Genesis17
New King James Version
1When Abram was ninety-nine years old, the Lord appeared to Abram and said to him, “I am Almighty God; walk before Me and be blameless.
2And I will make My covenant between Me and you, and will multiply you exceedingly.”
3Then Abram fell on his face, and God talked with him, saying:
4“As for Me, behold, My covenant is with you, and you shall be a father of many nations.
5No longer shall your name be called Abram, but your name shall be Abraham; for I have made you a father of many nations.
6I will make you exceedingly fruitful; and I will make nations of you, and kings shall come from you.
7And I will establish My covenant between Me and you and your descendants after you in their generations, for an everlasting covenant, to be God to you and your descendants after you.
8Also I give to you and your descendants after you the land in which you are a stranger, all the land of Canaan, as an everlasting possession; and I will be their God.”
9And God said to Abraham: “As for you, you shall keep My covenant, you and your descendants after you throughout their generations.
10This is My covenant which you shall keep, between Me and you and your descendants after you: Every male child among you shall be circumcised;
11and you shall be circumcised in the flesh of your foreskins, and it shall be a sign of the covenant between Me and you.
12He who is eight days old among you shall be circumcised, every male child in your generations, he who is born in your house or bought with money from any foreigner who is not your descendant.
13He who is born in your house and he who is bought with your money must be circumcised, and My covenant shall be in your flesh for an everlasting covenant.
14And the uncircumcised male child, who is not circumcised in the flesh of his foreskin, that person shall be cut off from his people; he has broken My covenant.”
15Then God said to Abraham, “As for Sarai your wife, you shall not call her name Sarai, but Sarah shall be her name.
16And I will bless her and also give you a son by her; then I will bless her, and she shall be a mother of nations; kings of peoples shall be from her.”
17Then Abraham fell on his face and laughed, and said in his heart, “Shall a child be born to a man who is one hundred years old? And shall Sarah, who is ninety years old, bear a child?”
18And Abraham said to God, “Oh, that Ishmael might live before You!”
19Then God said: “No, Sarah your wife shall bear you a son, and you shall call his name Isaac; I will establish My covenant with him for an everlasting covenant, and with his descendants after him.
20And as for Ishmael, I have heard you. Behold, I have blessed him, and will make him fruitful, and will multiply him exceedingly. He shall beget twelve princes, and I will make him a great nation.
21But My covenant I will establish with Isaac, whom Sarah shall bear to you at this set time next year.”
22Then He finished talking with him, and God went up from Abraham.
23So Abraham took Ishmael his son, all who were born in his house and all who were bought with his money, every male among the men of Abraham’s house, and circumcised the flesh of their foreskins that very same day, as God had said to him.
24Abraham was ninety-nine years old 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.
26That very same day Abraham was circumcised, and his son Ishmael;
27and all the men of his house, born in the house or bought with money from 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