Genesis 12:7
Genesis 12:7, “HASHEM appeared to Abram and said, ‘To your offspring [seed/zera] I will give this land.’” So he built an altar there to HASHEM Who appeared to him.”
The Christian Bible records an incorrect interpretation of this verse by Paul, the foremost originator of Christianity, in reference to the use of the singular form of the Hebrew word zera, meaning seed. He asserts that this word implies the coming of an individual who will be of significance to humanity, specifically the Christian deity.
“The promises were spoken to Abraham and to his seed. The Scripture does not say "and to seeds," meaning many people, but "and to your seed," meaning one person, who is christ. (Galatians 3:16)”
Contrary to Paul’s claim, there are many instances of seed/zera in the Hebrew Bible, in singular form, which obviously refer to multiple descendants. An example is the verse mentioning Hagar in Genesis 16:8-10.
“And he said, “Hagar, maidservant of Sarai, where have you come from and where are you going?” “I am running away from Sarai my mistress...And the angel of HASHEM said to her, I will greatly increase your offspring, [seed/zera] and they will not be counted for abundance.”
If the seed/zera in this verse can “not be counted for abundance,” one can easily conclude seed/zera is not limited to a single descendant. Paul’s erroneous assertion discredits him.
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