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Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

Genesis 17:20

as for Ishmael, I have heard thee This verse contains the reply to Abraham's spoken words in Genesis 17:18. "I have heard thee" contains a reference to the meaning of the name "Ishmael" = "God hears." See note on Genesis 16:11.

twelve princes Recorded in Genesis 25:13-16. As in the family of Israel, so also in that of Ishmael, the number "twelve" symbolizes the distribution and organization of a people under responsible leaders, and represents ancient usage.

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See also Genesis 17:20 in other biblical comments:

  • Adam Clarke Bible Commentary

    Verse Genesis 17:20. _TWELVE PRINCES SHALL HE BEGET, C._] See the names of these _twelve princes_, Genesis 25:12-1. From Ishmael proceeded the various tribes of the Arabs, called also _Saracens_ by 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

    I HAVE HEARD. Showing the subject of Abraham's prayer. EXCEEDINGLY. Figure of speech _Epizeuxis_ (_greatly greatly)_....

  • Coke's Commentary on the Holy Bible

    AS FOR ISHMAEL, I HAVE HEARD THEE, &C.— The Lord is pleased to repeat to Abraham what he had promised Hagar before concerning Ishmael; namely, that he would make him fruitful and multiply him exceedin...

  • College Press Bible Study Textbook Series

    4. _The Covenant-Heir_ (Genesis 17:15-21) 15 And God said unto Abraham, As for Sarai thy wife, thou shalt not call her name Sarai, but Sarah shall her name be. 16 And I will bless her, and moreover I...

  • Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible

    _AND GOD SAID, SARAH THY WIFE SHALL BEAR THEE A SON INDEED; AND THOU SHALT CALL HIS NAME ISAAC: AND I WILL ESTABLISH MY COVENANT WITH HIM FOR AN EVERLASTING COVENANT, AND WITH HIS SEED AFTER HIM._ Th...

  • 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....

  • Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible

    TWELVE PRINCES] see Genesis 25:12....

  • EasyEnglish Bible Commentaries

    Ishmael was not in God’s plan. But Abraham prayed for Ishmael. (See verse 18.) And God gave to Ishmael a place in his plan. Ishmael’s *descendants would be a great nation. God had already made this pr...

  • 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...

  • ETCBC data on Hebrew bible

    וּֽ לְ יִשְׁמָעֵאל֮ שְׁמַעְתִּיךָ֒ הִנֵּ֣ה ׀ בֵּרַ֣כְתִּי...

  • 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

    ISAAC IS PROMISED Genesis 17:15 There are two allusions to laughter in these Chapter s. Sarah's was the laugh of incredulity, see Genesis 18:12; but Abraham's was the laugh of happy confidence, which...

  • 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

    LAUGHING AT GOD'S PROMISE When Abraham was ninety-nine years old, God told him Sarah would bear a son (Genesis 17:15-16). It is interesting that her name was changed just as Abraham's had been. Sarah...

  • George Haydock's Catholic Bible Commentary

    _Nation of Arabs, who are still divided into twelve tribes. See chap. xxv. 13. (Calmet)_...

  • Hawker's Poor man's commentary

    And Abraham took Ishmael his son, and all that were born in his house, and all that were bought with his money, every male among the men of Abraham's house; and circumcised the flesh of their foreskin...

  • 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

    20._And as for Ishmael. _He here more clearly discriminates between the two sons of Abraham. For in promising to the one wealth, dignity, and other things pertaining to the present life, he proves him...

  • 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 AS FOR ISHMAEL, I HAVE HEARD THEE, C, Took notice of his prayer for him, and accepted of and would answer him, and did, as follows: BEHOLD, I HAVE BLESSED HIM determined in his mind to bless him,...

  • John Trapp Complete Commentary

    And as for Ishmael, I have heard thee: Behold, I have blessed him, and will make him fruitful, and will multiply him exceedingly; twelve princes shall he beget, and I will make him a great nation. Ve...

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

    _As for Ishmael, I have heard thee; I have blessed him_ That is, I have many blessings in store for him. 1st, His posterity shall be numerous: _I will multiply him exceedingly._ 2d, They shall be cons...

  • 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

    A Child Promised to Sarah...

  • Kretzmann's Popular Commentary of the Bible

    And as for Ishmael, I have heard thee; behold, I have blessed him, and will make him fruitful, and will multiply him exceedingly. Twelve princes shall he beget, and I will make him a great nation. Ish...

  • 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...

  • Matthew Henry Commentary on the Whole Bible

    15-22 Here is the promise made to Abraham of a son by Sarai, in whom the promise made to him should be fulfilled. The assurance of this promise was the change of Sarai's name into Sarah. Sarai signif...

  • Matthew Poole's Concise Commentary On The Bible

    HAVE HEARD THEE, to wit, in part, or so far as is here expressed; and probably, as to the chief blessing of the covenant, to wit, the forgiveness of his sins, and eternal life, as the Hebrew doctors a...

  • 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 17:20 Ishmael H3458 heard H8085 (H8804) blessed H1288 (H8765) fruitful H6509 (H8689) multiply H7235 ...

  • Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible

    ‘Then Abraham fell on his face, and laughed, and said in his heart, “Shall a child be born to him who is a hundred years old, and shall Sarah who is ninety years old produce a child?” And Abraham said...

  • 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

    _As for Sarai thy wife, thou shalt not call her name Sarai, but Sarah_ THE CLEARER REVELATION OF COVENANT BLESSINGS In God’s spiritual dealings with mankind the patience of faith is rewarded by a cl...

  • The ESV Global Study Bible's Study Notes

    GENESIS—NOTE ON GENESIS 17:20 God blesses Ishmael with the promise that he will become a GREAT NATION (see Genesis 25:12), even though God favors the yet-to-be-born Isaac

  • 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 17:15. Thou shalt not call her name Sarai, but Sarah shall her name be.] “It is acknowledged on all hands that _Sarah_ means _a princess;_ but as to Sarai, Hebraists are far f...

  • 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

    I have blessed. Genesis 16:10 twelve. Genesis 25:12 and I. Genesis 21:13 Genesis 21:18...

  • Wesley's Explanatory Notes

    As for Ishmael, I have heard thee; I have blessed him — That is, I have many blessings in store for him. His posterity shall be numerous; I will multiply him exceedingly; They shall be considerable; t...

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