Genesis 17:2

2 I will make a covenant with you, by which I will guarantee to give you countless descendants.”

Genesis 17:2 Meaning and Commentary

Genesis 17:2

And I will make my covenant between me and thee
The covenant of circumcision, so called from the token of it, which God is said to make or give F5, being his own constitution, and depended on his sovereign will and pleasure, see ( Acts 7:8 ) ;

and will multiply thee exceedingly;
as he had before promised at several times, and now renews it, lest be should think that Ishmael was the promised seed; for though Hagar's seed is promised to be multiplied, yet here Abram's seed by Sarai is intended, which should be exceeding exceedingly, or in great abundance multiplied; and especially as this may include both his natural seed by her, and his spiritual seed among all nations, who are of the same faith with him, see ( Genesis 12:2 ) ( 13:16 ) ( 15:5 ) .


FOOTNOTES:

F5 (hnta) "dabo", Pagninus, Montanus, Schmidt.

Genesis 17:2 In-Context

1 When Abram was ninety-nine years old, the LORD appeared to him and said, “I am El-Shaddai—‘God Almighty.’ Serve me faithfully and live a blameless life.
2 I will make a covenant with you, by which I will guarantee to give you countless descendants.”
3 At this, Abram fell face down on the ground. Then God said to him,
4 “This is my covenant with you: I will make you the father of a multitude of nations!
5 What’s more, I am changing your name. It will no longer be Abram. Instead, you will be called Abraham, for you will be the father of many nations.
Holy Bible. New Living Translation copyright© 1996, 2004, 2007, 2013 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.