Genesis 17: New names, and the sign of the covenant
A free study, verse by verse. Text: World English Bible. Notes come from the Hebrew. How to read a study
What happens?
When Abram is 99, God appears to him, makes a covenant with him, and changes his name to Abraham and Sarai's name to Sarah. God commands that every male be circumcised as the sign of the covenant, and promises that Sarah will have a son, Isaac. That same day Abraham circumcises himself, Ishmael, and all the men of his household.
Who is speaking?
God speaks in 18 of the 27 verses: the covenant, the new names Abraham and Sarah, circumcision, and the promise of Isaac. Abraham speaks twice: to himself when he laughs (verse 17), and to God about Ishmael (verse 18). God's own words are printed in gold, and those verses are marked God speaks
1When Abram was ninety-nine years old, Yahweh appeared to Abram and said to him, “I am God Almighty. Walk before me and be blameless.God speaks
In plain English: When Abram was 99 years old, Yahweh appeared to him and said, "I am God Almighty. Walk before me and be blameless (whole, complete).
The Hebrew words: "God Almighty" is El Shaddai. This is the first time the Bible uses the name Shaddai. "Blameless" is tamim: whole, complete.
How it is translated: This Bible says "Almighty" in all 48 verses that use Shaddai.
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2I will make my covenant between me and you, and will multiply you exceedingly.”God speaks
In plain English: I will make my covenant between me and you, and I will greatly increase your numbers."
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3Abram fell on his face. God talked with him, saying,
In plain English: Abram bowed with his face to the ground, and God spoke with him:
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4“As for me, behold, my covenant is with you. You will be the father of a multitude of nations.God speaks
In plain English: "As for me, look, my covenant is with you: you will be the father of a multitude of nations.
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5Your name will no more be called Abram, but your name will be Abraham; for I have made you the father of a multitude of nations.God speaks
In plain English: Your name will no longer be Abram. Your name will be Abraham, because I have made you the father of a multitude of nations.
Good to know: God changes Abram's name to Abraham. The new name sounds like av hamon, "father of a multitude", the reason God gives in this same verse.
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6I will make you exceedingly fruitful, and I will make nations of you. Kings will come out of you.God speaks
In plain English: I will make you very fruitful. I will make nations come from you, and kings will come from you.
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7I will establish my covenant between me and you and your offspring after you throughout their generations for an everlasting covenant, to be a God to you and to your offspring after you.God speaks
In plain English: I will set up my covenant between me and you and your offspring after you, through all their generations, as a covenant that lasts forever: to be your God and the God of your offspring after you.
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8I will give to you, and to your offspring after you, the land where you are traveling, all the land of Canaan, for an everlasting possession. I will be their God.”God speaks
In plain English: I will give you and your offspring after you the land where you are now living as a foreigner, all the land of Canaan, to own forever. And I will be their God."
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9God said to Abraham, “As for you, you shall keep my covenant, you and your offspring after you throughout their generations.God speaks
In plain English: God said to Abraham, "As for you, you must keep my covenant, you and your offspring after you, through all their generations.
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10This is my covenant, which you shall keep, between me and you and your offspring after you. Every male among you shall be circumcised.God speaks
In plain English: This is my covenant between me and you and your offspring after you, which you must keep: every male among you must be circumcised.
The Hebrew word: "Circumcised" is mul: to cut short, here to cut away the foreskin.
Church tradition: Many Jewish families still keep this command, on the eighth day after a boy is born (). Most churches do not require it. tells of some who taught that believers must be circumcised, and tells of the early church deciding not to trouble non-Jewish believers with it. Genesis 17 calls it a covenant that lasts forever ().
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11You shall be circumcised in the flesh of your foreskin. It will be a token of the covenant between me and you.God speaks
In plain English: You must be circumcised in the flesh of your foreskin. It will be the sign of the covenant between me and you.
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12He who is eight days old shall be circumcised among you, every male throughout your generations, he who is born in the house, or bought with money from any foreigner who is not of your offspring.God speaks
In plain English: Every male among you who is eight days old must be circumcised, in every generation, whether he is born in your house or bought with money from a foreigner who is not one of your offspring.
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13He who is born in your house, and he who is bought with your money, must be circumcised. My covenant shall be in your flesh for an everlasting covenant.God speaks
In plain English: Both the one born in your house and the one bought with your money must be circumcised. My covenant will be in your flesh as a covenant that lasts forever.
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14The uncircumcised male who is not circumcised in the flesh of his foreskin, that soul shall be cut off from his people. He has broken my covenant.”God speaks
In plain English: Any uncircumcised male, who has not been circumcised in the flesh of his foreskin, will be cut off from his people. He has broken my covenant."
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15God said to Abraham, “As for Sarai your wife, you shall not call her name Sarai, but her name shall be Sarah.God speaks
In plain English: God said to Abraham, "As for your wife Sarai, you are not to call her Sarai any more. Her name will be Sarah.
Good to know: God changes Sarai's name to Sarah. Sarah is spelled like the Hebrew word sarah, a noblewoman (a princess). The text does not explain the change, but says kings of peoples will come from her.
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16I will bless her, and moreover I will give you a son by her. Yes, I will bless her, and she will be a mother of nations. Kings of peoples will come from her.”God speaks
In plain English: I will bless her, and I will also give you a son by her. Yes, I will bless her, and she will become the mother of nations. Kings of peoples will come from her."
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17Then Abraham fell on his face, and laughed, and said in his heart, “Will a child be born to him who is one hundred years old? Will Sarah, who is ninety years old, give birth?”
In plain English: Abraham bowed with his face to the ground and laughed, and said to himself, "Can a child be born to a man who is 100 years old? Can Sarah, who is 90, give birth?"
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18Abraham said to God, “Oh that Ishmael might live before you!”
In plain English: Abraham said to God, "Oh, if only Ishmael might live before you!"
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19God said, “No, but Sarah, your wife, will bear you a son. You shall call his name Isaac. I will establish my covenant with him for an everlasting covenant for his offspring after him.God speaks
In plain English: God said, "No (or: truly), your wife Sarah will bear you a son, and you are to name him Isaac. I will set up my covenant with him as a covenant that lasts forever, for his offspring after him.
Good to know: Isaac, Yitschaq, sounds like "he laughs" (tsachaq). God gives the name soon after Abraham laughs (). Sarah laughs in , and in she says, "God has made me laugh."
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20As for Ishmael, I have heard you. Behold, I have blessed him, and will make him fruitful, and will multiply him exceedingly. He will become the father of twelve princes, and I will make him a great nation.God speaks
In plain English: As for Ishmael, I have heard you. Look, I have blessed him. I will make him fruitful and greatly increase his numbers. He will be the father of twelve princes, and I will make him a great nation.
Good to know: "I have heard you" is shematikha, which sounds like the name Ishmael ().
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21But I will establish my covenant with Isaac, whom Sarah will bear to you at this set time next year.”God speaks
In plain English: But I will set up my covenant with Isaac, whom Sarah will bear to you at this time next year."
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22When he finished talking with him, God went up from Abraham.
In plain English: When God had finished speaking with Abraham, God went up from him.
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23Abraham 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 foreskin in the same day, as God had said to him.
In plain English: That same day Abraham took his son Ishmael, all who were born in his house, and all who were bought with his money, every male among the men of his household, and he circumcised the flesh of their foreskin, as God had told him.
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24Abraham was ninety-nine years old when he was circumcised in the flesh of his foreskin.
In plain English: Abraham was 99 years old when he was circumcised in the flesh of his foreskin.
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25Ishmael, his son, was thirteen years old when he was circumcised in the flesh of his foreskin.
In plain English: His son Ishmael was 13 years old when he was circumcised in the flesh of his foreskin.
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26In the same day both Abraham and Ishmael, his son, were circumcised.
In plain English: Abraham and his son Ishmael were both circumcised on that same day.
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27All the men of his house, those born in the house, and those bought with money from a foreigner, were circumcised with him.
In plain English: All the men of his household, those born in the house and those bought with money from foreigners, were circumcised with him.
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