17:20 As for Ishmael, I have heard you.50 I will indeed bless him, make him fruitful, and give him a multitude of descendants.51 He will become the father of twelve princes;52 I will make him into a great nation.
sn The Hebrew verb translated “I have heard you” forms a wordplay with the name Ishmael, which means “God hears.” See the note on the name “Ishmael” in 16:11.
51
tnHeb “And I will multiply him exceedingly, exceedingly.” The repetition is emphatic.
52
tn For a discussion of the Hebrew word translated “princes,” see E. A. Speiser, “Background and Function of the Biblical Nasi’,” CBQ 25 (1963): 111–17.