Genesis 17:2-12

2 I will make my covenant between me and you, and I will increase your numbers greatly."

3 Avram fell on his face, and God continued speaking with him:

4 "As for me, this is my covenant with you: you will be the father of many nations.

5 Your name will no longer be Avram [exalted father], but your name will be Avraham [father of many], because I have made you the father of many nations.

6 I will cause you to be very fruitful. I will make nations of you, kings will descend from you.

7 "I am establishing my covenant between me and you, along with your descendants after you, generation after generation, as an everlasting covenant, to be God for you and for your descendants after you.

8 I will give you and your descendants after you the land in which you are now foreigners, all the land of Kena'an, as a permanent possession; and I will be their God."

9 God said to Avraham, "As for you, you are to keep my covenant, you and your descendants after you, generation after generation.

10 Here is my covenant, which you are to keep, between me and you, along with your descendants after you: every male among you is to be circumcised.

11 You are to be circumcised in the flesh of your foreskin; this will be the sign of the covenant between me and you.

12 Generation after generation, every male among you who is eight days old is to be circumcised, including slaves born within your household and those bought from a foreigner not descended from you.

Genesis 17:2-12 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.