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Frederick Brotherton Meyer's Commentary

Genesis 17:1-14

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 circumstances the Eternal voice bids us to walk before him and be perfect. Our surrender must be complete, our obedience absolute, our faith fixed steadfastly on the Promiser. So only can God fulfill His covenant, which includes fruitfulness, the salvation of our households, the inheritance and abundance of spiritual reproductiveness. These promises were made to Abram, being yet uncircumcised, when he was yet a Gentile, proving that they were irrespective of any mere Hebrew interpretation. See Romans 4:11. But the rite was the sign and seal of the national covenant with the Hebrew race. Spiritually it stands for the separation of the believer; and though the rite passed away with Judaism, its spiritual significance is permanent, see Colossians 2:11.

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See also Genesis 17:1-14 in other biblical comments:

  • Adam Clarke Bible Commentary

    CHAPTER XVII _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_, 1; _proposes to renew the c...

  • 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

    THE LORD. Hebrew. _Jehovah._ App-4. ALMIGHTY GOD. _El Shaddai._ First occ See App-4. This title assures Abram that He Who had called him was almighty to supply all his need. Compare first occurance i...

  • Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

    _ninety years old and nine_ There has been an interval of 13 years since the birth of Ishmael in Genesis 16:16. _the Lord_ "Jehovah," used here in P, probably, for the special purpose of connecting th...

  • Coke's Commentary on the Holy Bible

    I AM THE ALMIGHTY, &C.— Thirteen years had now passed since the birth of Ishmael, Genesis 17:25 and Abram was advancing in his hundredth year, when all hope of offspring by Sarai must have been almost...

  • 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...

  • Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible

    _AND WHEN ABRAM WAS NINETY YEARS OLD AND NINE THE LORD APPEARED TO ABRAM AND SAID UNTO HIM I AM_ _ AND WHEN ABRAM WAS NINETY YEARS OLD AND NINE, THE LORD APPEARED TO ABRAM, AND SAID UNTO HIM, I AM THE...

  • Darby's translation notes (1890)

    17:1 Almighty (d-19) _ Shaddai_ plural of _ Shad_ , power. Isaiah 13:6 ; Joel 1:15 may give its force. 'Almighty' will always represent _ Shaddai_ ; 'the Almighty God' is _ El Shaddai_ ....

  • Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible

    NINETY YEARS OLD AND NINE] Ishmael was now thirteen years old, and Abraham probably expected no other heir. But his faith was to be put to a further test. THE ALMIGHTY GOD] Heb. _el Shaddai_: the name...

  • 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

    XVII. CONFIRMATION OF THE COVENANT BY THE SACRAMENT OF CIRCUMCISION. (1) ABRAM WAS NINETY YEARS OLD AND NINE. — Thirteen years, therefore, had passed by since the birth of Ishmael, who doubtless duri...

  • ETCBC data on Hebrew bible

    וַ יְהִ֣י אַבְרָ֔ם בֶּן ־תִּשְׁעִ֥ים שָׁנָ֖ה...

  • 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...

  • 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...

  • George Haydock's Catholic Bible Commentary

    _Walk, &c. by assiduous meditation and advancement in virtue. This apparition was to inform Abram, that the promised seed should be born of Sarai. (Haydock)_...

  • Hawker's Poor man's commentary

    CONTENTS This chapter is rendered the more memorable, in that it contains the substance of the Covenant of Grace, which, though here represented as made between God and Abram, yet in reality, forms th...

  • 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

    1._And when Abram was ninety years old and nine _Moses passes over thirteen years of Abram’s life, not because nothing worthy of remembrance had in the meantime occurred; but because the Spirit of God...

  • 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

    AND WHEN ABRAM WAS NINETY YEARS OLD AND NINE,.... Which was thirteen years after the birth of Ishmael last mentioned; so many years more it was before be is expressly told he should have a son by Sara...

  • John Trapp Complete Commentary

    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. Ver. 1. _The Lord appeared to Abram._] After...

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

    _And when Abram was ninety-nine years old_ Full thirteen years after the birth of Ishmael. So long the promise of Isaac was deferred; 1st, Perhaps to correct Abram's over-hasty marrying of Hagar. 2d,...

  • 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

    The Promise Renewed...

  • Kretzmann's Popular Commentary of the Bible

    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. Twenty-four years Abram had now been a stranger i...

  • 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)

    PERFECT: Or, upright or sincere...

  • 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

    GENESIS CHAPTER 17 God renews his covenant with Abram, GENESIS 17:1. His name in token thereof changed, GENESIS 17:5. Kings shall be born of him, GENESIS 17:6. The covenant established with his seed,...

  • 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 17:1 Abram H87 ninety-nine H8673 H8672 H8141 years H8141 old H1121 LORD H3068 appeared H7200 ...

  • Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible

    ‘And when Abram was ninety nine years old Yahweh appeared to Abram and said to him, “I am El Shaddai (God Almighty). Walk before me and be perfect and I will make my covenant between me and you and wi...

  • Scofield's Bible Commentary

    ALMIGHTY GOD "Almighty God" (Hebrew, El Shaddai) (1) The etymological signification of Almighty God (El Shaddai) is both interesting and touching. God (El) signifies the "Strong One" ( See Scofield)...

  • Sermon Bible Commentary

    Genesis 17:1 In a certain sense we must all walk before God, whether in solitude or among the haunts of men. But it is open to us to realise His presence, or to dismiss it from cur minds. It is the fi...

  • Sermon Bible Commentary

    Genesis 17:1 I. The sun, the moon, the stars, were the old gods of the East, the Elohim, the high and mighty ones, who ruled over men, over their good or bad fortunes, over the weather, the cattle, th...

  • 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

    _The Lord appeared to Abram, and said unto him, I am the Almighty God: walk before Me, and be thou perfect_ WALKING BEFORE GOD In a certain sense we must all walk before God, whether in solitude or...

  • 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 Preacher's Complete Homiletical Commentary

    CRITICAL NOTES.— Genesis 17:1. The Lord.] _Heb. Jehovah,_ the Author of existence and performance—the Covenant God. _Almighty God._ Heb. _El Shaddai_. El, the name for God, which signifies strong, ete...

  • 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.M. 2107. B.C. 1897. was. Genesis 16:16 the Lord. Genesis 12:1 Almighty. Genesis 18:14 Genesis 28:3...

  • 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

    And when Abram was ninety nine years old — Full thirteen years after the birth of Ishmael. So long the promise of Isaac was deferred; Perhaps to correct Abram's over — hasty marrying of Hagar. That Ab...

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