Genesis 17:19-27

19 God said, "No, but Sarah, your wife, will bear you a son. You shall call his name Yitzchak. I will establish my covenant with him for an everlasting covenant for his seed after him.

20 As for Yishma'el, I have heard you. Behold, I have blessed him, and will make him fruitful, and will multiply him exceedingly. He will become the father of twelve princes, and I will make him a great nation.

21 But my covenant I establish with Yitzchak, whom Sarah will bear to you at this set time in the next year."

22 When he finished talking with him, God went up from Avraham.

23 Avraham took Yishma'el his son, all who were born in his house, and all who were bought with his money; every male among the men of Avraham's house, and circumcised the flesh of their foreskin in the same day, as God had said to him.

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

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

26 In the same day both Avraham and Yishma'el, his son, were circumcised.

27 All the men of his house, those born in the house, and those bought with money of a foreigner, were circumcised with him.

Genesis 17:19-27 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.