Commentaries Dictionaries Concordances

Commentary Critical and Explanatory

Genesis 17:4

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

My covenant is with thee - renewed mention is made of it as the foundation of the communication that follows. It is the covenant of grace made with all who believe in the Saviour. It deserves notice that although many of the promises to Abram are recorded (see Genesis 12:1-20; Genesis 13:1-18), they are not termed a "covenant" until an account is given in Genesis 15:1-21 of their being solemnly ratified.

Continues after advertising

See also Genesis 17:4 in other biblical comments:

  • Albert Barnes' Bible Commentary

    - The Sealing of the Covenant 1. שׁדי _shaday_, Shaddai, “Irresistible, able to destroy, and by inference to make, Almighty.” שׁדד _shādad_ “be strong, destroy.” This name is found six times in Gene...

  • Annotated Bible by A.C. Gaebelein

    CHAPTER 17 THE FIFTH COMMUNICATION AND THE COVENANT REPEATED _ 1. The communication and Abram worships (Genesis 17:1)_ 2. The enlarged promise (Genesis 17:4) 3. The covenant sign (Genesis 17:9) 4....

  • Arthur Peake's Commentary on the Bible

    GENESIS 12:1 TO GENESIS 25:18. THE STORY OF ABRAHAM. In this section the three main sources, J. E, P are present. Gunkel has given strong reasons for holding that J is here made up of two main sources...

  • Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes

    MANY. Emph. Figure of speech _Antimereia_ (of Noun), for emphasis....

  • Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

    _father of a multitude of nations_ "Multitude," _hamôn_= "tumult." LXX πολλῶν ἐθνῶν....

  • Coke's Commentary on the Holy Bible

    AS FOR ME— The Almighty begins with setting forth his part of the covenant, with declaring what he would do for Abram; and in Genesis 17:9, &c. he sets forth Abram's part of it.—In token of that incre...

  • College Press Bible Study Textbook Series

    PART THIRTY THE STORY OF ABRAHAM: THE OLD COVENANT (Genesis 17:1-27) 1. _Synopsis of Chapter Seventeen_ Again thirteen years rolled away, and still the Promise was not fulfilled. But when hope might...

  • Darby's translation notes (1890)

    17:4 I. (e-3) Others, 'As for me.'...

  • Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible

    THE COVENANT OF CIRCUMCISION This chapter is from the Priestly document, of which it shows marked characteristics: see preface to Genesis 15....

  • EasyEnglish Bible Commentaries

    GOD’S ANCIENT PEOPLE GENESIS _ALUN OWEN_ CHAPTER 17 GOD MAKES AN AGREEMENT WITH ABRAHAM V1 When Abram was 99 years of age, the *Lord appeared to him. The *Lord said to him, ‘I am God who can do...

  • Ellicott's Commentary On The Whole Bible

    OF MANY NATIONS. — This is a feeble rendering of a remarkable phrase. Literally the word signifies a confused noise like the din of a populous city. Abram is to be the father of a thronging crowd of n...

  • ETCBC data on Hebrew bible

    אֲנִ֕י הִנֵּ֥ה בְרִיתִ֖י אִתָּ֑ךְ וְ הָיִ֕יתָ...

  • Expositor's Bible Commentary (Nicoll)

    THE COVENANT SEALED Genesis 17:1 ACCORDING to the dates here given fourteen years had passed since Abram had received any intimation of God's will regarding him. Since the covenant had been made some...

  • Frederick Brotherton Meyer's Commentary

    GOD'S COVENANT WITH ABRAHAM Genesis 17:1 At least thirteen years had passed since the promise of Isaac was first made. Years of sorrow and discipline, but God had not forgotten. Always under such cir...

  • G. Campbell Morgan's Exposition on the Whole Bible

    This chapter gives the account of the fifth appearance of God to Abram in which a divine covenant was made. At this point his name was changed from Abram, which means exalted father, to Abraham, which...

  • Gary Hampton Commentaries

    CIRCUMCISION AND THE PROMISE The act of circumcision was a part of the covenant which included the land promise (17:1-14). It should be noted the giving of the land was unconditional, but retaining it...

  • Geneva Study Bible Commentary

    As for me, behold, my covenant [is] with thee, and thou shalt be a (a) father of many nations. (a) Not only physical descendants, but of a far greater multitude by faith, (Romans 4:17)....

  • George Haydock's Catholic Bible Commentary

    _I am unchangeable, and faithful to my promises, the only God. (Du Hamel) --- Nations. Jews, Saracens or Arabs, Idumeans, and, by faith, of all nations who shall believe in Christ, the King of kings....

  • Hawker's Poor man's commentary

    As for me, behold, my covenant is with thee, and thou shalt be a father of many nations. Charming view of Abram's faith and humility. So, depend upon it more or less, are all Abram's spiritual childre...

  • Introductory Lectures - Commentary by William Kelly

    We have had hitherto God's account of that which He had made; then the trial and utter ruin of the creature, with the revelation of divine mercy in Christ the Lord. We have had in fine the judgment of...

  • John Calvin's Bible Commentary

    4._As for me, behold, my covenant is with thee _(404) They who translate the passage, ‘Behold, I make a covenant with thee,’ or, ‘Behold, I and my covenant with thee;’ do not seem to me faithfully to...

  • John Darby's Synopsis

    In chapter 17 we have a fresh revelation of the Lord to Abram, and, I think, are upon higher and holier ground. It is not here calling, or worship, or the world and victory over it in Lot (12-14 [1]),...

  • John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible

    AS FOR ME, BEHOLD, MY COVENANT [IS] WITH THEE,.... Who was gracious to make it, faithful to keep it, and immutable in it, though Abram was but a man, and sinful: AND THOU SHALT BE A FATHER OF MANY NA...

  • John Trapp Complete Commentary

    _As for me, behold, my covenant [is] with thee, and thou shalt be a father of many nations._ Ver. 4. _As for me._] _Ego ecce_. An abrupt speech, to show what haste God made to comfort and confirm Abr...

  • Joseph Benson’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

    The promise is here introduced with solemnity: _As for me_, saith the great God, _behold_ Admire, and be assured of it; _my covenant is with thee; and thou shalt be a father of many nations_ This impl...

  • KJV Original Language Details

    [ABRAHAM.] 1 God reneweth the Couenant. 5 Abram his name is changed, in token of a greater blessing. 10 Circumcision is instituted. 15 Sarai her name is changed, and she blessed. 17 Izsaac is pro...

  • Kretzmann's Popular Commentary of the Bible

    As for Me, behold, My covenant is with thee, and thou shalt be a father of many nations. The covenant was not here established, for it was already in power, but it was now to be realized, the Lord on...

  • Kretzmann's Popular Commentary of the Bible

    The Promise Renewed...

  • Lange's Commentary on the Holy Scriptures

    SIXTH SECTION _Abram and the repeated Promise of God. The name Abram changed to Abraham. The personal Covenant of Faith, now a Covenant Institution for him, his Household and his Seed. Circumcision....

  • Leslie M. Grant's Commentary on the Bible

    THE COVENANT AND ITS SIGN - CIRCUMCISION Another thirteen years passes before the Lord's appearing to Abram now at the age of 99 years. In Chapter 15:1 He had told Abram, "I am your shield, your excee...

  • Marginal Notes in the King James Version (1611)

    MANY NATIONS: _ Heb._ multitude of nations...

  • Matthew Henry Commentary on the Whole Bible

    1-6 The covenant was to be accomplished in due time. The promised Seed was Christ, and Christians in him. And all who are of faith are blessed with faithful Abram, being partakers of the same covenant...

  • Matthew Poole's Concise Commentary On The Bible

    Both literally, or after the flesh, of the Israelites, Ishmaelites, Edomites, &c., and spiritually, of all believers of all nations, to whom Abram hath in some sort the place of a father, ROMANS 4:12,...

  • Notes on the Pentateuch by Charles Henry Mackintosh

    Here we have God's remedy for Abraham's failure set before us." And when Abram was ninety years old and nine, the Lord appeared unto Abram, and said unto him, I am the _ Almighty God:_ walk before _ m...

  • Patchworkid's Personal Study Bible Notes

    Genesis 17:4 Me H589 covenant H1285 father H1 many H1995 nations H1471 a father - Genesis 12:2,...

  • Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible

    Genesis 17:4 ‘And Abram fell on his face, and God talked with him saying, “As for me, behold my covenant is with you and you will be the father of a multitude of nations”.' The presence of Yahweh is...

  • Summarized Bible Commentary

    CONTENTS: The revelation of God. Abram's name changed. Covenant confirmed. Circumcision established. Promise of Isaac. CHARACTERS: God, Abram, Isaac, Sarah, Ishmael. CONCLUSION: When man is in the d...

  • Sutcliffe's Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

    Genesis 17:1. _The Almighty God._ The original word Shaddai is often rendered, All-sufficient. He is so called because he sheds down blessings as the rain. Genesis 17:2. _My covenant;_ so called becau...

  • The Biblical Illustrator

    _My covenant is with thee, and thou shalt be a father of many nations_ THE SECOND STAGE OF THE COVENANT Already Jehovah, the Covenant God, had appeared thrice to Abram. 1. Simply to assure him that...

  • The ESV Global Study Bible's Study Notes

    GENESIS—NOTE ON GENESIS 17:1 Thirteen years after the birth of Ishmael, the Lord appears to Abram and announces that he will establish an eternal covenant with Abram and his offspring. Abram will beco...

  • The ESV Global Study Bible's Study Notes

    GENESIS—NOTE ON GENESIS 17:4 THE FATHER OF A MULTITUDE OF NATIONS. These words summarize the covenant being established by God. To underline their importance, the words are repeated at the end of v....

  • The Preacher's Complete Homiletical Commentary

    CRITICAL NOTES.— Genesis 17:3. God talked with him.] “We must notice here the expression _Elohim_, and the _Dabbar_ (word). God, as the Author of the universe, begins a conversation with Abram, when...

  • The Pulpit Commentaries

    EXPOSITION GENESIS 17:1 AND WHEN ABRAM WAS NINETY YEARS OLD AND NINE—consequently an interval of thirteen years had elapsed since the birth of Ishmael; the long delay on the part of God being probabl...

  • Through The Bible C2000 Serie by Chuck Smith

    Now when Abram was ninety-nine years old (Genesis 17:1), So this is another thirteen years later. the LORD appeared to Abram, and said unto him, I am Almighty God (Genesis 17:1); El Shaddai. So her...

  • Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

    a father. Genesis 12:2 Genesis 13:16 Genesis 16:10 Genesis 22:17 Gene

  • Wells of Living Water Commentary

    ABRAM AND SARAI GREATLY ENLARGED Genesis 17:1 INTRODUCTORY WORDS We have passed by the sixteenth chapter of Genesis, it behooves us, therefore, to give some striking suggestions relative to Sarai a...

  • Wesley's Explanatory Notes

    The promise is here introduced with solemnity: As for me, saith the Great God, Behold, behold and admire it, behold and be assured of it, my covenant is with thee. And thou shalt be a father of many n...

Continues after advertising