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Genesis 17

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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 will 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 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 offspring. 13He 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. 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 will 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 my covenant I establish 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 (public domain)

And I will establish my covenant between me and you and your offspring after you throughout their generations for an everlasting covenant, to be God to you and to your offspring after you.

Genesis 17:7

Summary

In Genesis chapter 17, God reaffirms His covenant with Abram, changing his name to Abraham, which means 'father of a multitude.' This chapter marks a pivotal moment in the Abrahamic covenant, as God not only promises to make Abraham exceedingly fruitful but also establishes the expectation of circumcision as a sign of this everlasting covenant. God also reveals that Abraham will be the father of many nations and that kings will come from him, emphasizing the significance of his lineage and the covenantal promise flowing through his descendants. Sarah's name is likewise changed to Sarai, and God assures Abraham that she will bear him a son, Isaac, through whom the covenant will be established. The chapter concludes with Abraham obediently instituting the covenant of circumcision with himself and his household, demonstrating his faith and commitment to God's promises.

Key Themes

CovenantFaith and ObedienceIdentity in ChristGod's Promises

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What is Genesis 17 about?+
In Genesis chapter 17, God reaffirms His covenant with Abram, changing his name to Abraham, which means 'father of a multitude.' This chapter marks a pivotal moment in the Abrahamic covenant, as God not only promises to make Abraham exceedingly fruitful but also establishes the expectation of circumcision as a sign of this everlasting covenant. God also reveals that Abraham will be the father of many nations and that kings will come from him, emphasizing the significance of his lineage and the covenantal promise flowing through his descendants. Sarah's name is likewise changed to Sarai, and God assures Abraham that she will bear him a son, Isaac, through whom the covenant will be established. The chapter concludes with Abraham obediently instituting the covenant of circumcision with himself and his household, demonstrating his faith and commitment to God's promises.
What is the key verse in Genesis 17?+
Genesis 17:7: "And I will establish my covenant between me and you and your offspring after you throughout their generations for an everlasting covenant, to be God to you and to your offspring after you."
What are the main themes of Genesis 17?+
The main themes of Genesis 17 are Covenant, Faith and Obedience, Identity in Christ, God's Promises.

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