“When Abram was ninety-nine years old, the LORD appeared to him and said, “I am God Almighty. Walk before Me and be blameless.”
Genesis 17:1
BSBGo deeper on this verse (4)
- Abram Becomes Abraham: A New Name at Ninety-Nine (Genesis 17)
What does El Shaddai mean?
God Almighty here is El Shaddai (H7706), the first time the Bible uses the name. Its root is debated: one reading hears the God of overpowering strength, and an old Jewish reading hears the God who is enough. God spoke it to a man of ninety-nine still with no son by Sarai, and Exodus 6:3 records that the patriarchs knew God by this name.
Read the whole studyConnection with Enoch, who walked with God
Genesis says Enoch walked with God, and then Noah: "Noah walked with God" (Genesis 6:9). Here that walking becomes God's covenant call to Abram. In Genesis, to walk with God is the whole life of faith in one verb, and its aim is to know Him, yada (H3045), deep covenant knowing.
Read the whole studyConnection with Isaac's blessing of Jacob
Years later Isaac blessed his son Jacob in the name of God Almighty, and every phrase of that blessing came first from what God said to Abram here and in Genesis 17:6. Abraham was dead by then, and what God had said to him was still the most valuable thing Isaac had to give.
Read the whole study
Read Genesis 17:1 and keep notes on it in Doxa's Daily Faith Steps.
Open in DoxaShare this verse
Read next
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.Engage with Genesis 17:1 in a fresh way
On the Doxa App you can have a personal interaction about any Scripture. Ask questions and even debate.
