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GENESIS CHAPTER 17
OBSERVATION STAGE
The purpose of
the observation stage is to maintain focus on the text at hand within the
normative rules of language, context and logic 
which limits the observer to the content offered by the book of Genesis.
This will serve to avoid going on unnecessary tangents elsewhere; and more
importantly, it will provide the framework for a proper and objective
comparison with passages located elsewhere in Scripture.
Remember that something elsewhere may be true, but in the text at hand it may not be in view.
(v. 17:1 NKJV) "When Abram was ninety-nine years old, the LORD appeared to Abram and said to him, 'I [am] Almighty God; walk before Me and [so shall you] be [declared] blameless."
(v. 17:1 NKJV) "When Abram was ninety-nine years old, the LORD appeared to Abram and said to him, 'I [am] Almighty God; walk before Me and [so shall you] be [declared] blameless." =
In view of Scripture's portrayal so far of an infrequent pattern of the LORD's appearances to individuals, especially chapters 12-17, we can conclude that when the LORD next appeared to Abram at 99 years old, more than 13 years had gone by. The manner in which the LORD appeared is not specified. At that time, the LORD spoke to him beginning with "I [am] Almighty God’; walk before Me and [you shall] be [declared] blameless." Scripture reports that the LORD last appeared to Hagar at the spring near Shur. This was before Ishmael was born. When Ishmael was born, Abram had reached 86, (cf. Gen 16:7). And before that, the Lord had last appeared to Abram in a vision confirming His covenant with him, (cf. Gen 15:1-21).
********** EXCERPT FROM CHAPTER 16 *********
(v. 16:7 NKJV) Now the Angel of the LORD found her by a spring of water in the wilderness, by the spring on the way to Shur. (v. 16:8 NKJV) And He said, 'Hagar, Sarai’s maid, where have you come from, and where are you going?' She said, 'I am fleeing from the presence of my mistress Sarai.' (v. 16:9 NKJV) The Angel of the LORD said to her, 'Return to your mistress, and submit yourself under her hand.' (v. 16:10 NKJV) Then the Angel of the LORD said to her, 'I will multiply your descendants exceedingly, so that they shall not be counted for multitude.' (v. 16:11 NKJV) And the Angel of the LORD said to her: 'Behold, you are with child, And you shall bear a son. You shall call his name Ishmael, Because the LORD has heard your affliction. (v. 16:12 NIV) He will be a wild donkey of a man; his hand will be against everyone and everyone's hand against him, and he will live in hostility toward all his brother.' (v. 16:13 NKJV) Then she called the name of the LORD who spoke to her, You-Are-the-God-Who-Sees; for she said, 'Have I also here seen Him who sees me?' (v. 16:14 NKJV) Therefore the well was called Beer Lahai Roi; observe, it is between Kadesh and Bered. (v. 16:15 NKJV) So Hagar bore Abram a son; and Abram named his son, whom Hagar bore, Ishmael. (v. 16:16 NKJV) Abram was eighty-six years old when Hagar bore Ishmael to Abram." =
As the Angel of the LORD, Who Hagar designated as God, predicted, Hagar bore Abram a son whom Abram, now eighty-six, named Ishmael meaning 'God sees'. Ironically, the meaning of this name becomes magnified because God sees Abram and Sarai's sinful and unnecessary solution due to their impatience and lack of faith in the LORD's promise of Abram having a son to inherit the promises of God through Abram and Sarai.
****** END OF EXCERPT FROM CHAPTER 16 *****
(v. 17:1 NKJV) "When Abram was ninety-nine years old, the LORD appeared to Abram and said to him, 'I [am] Almighty God; walk before Me and [you will] be [declared] blameless." =
When Abram was 99, the LORD appeared once more and spoke to him beginning with "I [am] Almighty God; walk before Me and [you shall] be [declared] blameless." The command to Abram to walk before Him is a command to acknowledge His holiness, capacity to provide all things and His sovereignty over his every thought, word and deed; whence Abram shall be declared blameless, by the grace of God.
He declares to Abram that He is "El Shadday" which literally means ‘God of Abundance’. So the LORD and Almighty God are One and the Same. This name of God refers to His ability to supply all things super abundantly which implies His Almighty Power. Hence "El Shadday" is often rendered "Almighty God," (cf NKJV, NIV, NAS, KJV). God’s declaration of being "El Shadday is immediately followed by a command to Abram, (imperative tense), to walk before Him and he shall be declared blameless, (i.e., righteous, (Gen 15:6) by the LORD in view of His Almighty Power and Super Abundance. The phrase spoken by God to Abram, "Walk before Me" does not mean that an individual can choose not to walk before the LORD so that He cannot observe every thought, word and deed. Mankind is always before God - never out of His sight. Hence the phrase "Walk before Me" implies that Abram is to acknowledge God’s sovereignty, Holy and Righteous character, standard of conduct and unlimited capacity to provide all things. Therefore Abram is to acknowledge from moment to moment to a Holy, Righteous and All Sufficient LORD that He knows every thought, word and deed. Furthermore, the phrase "Walk before Me" is not saying that Abram is to be faithful to the LORD in what he does as a pattern in his life. The phrase conveys a command to Abram to acknowledge the LORD's sovereignty, omnipresence and omniscience with no stipulation of godly behavior present. Finally, the next phrase in verse 17:1, "and be blameless" is likewise not a command to behave better but a declaration by the grace of the LORD when one is open with ones life before the LORD:
(v. 17:1 NKJV) "When Abram was ninety-nine years old, the LORD appeared to Abram and said to him, 'I [am] Almighty God; walk before Me and [you will] be [declared] blameless." =
The verb form rendered "walk" in the NKJV is in the imperative tense, a command. The second phrase rendered "and [you shall] be [declared] blameless" in the NKJV is in the imperative tense in a 'waw copulative', i.e., it is dependent upon the previous imperative, "walk before the LORD." It is not commanding Abram to be blameless, which is impossible for any mortal. The second imperative is a declaration by the LORD of Abram being blameless when he walks openly before the LORD. In the same way that a business owner can legitimately say, ‘Be open and honest with me and be working’ meaning that so long as you are open and honest with him you will have a job, (no stipulation as to performance at particular tasks); so God can legitimately say to Abram ‘Walk openly and honestly before Me and be blameless’ meaning that during those moments when Abram was open and honest in his life before God, (no stipulation as to being godly), Abram will be blameless. It is evident that being blameless here is a declaration by the grace of God and not a reflection of actual blameless behavior on the part of Abram, as some contend. This is a grace operation by the LORD as was Abram's declaration of righteousness when he believed in the LORD's plan for his salvation unto eternal life, (cf. Gen 15:6).
[Gesenius' Hebrew Grammar, 2nd Edition, E Kautzsch, Ed., Oxford Press, London, 1910, p. 325]:
"The imperative when depending (with wAw copulative) upon another imperative. In this case the first imperative contains, as a rule, a condition, while the second declares the consequence which the fulfilment of the condition will involve. The imperative is used for this declaration, since the consequence is, as a matter of fact, intended or desired by the speaker."
So Abram is to acknowledge God’s Holiness and Sovereignty and trust in His capacity to provide needed provisions and directions – superintending over circumstances in Abram’s life as He had frequently done since the time Abram left Ur, often in the face of Abram’s wrong doing, (cf. Gen 12:1-3). Just as Abram was declared righteous, (i.e., blameless), by the LORD when Abram believed in the LORD’s promise of innumerable descendants hence eternal life, (Gen 15:6), which has in view Abram’s eternal position of righteousness before God via a moment of faith alone; so Abram will be declared blameless, (i.e., righteous), by "El Shadday" during those temporal moments in his mortal life when Abram walks openly before the LORD, acknowledging His Holiness and Sovereignty in such matters. Notice that both the eternal and temporal declarations of righteousness by the LORD are as a result of God’s grace – owing nothing to anything that Abram might contribute.
(v. 16:4 NKJV) "And behold, the word of the LORD came to him, saying, 'This one shall not be your heir, but one who will come from your own body shall be your heir.' (v. 16:5 NKJV) Then He brought him outside and said, 'Look now toward heaven, and count the stars if you are able to number them.' And He said to him, 'So shall your descendants [lit., seed] be.' (v. 16:6 NKJV) And he believed in the LORD, and He accounted it to him for righteousness. (v. 17:1 NKJV) When Abram was ninety-nine years old, the LORD appeared to Abram and said to him, 'I [am] Almighty God; walk before Me and [you will] be [declared] blameless." =
On the same
grace basis that He declared Abram righteous (= blameless, cf. Gen
15:4-6), when Abram believed in God’s plan of eternal life through
Abram's seed, a Messiah-Savior Who would take upon Himself the sins of the
whole world [];
so the LORD promised to declare Abram blameless (= righteous), as Abram
walks openly before Him. The basis wherein Abram is provided by the LORD
with His declaration of blamelessness on the basis of walking openly
before God, regardless of the quality of that walk is the promise of the
LORD of a Messiah-Savior to provide for Abram's sins.
(v. 17:2 NAS) "And I will establish My covenant between Me and you and I will multiply you exceedingly."
(v. 12:1 NKJV) "Now the LORD HAD SAID TO Abram: ‘Get out of [lit. go from] your country, from your family [lit. relatives], and from your father’s house, To a land that I will show you. (v. 12:2 NAS) [The LORD said to Abram] ‘And I will make you a great nation. And I will bless you, And make your name great; and so you shall be a blessing. (v. 12:3 NAS) And I will bless those who bless you, and the one who curses you I will curse. And in you all the families of the earth will be blessed.’ …. (v. 17:1 NKJV) When Abram was ninety-nine years old, the LORD appeared to Abram and said to him, 'I [am] Almighty God; walk before Me and [so shall you] be [declared] blameless. (v. 17:2 NAS) And I will establish My covenant between Me and you and I will multiply you exceedingly." =
The phrase from the NAS, "And I will establish My covenant between Me and you" is rendered from the Hebrew:
"weettenAh .......verithî ...........benî .............uvenekhA"
"And I will give my covenant .between Me and between you"
The Hebrew word "weettenAh" literally "and I will give" is in the Qal stem signifying a simple action by God in an active mode. The action described by the verb "I will give" rendered "I will establish" in the NAS, portrays fulfillment by the LORD of His already established covenant promises with Abram, (cf. Gen 15:1-17), as Abram walks before the LORD (= is open before Him relative to His thoughts, words and deeds permitting the LORD to provide fulfillment of His covenant through Him). The promise of multiplying Abram exceedingly is especially in view. Note that the NAS renders "weettenAh," = "I will establish". This rendering refers to the word ‘establish’ not in the sense of making a formal covenant, for that was already done, (Gen 15:1-17), but ‘establish’ in the sense of being instituted in time.
In the absence of any proactive conditions to be met by Abram anywhere in the context of verses 17:1-2, it is evident that God is the sole Performer in the fulfillment of His covenant with Abram. Hence it is not conditioned upon Abram doing anything beyond being open before the LORD with his life – a passive activity where Abram permits the LORD to take control of his life via the LORD fulfilling His covenant with Abram. It is in the imperfect tense signifying a simple action in future time, i.e., it occurs whenever Abram walks before the LORD.
Note that the LORD, El Shadday – God Almighty was not telling Abram anything new when He told Abram that He will establish (lit., "give") a covenant with him as he walks before Him and is declared blameless. The LORD had been stipulating His unilateral covenant conditions since Abram was in Ur, (cf Gen 12:1-3); and when His covenant was formally ratified when Abram believed in God’s promises, (Gen 15:1-6).
Notice in 17:2
that God Almighty declared the covenant, "My covenant."
affirming that a formally ratified agreement was already in existence
between Himself and Abram when He told Abram, "Walk before Me and [so
shall you] be [declared] blameless. And I will establish My
covenant between Me and you." God’s covenant with Abram began at
the time when Abram believed in the LORD’s promise and he was
declared righteous (= blameless) unto eternal life, (cf Gen 15:1-17).
Hence the language of Gen 17:1-2 is one of affirmation of what had already
been formally ratified. There is an emphasis in 17:2 on promises
stipulated in 12:1-3, namely that God will multiply Abram exceedingly in
order to be a great nation and have his name made great as the LORD
fulfilled His promise to provide to the world a Messiah-Savior through the
Seed of the woman Eve through the Seed of Abram, (Gen 3:14-15. []
Finally verse 17:4 corroborates that God had already established His covenant with Abram:
"As for Me, behold, My covenant is with you, and you shall be a father of many nations."
(v. 3 NKJV) "Then Abram fell on his face and God talked with him, saying:
(v. 4 NKJV) ‘As for Me, behold, My covenant is with you, and you shall be a father of many nations.
(v. 5 NKJV) No longer shall your name be called Abram, but your name shall be Abraham; for I have made you a father of many nations.
(v. 6 NKJV) I will make you exceedingly fruitful; and I will make nations of you, and kings shall come from you.
(v. 7 NKJV) And I will establish My covenant between Me and you and your descendants after you in their generations, for an everlasting covenant, to be God to you and your descendants after you.
(v. 8 NKJV) Also I give to you and your descendants after you the land in which you are a stranger, all the land of Canaan, as an everlasting possession; and I will be their God.’ "
(v. 12:1 NKJV) Now the LORD had said to Abram: 'Get out of [lit. go from] your country, from your family [lit. relatives], and from your father's house, To a land that I will show you. (v. 12:2 NAS) "[The LORD said to Abram] And I will make you a great nation, And I will bless you, And make your name great; And so you shall be a blessing. (v. 12:3 NAS) And I will bless those who bless you, And the one who curses you I will curse. And in you all the families of the earth will be blessed.' (v. 17:1 NKJV) When Abram was ninety-nine years old, the LORD appeared to Abram and said to him, 'I [am] Almighty God; walk before Me and [so shall you] be [declared] blameless. (v. 17:2 NAS) And I will establish My covenant between Me and you and I will multiply you exceedingly (v. 3 NKJV) Then Abram fell on his face and God talked with him, saying: (v. 4 NKJV) ‘As for Me, behold, My covenant is with you, and you shall be a father of many nations. (v. 5 NKJV) No longer shall your name be called Abram, but your name shall be Abraham; for I have made you a father of many nations." =
After the LORD (‘YehwAh’) appeared to Abram, declared that He was God Almighty, commanded Abram to walk before Him and he would be declared blameless, whereupon He would establish fulfillment of His covenant multiplying Abram exceedingly; Abram fell on his face before the LORD. This action by Abram demonstrates submission and acknowledgement of his unworthiness to face God Almighty on an equal level. It also speaks of Abram’s acknowledgement of God’s Holiness, Righteousness and Sovereignty over him and his worship of Him. At this time the LORD spoke with Abram. He began with a confirmation of His covenant with Abram implying that it had already been formally ratified, (cf. Gen 15:1-17). The LORD then stipulated one of His covenant’s promises: ‘And you shall be a father of many nations’ declaring a new name, ‘Abraham’ for Abram which conveys the meaning of father of many. This was confirmed by the LORD when He immediately declared that Abraham has been made the father of many nations. At the present time, Abraham had only one son, Ishmael by Sarai’s Egyptian handmaiden, Hagar. The future son through Sarai required to fulfill the promise was yet to be born. On the other hand, such a statement from the eternal Almighty God provides absolute assurance of it occurring in temporal time, hence it is legitimate to state what God will cause to take place as if it is a completed historical action.
(v. 3:14 NKJV) "So the LORD God said to the serpent: 'Because you have done this, you are cursed more than all cattle, and more than every beast of the field; on your belly you shall go, and you shall eat dust all the days of your life.' (v. 3:15 NKJV) And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your seed and her Seed; He shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise His heel… (v. 12:1 NKJV) Now the LORD had said to Abram: 'Get out of [lit. go from] your country, from your family [lit. relatives], and from your father's house, To a land that I will show you. (v. 12:2 NAS) "[The LORD said to Abram] And I will make you a great nation, And I will bless you, And make your name great; And so you shall be a blessing. (v. 12:3 NAS) And I will bless those who bless you, And the one who curses you I will curse. And in you all the families of the earth will be blessed.' (v. 17:1 NKJV) When Abram was ninety-nine years old, the LORD appeared to Abram and said to him, 'I [am] Almighty God; walk before Me and [so shall you] be [declared] blameless. (v. 17:2 NAS) And I will establish My covenant between Me and you and I will multiply you exceedingly (v. 17:3 NKJV) Then Abram fell on his face and God talked with him, saying: (v. 17:4 NKJV) ‘As for Me, behold, My covenant is with you, and you shall be a father of many nations. (v. 17:5 NKJV) No longer shall your name be called Abram, but your name shall be Abraham; for I have made you a father of many nations. (v. 17:6 NKJV) I will make you exceedingly fruitful; and I will make nations of you, and kings shall come from you. (v. 17:7 NKJV) And I will establish My covenant between Me and you and your descendants after you in their generations, for an everlasting covenant, to be God to you and your descendants after you. (v. 17:8 NKJV) Also I give to you and your descendants after you the land in which you are a stranger, all the land of Canaan, as an everlasting possession; and I will be their God.’ " =
The LORD God Almighty continues to reiterate specific promises of His covenant with Abraham, namely that He will make Abraham exceedingly fruitful, make nations of him, (through his seed), and make kings come (= descend) from him. Furthermore, the LORD reaffirms His covenant with Abraham and with his descendants to be everlasting, specifically mentioning possession of all the land of Canaan as an everlasting possession and stipulating that He will be their God.
Since the LORD had already formally and unilaterally ratified His covenant with Abram, (cf. Gen 15:1-17), more than 13 ago, and since the LORD repeatedly refers the covenant as "His covenant", i.e., one that has already been formally ratified; then the Hebrew word "wahquimOthî" rendered "and I will establish" in the NAS refers not to the initial ratification but to the fulfillment of the covenant in real time.
Note that certain specific covenantal promises are limited to Abram / Abraham, such as the LORD making him a great nation, and making his name great, and in him all the families of the earth will be blessed by bearing a son with Sarai through whose seed will come the fulfillment of the LORD’s promise to humanity of a Messiah-Savior unto eternal reconciliation of mankind and restoration of mankind’s sovereignty over the earth, (cf. Gen 3:14-15; 12:1-2).
On the other hand, the descendants of Abraham through Sarai will possess the promised land of Canaan forever and be protected and receive temporal blessings from the LORD while they are in fellowship with the household of Abraham. Descendants will also have the opportunity to receive eternal life as Abram did by simply believing in what Abram believed: a Messiah-Savior through the promise of the LORD Who will provide for their salvation. However, the opportunity to receive eternal life is available to all mankind through the Abrahamic Covenant via a moment of faith in Abraham's Seed, a Messiah-Savior to come in the future, but information on this was more readily available in those ancient days through Abraham and his household.
Furthermore, the Lord promises that He will be their God forever, implying the same temporal blessings and protection that Abram received.
(v. 17:9 NKJV) "And God said to Abraham, ‘As for you, you shall keep My covenant, you and your descendants after you throughout their generations.
(v. 17:10 NKJV) This [is] My covenant which you shall keep, between Me and you and your descendants [lit., seed] after you: Every male [child] among you shall be circumcised.
(v. 17:11 NKJV) And you shall be circumcised in the flesh of your foreskins, and it shall be a sign of the covenant between Me and you.
(v. 17:12 NKJV) He who is eight days old among you shall be circumcised, every male [child] in your generations, he who is born in your house or bought with money from any foreigner who is not your descendant.
(v. 17:13 NKJV) He who is born in your house and he who is bought with your money must be circumcised, and My covenant shall be in your flesh for an everlasting covenant.
(v. 17:14 NKJV) and the uncircumcised male [child], who is not circumcised in the flesh of his foreskin, that person shall be cut off from his people; he has broken My covenant."
(Gen 13:14 NKJV) "And the LORD said to Abram, after Lot had separated from him: 'Lift your eyes now and look from the place where you are - northward, southward, eastward, and westward: (Gen 13:15 NKJV) for all the land which you see I give to you and your descendant [lit., seed] forever. (Gen 13:16 NKJV) And I will make your descendants [lit., seed] as the dust of the earth; so that if a man could number the dust of the earth, then your descendants also could be numbered... (Gen 15:4 NKJV) And behold, the word of the LORD came to him, saying, 'This one shall not be your heir, but one who will come from your own body shall be your heir.' (Gen 15:5 NKJV) Then He brought him outside and said, 'Look now toward heaven, and count the stars if you are able to number them.' And He said to him, 'So shall your descendants [lit., seed] be.' (Gen 15:6 NKJV) And he believed in the LORD, and He accounted it to him for righteousness... (Gen 16:16 NKJV) Abram was eighty-six years old when Hagar bore Ishmael to Abram... (Gen 17:1 NKJV) When Abram was ninety-nine years old, the LORD appeared to Abram and said to him, 'I [am] Almighty God; walk before Me and [so shall you] be [declared] blameless. (Gen 17:2 NAS) And I will establish My covenant between Me and you and I will multiply you exceedingly. (Gen 17:3 NKJV) Then Abram fell on his face and God talked with him, saying: (Gen 17:4 NKJV) ‘As for Me, behold, My covenant is with you, and you shall be a father of many nations. (Gen 17:5 NKJV) No longer shall your name be called Abram, but your name shall be Abraham; for I have made you a father of many nations. (Gen 17:6 NKJV) I will make you exceedingly fruitful; and I will make nations of you, and kings shall come from you. (Gen 17:7 NKJV) And I will establish My covenant between Me and you and your descendants after you in their generations, for an everlasting covenant, to be God to you and your descendants after you. (Gen 17:8 NKJV) Also I give to you and your descendants after you the land in which you are a stranger, all the land of Canaan, as an everlasting possession; and I will be their God.’ (Gen 17:9 NKJV)..And God said to Abraham, ‘As for you, you shall keep My covenant, you and your descendants after you throughout their generations. (Gen 17:10 NKJV) This [is] My covenant which you shall keep, between Me and you and your descendants [lit., seed] after you: Every male [child] among you shall be circumcised. (Gen 17:11 NKJV) And you shall be circumcised in the flesh of your foreskins, and it shall be a sign of the covenant between Me and you. =
Having formally and unilaterally ratified His covenant with Abram more than 13 years ago, (cf. Gen 15:1-21; 16:16-17:1), the LORD appeared once again to Abram when he was 99 years old, (Gen 17:1). He declared Himself to be "El Shadday," (God Almighty), and commanded Abram, "walk before Me and [so shall you] be [declared] blameless," in the sense of receiving temporal forgiveness for daily sins: So long as Abram, who already had believed in the LORD's promise and was declared righteous unto eternal life in the Promised Land, walked before the LORD by acknowledging Who the LORD was, i.e., believing in His Diety and Almighty Sovereignty and His promise of eternal life, Abram would be declared by the LORD to be blameless. This is not saying that he would be actually acting blamelessly, i.e., without sin. It is saying that the moments in Abram's walk when he was trusting in the LORD as his God, being sovereign over him, would result in the LORD declaring him to be blameless, i.e., not holding his temporal sins against him.
(Ps 32:1 NAS) "How blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered,
(Ps 32:2 NAS) How blessed is the man to whom the LORD does not impute iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no deceit.
(Ps 32:3 NAS) When I kept silent about my sin, my body wasted away through my groaning all day long.
(Ps 32:4 NAS) For day and night Your hand was heavy upon me; my vitality was drained away as with the fever heat [lit. droughts] of summer;
(Ps 32:5 NAS) I acknowledged my sin to You, and my iniquity I did not hide; I said, 'I will confess my transgressions to the LORD;' And You forgave the guilt of my sin."
Notice that temporal forgiveness of sins is declared by the LORD of the one who has received eternal forgiveness of sins, who acknowledges wrong doing before a sovereign God in his daily life. Since Abram was already accounted as righteous before God unto forgiveness of sins unto everlasting life in the Promised Land more than 13 years earlier via a moment of faith alone in Christ alone, (Gen 15:6); then eternal forgiveness of sins unto eternal life is not in view in Gen 17:1; but temporal forgiveness is, (Gen 17:1).
Commencing with the second verse in Genesis chapter 17, the LORD declared that He would begin to establish His everlasting covenant with Abram, (cf. Gen 13:14-16; 15:1-6), in the sense that He would now begin to multiply Abram exceedingly - Abram would have innumerable descendants, beginning with his first child by Sarah, Isaac - born one year later, (Gen 21:5). Whereupon, "Abram fell on his face and God talked with him, saying: 'As for Me, behold, My covenant is with you, and you shall be a father of many nations. No longer shall your name be called Abram, but your name shall be Abraham; for I have made you a father of many nations. I will make you exceedingly fruitful; and I will make nations of you, and kings shall come from you. And I will establish My covenant between Me and you and your descendants after you in their generations, for an everlasting covenant, to be God to you and your descendants after you. Also I give to you and your descendants after you the land in which you are a stranger, all the land of Canaan, as an everlasting possession; and I will be their God.' " What the LORD said to Abraham here in Gen 17:2-8 was a reaffirmation of His everlasting covenant with him and his descendants, (cf. Gen 13:14-16; 15:1-6). And the LORD gave Abram the new name of "Abraham," [= 'a father of many nations'], (Gen 17:2-8).
With the LORD's
formal and unilateral ratification of His everlasting covenant with Abram
more than 13 years ago; and His reaffirmation of that covenant in Gen
17:2-8 in mind; God then commanded Abraham, "As for you, you shall
keep My covenant, you and your descendants after you throughout their
generations. This [is] My covenant which you shall keep, between Me and
you and your descendants [lit., seed] after you: Every male [child] among
you shall be circumcised. And you shall be circumcised in the flesh of
your foreskins, and it shall be a sign of the covenant between Me and you,"
(Gen 17:9-11). This was evidently not referring to keeping the everlasting
covenant for which nothing was stipulated for Abraham to do in order to
keep it in order to have everlasting life in the Promised Land except
believe in God's promise of eternal life, (Gen 15:1-6); and which covenant
had already been unilaterally ratified by the LORD after Abraham did
believe, (Gen 15:7-21). For Abraham simply needed to express a moment of
faith alone in the LORD's promise of eternal life in the Promsed Land
through the auspices of the Seed of Abraham; whereupon the LORD accounted
it to Abram, for righteousness unto eternal life in the Promised Land,
(Gen 15:4-21 ;
cf. Gen 12:1-4). Hence the covenant referred to in Gen 17:9-11 was a
covenant subsequent to the everlasting covenant as a sign of the latter -
one in which Abraham and his descendants were commanded to be circumcised,
(Gen 1:9-11).
(v. 17:1 NKJV) "When Abram was ninety-nine years old, the LORD appeared to Abram and said to him, 'I [am] Almighty God; walk before Me and [so shall you] be [declared] blameless. (v. 17:2 NAS) And I will establish My covenant between Me and you and I will multiply you exceedingly. (v. 17:3 NKJV) Then Abram fell on his face and God talked with him, saying: (v. 17:3 NKJV) Then Abram fell on his face and God talked with him, saying: (v. 17:4 NKJV) ‘As for Me, behold, My covenant is with you, and you shall be a father of many nations. (v. 17:5 NKJV) No longer shall your name be called Abram, but your name shall be Abraham; for I have made you a father of many nations. (v. 17:6 NKJV) I will make you exceedingly fruitful; and I will make nations of you, and kings shall come from you. (v. 17:7 NKJV) And I will establish My covenant between Me and you and your descendants after you in their generations, for an everlasting covenant, to be God to you and your descendants after you. (v. 17:8 NKJV) Also I give to you and your descendants after you the land in which you are a stranger, all the land of Canaan, as an everlasting possession; and I will be their God.’ (v. 17:9 NKJV) And God said to Abraham, ‘As for you, you shall keep My covenant, you and your descendants after you throughout their generations. (v. 17:10 NKJV) This [is] My covenant which you shall keep, between Me and you and your descendants [lit., seed] after you: Every male [child] among you shall be circumcised. (v. 17:11 NKJV) And you shall be circumcised in the flesh of your foreskins, and it shall be a sign of the covenant between Me and you. (v. 17:12 NKJV) He who is eight days old among you shall be circumcised, every male [child] in your generations, he who is born in your house or bought with money from any foreigner who is not your descendant. (v. 17:13 NKJV) He who is born in your house and he who is bought with your money must be circumcised, and My covenant shall be in your flesh for an everlasting covenant. (v. 17:14 NKJV) and the uncircumcised male [child], who is not circumcised in the flesh of his foreskin, that person shall be cut off from his people; he has broken My covenant." =
The LORD specifically included Abraham and all the males in his household in His circumcision covenant, (Gen 17:9-10). And then He declared His purpose for that circumcision: "It shall be a sign of the covenant between Me and you," [singular = Abraham], i.e., the Everlasting Covenant, (Gen 17:11b). Hence this circumcision was to be a symbolic sign of the LORD's Everlasting Covenant with Abraham, and not a participatory requirement to fulfill it, as some contend.
The phrases in 17:13b rendered in the NKJV, "And My covenant" refers to the covenant previously ratified by the LORD unilaterally with Abram; and "And My covenant shall be in your flesh for an everlasting covenant," means that the Everlasting Abrahamic Covenant shall be represented by circumcision in the flesh of Abraham and every male in his household as a sign of the Abrahamic Covenant, not part of Abram's fulfillment of it. So the phrase "and My covenant shall be in your flesh for an everlasting covenant," means that the sign of circumcision in Abraham's flesh shall be a sign of the everlasting Abrahamic Covenant.
Specific instructions on circumcision in verses 17:2-14 included: From 8 days old every male [child] who is Abram’s descendant born in his household, i.e., family or bought as a slave is to be circumcised as a sign of the everlasting Abrahamic Covenant. And if one is not circumcised, one has broken the LORD’s second covenant which is one of circumcision which is a sign of the first covenant and one is then to be cut off from his people, Abram’s family-nation, until such time as he is circumcized, (Gen 17:10-14).
(v. 17:1 NKJV) "When Abram was ninety-nine years old, the LORD appeared to Abram and said to him, 'I [am] Almighty God; walk before Me and [so shall you] be [declared] blameless. (v. 17:2 NAS) And I will establish My covenant between Me and you and I will multiply you exceedingly. (v. 17:3 NKJV) Then Abram fell on his face and God talked with him, saying: (v. 17:3 NKJV) Then Abram fell on his face and God talked with him, saying: (v. 17:4 NKJV) ‘As for Me, behold, My covenant is with you, and you shall be a father of many nations. (v. 17:5 NKJV) No longer shall your name be called Abram, but your name shall be Abraham; for I have made you a father of many nations. (v. 17:6 NKJV) I will make you exceedingly fruitful; and I will make nations of you, and kings shall come from you. (v. 17:7 NKJV) And I will establish My covenant between Me and you and your descendants after you in their generations, for an everlasting covenant, to be God to you and your descendants after you. (v. 17:8 NKJV) Also I give to you and your descendants after you the land in which you are a stranger, all the land of Canaan, as an everlasting possession; and I will be their God.’ (v. 17:9 NKJV) And God said to Abraham, ‘As for you, you shall keep My covenant, you and your descendants after you throughout their generations. (v. 17:10 NKJV) This [is] My covenant which you shall keep, between Me and you and your descendants [lit., seed] after you: Every male [child] among you shall be circumcised. (v. 17:11 NKJV) And you shall be circumcised in the flesh of your foreskins, and it shall be a sign of the covenant between Me and you. (v. 17:12 NKJV) He who is eight days old among you shall be circumcised, every male [child] in your generations, he who is born in your house or bought with money from any foreigner who is not your descendant. (v. 17:13 NKJV) He who is born in your house and he who is bought with your money must be circumcised, and My covenant shall be in your flesh for an everlasting covenant. (v. 17:14 NKJV) and the uncircumcised male [child], who is not circumcised in the flesh of his foreskin, that person shall be cut off from his people; he has broken My covenant." =
The LORD God Almighty declared that the male [child] who was not physically circumcised "shall be cut off from his people; he has broken My covenant,' cut off in the sense of living in the proximity of his people in order to receive protection and opportunity for food, shelter and clothing from and through them as well as temporal and spiritual fellowship.
The phrase "cut off" does not signify a permanent obliteration of all opportunities of temporal protection and blessing. They would become available as soon as one was circumcized. Furthermore, eternal life through the Abrahamic covenant is not cancelled if one is not circumcized since it was to be received in the same way as Abram received it: via a moment of faith alone in a promised Descendant / Messiah-Savior. The phrase "cut off" does refer to being ostracized from the household of Abram, i.e., his people – to be cut off from receiving the temporal protection and blessings that the LORD provides for the people of Abraham’s household. Since the ritual of circumcision is commanded to take place when a male is 8 days old, when one cannot make such a decision to be circumcised at such a young age, one must consider that the family who is responsible for that infant will be cut off until the child is circumcized.
(v. 17:15 NKJV) "Then God said to Abraham, 'As for Sarai your wife, you shall not call her name Sarai, but Sarah [shall be] her name.
(v. 17:16 NKJV) And I will bless her and also give you a son by her; then I will bless her, and she shall be [a mother of] nations; kings of peoples shall be from her.' "
(v. 17:15 NKJV) "Then God said to Abraham, 'As for Sarai your wife, you shall not call her name Sarai, but Sarah [shall be] her name. (v. 17:16 NKJV) And I will bless her and also give you a son by her; then I will bless her, and she shall be [a mother of] nations; kings of peoples shall be from her.' " =
The LORD says
to Abraham that Sarai his wife should now be called Sarah which means
princess, a ruler of nations and peoples, implying that she will indeed
bear children. Then He declares the purpose for the name change: He will
bless her and give Abraham a son by her. Furthermore, the LORD will have
nations and kings of peoples come from her. This implies eternal life for
Sarah in order to experience such blessing to see and be ruler of
innumerable descendants. This promise corroborates what the LORD promised
to Abraham: a son with Sarah through whom the LORD will make Abram a great
nation, many nations, innumerable desendants, a blessing to all the
families of the world.
(v. 17 NKJV) Then Abraham fell on his face and laughed, and said in his heart, "Shall a child be born to a man who is one hundred years old? And shall Sarah, who is ninety years old, bear a child?
(v. 18 NKJV) And Abraham said to God, 'Oh, that Ishmael might live before You!'
(v. 19 NIV) Then God said, 'Yes, but your wife Sarah will bear you a son, and you will call him Isaac. I will establish My covenant with him as an everlasting covenant for his descendants after him.
(v. 20 NKJV) And as for Ishmael, I have heard you. Behold, I have blessed him, and will make him fruitful, and will multiply him exceedingly. He shall beget twelve princes, and I will make him a great nation.
(v. 21 NKJV) But My covenant I will establish with Isaac, whom Sarah shall bear to you at this set time next year.'
(v. 22 NKJV) Then He finished talking with him, and God went up from Abraham."
(v. 17:15 NKJV) "Then God said to Abraham, 'As for Sarai your wife, you shall not call her name Sarai, but Sarah [shall be] her name. (v. 17:16 NKJV) And I will bless her and also give you a son by her; then I will bless her, and she shall be [a mother of] nations; kings of peoples shall be from her.' (v. 17 NKJV) Then Abraham fell on his face and laughed, and said in his heart, "Shall a child be born to a man who is one hundred years old? And shall Sarah, who is ninety years old, bear a child? (v. 18 NKJV) And Abraham said to God, 'Oh, that Ishmael might live before You!' " =
Upon hearing once more that the LORD will enable Abraham to have a child through his wife Sarah and this time believing it, Abraham fell down on his face before the LORD in worship. This was evidently an emotional reaction which reflected Abram's moment of believing in the LORD's promise of a son through his wife Sarah in spite of old age and decades of childlessness. They had been childless up to that point except for a child born of Abraham and Sarah's handmaiden Hagar who did not satisfy the LORD's promise of a son through Sarah, nor did Ishmael resolve Sarah's barrenness. While on his face before the LORD, Abraham laughed to himself, a laughter of joyful acceptance, and said in his heart, i.e., his mind, "Shall [a child] be born to a man who is one hundred years old? And shall Sarah who is ninety years old, bear [a child]?" Notice that Abraham is using the LORD's new name, "Sarah," which means princess, for his wife which evidences his faith in the LORD's statement, for the new name means "princess" and represent her forthcoming birth of a son through Abraham the first step to having innumerable descendants and kings come from her as the LORD promised.
Contrary to the point of view of some, Abraham's laughter was not evidence of skepticism or lack of faith in the LORD. It was, rather, a laughter of joyful acceptance of the LORD's promise of having a son through Sarah despite their advanced ages. This faith in the LORD's promise is further corroborated by Abraham's immediate use of his wife's new name, "Sarah" which the LORD gave her to confirm that she will have many descendants and kings come from her, (v. 16:16). Furthermore, verse 16:18 NKJV, "And Abraham said to God, 'Oh, that Ishmael might live before You!' " bears further testimony to Abraham's faith in what the LORD promised. For Abraham expresses concern for the welfare of Ishmael whom Abraham previously believed would be the son of the LORD's promise and now evidently accepts the fact that a son named Isaac through Sarah will be the fulfillment of that promise.
(v. 17 NKJV) "Then Abraham fell on his face and laughed, and said in his heart, "Shall a child be born to a man who is one hundred years old? And shall Sarah, who is ninety years old, bear a child? (v. 18 NKJV) And Abraham said to God, 'Oh, that Ishmael might live before You!' (v. 19 NIV) Then God said, 'Yes, but your wife Sarah will bear you a son, and you will call him Isaac. I will establish My covenant with him as an everlasting covenant for his descendants after him. (v. 20 NKJV) And as for Ishmael, I have heard you. Behold, I have blessed him, and will make him fruitful, and will multiply him exceedingly. He shall beget twelve princes, and I will make him a great nation. (v. 21 NKJV) But My covenant I will establish with Isaac, whom Sarah shall bear to you at this set time next year.' (v. 22 NKJV) Then He finished talking with him, and God went up from Abraham." =
God responds to Abraham's concern for Ishmael, Abraham's son by Hagar, the handmaiden of Sarah. The Hebrew word transliterated "avAl" literally means "yes but," as rendered in the NIV, wherein God answers Abraham's question, "Oh, that Ishmael might live before You!" with "Yes" Ishmael will live before Him in the sense that God will bless him, make him fruitful and multiply him exceedingly and beget twelve princes. And God will make Ishmael a great nation, but it is Sarah, Abraham's wife, who will give birth to Abraham's son of the promise "at this time next year" who is to be named Isaac. God declared that He will establish His covenant forever with Isaac, not Ishmael, and to Isaac's seed forever after him.
(v. 12:1 NKJV) "Now the LORD had said to Abram: 'Get out of [lit. go from] your country, from your family [lit. relatives], and from your father's house, To a land that I will show you. (v. 12:2 NAS) And I will make you a great nation, And I will bless you, And make your name great; And so you shall be a blessing.(v. 20 NKJV) And as for Ishmael, I have heard you. Behold, I have blessed him, and will make him fruitful, and will multiply him exceedingly. He shall beget twelve princes, and I will make him a great nation. =
Note that God declared that He has blessed Ishmael: He will make him fruitful, multiply him exceedingly so that he will even beget twelve princes. Furthermore, God declared that He will make Ishmael a great nation. Unlike the LORD making Abram a great nation, however, Ishmael's becoming a great nation is limited to his mortal life and not connected with God's plan of eternal reconciliation for mankind and the restoration of man's sovereignty over the earth which provides eternal life for Abraham. It is not the same as God's promise to make Abram a great nation by selecting Abram out of the sea of humanity, to make him a great nation with a worldwide reputation of doing great and godly things not the least of which is to have a son after decades of childlessness through whom will descend a promised Messiah-Savior wherein all the families through Abram will be blessed throughout history with the opportunity to receive eternal life.
(v. 17:23 NKJV) "So 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 foreskins that very same day, as God had said to him.
(v. 17:24 NKJV) Abraham was ninety-nine years old when he was circumcised in the flesh of his foreskin.
(v. 17:53 NKJV) And Ishmael his son was thirteen years old when he was circumcised in the flesh of his foreskin.
(v. 17:26 NKJV) That very same day Abraham was circumcised, and his son Ishmael;
(v. 17:27 NKJV) and all the men of his house, born in the house or bought with money from a foreigner, were circumcised with him."
A) ABRAHAM (99) CIRCUMCIZED ISHMAEL (13) AND EVERYONE IN HIS HOUSEHOLD ON THE DAY GOD COMMANDED IT
(v. 17:23 NKJV) "So 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 foreskins that very same day, as God had said to him. (v. 17:24 NKJV) Abraham was ninety-nine years old when he was circumcised in the flesh of his foreskin. (v. 17:53 NKJV) And Ishmael his son was thirteen years old when he was circumcised in the flesh of his foreskin. (v. 17:26 NKJV) That very same day Abraham was circumcised, and his son Ishmael; (v. 17:27 NKJV) and all the men of his house, born in the house or bought with money from a foreigner, were circumcised with him." =
On that very same day, (literally, "on the bone of the day"), Abraham circumcised Ismael his son, all the males born of his house and every male in his house who was purchased as God commanded, Abraham was 99 and Ishmael 13.