The seed in God's covenant is Christ, the singular promised descendant of Abraham who came through Isaac and Jacob.
The Bible identifies the covenant seed as singular and as Christ (Galatians 3:16). Though Ishmael and Esau were physical descendants of Abraham, they were outside the covenant line, which went through Isaac and Jacob. Romans 9 explains that the children of promise, not the children of the flesh, are counted for the seed.
Galatians 3:16 — Paul directly states that the singular seed of Abraham in the covenant promises is Christ.
Genesis 21:12 — God chooses Isaac as the son through whom the seed would be called, excluding Ishmael.
The Bible uses the word "seed" in God's covenant both in a singular and a plural sense. In Genesis 3:15, God promised that the seed of the woman would bruise the serpent's head. In Genesis 17:7-8, God established an everlasting covenant with Abraham and his seed, promising the land of Canaan to his seed after him. Genesis 21:12 narrows the covenant line: "for in Isaac shall thy seed be called." Galatians 3:16 then identifies the singular seed: "Now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made. He saith not, And to seeds, as of many; but as of one, And to thy seed, which is Christ." Romans 9:7-8 confirms that not all physical descendants of Abraham are children of God; rather, "the children of the promise are counted for the seed."
Les Feldick explains that the word "seed" in the Hebrew and Greek is like the English word "sheep" — the same word is used whether singular or plural. When Scripture speaks of the seed of the woman, it points to Christ; when it speaks of Abraham's seed after him in the generations, it refers to his physical descendants. Les emphasizes that the singular promised seed had to come through Isaac, not Ishmael, and through Jacob, not Esau. Ishmael and Esau were genetically children of Abraham but spiritually outside the covenant promises because the line went through Isaac and Jacob only. Israel could not rely on correct genealogy, being children of the covenant, or being connected to the prophets; the children of the promise are the ones counted for the seed. Les also teaches that these covenant promises were settled forever by God — no one can annul them. The line of promise runs from Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, David, Solomon, all the way to Mary and Christ. Even the land promise to Abraham's seed remains an everlasting possession for Israel.
The word "seed" can be either singular or plural. Les Feldick points out that the Hebrew word zirah and the Greek word zera behave like the English word "sheep" — they are used the same way whether referring to one or many. Galatians 3:16 applies the singular seed to Christ: "And to thy seed, which is Christ." At the same time, Genesis 17:8 uses "thy seed" in connection with the land, referring to Abraham's generations after him.
Les Feldick explains that Ishmael and Esau both had many offspring, and even though they were genetically children of Abraham, spiritually they are outside the covenant promises because the promises went only to the offspring of Isaac and Jacob. The singular seed of the woman could not come down through Ishmael or Esau; it had to come through Isaac. Romans 9:8 expresses the same truth: the children of the flesh are not the children of God, but the children of the promise are counted for the seed.
Genesis 3:15 promises that the seed of the woman would be the Redeemer. Paul applies this to Abraham's seed in Galatians 3:16, showing that the promises were made to Abraham and his singular seed, who is Christ. Les Feldick traces this covenant line from Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, David, Solomon, all the way to Mary and the coming of Christ. These covenants are settled forever because God made them, and the land promise to Abraham's seed remains an everlasting possession for Israel.
Children of Promise, Not Just Genealogy
Les explains that Ishmael and Esau were physical descendants of Abraham but spiritually outside the covenant promises, and Israel could not rely on genealogy to enter God's promises.
The Hebrew Word Zirah
Les explains that the Hebrew word for seed is like the English word 'sheep,' always used the same way whether singular or plural, which helps identify when Scripture means Christ versus Abraham's offspring.
The Seed Had to Come Through Isaac
The singular seed of the woman is Christ, and it could not come through Ishmael or Esau; it had to come through Isaac, the son of promise.
The Seed Is Christ
Les connects the singular Greek word to Galatians 3:16 — 'that seed is Christ' — and traces the covenant line from Abraham through David to Mary and Christ.
Covenant Settled Forever
The promises to Abraham and his seed are settled forever because God made them, and this seed line carries down to the Messiah.
Genesis 3:15 and Galatians 3:16
Les shows Genesis 3:15 promised the seed of the woman as Redeemer, and Galatians 3:16 identifies that seed as Christ.
Singular and Plural Seed
In the Old Testament, the singular seed of the woman speaks of Christ; the plural seed refers to the generations after Abraham, who still hold the land promise.
Children of the Flesh vs. Children of Promise
Les repeats that Ishmael and Esau were children of Abraham but not in the covenant line; the children of promise are counted for the seed, and the Greek word zera functions like 'sheep.'
Genesis 3:15: And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.
This is the foundational promise that the seed of the woman would be the Redeemer.
Genesis 17:7: And I will establish my covenant between me and thee and thy seed after thee in their generations for an everlasting covenant, to be a God unto thee, and to thy seed after thee.
God establishes His everlasting covenant with Abraham and his seed after him.
Genesis 17:8: And I will give unto thee, and to thy seed after thee, the land wherein thou art a stranger, all the land of Canaan, for an everlasting possession; and I will be their God.
The plural seed after Abraham is promised the land of Canaan forever.
Genesis 21:12: And God said unto Abraham, Let it not be grievous in thy sight because of the lad, and because of thy bondwoman; in all that Sarah hath said unto thee, hearken unto her voice; for in Isaac shall thy seed be called.
God identifies the line of promise: in Isaac shall thy seed be called.
Galatians 3:16: Now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made. He saith not, And to seeds, as of many; but as of one, And to thy seed, which is Christ.
Paul identifies the singular seed of Abraham as Christ.
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.
The children of the promise, not the flesh, are counted for the seed.
Les Feldick teaches that the Hebrew and Greek word for seed is like the English word 'sheep' — it can be singular or plural. When Scripture uses the singular, it points to Christ; when it uses the plural, it refers to the generations after Abraham.
No. Although they were physical children of Abraham, Les Feldick teaches that spiritually they were outside the covenant promises because those promises went through Isaac and Jacob.
No. Romans 9 and Les Feldick's teaching show that Israel could not enter the promises just by having the right genealogy. The children of promise are counted for the seed.
Because the promise was supernatural — Sarah and Abraham were beyond normal childbearing age. The seed of the woman could not come through Ishmael; it had to come through Isaac, the son of promise.
Watch the Teaching: Jacob Becomes Israel — What Romans 9 Says About True Faith