Gênesis 17:3

3 Ao que Abrão se prostrou com o rosto em terra, e Deus falou-lhe, dizendo:

Gênesis 17:3 Meaning and Commentary

Genesis 17:3

And Abram fell on his face
At the sight of so glorious a Person that appeared to him, and in reverence of his majesty, and as sensible of his unworthiness of such a visit, and of having such favours bestowed upon him; and not because he was not as yet circumcised, as the Targum of Jonathan expresses it; and so other Jewish ^F6 writers observe, that before he was circumcised he fell, when God spoke to him, but afterwards he sat and stood, ( Genesis 18:1 ) ; but it may be observed, that not only uncircumcised persons, as Balaam, ( Numbers 22:31 ) , in whom Jarchi instances, but circumcised ones, as Ezekiel, ( Ezekiel 1:28 ) , Joshua, ( Joshua 5:14 ) , and others, have fallen on their faces at a divine appearance:

and God talked with him;
after he was raised up, and was strengthened and encouraged to stand up before God, and hear what he had to say to him; for after this we read of his falling on his face again, ( Genesis 17:17 ) ; which shows that he had been erect, after he first fell on his face: saying; as follows.

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FOOTNOTES:

F6 Jarchi in loc. Pirke Eliezer, ut supra. (c. 29.)

Gênesis 17:3 In-Context

1 Quando Abrão tinha noventa e nove anos, apareceu-lhe o Senhor e lhe disse: Eu sou o Deus Todo-Poderoso; anda em minha presença, e sê perfeito;

2 e firmarei o meu pacto contigo, e sobremaneira te multiplicarei.

3 Ao que Abrão se prostrou com o rosto em terra, e Deus falou-lhe, dizendo:

4 Quanto a mim, eis que o meu pacto é contigo, e serás pai de muitas nações;

5 não mais serás chamado Abrão, mas Abraão será o teu nome; pois por pai de muitas nações te hei posto;