ESV Global Study Bible :: Footnotes for Genesis 17

Gen. 17:1–27 Thirteen years after the birth of Ishmael, the Lord appears to Abram and announces that he will establish an eternal covenant with Abram and his offspring. Abram will become the father of many nations. The sign of the covenant is circumcision. The covenant will be established with Isaac but not Ishmael (although Ishmael, by being circumcised, will enjoy some of the benefits of the covenant).

Gen. 17:1–2 God Almighty. Like many other names for God in Genesis, the common Semitic word for “God” is followed by a particular attribute of God. This name emphasizes God’s power, which will enable Sarai to bear a son. that I may make my covenant. Unlike the unconditional covenant in ch. 15, here a condition is clear: walk before God and be blameless (see note on 17:19).

Gen. 17:4–5 the father of a multitude of nations. These words summarize the covenant being established by God. To underline their importance, the words are repeated at the end of v. 5: your name shall be Abraham, for I have made you the father of a multitude of nations.

Gen. 17:6 I will make you exceedingly fruitful. This promise echoes the divine blessing given at creation (1:28) and later repeated to Noah after the flood (9:1). kings shall come from you. Fruitfulness includes exercising authority over the earth on God’s behalf (1:28; 9:1–7).

Gen. 17:10 Circumcision was not a Hebrew invention. For example, it was used in Egypt as an act of ritual purity.

Gen. 17:11 You shall be circumcised in the flesh of your foreskins. Circumcision, cutting off the foreskin of the penis, creates a mark that would not normally be visible to others.

Gen. 17:12–13 eight days old. To ensure that the covenant extends to the next generation, all newborn male children are to be circumcised eight days after they are born. The covenant is not about establishing racial purity, since males who are not Abraham’s offspring are included.

Gen. 17:14 shall be cut off from his people. Uncircumcised males were excluded from the benefits of the covenant. Circumcision distinguished those who believed in the importance of God’s promises to Abraham from those who did not. For the NT view on circumcision, see Rom. 2:25–29; 1 Cor. 7:18–19; and Gal. 6:15.

Gen. 17:15–16 The name Sarai is changed to Sarah; both forms mean “princess.”

Gen. 17:19 Isaac means “he laughs.” The theme of laughter occurs in several passages associated with the birth of Isaac. See v. 17; 18:12–15; 21:6; 9. I will establish my covenant with him. While Ishmael and the other male members of Abraham’s household are also circumcised, the covenant will continue through Isaac (see 17:7, 20–21; and chart). This line eventually leads to Jesus Christ, through whom God’s blessing comes to the nations.

Gen. 17:20 God blesses Ishmael with the promise that he will become a great nation (see 25:12–18), even though God favors the yet-to-be-born Isaac.