Genesis 17:18-27

18 So Abraham said to God, "If only Ishmael could live in Your presence!"

19 But God said, "No. Your wife Sarah will bear you a son, and you will name him Isaac.^[a] I will confirm My covenant with him as an everlasting covenant for his offspring after him.

20 As for Ishmael, I have heard you. I will certainly bless him; I will make him fruitful and will multiply him greatly. He will father 12 tribal leaders,^[b] and I will make him into a great nation.

21 But I will confirm My covenant with Isaac, whom Sarah will bear to you at this time next year."^[c]

22 When He finished talking with him, God withdrew^[d] from Abraham.^[e]

23 Then Abraham took his son Ishmael and all the slaves born in his house or purchased with his money-every male among the members of Abraham's household-and he circumcised the flesh of their foreskin on that very day, just as God had said to him.

24 Abraham was 99 years old when the flesh of his foreskin was circumcised,

25 and his son Ishmael was 13 years old when the flesh of his foreskin was circumcised.

26 On that same day Abraham and his son Ishmael were circumcised.

27 And all the men of his household-both slaves born in his house and those purchased 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.

Footnotes

• [a] He Laughs
• [b] Gn 25:13-16
• [c] Gn 18:10,14; 21:1
• [d] Lit went up, or ascended
• [e] Gn 35:13