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EasyEnglish Bible Commentaries

Genesis 17:18-19

Abraham’s plan was this. Abraham thought that he was too old to have another son. He already had a son, Ishmael, whose mother was Sarah’s maid, Hagar. Therefore, Abraham thought that Ishmael must have the rights of the oldest son.

God’s plan was this. Abraham would have a son by his wife Sarah. That son would have the rights of the oldest son. God would make his firm agreement with that son.

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See also Genesis 17:18-19 in other biblical comments:

  • Adam Clarke Bible Commentary

    Verse Genesis 17:18. _O THAT ISHMAEL MIGHT LIVE BEFORE THEE!_] Abraham, finding that the covenant was to be established in _another_ branch of his family, felt solicitous for his son Ishmael, whom he...

  • 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

    MIGHT LIVE, as though he thought Ishmael was to die: showing his faith in Isaac's birth. This is proved from Genesis 17:20....

  • Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

    _said unto God_ The previous verse contained what Abraham "said in his heart." Aloud he expresses his incredulity in a more reverent manner, shewing that his hope of descendants rested upon Ishmael....

  • Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

    The Promise to Sarai 15. _Sarah shall her name be_ That is, _Princess_. The name "Sarai" (LXX Σάρα) is altered to "Sarah" (LXX Σάῤῥα). The name "Sarah" is the feminine form of the Heb. _Sar_, "a prin...

  • 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 ABRAHAM SAID UNTO GOD, O THAT ISHMAEL MIGHT LIVE BEFORE THEE!_ O that Ishmael. This expressed the natural solicitude of a parent. But God's thoughts are not as man's thoughts....

  • 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

    Abraham was unwilling that Ishmael should be deposed from his position as heir: but God would prosper him also (Genesis 17:20)....

  • Ellicott's Commentary On The Whole Bible

    O THAT ISHMAEL... — For thirteen years Ishmael had been the “son of the house” (Genesis 15:3), and regarded probably as the true heir. Mingled then with Abraham’s joy there was also the pain, natural...

  • ETCBC data on Hebrew bible

    וַ יֹּ֥אמֶר אַבְרָהָ֖ם אֶל ־הָֽ אֱלֹהִ֑ים ל֥ו

  • 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

    _Before thee, under thy protection, and in a virtuous manner. (Menochius) --- He seems to be satisfied, though God should not bless him with any more children, provided this one may live worthy of God...

  • Hawker's Poor man's commentary

    And Abraham said unto God, O that Ishmael might live before thee! Oh! that all parents had Abraham's spirit, and used this prayer!...

  • 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

    18._And Abraham said unto God _Abraham does not now wonder silently within himself, but pours forth his wish and prayer. His language, however, is that of a mind still perturbed and vacillating, O tha...

  • 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 ABRAHAM SAID UNTO GOD,.... Being told he should have a son by Sarah, that should be his heir, he is concerned for Ishmael what would become of him; and who, being grown up, had doubtless a large s...

  • John Trapp Complete Commentary

    And Abraham said unto God, O that Ishmael might live before thee! Ver. 18. _Oh that Ishmael might live._] The life of grace here, and of glory hereafter: that he be not "killed with death" when he di...

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

    _And Abraham said, O that Ishmael might live before thee!_ This he speaks, not as desiring that _Ishmael_ might be preferred before the son he should have by Sarah, but as dreading lest he should be f...

  • 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 Abraham said unto God, O that Ishmael might live before Thee! This was not spoken in the fear that the Lord would now cause Ishmael to die, but as a prayer that Ishmael might have part in the bles...

  • 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

    Grant, O Lord, that the giving of one son may not be joined with the taking away of another; that Ishmael may faithfully serve thee, and may have a share in thy favour and gracious covenant. For this...

  • 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 17:18 Abraham H85 said H559 (H8799) God H430 that H3863 Ishmael H3458 live H2421 (H8799) before...

  • 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 17:1 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

    O that. Jeremiah 32:39 Acts 2:39 before. Genesis 4:12 Genesis 4:14 Psalms 4:6...

  • Wesley's Explanatory Notes

    And Abraham said, O that Ishmael might live before thee! — This he speaks nor as desiring that Ishmael might be preferred before the son he should have by Sarah, but as dreading lest he should be fors...

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