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Genesis 17

God establishes the covenant of circumcision with Abram, renaming him Abraham and Sarai as Sarah. God promises that Sarah will bear a son named Isaac, through whom the covenant will continue. Abraham circumcises all the males of his household as God commanded.

GenesisChapter 17 of 5027 versesBerean Standard Bible

In this passage: AbrahamIshmaelSarahCanaan

Read Genesis 17 and keep notes on it in Doxa's Daily Faith Steps.

1

When Abram was ninety-nine years old, the LORD appeared to him and said, “I am God Almighty. Walk before Me and be blameless.

Quoted in the Deeper Dive, day 5: What does 'walked with God' mean in Hebrew?

2

I will establish My covenant between Me and you, and I will multiply you exceedingly.”

3

Then Abram fell facedown, and God said to him,

4

“As for Me, this is My covenant with you: You will be the father of many nations.

5

No longer will you be called Abram, but your name will be Abraham, for I have made you a father of many nations.

6

I will make you exceedingly fruitful; I will make nations of you, and kings will descend from you.

7

I will establish My covenant as an everlasting covenant between Me and you and your descendants after you, to be your God and the God of your descendants after you.

8

And to you and your descendants I will give the land where you are residing—all the land of Canaan—as an eternal possession; and I will be their God.”

Quoted in the Daily Lift, day 42: What happens in Genesis 23?

9

God also said to Abraham, “You must keep My covenant—you and your descendants in the generations after you.

10

This is My covenant with you and your descendants after you, which you are to keep: Every male among you must be circumcised.

Circumcision — in Christ you were circumcised with a circumcision not done by hands

“In Him you were also circumcised, in the putting off of your sinful nature, with the circumcision performed by Christ and not by human hands.”

Read Colossians 2:11›
~Type ofRomans 2:29

Physical circumcision — true circumcision is of the heart, by the Spirit

“No, a man is a Jew because he is one inwardly, and circumcision is a matter of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the written code. Such a man’s praise does not come from men, but from God.”

Read Romans 2:29›
11

You are to circumcise the flesh of your foreskin, and this will be a sign of the covenant between Me and you.

12

Generation after generation, every male must be circumcised when he is eight days old, including those born in your household and those purchased from a foreigner—even those who are not your offspring.

13

Whether they are born in your household or purchased, they must be circumcised. My covenant in your flesh will be an everlasting covenant.

14

But if any male is not circumcised, he will be cut off from his people; he has broken My covenant.”

15

Then God said to Abraham, “As for Sarai your wife, do not call her Sarai, for her name is to be Sarah.

16

And I will bless her and will surely give you a son by her. I will bless her, and she will be the mother of nations; kings of peoples will descend from her.”

17

Abraham fell facedown. Then he laughed and said to himself, “Can a child be born to a man who is a hundred years old? Can Sarah give birth at the age of ninety?”

Quoted in the Daily Lift, day 37: Why did Sarah laugh?

18

And Abraham said to God, “O that Ishmael might live under Your blessing!”

19

But God replied, “Your wife Sarah will indeed bear you a son, and you are to name him Isaac. I will establish My covenant with him as an everlasting covenant for his descendants after him.

20

As for Ishmael, I have heard you, and I will surely bless him; I will make him fruitful and multiply him greatly. He will become the father of twelve rulers, and I will make him into a great nation.

Quoted in the Deeper Dive, day 38: Why is the boy never named in Genesis 21?

Quoted in the Daily Lift, day 48: Why does Genesis list Ishmael's sons?

Quoted in the Deeper Dive, day 48: Why does Genesis call Ishmael's sons princes?

Quoted in the Deeper Dive, day 48: What does Ishmael's account show about knowing God?

21

But I will establish My covenant with Isaac, whom Sarah will bear to you at this time next year.”

22

When He had finished speaking with Abraham, God went up from him.

23

On that very day Abraham took his son Ishmael and all those born in his household or purchased with his money—every male among the members of Abraham’s household—and he circumcised them, just as God had told him.

24

So Abraham was ninety-nine years old when he was circumcised,

25

and his son Ishmael was thirteen;

26

Abraham and his son Ishmael were circumcised on the same day.

27

And all the men of Abraham’s household—both servants born in his household and those purchased from foreigners—were circumcised with him.

How to Hear God’s Voice: A Practical Guide for BelieversScripture is the record of a God who speaks. This guide covers how to hear Him today and keep what He says.

Cross-references for Genesis 17

  • Genesis 17:1Philippians 4:13

    “I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength.”

  • Genesis 17:1Ephesians 3:20

    “Now to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work within us,”

  • Genesis 17:5Matthew 1:21

    “She will give birth to a Son, and you are to give Him the name Jesus, because He will save His people from their sins.””

  • Genesis 17:7Romans 9:7

    “Nor because they are Abraham’s descendants are they all his children. On the contrary, “Through Isaac your offspring will be reckoned.””

  • Genesis 17:7Genesis 26:24

    “and that night the LORD appeared to him and said, “I am the God of your father Abraham. Do not be afraid, for I am with you. I will bless you and multiply your descendants for the sake of My servant Abraham.””

Cross-references from OpenBible.info, licensed CC BY.

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