The Bible — World English Bible
Genesis 17
In brief
In Genesis 17, when Abram is ninety-nine, God appears to him as God Almighty and establishes an everlasting covenant with him. Abram becomes Abraham, father of a multitude, and Sarai becomes Sarah. Circumcision is given as the sign of the covenant. Abraham laughs, intercedes for Ishmael, then obeys the very same day and circumcises his whole household. God confirms that the promised son will be born of Sarah and will be named Isaac.
The chapter in 4 parts
1When Abram was ninety-nine years old, Yahweh appeared to Abram and said to him, “I am God Almighty. Walk before me and be blameless.
2I will make my covenant between me and you, and will multiply you exceedingly.”
3Abram fell on his face. God talked with him, saying,
4“As for me, behold, my covenant is with you. You will be the father of a multitude of nations.
5Your name will no more be called Abram, but your name will be Abraham; for I have made you the father of a multitude of nations.
6I will make you exceedingly fruitful, and I will make nations of you. Kings will come out of you.
7I will establish my covenant between me and you and your offspring after you throughout their generations for an everlasting covenant, to be a God to you and to your offspring after you.
8I will give to you, and to your offspring after you, the land where you are traveling, all the land of Canaan, for an everlasting possession. I will be their God.”
9God said to Abraham, “As for you, you will keep my covenant, you and your offspring after you throughout their generations.
10This is my covenant, which you shall keep, between me and you and your offspring after you. Every male among you shall be circumcised.
11You shall be circumcised in the flesh of your foreskin. It will be a token of the covenant between me and you.
12He who is eight days old will be circumcised among you, every male throughout your generations, he who is born in the house, or bought with money from any foreigner who is not of your offspring.
13He who is born in your house, and he who is bought with your money, must be circumcised. My covenant will be in your flesh for an everlasting covenant.
14The uncircumcised male who is not circumcised in the flesh of his foreskin, that soul shall be cut off from his people. He has broken my covenant.”
15God said to Abraham, “As for Sarai your wife, you shall not call her name Sarai, but her name will be Sarah.
16I will bless her, and moreover I will give you a son by her. Yes, I will bless her, and she will be a mother of nations. Kings of peoples will come from her.”
17Then Abraham fell on his face, and laughed, and said in his heart, “Will a child be born to him who is one hundred years old? Will Sarah, who is ninety years old, give birth?”
18Abraham said to God, “Oh that Ishmael might live before you!”
19God said, “No, but Sarah, your wife, will bear you a son. You shall call his name Isaac. I will establish my covenant with him for an everlasting covenant for his offspring after him.
20As for Ishmael, I have heard you. Behold, I have blessed him, and will make him fruitful, and will multiply him exceedingly. He will become the father of twelve princes, and I will make him a great nation.
21But I will establish my covenant with Isaac, whom Sarah will bear to you at this set time next year.”
22When he finished talking with him, God went up from Abraham.
23Abraham took Ishmael his son, all who were born in his house, and all who were bought with his money: every male among the men of Abraham’s house, and circumcised the flesh of their foreskin in the same day, as God had said to him.
24Abraham was ninety-nine years old when he was circumcised in the flesh of his foreskin.
25Ishmael, his son, was thirteen years old when he was circumcised in the flesh of his foreskin.
26In the same day both Abraham and Ishmael, his son, were circumcised.
27All the men of his house, those born in the house, and those bought with money from a foreigner, were circumcised with him.
Key verses
When Abram was ninety-nine years old, Yahweh appeared to Abram and said to him, “I am God Almighty. Walk before me and be blameless.
God presents himself as God Almighty and calls Abram to walk before him, blameless. The promise rests on God's power, and the call is to a wholehearted life.
Your name will no more be called Abram, but your name will be Abraham; for I have made you the father of a multitude of nations.
Abram becomes Abraham, father of a multitude of nations. God gives a name that announces the future before the son is born.
I will establish my covenant between me and you and your offspring after you throughout their generations for an everlasting covenant, to be a God to you and to your offspring after you.
The covenant is everlasting: God will be the God of Abraham and of his descendants. It is the central promise of a lasting relationship.
You shall be circumcised in the flesh of your foreskin. It will be a token of the covenant between me and you.
Circumcision is the sign of the covenant. In the New Testament, Paul recalls that Abraham's faith came before this sign.
Then Abraham fell on his face, and laughed, and said in his heart, “Will a child be born to him who is one hundred years old? Will Sarah, who is ninety years old, give birth?” Abraham said to God, “Oh that Ishmael might live before you!” God said, “No, but Sarah, your wife, will bear you a son. You shall call his name Isaac. I will establish my covenant with him for an everlasting covenant for his offspring after him.
Abraham laughs and wonders whether a son will be born at a hundred years old. God answers by naming the son Isaac and confirming that the covenant will pass through him.
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Frequently asked questions about Genesis 17
Why does God change Abram's name to Abraham?
Abram means exalted father and Abraham father of a multitude. The new name, given while he still has no son by Sarah, announces what God is going to do. Sarah also receives a new name. In the Bible, a name change often marks a new mission or identity.
What is the meaning of circumcision in Genesis 17?
It is presented as the visible sign of the covenant between God and Abraham, given to all the males of his household. It expresses belonging to God. The New Testament, notably Paul in Romans 4, recalls that Abraham believed before he was circumcised, and that what matters most is faith.
Why does Abraham laugh when God promises him a son?
Abraham is a hundred years old and Sarah ninety. He falls on his face and laughs in his heart, astonished at the promise. The text does not condemn him: God confirms that Sarah will bear a son and gives the name Isaac, which some connect with the verb to laugh. God keeps his promise in spite of unbelief.
Articles quoting Genesis 17
World English Bible translation — public domain.