Abraham to Father Many Nations

1In truth, after he began to be ninety-nine years of age, the Lord appeared to him. And he said to him: “I am the Almighty God. Walk in my sight and become complete.

2And I will set my covenant between me and you. And I will multiply you very exceedingly.”

3Abram fell prone on his face.

4And God said to him: “I AM, and my covenant is with you, and you will be the father of many nations.

5No longer will your name be called Abram. But you will be called Abraham, for I have established you as the father of many nations.

6And I will cause you to increase very greatly, and I will set you among the nations, and kings will come forth from you. 7And I will establish my covenant between me and you, and with your offspring after you in their generations, by a perpetual covenant: to be God to you and to your offspring after you. 8And I will give to you and to your offspring, the land of your sojourn, all the land of Canaan, as an eternal possession, and I will be their God.”

The Covenant of Circumcision

9Again God said to Abraham: “And you therefore shall keep my covenant, and your offspring after you in their generations. 10This is my covenant, which you shall observe, between me and you, and your offspring after you: All the males among you shall be circumcised. 11And you shall circumcise the flesh of your foreskin, so that it may be a sign of the covenant between me and you. 12An infant of eight days will be circumcised among you, every male in your generations. So also servants born to you, as well as those bought, shall be circumcised, even those who are not of your stock. 13And my covenant shall be with your flesh as an eternal covenant. 14The male, the flesh of whose foreskin will not be circumcised, that soul shall be eliminated from his people. For he has made my covenant void.”

15God said also to Abraham: “Your wife Sarai, you shall not call Sarai, but Sarah. 16And I will bless her, and from her I will give you a son, whom I will bless, and he will be among the nations, and the kings of the peoples will rise from him.” 17Abraham fell on his face, and he laughed, saying in his heart: “Do you think a son can be born to a one hundred year old man? And will Sarah give birth at the age of ninety?” 18And he said to God, “If only Ishmael would live in your sight.” 19And God said to Abraham: “Your wife Sarah shall give birth to a son, and you shall call his name Isaac, and I will establish my covenant with him as a perpetual covenant, and with his offspring after him. 20Likewise, concerning Ishmael, I have heard you. Behold, I will bless and enlarge him, and I will multiply him greatly. He will produce twelve leaders, and I will make him into a great nation. 21Yet in truth, I will establish my covenant with Isaac, to whom Sarah will give birth for you at this time next year.” 22And when he had finished speaking with him, God ascended from Abraham.

23Then Abraham took his son Ishmael, and all who were born in his house, and all whom he had bought, every male among the men of his house, and he circumcised the flesh of their foreskin promptly, the very same day, just as God had instructed him. 24Abraham was ninety-nine years old when he circumcised the flesh of his foreskin. 25And his son Ishmael had completed thirteen years at the time of his circumcision. 26On the very same day, Abraham was circumcised with his son Ishmael. 27And all the men of his house, those born in his house, as well as those who were bought, even the foreigners, were circumcised with him.