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 become the father of many nations. The sign of the covenant is circumcision. The covenant will be establ... [ Continue Reading ]
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. Genesis 17:5: YOUR NAME SHALL BE ABRAHAM, FOR I HAVE MADE YOU THE FATHER OF A MULTITUDE OF NATIONS.... [ Continue Reading ]
GENESIS—NOTE ON GENESIS 17:6 I WILL MAKE YOU EXCEEDINGLY FRUITFUL. This promise echoes the divine blessing given at creation (Genesis 1:28) and later repeated to Noah after the flood (Genesis 9:1). KINGS SHALL COME FROM YOU. Fruitfulness includes exercising authority over the earth on God’s behalf ... [ Continue Reading ]
GENESIS—NOTE ON GENESIS 17:10 Circumcision was not a Hebrew invention. For example, it was used in Egypt as an act of ritual purity. ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = document.getElementsByTagName("img"); for (var i=0, len=images.length, img; i [ Continue Reading ]
GENESIS—NOTE ON GENESIS 17:11 YOU SHALL BE CIRCUMCISED IN THE FLESH OF YOUR FORESKINS. Circumcision, cutting off the foreskin of the penis, creates a mark that would not normally be visible to others. ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = document.getElementsByTagName("img"); for (var i=0, len=images.length, img; i [ Continue Reading ]
GENESIS—NOTE ON GENESIS 17:12 EIGHT DAYS OLD. To ensure that the covenant extends to the next generation, all newborn male children are to be circumcised eight days after they are born. The covenant is not about establishing racial purity, since males who are not Abraham’s offspring are included. ⇐... [ Continue Reading ]
GENESIS—NOTE ON GENESIS 17:14 SHALL BE CUT OFF FROM HIS PEOPLE. Uncircumcised males were excluded from the benefits of the covenant. Circumcision distinguished those who believed in the importance of God’s promises to Abraham from those who did not. For the NT view on circumcision, see Romans 2:25;... [ Continue Reading ]
GENESIS—NOTE ON GENESIS 17:15 The name SARAI is changed to SARAH; both forms mean “princess.” ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = document.getElementsByTagName("img"); for (var i=0, len=images.length, img; i [ Continue Reading ]
GENESIS—NOTE ON GENESIS 17:19 ISAAC means “he laughs.” The theme of laughter occurs in several passages associated with the birth of Isaac. See v. Genesis 17:17; Genesis 18:12; Genesis 21:6, Genesis 21:9. I WILL ESTABLISH MY COVENANT WITH HIM. While Ishmael and the other male members of Abraham’s ho... [ Continue Reading ]
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. ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = document.getElementsByTagName("img"); for (var i=0, len=images.length, img; i [ Continue Reading ]