Genesis 17

This chapter belongs to the Abraham narrative in Genesis. It recounts events in the year Abram turned ninety-nine; he had been eighty-six when Ishmael was born in Genesis 16. Following the covenant made in Genesis 15, God establishes the covenant again and gives circumcision as its sign.

Outline

• Verses 1–8 God appears to Abram, now ninety-nine, and establishes a covenant with him. He declares that He will make him "a father of many nations," changes his name to Abraham, and promises to give him the land of Canaan as an everlasting possession.
• Verses 9–14 God commands that every male in the household be circumcised on the eighth day after birth. Any uncircumcised male is to be cut off from his people.
• Verses 15–18 God changes Sarai's name to Sarah and promises that she will bear a son. Abraham falls on his face and laughs, and he asks that Ishmael might live before God.
• Verses 19–22 God declares that the son Sarah will bear is to be named Isaac and that He will establish His covenant with him. He promises Ishmael fruitfulness and twelve princes, and He says that Isaac will be born at this set time in the next year.
• Verses 23–27 That very day Abraham circumcises himself (at ninety-nine), Ishmael (at thirteen), and every male in his household.

Key Verses

• Genesis 17:1 "I am the Almighty God; walk before me, and be thou perfect" — a summary of how one who stands in covenant with God is to live.
• Genesis 17:5 "…thy name shall be Abraham" — the promise is confirmed through a new name.
• Genesis 17:11 "It shall be a token of the covenant" — circumcision is given for the first time as the sign of the covenant.

People and Places

• Abraham: In this chapter his name is changed from Abram to Abraham.
• Sarah: Abraham's wife. In this chapter her name is changed from Sarai to Sarah.
• Ishmael: Abraham's son, born to Hagar. See the article Hagar and Ishmael.
• Isaac: His birth and name are promised in this chapter.
• Canaan: The land promised as an everlasting possession.

Points for Reflection

• The name Isaac is commonly interpreted as related to "laughter," linking it to the laughter in verse 17. Interpreters are divided over whether Abraham's laughter expresses doubt or joy.
• In the New Testament, Paul explains that Abraham was justified by faith before he was circumcised and that circumcision was a seal confirming that righteousness (Romans 4:9–12). The Council of Jerusalem decided not to require circumcision of Gentile believers.
• Denominations differ on how they relate the Abrahamic covenant and circumcision to baptism. Presbyterian, Reformed, and other churches that follow covenant theology cite Colossians 2:11–12 in holding that baptism succeeds circumcision as the sign of the covenant, and they take this as a basis for infant baptism. Baptists and others reject this connection, holding that the sign of the new covenant is to be administered only to those who have professed faith.

In the Korean Church

• Denominations that practice infant baptism often cite this chapter when explaining the meaning of infant baptism.
• The passage in which Abram and Sarai receive new names is frequently used in sermons on the theme of God calling people anew.