Genesis 17:1-7

God’s covenant with Abraham

1 When Abram was 99 years old, the LORD appeared to Abram and said to him, "I am El Shaddai. Walk with me and be trustworthy.

2 I will make a covenant between us and I will give you many, many descendants."

3 Abram fell on his face, and God said to him,

4 "But me, my covenant is with you; you will be the ancestor of many nations.

5 And because I have made you the ancestor of many nations, your name will no longer be Abram but Abraham.

6 I will make you very fertile. I will produce nations from you, and kings will come from you.

7 I will set up my covenant with you and your descendants after you in every generation as an enduring covenant. I will be your God and your descendants' God after you.

Genesis 17:1-7 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO GENESIS 17

This chapter treats of a covenant made with Abram, sometimes called the covenant of circumcision, the time when God appeared to him, and promised to make it, and did, Ge 17:1-3; the particulars of it, both with respect to himself, whose name was now changed, and to his posterity, Ge 17:4-8; the token of it, circumcision, the time of its performance, and the persons obliged to it, Ge 17:9-14; the change of Sarai's name, and a promise made that she should have a son, to the great surprise of Abraham, Ge 17:15-17; a prayer of his for Ishmael, and the answer to it, with a confirmation of Sarah's having a son, whose name should be called Isaac, and the establishment of the covenant with him, Ge 17:18-22; and the chapter is closed with an account of the circumcision of Abraham, and all his family of the male sort, agreeably to the command of God, Ge 17:23-27.

Footnotes

• [a] Or God Almighty or God of the Mountain
• [b] Or exalted ancestor
• [c] Or ancestor of a multitude