Genesis 17:16

16 I will bless her and give her a son, and you will be the father. She will be the mother of many nations. Kings of nations will come from her."

Genesis 17:16 Meaning and Commentary

Genesis 17:16

And I will bless her
The Targum of Jonathan adds, "in her body", with fruitfulness, who before was barren, and in her soul with spiritual blessings, and in both with the blessing of eternal life:

and give thee a son also of her;
as he had given him one of Hagar: God had before promised Abraham a son that should be his heir, but he had not till now told him that he should be born of Sarah his wife:

yea, I will bless her;
which is repeated for the confirmation of it, and for the greater strengthening Abraham's faith in it:

and she shall be [a mother] of nations;
of the twelve tribes of Israel; of the two nations of Israel and Judah;

kings of people shall be of her;
as David, Solomon, and others, and especially the King Messiah.

Genesis 17:16 In-Context

14 Any male who is not circumcised will be cut off from his people, because he has broken my agreement."
15 God said to Abraham, "I will change the name of Sarai, your wife, to Sarah.
16 I will bless her and give her a son, and you will be the father. She will be the mother of many nations. Kings of nations will come from her."
17 Abraham bowed facedown on the ground and laughed. He said to himself, "Can a man have a child when he is a hundred years old? Can Sarah give birth to a child when she is ninety?"
18 Then Abraham said to God, "Please let Ishmael be the son you promised."
Scripture taken from the New Century Version. Copyright © 1987, 1988, 1991 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.