GENESIS 17

(Genesis 17:1)  And when Abram⁸⁷ was¹⁹⁶¹ ninety⁸⁶⁷³ years⁸¹⁴¹ old¹¹²¹ and nine,⁸⁶⁷² the LORD³⁰⁶⁸ appeared⁷²⁰⁰ to⁴¹³ Abram,⁸⁷ and said⁵⁵⁹ unto⁴¹³ him, I⁵⁸⁹ am the Almighty⁷⁷⁰⁶ God;⁴¹⁰ walk¹⁹⁸⁰ before⁶⁴⁴⁰ Me, and be¹⁹⁶¹ thou perfect.⁸⁵⁴⁹

Abram . . . ninety years old and nine—thirteen years after the birth of Ishmael [Genesis 16:16]. During that interval he had enjoyed the comforts of communion with God but had been favored with no special revelation as formerly, probably on account of his hasty and blameable marriage with Hagar.[JFB]  the LORD:  From H1961 [i.e., to exist]; (the) self Existent or eternal; Jehovah, Jewish national name of God.[S]  While Elohim is God as the Creator of all things, Jehovah is the same God in covenant relation to those whom He has created (compare 2 Chronicles 18:31).  Jehovah means the Eternal, the Immutable One.  He Who WAS, and IS, and IS TO COME.  The Divine definition is given in Genesis 21:33.  He is especially, therefore, the God of Israel; and the God of those who are redeemed, and are thus now “in Christ”.  We can say “My God”, but not “My Jehovah”, for Jehovah is “My God”.  Jehovah is indicated (as in A.V.) by small capital letters, “lord”; and by “God” when it occurs in combination with Adonai, in which case Lord GOD = Adonai Jehovah. the Lord appeared—some  visible manifestation of the divine presence, probably the Shekinah or radiant glory of overpowering effulgence.[JFB] Almighty:  From H7703 [i.e., (figuratively) powerful]; the Almighty.[S] the … God:  Shortened from H352 [i.e., properly strength]; strength; as adjective mighty; especially the Almighty (but used also of any deity).[S]  the Almighty God:  El Shaddai, first occurrence.  This title assures Abraham that He Who had called him was almighty to supply all his need.  Compare first occurrence in NT (2 Corinthians 6:18), which assures us of the same supply.[B]  I am the Almighty God—the  name by which He made Himself known to the patriarchs (Exodus 6:3), designed to convey the sense of "all-sufficient" (Psalms 16:5, 6, 73:25).[JFB] walk = continue to walk.[B]  before:  In presence of, with the idea of power, authority, respect.[W]  walk before Me = present your body as a living sacrifice (Romans 12:1).  perfect:  From H8552; entire (literally, figuratively or morally); also (as noun) integrity, truth.[S]  Upright, sincere, entirely obedient.[N]  walk . . . and . . . perfect—upright, or sincere (Psalms 51:6) in heart, speech, and behavior.[JFB]  and be thou perfect = be ye transformed (Romans 12:2).

(Genesis 17:2)  And I will make⁵⁴¹⁴ My covenant¹²⁸⁵ between⁹⁹⁶ Me and thee, and will multiply⁷²³⁵ thee exceedingly.^{3966, 3966}

My covenant:  From H1262 (in the sense of cutting (like H1254)); a compact (because made by passing between pieces of flesh).[S]  exceedingly:  From the same as H181; properly vehemence, that is, (with or without preposition) vehemently; by implication wholly, speedily, etc. (often with other words as an intensive or superlative; especially when repeated).[S]  greatly greatly.[B]

(Genesis 17:3)  And Abram⁸⁷ fell⁵³⁰⁷ on⁵⁹²¹ his face:⁶⁴⁴⁰ and God⁴³⁰ talked¹⁶⁹⁶ with⁸⁵⁴ him, saying,⁵⁵⁹

fell on his face:  To drop from an erect posture; to prostrate one’s self in worship (or reverence).[W]  Compare Mary (John 11:32) and contrast Martha (John 11:21).[B]  Abram fell on his face—the attitude of profoundest reverence assumed by Eastern people. It consists in the prostrate body resting on the hands and knees, with the face bent till the forehead touches the ground.  It is an expression of conscious humility and profound reverence.[JFB]  And Abram fell on his face while God talked with him - Either, 1. As one overcome by the brightness of the Divine glory: Daniel and John did so likewise. Or. 2. As one ashamed of himself, and blushing to think of the honours done to one so unworthy. He looks upon himself with humility, and upon God with reverence, and, in token of both, falls on his face.[JW]  God:  Plural of H433 [i.e., a deity or the deity]; gods in the ordinary sense; but specifically used (in the plural thus, especially with the article) of the supreme God; occasionally applied by way of deference to magistrates; and sometimes as a superlative.[S]  ‘Elohim, Creator.  Its first occurrence connects it with creation, and gives it its essential meaning as the Creator.  It indicates His relation to mankind as His creatures.  ‘Elohim is God the Son, the living “Word” with creature form to create (John 1:1; Colossians 1:15-17; Revelation 3:14); and later, with human form to redeem (John 1:14).  “Begotten of His Father before all worlds; born of His mother, in the world.”  In this creature form He appeared to the Patriarchs, a form not temporarily assumed.  ‘Elohim is indicated in A.V. by ordinary small type, “God”.  Used in this chapter (verses 3, 9, 15, 18, 22, 23) because He creates new names (verse 5, 15), a new Sign of Covenant (verse 9-14), and a new thing, from one as good as dead (Hebrews 11:12).[B]

(Genesis 17:4)  As for Me,⁵⁸⁹ behold,²⁰⁰⁹ My covenant¹²⁸⁵ is with⁸⁵⁴ thee, and thou shalt be¹⁹⁶¹ a father¹ of many¹⁹⁹⁵ nations.¹⁴⁷¹

My covenant is with thee—Renewed mention is made of it as the foundation of the communication that follows.  It is the covenant of grace made with all who believe in the Saviour.[JFB]

(Genesis 17:5)  Neither³⁸⁰⁸ shall ⁽⁸⁵³⁾ thy name⁸⁰³⁴ any more⁵⁷⁵⁰ be called⁷¹²¹ Abram,⁸⁷ but thy name⁸⁰³⁴ shall be¹⁹⁶¹ Abraham;⁸⁵ for³⁵⁸⁸ a father¹ of many¹⁹⁹⁵ nations¹⁴⁷¹ have I made⁵⁴¹⁴ thee.

Abram = Contracted from H48; high father; Abram, the original name of Abraham.[S]  Exalted father.[B] Abraham = Contracted from H1 and an unused root (probably meaning to be populous); father of a multitude; Abraham, the later name of Abram.[S]  Father of a multitude; the 5^th letter of the Hebrew alphabet put into middle of Abram’s name.[B]  The changing of his name is a seal to confirm God’s promise to him.[GSB]  In token of this, his name was changed from Abram, a high father, to Abraham, the father of a multitude.  This was to confirm the faith of Abraham, while he was childless; perhaps even his own name was sometimes an occasion of grief to him; Why should he be called a high father, who was not a father at all?  But now God had promised him a numerous issue, and had given him a name which signified so much; that name was his joy.[JW] but thy name shall be Abraham—In Eastern countries a change of name is an advertisement of some new circumstance in the history, rank, or religion of the individual who bears it.  The change is made variously, by the old name being entirely dropped for the new, or by conjoining the new with the old; or sometimes only a few letters are inserted, so that the altered form may express the difference in the owner's state or prospects.  It is surprising how soon a new name is known and its import spread through the country.  In dealing with Abraham and Sarai, God was pleased to adapt His procedure to the ideas and customs of the country and age.  Instead of Abram, "a high father", he was to be called Abraham, "father of a multitude of nations" (see Revelation 2:17).[JFB]

(Genesis 17:6)  And I will make thee exceeding^{3966, 3966} fruitful,⁶⁵⁰⁹ and I will make⁵⁴¹⁴ nations¹⁴⁷¹ of thee, and kings⁴⁴²⁸ shall come out³³¹⁸ of⁴⁴⁸⁰ thee.

(Genesis 17:7)  And I will establish^{6965 (853)} my covenant¹²⁸⁵ between⁹⁹⁶ me and thee and thy seed²²³³ after³¹⁰ thee in their generations¹⁷⁵⁵ for an everlasting⁵⁷⁶⁹ covenant,¹²⁸⁵ to be¹⁹⁶¹ a God⁴³⁰ unto thee, and to thy seed²²³³ after³¹⁰ thee.

(Genesis 17:8)  And I will give⁵⁴¹⁴ unto thee, and to thy seed²²³³ after³¹⁰ thee, ⁽⁸⁵³⁾ the land⁷⁷⁶ wherein thou art a stranger,^{4033 (853)} all³⁶⁰⁵ the land⁷⁷⁶ of Canaan,³⁶⁶⁷ for an everlasting⁵⁷⁶⁹ possession;²⁷² and I will be¹⁹⁶¹ their God.⁴³⁰

(Genesis 17:9)  And God⁴³⁰ said⁵⁵⁹ unto⁴¹³ Abraham,⁸⁵ Thou⁸⁵⁹ shalt keep^{8104 (853)} my covenant¹²⁸⁵ therefore, thou,⁸⁵⁹ and thy seed²²³³ after³¹⁰ thee in their generations.¹⁷⁵⁵

(Genesis 17:10)  This²⁰⁶³ is my covenant,¹²⁸⁵ which⁸³⁴ ye shall keep,⁸¹⁰⁴ between⁹⁹⁶ me and you and thy seed²²³³ after³¹⁰ thee; Every³⁶⁰⁵ man child²¹⁴⁵ among you shall be circumcised.⁴¹³⁵

Every man child among you shall be circumcised—This was the sign in the Old Testament Church as baptism is in the New, and hence the covenant is called "covenant of circumcision" (Acts 7:8; Romans 4:11).  The terms of the covenant were these: on the one hand Abraham and his seed were to observe the right of circumcision; and on the other, God promised, in the event of such observance, to give them Canaan for a perpetual possession, to be a God to him and his posterity, and that in him and his seed all nations should be blessed.[JFB]

(Genesis 17:11)  And ye shall circumcise^{4135 (853)} the flesh¹³²⁰ of your foreskin;⁶¹⁹⁰ and it shall be¹⁹⁶¹ a token²²⁶ of the covenant¹²⁸⁵ between⁹⁹⁶ me and you.

(Genesis 17:12)  And he that is eight⁸⁰⁸³ days³¹¹⁷ old¹¹²¹ shall be circumcised⁴¹³⁵ among you, every³⁶⁰⁵ man child²¹⁴⁵ in your generations,¹⁷⁵⁵ he that is born³²¹¹ in the house,¹⁰⁰⁴ or bought⁴⁷³⁶ with money³⁷⁰¹ of any^{4480, 3605} stranger,^{1121, 5236} which⁸³⁴ is not³⁸⁰⁸ of thy seed.^{4480, 2233}

(Genesis 17:13)  He that is born³²¹¹ in thy house,¹⁰⁰⁴ and he that is bought⁴⁷³⁶ with thy money,³⁷⁰¹ must needs be circumcised:^{4135, 4135} and my covenant¹²⁸⁵ shall be¹⁹⁶¹ in your flesh¹³²⁰ for an everlasting⁵⁷⁶⁹ covenant.¹²⁸⁵

(Genesis 17:14)  And the uncircumcised⁶¹⁸⁹ man child²¹⁴⁵ whose^{834 (853)} flesh¹³²⁰ of his foreskin⁶¹⁹⁰ is not³⁸⁰⁸ circumcised,⁴¹³⁵ that¹⁹³¹ soul⁵³¹⁵ shall be cut off³⁷⁷² from his people;^{4480, 5971} he hath broken^{6565 (853)} my covenant.¹²⁸⁵

Sarai = From H8269 [i.e., a head person (of any rank or class)]; dominative; Sarai, the wife of Abraham.[S]  Princely.[B]  Sarah = The same as H8282 [i.e., a mistress, that is, female noble]; Sarah, Abraham’s wife.[S]  Princess.  The addition of the 5^th letter of the Hebrew alphabet.[B]

(Genesis 17:15)  And God⁴³⁰ said⁵⁵⁹ unto⁴¹³ Abraham,⁸⁵ As for Sarai⁸²⁹⁷ thy wife,⁸⁰² thou shalt not³⁸⁰⁸ call^{7121 (853)} her name⁸⁰³⁴ Sarai,⁸²⁹⁷ but³⁵⁸⁸ Sarah⁸²⁸³ shall her name⁸⁰³⁴ be.

Sarah shall her name be - The same letter is added to her name that was to Abraham's.  Sarai signifies my princess, as if her honour were confined to one family only:  Sarah signifies a princess, viz. of multitudes.[JW]

(Genesis 17:16)  And I will bless¹²⁸⁸ her, and give⁵⁴¹⁴ thee a son¹¹²¹ also¹⁵⁷¹ of⁴⁴⁸⁰ her: yea, I will bless¹²⁸⁸ her, and she shall be¹⁹⁶¹ a mother of nations;¹⁴⁷¹ kings⁴⁴²⁸ of people⁵⁹⁷¹ shall be¹⁹⁶¹ of⁴⁴⁸⁰ her.

As for Sarai . . . I will . . . give thee a son also of her—God's purposes are gradually made known. A son had been long ago promised to Abraham. Now, at length, for the first time he is informed that it was to be a child of Sarai.[JFB]

(Genesis 17:17)  Then Abraham⁸⁵ fell⁵³⁰⁷ upon⁵⁹²¹ his face,⁶⁴⁴⁰ and laughed,⁶⁷¹¹ and said⁵⁵⁹ in his heart,³⁸²⁰ Shall a child be born³²⁰⁵ unto him that is a hundred³⁹⁶⁷ years⁸¹⁴¹ old?¹¹²¹ and shall Sarah,⁸²⁸³ that is ninety⁸⁶⁷³ years⁸¹⁴¹ old,¹³²³ bear?³²⁰⁵

Then … fell upon his face: To drop from an erect posture; to prostrate one’s self in worship (or reverence).[W]  and laughed:  To laugh outright (in merriment or scorn); by implication to sport.[S]  To laugh; to play, to sport, to jest; to laugh may imply admiration and joy [Abraham], or unbelief and mistrust [Sarah]:  see Genesis 17:17 and 18:12.[WW]  Laughed for joy; Hebrew was joyful.  Compare John 8:56, “rejoiced to see My day … and was glad”.  The laughter of faith (Romans 4:19).[B]  Which proceeded from a sudden joy, and not from lack of faith.[GSB] It was not the sneer of unbelief, but a smile of delight at the improbability of the event (Romans 4:20).JFB]  shall a child be born/and shall … bear:  A primitive root; to bear young; causatively to beget; medically to act as midwife; specifically to show lineage.[S]  I will give unto thee . . . the land—It had been previously promised to Abraham and his posterity (Genesis 15:18). Here it is promised as an "everlasting possession", and was, therefore, a type of heaven, "the better country" (Hebrews 11:16).[JFB]

     Then Abraham fell on his face, and 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, John 8:56, for as he saw heaven in the promise of Canaan, so he saw Christ in the promise of Isaac, and said, Shall a child be born to him that is an hundred years old? - He doth not here speak of it, as at all doubtful, for we are sure he staggered not at the promise, Romans 4:20, but as wonderful, and that which could not be effected but by the almighty power of God.[JW]

     Then Abraham fell upon his face…In reverence of the divine Being, and as amazed at what was told him: and laughed; not through distrust and diffidence of the promise, as Sarah did, for he staggered not at that through unbelief, but for joy at such good news; and so Onkelos renders it, "and he rejoiced", with the joy of faith; it may be our Lord refers to this in John 8:56; he saw Christ in the promise of Isaac, and rejoiced that he should spring from his seed: the Targums of Jonathan and Jerusalem paraphrase it, "and he wondered"; he was amazed at the grace of God that gave him such a promise, and he was astonished at the power of God that must be exerted in the fulfillment of it: and therefore it follows, and said in his heart; within himself, without expressing anything as to be heard and understood by any creature; but the omniscient God knew what he said, and the language of it, whether of unbelief or not:[JG]

(Genesis 17:18)  And Abraham⁸⁵ said⁵⁵⁹ unto⁴¹³ God,⁴³⁰ O that³⁸⁶³ Ishmael³⁴⁵⁸ might live²⁴²¹ before⁶⁴⁴⁰ Thee!

O that: A conditional particle; if; by implication (interjectionally as a wish) would that![S]  might live:  A prim root (compare H2331, H2424); to live, whether literally or figuratively; causatively to revive.[S]  As though he thought Ishmael was to die:  showing his faith in Isaac’s birth.  This is proved from verse 20.[B]  O that Ishmael might live before Thee!—natural solicitude of a parent.  But God's thoughts are not as man's thoughts [Isaiah 55:8].[JFB] This he speaks nor as desiring that Ishmael might be preferred before the son he should have by Sarah, but as dreading lest he should be forsaken of God, he puts up this petition on his behalf.  The great thing we should desire of God, for our children, is, that they may live before him, that is, that they may be kept in covenant with him, and may have grace to walk before him in their uprightness.  God's answer to this prayer, is an answer of peace.  Abraham could not say he sought God's face in vain.[JW]

(Genesis 17:19)  And God⁴³⁰ said,⁵⁵⁹ Sarah⁸²⁸³ thy wife⁸⁰² shall bear³²⁰⁵ thee a son¹¹²¹ indeed;⁶¹ and thou shalt call^{7121 (853)} his name⁸⁰³⁴ Isaac:³³²⁷ and I will establish^{6965 (853)} my covenant¹²⁸⁵ with⁸⁵⁴ him for an everlasting⁵⁷⁶⁹ covenant,¹²⁸⁵ and with his seed²²³³ after³¹⁰ him.

indeed:  Apparently from H56 through the idea of negation; nay, that is, truly or yet.[S]  Isaac:  From H6711; laughter (that is, mockery); Jitschak (or Isaac), son of Abraham.[S]

(Genesis 17:20)  And as for Ishmael,³⁴⁵⁸ I have heard⁸⁰⁸⁵ thee: Behold,²⁰⁰⁹ I have blessed¹²⁸⁸ him, and will make him fruitful,^{6509, (853)} and will multiply⁷²³⁵ him exceedingly;^{3966, 3966} twelve^{8147, 6240} princes⁵³⁸⁷ shall he beget,³²⁰⁵ and I will make⁵⁴¹⁴ him a great¹⁴¹⁹ nation.¹⁴⁷¹

As for Ishmael, I have heard thee; I have blessed him - That is, I have many blessings in store for him. 1. His posterity shall be numerous; I will multiply him exceedingly; 2. They shall be considerable; twelve princes shall he beget.  We may charitably hope that spiritual blessings also were bestowed upon him, though the visible church was not brought out of his loins.[JW]

(Genesis 17:21)  But my covenant¹²⁸⁵ will I establish⁶⁹⁶⁵ with⁸⁵⁴ Isaac,³³²⁷ which⁸³⁴ Sarah⁸²⁸³ shall bear³²⁰⁵ unto thee at this²⁰⁸⁸ set time⁴¹⁵⁰ in the next³¹² year.⁸¹⁴¹

at … set time: From H3259; properly an appointment, that is, a fixed time or season; specifically a festival; conventionally a year; by implication, an assembly (as convened for a definite purpose); technically the congregation; by extension, the place of meeting; also a signal (as appointed beforehand.[S]  Appointed time.[B]  Fixed, appointed time.[N]  This same time next year.[WSD] He names that child, Isaac - Laughter, because Abraham rejoiced in spirit when this son was promised him.[JW]

(Genesis 17:22)  And He left off³⁶¹⁵ talking¹⁶⁹⁶ with⁸⁵⁴ him, and God⁴³⁰ went up⁵⁹²⁷ from^{4480, 5921} Abraham.⁸⁵

And He left off: A primitive root; to end, whether intransitively (to cease, be finished, perish) or transitively (to complete, prepare, consume).[S]  and … went up:  A primitive root; to ascend, intransitively (be high) or active (mount); used in a great variety of senses, primary and secondary, literally and figuratively.[S]  To ascend, to go up, to vanish.[WW] 

(Genesis 17:23)  And Abraham⁸⁵ took^{3947 (853)} Ishmael³⁴⁵⁸ his son,¹¹²¹ and all³⁶⁰⁵ that were born³²¹¹ in his house,¹⁰⁰⁴ and all³⁶⁰⁵ that were bought⁴⁷³⁶ with his money,³⁷⁰¹ every³⁶⁰⁵ male²¹⁴⁵ among the men³⁷⁶ of Abraham's⁸⁵ house;¹⁰⁰⁴ and circumcised^{4135 (853)} the flesh¹³²⁰ of their foreskin