1 When Abram was ninety-nine years old, Yahweh appeared to Abram, and said to him, "I am God Almighty. Walk before me, and be blameless. 2 I will make my covenant between me and you, and will multiply you exceedingly." 3 Abram 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. 5 Neither will your name any more be called Abram, but your name will be Abraham; for I have made you the father of a multitude of nations. 6 I will make you exceedingly fruitful, and I will make nations of you. Kings will come out of you. 7 I will establish my covenant between me and you and your seed after you throughout their generations for an everlasting covenant, to be a God to you and to your seed after you. 8 I will give to you, and to your seed after you, the land where you are traveling, all the land of Canaan, for an everlasting possession. I will be their God." 9 God said to Abraham, "As for you, you will keep my covenant, you and your seed after you throughout their generations. 10 This is my covenant, which you shall keep, between me and you and your seed after you. Every male among you shall be circumcised. 11 You shall be circumcised in the flesh of your foreskin. It will be a token of the covenant between me and you. 12 He who is eight days old will 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 seed. 13 He who is born in your house, and he who is bought with your money, must be circumcised. My covenant will be in your flesh for an everlasting covenant. 14 The 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." 15 God said to Abraham, "As for Sarai your wife, you shall not call her name Sarai, but her name will be Sarah. 16 I 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." 17 Then 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?" 18 Abraham said to God, "Oh that Ishmael might live before you!" 19 God 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 seed after him. 20 As 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. 21 But my covenant I establish with Isaac, whom Sarah will bear to you at this set time next year." 22 When he finished talking with him, God went up from Abraham. 23 Abraham 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. 24 Abraham was ninety-nine years old, when he was circumcised in the flesh of his foreskin. 25 Ishmael, his son, was thirteen years old when he was circumcised in the flesh of his foreskin. 26 In the same day both Abraham and Ishmael, his son, were circumcised. 27 All the men of his house, those born in the house, and those bought with money of a foreigner, were circumcised with him.
In the ninety-ninth year of Abram's life God again appears to him, announces his name as God Almighty, and commands him to walk perfectly before him, Genesis 17:1; proposes to renew the covenant, Genesis 17:2. Abram's prostration, Genesis 17:3. The covenant specified, Genesis 17:4. Abram's name changed to Abraham, and the reason given, Genesis 17:5. The privileges of the covenant enumerated, Genesis 17:6-8. The conditions of the covenant to be observed, not only by Abraham, but all his posterity, Genesis 17:9. Circumcision appointed as a sign or token of the covenant, Genesis 17:10, Genesis 17:11. The age at which and the persons on whom this was to be performed, Genesis 17:12, Genesis 17:13. The danger of neglecting this rite, Genesis 17:14. Sarai's name changed to Sarah, and a particular promise made to her, Genesis 17:15, Genesis 17:16. Abraham's joy at the prospect of the performance of a matter which, in the course of nature, was impossible, Genesis 17:17. His request for the preservation and prosperity of Ishmael, Genesis 17:18. The birth and blessedness of Isaac foretold, Genesis 17:19. Great prosperity promised to Ishmael, Genesis 17:20. But the covenant to be established not in his, but in Isaac's posterity, Genesis 17:21. Abraham, Ishmael and all the males in the family circumcised, Genesis 17:23-27
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, Genesis 17:1; the particulars of it, both with respect to himself, whose name was now changed, and to his posterity, Genesis 17:4; the token of it, circumcision, the time of its performance, and the persons obliged to it, Genesis 17:9; the change of Sarai's name, and a promise made that she should have a son, to the great surprise of Abraham, Genesis 17:15; 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, Genesis 17:18; 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, Genesis 17:23.
(Genesis 17:1-6) God renews the covenant with Abram.
(Genesis 17:7-14) Circumcision instituted.
(Genesis 17:15-22) Sarai's name changed, Isaac promised.
(Genesis 17:23-27) Abraham and his family are circumcised.
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