Genesis 17:18-27

18 Avraham said to God, "If only Yishma'el could live in your presence!"

19 God answered, "No, but Sarah your wife will bear you a son, and you are to call him Yitz'chak [laughter]. I will establish my covenant with him as an everlasting covenant for his descendants after him.

20 But as for Yishma'el, I have heard you. I have blessed him. I will make him fruitful and give him many descendants. He will father twelve princes, and I will make him a great nation.

21 But I will establish my covenant with Yitz'chak, whom Sarah will bear to you at this time next year."

22 With that, God finished speaking with Avraham and went up from him.

23 Avraham took Yishma'el his son, all the slaves born in his house and all who had been bought with his money, every male among the people in Avraham's household, and circumcised the flesh of their foreskin that very day, just as God had said to him.

24 Avraham was ninety-nine years old when he was circumcised in the flesh of his foreskin,

25 and Yishma'el his son was thirteen years old when he was circumcised in the flesh of his foreskin.

26 Avraham and Yishma'el his son were circumcised on the same day;

27 and all the men in his household, both slaves born in his house and those bought with money from a foreigner, were circumcised with him.

Genesis 17:18-27 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.