Skip to content
Scripture Mapping

Genesis 17

World English Bible

WEB

1When Abram was ninety-nine years old, Yahweh appeared to Abram and said to him, “I am God Almighty. Walk before me and be blameless. 2I will make my covenant between me and you, and will multiply you exceedingly.” 3Abram fell on his face. God talked with him, saying, 4“As for me, behold, my covenant is with you. You will be the father of a multitude of nations. 5Your name will no more be called Abram, but your name will be Abraham; for I have made you the father of a multitude of nations. 6I will make you exceedingly fruitful, and I will make nations of you. Kings will come out of you. 7I will establish my covenant between me and you and your offspring after you throughout their generations for an everlasting covenant, to be a God to you and to your offspring after you. 8I will give to you, and to your offspring after you, the land where you are traveling, all the land of Canaan, for an everlasting possession. I will be their God.” 9God said to Abraham, “As for you, you shall keep my covenant, you and your offspring after you throughout their generations. 10This is my covenant, which you shall keep, between me and you and your offspring after you. Every male among you shall be circumcised. 11You shall be circumcised in the flesh of your foreskin. It will be a token of the covenant between me and you. 12He who is eight days old shall be circumcised among you, every male throughout your generations, he who is born in the house, or bought with money from any foreigner who is not of your offspring. 13He who is born in your house, and he who is bought with your money, must be circumcised. My covenant shall be in your flesh for an everlasting covenant. 14The uncircumcised male who is not circumcised in the flesh of his foreskin, that soul shall be cut off from his people. He has broken my covenant.” 15God said to Abraham, “As for Sarai your wife, you shall not call her name Sarai, but her name shall be Sarah. 16I will bless her, and moreover I will give you a son by her. Yes, I will bless her, and she will be a mother of nations. Kings of peoples will come from her.” 17Then Abraham fell on his face, and laughed, and said in his heart, “Will a child be born to him who is one hundred years old? Will Sarah, who is ninety years old, give birth?” 18Abraham said to God, “Oh that Ishmael might live before you!” 19God said, “No, but Sarah, your wife, will bear you a son. You shall call his name Isaac. I will establish my covenant with him for an everlasting covenant for his offspring after him. 20As for Ishmael, I have heard you. Behold, I have blessed him, and will make him fruitful, and will multiply him exceedingly. He will become the father of twelve princes, and I will make him a great nation. 21But I will establish my covenant with Isaac, whom Sarah will bear to you at this set time next year.” 22When he finished talking with him, God went up from Abraham. 23Abraham took Ishmael his son, all who were born in his house, and all who were bought with his money: every male among the men of Abraham’s house, and circumcised the flesh of their foreskin in the same day, as God had said to him. 24Abraham was ninety-nine years old when he was circumcised in the flesh of his foreskin. 25Ishmael, his son, was thirteen years old when he was circumcised in the flesh of his foreskin. 26In the same day both Abraham and Ishmael, his son, were circumcised. 27All the men of his house, those born in the house, and those bought with money from a foreigner, were circumcised with him.

World English Bible, 2020 stable text edition. Public domain; “World English Bible” is a trademark of eBible.org. eBible.org

Overview

Genesis Chapter 17 marks a significant moment in the covenant relationship between God and #Abram, who is later named #Abraham. At the age of ninety-nine, God appears to Abram and reaffirms His covenant, promising that Abram will be the father of many nations. God changes Abram's name to Abraham, which means 'father of a multitude,' signifying the transformation of his identity and purpose. This chapter emphasizes the importance of faithfulness to God's promises, as God establishes an everlasting covenant with Abraham and his descendants, ensuring that they will inherit the land of Canaan. The covenant is marked by the sign of circumcision, which serves as a physical reminder of their commitment to God and His promises. Every male among Abraham's household is to be circumcised, symbolizing their inclusion in this divine covenant. This act of obedience is crucial for the identity of the #Israelites as God's chosen people.

The chapter also introduces the promise of a son, #Isaac, to Abraham and his wife #Sarah, who are both advanced in age. God assures Abraham that Sarah will bear a son, and He will establish His covenant with Isaac. Abraham's response is one of laughter and disbelief, reflecting the human struggle to trust in God's promises when circumstances seem impossible. Yet, God reassures Abraham that nothing is too difficult for Him. This chapter beautifully illustrates the themes of faith, obedience, and the transformative power of God's covenant, reminding us that God is faithful to fulfill His promises, even when we cannot see how they will come to pass.

Study

14 dimensions

Referenced by

  1. Genesis 16:10v20In Genesis 16:10, God promises Hagar that her descendants will be numerous, which is reiterated in Genesis 17:20 regarding Ishmael, emphasizing God's blessing and promise.
  2. Genesis 35:11v6In Genesis 35:11, God promises Jacob that nations and kings will come from him, echoing the promise made to Abraham in Genesis 17:6, thus continuing the Abrahamic covenant through Jacob.
  3. Exodus 4:24-26v10Exodus 4:24-26 recounts the Lord's confrontation with Moses over the circumcision of his son, linking back to the covenant of circumcision established in Genesis 17:10-14 as a sign of the covenant between God and Abraham's descendants.
  4. Exodus 6:2-3v1In Exodus 6:2-3, God reveals Himself to Moses as 'Yahweh,' a name not fully known to the patriarchs, who knew Him as 'El Shaddai' (God Almighty), as seen in Genesis 17:1.
  5. Joshua 5:2v10Joshua 5:2 describes the circumcision of the Israelites, which is a renewal of the covenant sign established in Genesis 17:10-14 with Abraham.
  6. Psalms 105:8v7Psalm 105:8 speaks of God's covenant, which is an everlasting covenant established with Abraham in Genesis 17:7.
  7. Romans 4:11v10Romans 4:11 discusses circumcision as a sign and seal of the righteousness Abraham had by faith, connecting to the covenant sign in Genesis 17:10-11.
  8. Romans 4:17v5Romans 4:17 refers to God's promise to make Abraham a father of many nations, as stated in Genesis 17:5, underscoring God's faithfulness and promise.

Topics in this chapter

Your study

Take it with you

This chapter’s study as a Markdown file. The analysis was written for a notebook originally, so the hashtags arrive as hashtags and the passages as links.