17:1 ninety-nine years old Abraham’s age is mentioned at key events in his life. Compare 12:4; 16:16.

appeared to Abram See 12:7 and note; 15:1 and note (compare v. 22).

El-Shaddai The Hebrew phrase used here, el shadday, which is commonly translated “God Almighty” or “the Almighty God,” is translated as such based on English translation tradition; however, this is not based on the original Hebrew but how the Septuagint (the ancient Greek translation of the ot) translates shadday in the book of Job (Job 5:17; 8:5).

Names of God in the Old Testament Table

blameless The Hebrew word used here may be literally rendered “without defect.” See Gen 6:9 and note.

17:2 I may make The Hebrew verb used here, nathan, can be understood as God establishing or confirming His covenant (see v. 6). The covenant was earlier made in ch. 15 (see v. 4).

Covenants in the Old Testament Table

17:5 Abram The name Abram (avram in Hebrew) may be related to the names Abiram or Abarama, known from Akkadian texts contemporary with Abraham. The first syllable (av) is the Hebrew word for “father.” The second syllable (ram) likely derives from the Hebrew verb ram (meaning “to be raised,” or “to be exalted”); this means the name means “exalted father” or “the father is exalted.”

Symbolic Names of People in Hebrew Table

Abraham The new name Abraham (avraham in Hebrew) is related to Abraham’s role as “father of many nations” or “father of a multitude of nations”—the first part of this phrase, av hamon, seems to be a wordplay in Hebrew on Abraham’s new name, avraham. It is difficult to discern the actual derivation of the Hebrew name avraham.

17:6 kings shall go out from you The reference to fathering kings is not found in the earlier covenant statements of ch. 12 and Gen 15, but it appears again in v. 16 and 35:11. The later covenant with David and his dynasty (2 Sam 7) represents the ot fulfillment of this promise.

17:7 your offspring after you The descendants of Abraham are commanded to keep the covenant, which is explained in the next verse as the rite of circumcision. The covenant and its sign (and so, the observance of the rite) was to be everlasting (Gen 17:13).

an everlasting covenant The phrase appears three times in this passage (vv. 7, 13, 19). See note on 9:16.

17:10 shall be circumcised Circumcision—the surgical removal of the foreskin of the penis—was required as part of the covenant (see v. 14). Female circumcision is not intended by this statement. Circumcision was not unique to Israel, nor was it invented by the Israelites. The custom is known in Egypt as early as the 23rd century bc, except that Egyptians slit the foreskin rather than removing it. Ancient Near Eastern art from Syria dating several centuries earlier depicts Syrian warriors as circumcised.

17:11 you shall circumcise the flesh of Circumcision is also used metaphorically of other body parts, such as the heart (Lev 26:41; Deut 10:16; 30:6), the lips (Exod 6:12, 30) and the ears (Jer 6:10).

a sign of the covenant See note on Gen 9:12.

17:12 eight days of age While the ot contains examples of adult male circumcision (vv. 23–27; 34:15–24; Josh 5:3–7), the normal practice for Abraham’s descendants was infant circumcision. The significance of the eighth day is uncertain, though it may have something to do with the creation week—the day after the infant fulfills his first seven days on earth.

every male As the rest of this chapter shows, even Abraham’s male servants are circumcised (Gen 17:23). Servants were considered part of the household in the ancient Near East.

17:15 Sarai The Hebrew word for “prince” or “ruler” is sar; both the name Sarai, and it seems Sarah, are related to this term and mean “princess.”

Sarah Sarah is the only woman renamed by God in the Bible. The context shows Abraham producing “kings” (vv. 6, 16), and thus her new name, Sarah, may draw attention to Sarah as the matriarch of kings. While the name Sarah could mean “princess”—like Sarai—it could be affiliated with the Hebrew verb sarah (commonly translated as “to strive” or “to struggle”); this verb is used when Jacob’s name is changed to Israel because he has both striven with God and people (32:28).

17:16 from her a son Sarah’s own son, not the son of Hagar (ch. 16), will be the heir of the covenant between God and Abraham (see v. 19).

Kings of peoples shall come from her God has already made the promise to Abraham (see v. 6 and note). Now Abraham learns that it extends to Sarah as well.

17:17 laughed The name Isaac (yitschaq in Hebrew) derives from the Hebrew verb used here, tsachaq. Abraham’s laughter—expressing both joy and surprise—suggests that his original faith expression in 15:6 was not based on a realization that Sarah would be the mother. Neither ch. 12 nor 15 identify Sarah as the one who would bear the child. Had that been the case, Abraham would likely have refused Hagar when Sarah suggested that he have a son with her (ch. 16).

Symbolic Names of People in Hebrew Table

a man a hundred years old Here, the significance of the wonder is not that Abraham doubts his sexual capacity. Rather, Sarah is the focus of both questions. Abraham is amazed that he could father a child with her. They are both elderly, an issue of greater consequence for female than male infertility (see 18:11).

17:18 Ishmael might live before you Abraham expresses concern for his son, Ishmael, who becomes excluded from the covenant by this conversation (see vv. 19, 21).

17:19 Isaac This name means “he laughs” (see v. 17 and note). God finally presents Abraham with all the details of His plan to fulfill the promise of offspring. He will have a son by Sarah whose name will be Isaac. God emphasizes here that the child of promise is Isaac, not Ishmael.

Symbolic Names of People in Hebrew Table

17:20 as for Ishmael, I have heard you Ishmael will not be forgotten—he also is from Abraham.

I will bless him The language concerning Ishmael’s blessing shares much of the wording of the covenant with Abraham (and Isaac). Missing elements include the promise of the land of Canaan and the blessing of the other nations (see Gen 12:1–7; 15:1–6).

twelve princes Equal in number to the 12 tribes of Israel (also from Abraham), the 12 Ishmaelite princes (or rulers) are listed in 25:12–16.

17:21 at this appointed time next year This promise is restated in 18:10.

17:22 God went up from Abraham As before, God was visibly present with Abraham during this conversation. See 12:7 and note; 15:1 and note.