Genesis — Chapter 17

King James Version (KJV)

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Genesis 17:1 And when Abram ^Rwas ninety years old and nine, ^Rthe LORD appeared to Abram, and said unto him, I am the ^RAlmighty God; ^Rwalk before me, and be thou ^RTperfect.

Genesis 17:2 ^RAnd I will make my covenant between me and thee, and will ^Rmultiply thee exceedingly.

Genesis 17:3 ^RAnd Abram fell on his face: and God talked with him, saying,

Genesis 17:4 As for me, behold, my covenant is with thee, and thou shalt be ^Ra father of ^Tmany nations.

Genesis 17:5 Neither shall thy name any more be called Abram, ^Rbut thy name shall be ^TAbraham; for a father of many nations have I made thee.

Genesis 17:6 And I will make thee exceeding fruitful, and I will make ^Rnations of thee, and ^Rkings shall come out of thee.

Genesis 17:7 ^RAnd I will establish my covenant between me and thee and thy seed after thee in their generations for an everlasting covenant, to be a ^RGod unto thee, ^Rand to thy seed after thee.

Genesis 17:8 And I will give unto thee, and to thy seed after thee, the land ^RTwherein thou art a stranger, all the land of Canaan, for an ^Reverlasting possession; and I will be ^Rtheir God.

Genesis 17:9 ^RAnd God said unto Abraham, Thou shalt keep my covenant therefore, thou, and thy seed after thee in their generations.

Genesis 17:10 This is my covenant, which ye shall keep, between me and you and thy seed after thee; ^REvery man child among you shall be circumcised.

Genesis 17:11 And ye shall circumcise ^Rthe flesh of your foreskin; and it shall be ^Ra token of the covenant betwixt me and you.

Genesis 17:12 And ^RThe that is eight days old shall be circumcised among you, every man child in your generations, he that ^Ris born in the house, or bought with money of any stranger, which is not of thy seed.

Genesis 17:13 He that is ^Rborn in thy house, and he that is ^Rbought with thy money, must needs be circumcised: and my covenant shall be in your flesh for an everlasting covenant.

Genesis 17:14 And the uncircumcised man child whose flesh of his foreskin is not circumcised, that soul shall be ^Rcut off from his people; he hath ^Rbroken my covenant.

Genesis 17:15 And God said unto Abraham, ^RAs for Sarai thy wife, thou shalt not call her name Sarai, but ^TSarah shall her name be.

Genesis 17:16 ^RAnd I will bless her, and ^Rgive thee a son also of her: yea, I will bless her, and ^Tshe shall ^Rbe a mother of nations; ^Rkings of people shall be of her.

Genesis 17:17 Then Abraham ^Rfell upon his face, and ^Rlaughed, and said in his heart, Shall a child be born unto him that is an hundred years old? and shall Sarah, that is ninety years old, bear?

Genesis 17:18 And Abraham said unto God, ^RO that Ishmael might live ^Rbefore thee!

Genesis 17:19 And God said, ^RSarah thy wife shall bear thee a son indeed; and thou shalt call his name Isaac: and I will establish my covenant with him for an everlasting covenant, and with his seed after him.

Genesis 17:20 And as for Ishmael, I have heard thee: Behold, ^RI have blessed him, and will make him fruitful, and will multiply him exceedingly; ^Rtwelve princes shall he beget, ^Rand I will make him a great nation.

Genesis 17:21 But ^Rmy covenant will I establish with Isaac, which Sarah shall bear unto thee ^Rat this set time in the next year.

Genesis 17:22 ^RAnd he left off talking with him, and God went up from Abraham.

Genesis 17:23 And Abraham took Ishmael his son, and all that were born in his house, and all that were bought with his money, every male among the men of Abraham’s house; and ^Rcircumcised the flesh of their foreskin in the selfsame day, as God had said unto him.

Genesis 17:24 ^RAnd Abraham was ninety years old and nine, when he was circumcised in the flesh of his foreskin.

Genesis 17:25 And Ishmael his son was thirteen years old, when he was circumcised in the flesh of his foreskin.

Genesis 17:26 ^RIn the selfsame day was Abraham circumcised, and Ishmael his son.

Genesis 17:27 And all the men of his house, born in the house, and bought with money of the stranger, were ^Rcircumcised with him.

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📖 What We’re Reading

Genesis 17:1–8 — Abram Becomes Abraham

🌱 What These Verses Teach Us

When Abram is ninety-nine years old, the LORD appears to him as the Almighty God and reaffirms His covenant. God changes Abram’s name to Abraham because he will be a father of many nations and promises descendants, kings, and the land of Canaan.

Key Truth: God reaffirms His covenant and gives Abram the new name Abraham in connection with His promise of many nations.

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📖 What We’re Reading

Genesis 17:9–14 — The Token of the Covenant

🌱 What These Verses Teach Us

God commands Abraham and his descendants to keep the covenant and establishes circumcision for every male as its token. The command includes those born in the household and those bought with money.

Key Truth: Circumcision is explicitly given as the token of the covenant between God and Abraham’s household and descendants.

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📖 What We’re Reading

Genesis 17:15–21 — Sarai Becomes Sarah

🌱 What These Verses Teach Us

God changes Sarai’s name to Sarah and promises that she will bear Abraham a son. The son is to be named Isaac, and God declares that His covenant will be established with Isaac. God also promises to bless Ishmael and make him fruitful and a great nation.

Key Truth: God specifically identifies Sarah’s promised son Isaac as the son with whom the covenant will be established.

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📖 What We’re Reading

Genesis 17:22–27 — Abraham Obeys

🌱 What These Verses Teach Us

After God finishes speaking, Abraham obeys that very day. Abraham, Ishmael, and every male of his household are circumcised according to God’s command. Abraham is ninety-nine and Ishmael is thirteen.

Key Truth: Abraham responds to God’s covenant command with immediate obedience.

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