Genesis17
American Standard Version · Public Domain
1And when Abram was ninety years old and nine, Jehovah appeared to Abram, and said unto him, I am God Almighty; walk before me, and be thou perfect.
2And I will make my covenant between me and thee, and will multiply thee exceedingly.
3And Abram fell on his face: and God talked with him, saying,
4As for me, behold, my covenant is with thee, and thou shalt be the father of a multitude of nations.
5Neither shall thy name any more be called Abram, but thy name shall be Abraham; for the father of a multitude of nations have I made thee.
6And I will make thee exceeding fruitful, and I will make nations of thee, and kings shall come out of thee.
7And I will establish my covenant between me and thee and thy seed after thee throughout their generations for an everlasting covenant, to be a God unto thee and to thy seed after thee.
8And I will give unto thee, and to thy seed after thee, the land of thy sojournings, all the land of Canaan, for an everlasting possession; and I will be their God.
9And God said unto Abraham, And as for thee, thou shalt keep my covenant, thou, and thy seed after thee throughout their generations.
10This is my covenant, which ye shall keep, between me and you and thy seed after thee: every male among you shall be circumcised.
11And ye shall be circumcised in the flesh of your foreskin; and it shall be a token of a covenant betwixt me and you.
12And he that is eight days old shall be circumcised among you, every male throughout your generations, he that is born in the house, or bought with money of any foreigner that is not of thy seed.
13He that is born in thy house, and he that is bought with thy money, must needs be circumcised: and my covenant shall be in your flesh for an everlasting covenant.
14And the uncircumcised male who is not circumcised in the flesh of his foreskin, that soul shall be cut off from his people; he hath broken my covenant.
15And God said unto Abraham, As for Sarai thy wife, thou shalt not call her name Sarai, but Sarah shall her name be.
16And I will bless her, and moreover I will give thee a son of her: yea, I will bless her, and she shall be a mother of nations; kings of peoples shall be of her.
17Then Abraham fell upon his face, and laughed, and said in his heart, Shall a child be born unto him that is a hundred years old? and shall Sarah, that is ninety years old, bear?
18And Abraham said unto God, Oh that Ishmael might live before thee!
19And God said, Nay, but Sarah thy wife shall bear thee a son; and thou shalt call his name Isaac: and I will establish my covenant with him for an everlasting covenant for his seed after him.
20And as for Ishmael, I have heard thee: behold, I have blessed him, and will make him fruitful, and will multiply him exceedingly; twelve princes shall he beget, and I will make him a great nation.
21But my covenant will I establish with Isaac, whom Sarah shall bear unto thee at this set time in the next year.
22And he left off talking with him, and God went up from Abraham.
23And Abraham took Ishmael his son, and all that were born in his house, and all that were bought with his money, every male among the men of Abraham’s house, and circumcised the flesh of their foreskin in the selfsame day, as God had said unto him.
24And Abraham was ninety years old and nine, when he was circumcised in the flesh of his foreskin.
25And Ishmael his son was thirteen years old, when he was circumcised in the flesh of his foreskin.
26In the selfsame day was Abraham circumcised, and Ishmael his son.
27And all the men of his house, those born in the house, and those bought with money of a foreigner, were circumcised with him.
Study Guide
Public-domain commentary and original-language notes for Genesis 17.
Chapter Summary
In this chapter: God renews the covenant with Abram. (1–6). Circumcision instituted. (7–14). Sarai's name changed, Isaac promised. (15–22). Abraham and his family are circumcised. (23–27).
vv1-6
The covenant was to be accomplished in due time. The promised Seed was Christ, and Christians in him. And all who are of faith are blessed with faithful Abram, being partakers of the same covenant blessings. In token of this covenant his name was changed from Abram, “a high father,” to Abraham, “the father of a multitude.” All that the Christian world enjoys, it is indebted for to Abraham and his Seed.
vv7-14
The covenant of grace is from everlasting in the counsels of it, and to everlasting in the consequences of it. The token of the covenant was circumcision. It is here said to be the covenant which Abraham and his seed must keep. Those who will have the Lord to be to them a God, must resolve to be to him a people. Not only Abraham and Isaac, and his posterity by Isaac, were to be circumcised, but also Ishmael and the bond-servants. It sealed not only the covenant of the land of Canaan to Isaac's posterity, but of heaven, through Christ, to the whole church of God. The outward sign is for the visible church; the inward seal of the Spirit is peculiar to those whom God knows to be believers, and he alone can know them. The religious observance of this institution was required, under a very severe penalty. It is dangerous to make light of Divine institutions, and to live in the neglect of them. The covenant in question was one that involved great blessings for the world in all future ages. Even the blessedness of Abraham himself, and all the rewards conferred upon him, were for Christ's sake. Abraham was justified, as we have seen, not by his own righteousness, but by faith in the promised Messiah.
vv15-22
Here is the promise made to Abraham of a son by Sarai, in whom the promise made to him should be fulfilled. The assurance of this promise was the change of Sarai's name into Sarah. Sarai signifies my princess, as if her honour were confined to one family only; Sarah signifies a princess. The more favours God confers upon us, the more low we should be in our own eyes. Abraham showed great joy; he laughed, it was a laughter of delight, not of distrust. Now it was that Abraham rejoiced to see Christ's day; now he saw it and was glad, Joh 8:56. Abraham, dreading lest Ishmael should be abandoned and forsaken of God, put up a petition on his behalf. God gives us leave in prayer to be particular in making known our requests. Whatever is our care and fear, should be spread before God in prayer. It is the duty of parents to pray for their children, and the great thing we should desire is, that they may be kept in covenant with Him, and may have grace to walk before him in uprightness. Common blessings are secured to Ishmael. Outward good things are often given to those children of godly parents who are born after the flesh, for their parents' sake. Covenant blessings are reserved for Isaac, and appropriated to him.
Key Words
אַבְרָם: Abram, the original name of Abraham
שָׁנֶה: a year (as a revolution of time)
בֵּן: a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative relationship, including grandson, subject, nation, quality or condition, etc., (like father or brother), etc.)
רָאָה: to see, literally or figuratively (in numerous applications, direct and implied, transitive, intransitive and causative)
אָמַר: to say (used with great latitude)
אֵל: strength; as adjective, mighty; especially the Almighty (but used also of any deity)
שַׁדַּי: the Almighty
הָלַךְ: to walk (in a great variety of applications, literally and figuratively)
פָּנִים: the face (as the part that turns); used in a great variety of applications (literally and figuratively); also (with prepositional prefix) as a preposition (before, etc.)
תָּמִים: entire (literally, figuratively or morally); also (as noun) integrity, truth
Cross References
Genesis 17Quoting Gen 17:5, confirming Abraham's role as father of many nations spiritually.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Paul's extensive exposition of Abrahamic faith, justification, and circumcision as a sign and seal.
Supported by Matthew Henry, Matthew Poole
Paul explains Abraham's circumcision as a seal of the righteousness of faith he had while uncircumcised.
Supported by Matthew Henry, JFB
Stephen calls this the 'covenant of circumcision' instituted in this historical narrative.
Supported by JFB
Contrasts outward fleshly circumcision with the true spiritual circumcision of the heart.
Supported by Matthew Henry
Jesus references Abraham's laughter/rejoicing as seeing and being glad for Christ's day.
Supported by Matthew Henry
Reinforces that God's covenant is established specifically with Isaac, not Ishmael.
Supported by Matthew Henry, JFB
The direct promise of Isaac's birth at the specific "set time" next year.
Supported by Matthew Henry, JFB
Contrast between outward circumcision of the flesh and the true, spiritual circumcision of the heart.
Supported by Matthew Henry
Jacob echoes the exact walking 'before God' command given to Abraham here.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Establishes the covenant core: 'I will walk among you, and will be your God.'
Supported by Matthew Poole
Interprets Canaan as an everlasting possession typifying a better, heavenly country.
Supported by JFB
Paul analyzes Abraham's lack of doubt despite his body being dead at a hundred.
Supported by JFB
Paul quotes the promise of Sarah having a son at this set time to demonstrate election.
Supported by John Calvin
The historical fulfillment of Sarah bearing Isaac at the exact set time promised.
Supported by JFB
Parallel phrasing where God "went up from him" after speaking with the patriarch.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Shows Abraham commanding his household to keep the way of the Lord, seen in immediate obedience.
Supported by Matthew Henry
Illustrates Abraham's prompt obedience: he made haste and did not delay to keep God's commandment.
Supported by Matthew Henry
God identifies Himself by 'God Almighty' (El Shaddai), as revealed to the patriarchs.
Supported by JFB
Parallel standard of walking with God and being 'perfect' or upright in heart.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Parallel gesture of falling on the face in reverent awe of the divine glory.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Detailed follow-up promise of a son through Sarah, repeating the specific timeline.
Supported by Matthew Henry
Contrasts children of the flesh (Ishmael) with the children of the promise (Isaac).
Supported by Matthew Poole
Abraham immediately executes the command of circumcision given in the preceding verses.
Supported by Matthew Henry, Matthew Poole
Parallels Abraham's life-long obedience, comparing his age at circumcision to his age when leaving Haran.
Supported by Matthew Henry
Explicit fulfillment of the eight-day circumcision commandment in Isaac's life.
Supported by Matthew Henry
Lists the twelve princes born of Ishmael, fulfilling God's specific promise.
Supported by Matthew Poole