Genesis 17:7-13

7 I will establish my covenant as an everlasting covenant between me and you and your descendants after you for the generations to come, to be your God and the God of your descendants after you.
8 The whole land of Canaan, where you now reside as a foreigner, I will give as an everlasting possession to you and your descendants after you; and I will be their God.”
9 Then God said to Abraham, “As for you, you must keep my covenant, you and your descendants after you for the generations to come.
10 This is my covenant with you and your descendants after you, the covenant you are to keep: Every male among you shall be circumcised.
11 You are to undergo circumcision, and it will be the sign of the covenant between me and you.
12 For the generations to come every male among you who is eight days old must be circumcised, including those born in your household or bought with money from a foreigner—those who are not your offspring.
13 Whether born in your household or bought with your money, they must be circumcised. My covenant in your flesh is to be an everlasting covenant.

Genesis 17:7-13 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.

Cross References 19

  • 1. S Genesis 15:18; Leviticus 26:9,15
  • 2. S Genesis 6:18
  • 3. S Hebrews 13:20
  • 4. S Genesis 9:16
  • 5. Exodus 6:7; Exodus 20:2; Exodus 29:45,46; Leviticus 11:44-45; Leviticus 18:2; Leviticus 22:33; Leviticus 25:38; Leviticus 26:12,45; Numbers 15:41; Deuteronomy 4:20; Deuteronomy 7:6,21; Deuteronomy 29:13; 2 Samuel 7:24; Jeremiah 14:9; Revelation 21:7
  • 6. Romans 9:8; Galatians 3:16
  • 7. S Genesis 10:19; Psalms 105:9,11
  • 8. Genesis 23:4; Genesis 28:4; Genesis 35:27; Genesis 37:1; Exodus 6:4; 1 Chronicles 29:15
  • 9. S Genesis 12:7; S Genesis 15:7
  • 10. S ver 7; Jeremiah 31:1
  • 11. Genesis 22:18; Exodus 19:5; Deuteronomy 5:2
  • 12. Genesis 18:19
  • 13. ver 23; Genesis 21:4; Leviticus 12:3; Jos 5:2,5,7; John 7:22; Acts 7:8; Romans 4:11
  • 14. Exodus 12:48; Deuteronomy 10:16
  • 15. S Genesis 9:12; Romans 4:11
  • 16. S Genesis 9:12
  • 17. Genesis 21:4; Leviticus 12:3; Joshua 5:2; S Luke 1:59; Luke 2:21
  • 18. Exodus 12:44,48
  • 19. S Genesis 9:16
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