Génesis 17:3

3 Al oír que Dios le hablaba, Abram cayó rostro en tierra, y Dios continuó:

Génesis 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.)

Génesis 17:3 In-Context

1 Cuando Abram tenía noventa y nueve años, el SEÑOR se le apareció y le dijo:—Yo soy el Dios Todopoderoso. Vive en mi presencia y sé intachable.

2 Así confirmaré mi pacto contigo, y multiplicaré tu descendencia en gran manera.

3 Al oír que Dios le hablaba, Abram cayó rostro en tierra, y Dios continuó:

4 —Este es el pacto que establezco contigo: Tú serás el padre de una multitud de naciones.

5 Ya no te llamarás Abram, sino que de ahora en adelante tu nombre será Abraham, porque te he confirmado como padre de una multitud de naciones.