Genesis 17:1-21 ▼

1 When Abram (exalted father) was ninety-nine years old, the LORD {YHWH} appeared to him and said, “I am God Almighty {El-Shaddai}. Walk before Me and be blameless.

2 I will establish My covenant between Me and you, and I will multiply you exceedingly.”

3 Then Abram (exalted father) fell facedown, and God {Elohim} said to him,

4 “As for Me, this is My covenant with you: You will be the father of many nations.

5 No longer will you be called Abram (exalted father), but your name will be Abraham (father of many), for I have made you a father of many nations .

6 I will make you exceedingly fruitful; I will make nations of you, and kings will descend from you.

7 I will establish My covenant as an everlasting covenant between Me and you and your descendants after you, to be your God {Elohim} and the God of your descendants after you.

8 And to you and your descendants I will give the land where you are residing—all the land of Canaan (lowland)—as an eternal possession; and I will be their God {Elohim}.”

9 God {Elohim} also said to Abraham (father of many), “You must keep My covenant—you and your descendants in the generations after you.

10 This is My covenant with you⁺ and your descendants after you, which you⁺ are to keep: Every male among you⁺ must be circumcised.

11 You⁺ are to circumcise the flesh of your⁺ foreskin, and this will be a sign of the covenant between Me and you⁺.

12 Generation after generation, every male must be circumcised when he is eight days old, including those born in your household and those purchased from a foreigner—even those who are not your offspring.

13 Whether they are born in your household or purchased, they must be circumcised. My covenant in your⁺ flesh will be an everlasting covenant.

14 But if any male is not circumcised, he will be cut off from his people; he has broken My covenant.”

15 Then God {Elohim} said to Abraham (father of many), “As for Sarai (princess) your wife, do not call her Sarai, for her name is to be Sarah.

16 And I will bless her and will surely give you a son by her. I will bless her, and she will be the mother of nations; kings of peoples will descend from her.”

17 Abraham (father of many) fell facedown. Then he laughed and said to himself, “Can a child be born to a man who is a hundred years old? Can Sarah (princess) give birth at the age of ninety?”

18 And Abraham (father of many) said to God {Elohim}, “O that Ishmael (God hears) might live under Your blessing!”

19 But God {Elohim} replied, “Your wife Sarah (princess) will indeed bear you a son, and you are to name him Isaac (he laughs). I will establish My covenant with him as an everlasting covenant for his descendants after him.

20 As for Ishmael (God hears), I have heard you, and I will surely bless him; I will make him fruitful and multiply him greatly. He will become the father of twelve rulers, and I will make him into a great nation.

21 But I will establish My covenant with Isaac (he laughs), whom Sarah (princess) will bear to you at this time next year.”