Genesis 17

King James Version

Full text for Genesis Chapter 17

1¶ And when Abram was ninety years old and nine, the LORD appeared to Abram, and said unto him, I [am] the Almighty God; walk before me, and be thou perfect.

2And I will make my covenant between me and thee, and will multiply thee exceedingly.

3And Abram fell on his face: and God talked with him, saying,

4¶ As for me, behold, my covenant [is] with thee, and thou shalt be a father of many nations.

5Neither shall thy name any more be called Abram, but thy name shall be Abraham; for a father of many nations have I made thee.

6And I will make thee exceeding fruitful, and I will make nations of thee, and kings shall come out of thee.

7¶ And I will establish my covenant between me and thee and thy seed after thee in their generations for an everlasting covenant, to be a God unto thee, and to thy seed after thee.

8And I will give unto thee, and to thy seed after thee, the land wherein thou art a stranger, all the land of Canaan, for an everlasting possession; and I will be their God.

9And God said unto Abraham, Thou shalt keep my covenant therefore, thou, and thy seed after thee in their generations.

10This [is] my covenant, which ye shall keep, between me and you and thy seed after thee; Every man child among you shall be circumcised.

11And ye shall circumcise the flesh of your foreskin; and it shall be a token of the covenant betwixt me and you.

12And he that is eight days old shall be circumcised among you, every man child in your generations, he that is born in the house, or bought with money of any stranger, which [is] not of thy seed.

13He that is born in thy house, and he that is bought with thy money, must needs be circumcised: and my covenant shall be in your flesh for an everlasting covenant.

14And the uncircumcised man child whose flesh of his foreskin is not circumcised, that soul shall be cut off from his people; he hath broken my covenant.

15¶ And God said unto Abraham, As for Sarai thy wife, thou shalt not call her name Sarai, but Sarah [shall] her name [be].

16And I will bless her, and give thee a son also of her: yea, I will bless her, and she shall be [a mother] of nations; kings of people shall be of her.

17Then Abraham fell upon his face, and laughed, and said in his heart, Shall [a child] be born unto him that is an hundred years old? and shall Sarah, that is ninety years old, bear?

18And Abraham said unto God, O that Ishmael might live before thee!

19And God said, Sarah thy wife shall bear thee a son indeed; and thou shalt call his name Isaac: and I will establish my covenant with him for an everlasting covenant, [and] with his seed after him.

20And as for Ishmael, I have heard thee: Behold, I have blessed him, and will make him fruitful, and will multiply him exceedingly; twelve princes shall he beget, and I will make him a great nation.

21But my covenant will I establish with Isaac, which Sarah shall bear unto thee at this set time in the next year.

22And he left off talking with him, and God went up from Abraham.

23¶ And Abraham took Ishmael his son, and all that were born in his house, and all that were bought with his money, every male among the men of Abraham's house; and circumcised the flesh of their foreskin in the selfsame day, as God had said unto him.

24And Abraham [was] ninety years old and nine, when he was circumcised in the flesh of his foreskin.

25And Ishmael his son [was] thirteen years old, when he was circumcised in the flesh of his foreskin.

26In the selfsame day was Abraham circumcised, and Ishmael his son.

27And all the men of his house, born in the house, and bought with money of the stranger, were circumcised with him.

AI Analysis

AI Summaries

Short Summary

At ninety-nine years old, the LORD appears to Abram, establishing an everlasting covenant and changing his name to Abraham, signifying his role as father of many nations. The sign of this covenant is circumcision for all males. God also promises a son, Isaac, through Sarah, despite their old age, while also blessing Ishmael. Abraham promptly obeys by circumcising himself and his household.

Medium Summary

At ninety-nine years of age, the LORD appears to Abram, revealing Himself as the Almighty God and commanding Abram to walk perfectly before Him. God establishes an everlasting covenant, promising to multiply Abram exceedingly and make him a father of many nations, changing his name to Abraham. His wife, Sarai, is also renamed Sarah, with the promise that she will bear a son and become a mother of nations. The physical sign of this perpetual covenant is the circumcision of every male child at eight days old, including those born in the household or bought. Abraham, despite his laughter and doubt regarding Sarah's ability to conceive at ninety, is assured that she will bear a son named Isaac, with whom the covenant will be specifically established. God also promises to bless Ishmael, making him fruitful and the father of twelve princes and a great nation. Abraham demonstrates immediate obedience by circumcising himself, his thirteen-year-old son Ishmael, and all the males of his household on that very day.

Long Summary

Genesis chapter 17 opens with the LORD appearing to Abram when he is ninety-nine years old, introducing Himself as "the Almighty God" and instructing Abram to walk before Him and be perfect. God then reiterates and expands upon His covenant, promising to multiply Abram exceedingly and establish an everlasting covenant with him and his future generations, making him a father of many nations. As a sign of this profound promise, God changes Abram's name to Abraham, signifying his destiny as the progenitor of a multitude. Furthermore, Sarai, Abram's wife, is also renamed Sarah, and God promises that she will bear a son and become a mother of nations, from whom kings shall descend. The perpetual sign of this covenant, to be observed by Abraham and his descendants throughout their generations, is the circumcision of every male child. This rite is to be performed on the eighth day after birth, applying not only to those born within the lineage but also to those born in the household or bought with money from strangers. The uncircumcised male child is explicitly stated to have broken the covenant and shall be cut off from his people. Upon hearing the promise of a son through Sarah, Abraham falls on his face and laughs, questioning in his heart how a child could be born to a man a hundred years old and a woman ninety years old. He also expresses a desire for Ishmael to live and be blessed before God. However, God firmly declares that Sarah will indeed bear a son, to be named Isaac, and it is with Isaac that the everlasting covenant will be specifically established. Nevertheless, God acknowledges Abraham's plea for Ishmael, promising to bless him, make him fruitful, and multiply him exceedingly, leading to twelve princes and a great nation. The chapter concludes with Abraham's immediate and faithful obedience to God's command. On that very day, Abraham, at ninety-nine, circumcises himself, his son Ishmael, who is thirteen, and all the males born in his house or bought with his money, thus fulfilling the covenant sign.

Core Concepts

  • Covenant Renewal and ExpansionGod appears to Abraham to reaffirm and expand His covenant promises, emphasizing an "everlasting covenant" with Abraham and his seed, promising to be their God and give them the land of Canaan.
  • Name ChangeAbram's name is changed to Abraham, meaning "father of many nations," and Sarai's to Sarah, signifying her role as a "mother of nations" and kings. These changes reflect their new identities and destinies within the covenant.
  • Sign of CircumcisionCircumcision is instituted as the physical, perpetual sign of the covenant for all male descendants and household members. It is to be performed on the eighth day, and failure to observe it results in being "cut off from his people."
  • Promise of IsaacDespite Abraham's age of ninety-nine and Sarah's age of ninety, God explicitly promises that Sarah will bear a son named Isaac. It is with Isaac that the everlasting covenant will be established.
  • Blessing of IshmaelWhile Isaac is the covenant heir, God also promises to bless Ishmael, making him fruitful and multiplying him exceedingly. Ishmael is foretold to beget twelve princes and become a great nation.
  • Faith and ObedienceAbraham's immediate act of circumcising himself, his son Ishmael, and all the males in his household on the same day demonstrates his prompt obedience to God's command, despite his initial laughter and doubt.
  • Almighty God (El Shaddai)God introduces Himself to Abram as "the Almighty God," or El Shaddai, emphasizing His power and sufficiency to fulfill His promises, regardless of human limitations or circumstances.