’s or Strong’s Concordance references is better than extracting verses for you! Then you will be able to see the total area covered.

If YEHOVAH God chooses to make promises to those of one particular seed or race, that is His prerogative. That YEHOVAH God does do this is found to be so from the beginning to the end of the Bible. Dare we question the purposes of YEHOVAH God any longer? "For the LORD of Hosts hath purposed, who shall disannul it" (Isaiah 14:27). When it comes to the race of Israel, YEHOVAH God says, “That the purpose of God according to election might stand, not of works, but of Him that calleth” (Romans 9:11).

Seed and Offspring

In the prophetical Scriptures in particular, the words shown above as “seed” and “offspring” are often linked together. For example, speaking of Israel, YEHOVAH says:

Isaiah 61:9: "And their seed shall be known among the Gentiles [nations], and their offspring among the people: all that see them shall acknowledge them, that they are the seed which the LORD has blessed."

This seed which the LORD has blessed is spoken of as being the planting of the LORD (v. 3). In this section of Scripture, strangers (zar) and aliens (nekar) are to serve as servants, vine-dressers, and plough-men to YEHOVAH’s seed. The relationship is that of servant-hood to those with the garments of salvation.

Isaiah 44:3: "For I will pour water upon him that is thirsty, and floods upon the dry ground: I will pour My spirit upon thy seed, and My blessing upon thine offspring.

In verse one of this chapter "My people," "My chosen" are expressed as being Israel and/or Jacob. Their King is described in verse six as the king of Israel. This prophecy cannot be extended to all races. There are no Scriptures like this for other than Israel. The offspring of Israel are different and separate from that of all other races or people.

Isaiah 65:23: "…for they are the seed of the blessed of the LORD, and their offspring with them."

This chapter is about an “elect” (v. 22), and a singular “nation” (v. 1). Their situation is Jerusalem which is reserved for a “seed”. The time is the time of the new heavens and a new earth (v. 17). Anyone will look in vain for a prophetical stream which regathers all the seeds of men to either the Jerusalem that now is, or to the New Jerusalem.

Genesis 17:7: "And I will establish my covenant between me and thee and thy seed [zera] after thee in their generations [posterity] for an everlasting covenant, to be a God unto thee, and to thy seed [zera] after thee."

Throughout the Old Testament the seed of Abraham is through the seed of copulation, through the son of promise, Isaac. Isaac’s birth was a physical event, not a mystical, spiritual church-conceived experience. The birth of Isaac was supernatural, but YEHOVAH God had told Abraham that Sarah would bear him the child -- "unto thee" (v. 21). The covenant was made to him and his zera. Israel came from Abraham’s loins (Hebrews 7:5).

Try as we like, we cannot stretch the promise to include any other seed, or even to encompass any other of Abraham’s seed. We cannot honestly say that all of mankind came through Abraham’s loins! If any want to say that YEHOVAH’s people are now a spiritual seed from every race, where would Abraham’s loins come into it?

Seed in the New Testament

In the New Testament we find the same picture as is presented in the Old Testament:

Luke 1:54, 55: "He hath holpen His servant Israel, in remembrance of His mercy, as He spake to our fathers, to Abraham, and to his seed for ever."

Some might like to suggest from what they teach that the subject is not Israel and the seed of Abraham. They teach that all the New Testament is now about “The Church”. This is not true, because what they mean by “The Church” is what the Greek text says! The passage above says nothing about a multi-racial church. The people who are the subject of the passage are Israel as the seed (zera) of Abraham (Note the “our Fathers”).

Luke 1:68: "Blessed be the LORD God of Israel; for He hath visited and redeemed His people [Israel].

There is NO mention of other peoples. There never is!

Luke 1:73: "To perform the mercy promised to our fathers, and to remember His holy covenant, the oath which He sware to our father Abraham, that we…to give the knowledge of salvation unto His people [Israel]."

“Our fathers” is another way of expressing the line by descent of His people. Now we are back to the covenant in Genesis 17:7. This is a generation of Abraham’s physical seed to whom fulfillment is made. The promise was made to Abraham’s zera (in Hebrew) and it is being fulfilled in Abraham’s sperma (in Greek).

“Sperma” (AV: “Seed”)

This word is used 37 times in the New Testament in a familial sense -- referring to things that are homogenous in a genetic sense. The word used in Luke 1:44-55 in discussing Abraham’s seed (sperma). So, let us look at some more verses in which sperma occurs so we can have certainty about this matter.

Mark 12:22: "The seven had her, and left no seed."

Luke 20:28: "And raise up seed unto his brother."

“Sperma” does not sound like a spiritual seed, does it? It is physical! And it is physical seed in the following verses:

Acts 3:25, 26: "Ye are the children of the prophets, and of the covenant which God made with our fathers, saying unto Abraham, And in thy seed [sperma] shall all the kindreds [the same kin] of the earth be blessed. Unto you first God, having raised up his son Jesus, sent him to bless you, in turning away every one of you from his iniquities."

Acts 7:5: "And he gave him none inheritance in it, no not so much as to set his foot on: yet he promised that he would give it to him for a possession, and to his seed [sperma] after him, when as yet he had no child."

Romans 4:13: "For the promise, that he should be heir to the world, was not to Abraham, or to his seed [sperma], through the law, but through the righteousness of faith."

Romans 4:16: "Therefore it is of faith, that it might be by grace; to the end the promise might be to all the seed [sperma]; not only which is of the law, but to that also which is of the faith of Abraham; who is the father of us all [separated ones (Israelites) as identified in Romans 1:7].

The pronoun "us" is the children of Abraham to whom the original covenant was made. The promise is not made at any stage to other than all the seed, namely to those of whom Abraham is the father. This could not be clearer.

Romans 4:18: "Who against hope believed in hope, that he might become the father of many nations, according to that which was spoken, So shall thy seed be."

The context here is the original covenant to Abraham and his seed.

Romans 9:8: "That is, They which are the children of the flesh, these are not the children of God: but the children of the promise are counted for the seed."

Not all of Abraham’s offspring are counted for the seed, but only those through the son of promise, Isaac and Jacob -- "I am the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob." Because the seed is sperma, it cannot be a spiritual seed made up from converted people from all other races, as commonly taught!

Romans 11:1: "I say then, Hath God cast away His people? God forbid. For I am an Israelite, of the seed of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin."

Israel and the Seed of Abraham are always linked in the New Testament -- not as a spiritual seed, but as a physical seed.

2 Corinthians 11:22: "Are they Hebrews? so am I. Are they Israelites? so am I. Are they the seed of Abraham? so am I."

In this passage alone, there is an association between three factors (Hebrews, Israelites and the Seed of Abraham) which is impossible to break apart. Israel can never be anything other than of the sperma of Abraham. It cannot be a spiritual seed as is commonly taught.

Hebrews 11:11: "Through faith also, Sara herself received strength to conceive seed [sperma, that is, zera of Abraham]."

Before we pass on from sperma, it might be noted that the sperma verses in Galatians have been omitted. This is because they have been covered in the article, Galatians and Israel Exclusive. They tell the same story.

The Two Sowings in His Field

Only Matthew mentions and explains about the tares as being sown in His field along with the wheat. Mark and Luke do not mention either the field or the wheat. The good seed (sperma) in Matthew are defined as the children of the Kingdom (Matthew 13:38). In this field there are sown two kinds of plants, the children of the Kingdom and the children of the wicked one. The sowings are both at the seed stage. Both grow together until the harvest; there is no suggestion given that one can convert into the other.

“Sporos” (AV: Seed)

This word occurs only five times in the New Testament. The sporos verses relate to the Word of YEHOVAH God as seed, or to the sowing of seed where physical offspring alone is not the issue. Luke 8:11 says that the seed (sporos) is the Word of YEHOVAH God.

The Words “Spiritual” and “Natural”

The idea commonly presented is that the Seed of Abraham, or Abraham’s children, are a spiritual rather than a genetic seed. This is a physical impossibility! We hear the expression used, "First the natural, then the spiritual" to attempt to say that Israel nationally was the natural and that the Church is the spiritual that came later. What the Bible says words mean may be different to what we mean. So let us look at natural and spiritual as they connect to our present subject:

Natural

The word, of course, has a connection with “nature” which is most commonly a translation of phusis. This word is also translated as natural.

Strong's G5449: "Growth [by germination or expansion that is, [by impl.] natural production [lineal descent]; by extens. a genus or sort, fig. native disposition, constitution or usage…[man] kind."

Thayer: "The nature of things, the force, laws, order of nature, as opposed to what is monstrous, abnormal, perverse. The operation of nature. The sum of innate properties and powers by which one differs from others."

However, when we come to the verses where the “natural” body and the “spiritual” body are compared, we find the word psuchikos (Strong's G5591).

Thayer: "This is having the nature and characteristics of the breath. The principle of animal life; which men have in common with brutes. The sensuous nature with its subjection to appetite and passion."

Hence:

1 Corinthians 15:44: "It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body."

1 Corinthians 15:46: "Howbeit, that was not first that was spiritual, but that which is natural; and afterwards that which is spiritual."

The context of these verses has reference to the resurrection. This is when the change from the natural body to the spiritual body takes place.

Spiritual

The word “spiritual” is pneumatikos (Strong's 4152).

Thayer: "Relating to the human spirit, or rational soul, and the part of man which is akin to God, and serves as his instrument or organ. Belonging to a spirit, or being higher than man, but inferior to God. Belonging to the Divine Spirit. Produced by the sole power of God himself, without natural instrumentality or parent."

It is used of this present age for many things other than of the body:

Romans 1:11: "…spiritual gift…" also 1 Corinthians 12:1 and 14:1.

Romans 15:27: "spiritual things"

1 Corinthians 3:1: "As unto spiritual"

1 Corinthians 10:3: "And did all eat the same spiritual meat"

1 Corinthians 2:13: "Comparing spiritual things with spiritual"

1 Corinthians 2:14: "Spiritually discerned"

Galatians 6:1: "Ye which are spiritual"

Ephesians 1:3: "Spiritual blessings"

Ephesians 5:19: "Spiritual songs"

Ephesians 6:12: "Spiritual wickedness"

Colossians 1:9: "Spiritual understanding"

1 Peter 2:5: "Spiritual house…spiritual sacrifices"

Revelation 11:8: "Spiritually called Sodom and Egypt"

But the present bodies we have are never called spiritual in this present age. These bodies may be anointed, filled etc. but they do not become spirit bodies until they are raised from the dead in their spirit form.

1 Corinthians 15:36: "Thou fool, that which thou sowest is not quickened, except it die."

Thus, the seed of Abraham is still a natural body. The common teaching today is that the seed of Abraham is now a spiritual seed consisting of born again believers of every race. This born again expression is as incorrect as when Nicodemus thought it! The Messiah NEVER said born again; he said "begotten from above." The words “spiritual”, “anointed” and “holy” do not mean the same things.

Israel -- The Holy Seed

Israel -- An Holy People

Deuteronomy 7:6: "For thou art an holy people unto the LORD thy God: the LORD thy God hath chosen thee to be a special people unto himself, above all people that are upon the face of the earth."

This verse shows the separation of special people (Israel as being addressed) from all others. Deuteronomy 14:2 and Deuteronomy 26:19 are similar verses.

Then we come to a people who are separated from other races. That this carries on into the New Testament might not find favor with many teachers, but it is hard to avoid. The doctrine of separation, as taught, might have to be re-considered in this aspect!

The word badal for separation is shown by Strong's H914 to denote an utter separation and a selection.

Israel -- A Peculiar People

This also continues on into the New Testament, like it or not! The word in the Old Testament is segullah which signifies an enclosure or peculiar treasure. In the New Testament the noun is peripoiesis and the adjective is periousios showing that there is a people who are an acquisition, or purchased possession.

Hence:

The race of Israel is spoken of as a collective treasure and a singular people. A treasure is a depository or a thing laid up. It is also translated as special, proper and jewels. In the New Testament, peculiar treasure is variously translated as obtain salvation (1 Thessalonians 5:9), obtaining of the glory (2 Thessalonians 2:14), and purchased possession (Ephesians 1:14), or as expressed in Hebrews, as "the saving."

Hebrews 10:39: "But we are not of them who draw back into perdition; but of them that believe unto the saving of the soul."

Israel -- The Anointed Seed

Anointed in Hebrew is mashiach. (This is translated as Messiah in Daniel!!)

To anoint in Hebrew is mashach.

Anointing in Hebrew is mishchah.

They have universal application to persons, people and things. There are also other words in Hebrew so translated, such as suk and badal.

Habakkuk 3:13: "Thou wentest forth for the salvation of thy people, even for the salvation of Thine anointed."

This places "Thine anointed" and "Thy people" as being one and the same. This says that they were anointed before they were saved -- anointed by the presence of the indwelling spirit. Speaking of the Seed of Abraham, (His servant) and the Children of Jacob (His chosen), and the covenant YEHOVAH God made to Israel, we read:

Psalm 105:15: "Touch not Mine anointed, and do My prophets no harm."

Revelation 11:15, 16: "The Kingdoms of this world [kosmos] are become the kingdoms of our LORD, and of His Christ [anointed (people)] and He [YEHOVAH God] shall reign for ever and ever. And the four and twenty elders, which sat before God on their seats, fell upon their faces, and worshipped God."

Israel -- A Chosen People

Throughout the Old Testament the exclusivity of Israel is a consistent theme, as has been shown in this and other articles. Israel may have been put aside, brought low, dis-allowed by YEHOVAH God, but YEHOVAH says the promises that were made to the fathers of Israel will yet be fulfilled in us their children.

Matthew 24:31: "And he shall send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other."

This gathering cannot be other than the gathering from among those who are the subject of the prophecy. The Elect are the ones resurrected. This has been shown in the article on Adoption as the process for the placing of sons out of Israel.

For whose sake? Is it any but the Elect?

These New Testament expressions, called, chosen, and elect, are all used in the Old Testament where they are addressed exclusively to the race and nations of Israel. Even through to Revelation, those with the Lamb are the faithful among the called and chosen. They are not from among others.

Israel -- A Stone People (or Nation)

Matthew 21:43, 44: "Therefore I say unto you, The kingdom of God shall be taken from [among] you [the Judean leaders], and given to a nation bringing forth the fruits thereof. And whosoever shall fall on this stone shall be broken: but on whosoever it shall fall, it will grind him to powder."

What is Being Said?