Genesis 17:20-27

20 And as concernynge Ismaell also I haue herde thy request: loo I will blesse him and encrease him and multiplye him excedyingly. Twelve prynces shall be begete and I will make a great nation of him.

21 But my bonde will I make with Isaac which Sara shall bere vnto the: even this tyme twelue moneth.

22 And God left of talkynge with him and departed vp from Abraham.

23 And Abraham toke Ismaell his sonne and all the servauntes borne in his housse and all that was bought with money as many as were menchildren amonge the me of Abrahas housse and circumcysed the foreskynne of their flesh even the selfe same daye as God had sayde vnto him.

24 Abraham was nynetie yere olde and .ix. when he cutt of the foreskynne of his flesh.

25 And Ismaell his sonne was .xiij. yere olde when the foreskynne of hys flesh was circumcysed.

26 The selfe same daye was Abraha circucised and Ismael his sonne.

27 And all the men in his housse whether they were borne in his housse or bought wyth money (though they were straungers) were circumcysed with him.

Genesis 17:20-27 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.