Genesis 17:1-9

1 postquam vero nonaginta et novem annorum esse coeperat apparuit ei Dominus dixitque ad eum ego Deus omnipotens ambula coram me et esto perfectus

2 ponamque foedus meum inter me et te et multiplicabo te vehementer nimis

3 cecidit Abram pronus in faciem

4 dixitque ei Deus ego sum et pactum meum tecum erisque pater multarum gentium

5 nec ultra vocabitur nomen tuum Abram sed appellaberis Abraham quia patrem multarum gentium constitui te

6 faciamque te crescere vehementissime et ponam in gentibus regesque ex te egredientur

7 et statuam pactum meum inter me et te et inter semen tuum post te in generationibus suis foedere sempiterno ut sim Deus tuus et seminis tui post te

8 daboque tibi et semini tuo terram peregrinationis tuae omnem terram Chanaan in possessionem aeternam eroque Deus eorum

9 dixit iterum Deus ad Abraham et tu ergo custodies pactum meum et semen tuum post te in generationibus suis

Genesis 17:1-9 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.