Genesis 17:1-2

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Genesis 17:1-3

Here is, I. The time when God made Abram this gracious visit: When he was ninety-nine years old, full thirteen years after the birth of Ishmael. 1. So long, it should seem, God's extraordinary appearances to Abram were intermitted; and all the communion he had with God was only in the usual was of ordinances and providences. Note, There are some special comforts which are not the daily bread, no, not of the best saints, but they are favoured with them now and then. On this side heaven they... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 17:1

And when Abram was ninety years old and nine ,.... Which was thirteen years after the birth of Ishmael last mentioned; so many years more it was before be is expressly told he should have a son by Sarai, or had the promise of Isaac, which was for the trial of his faith; and his age is here observed, that the power of God might be more manifest in fulfilling his promise, and giving him a son by Sarai: the Lord appeared to Abram ; in a visible manner, in an human form very probably, even... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 17:2

And I will make my covenant between me and thee ,.... The covenant of circumcision, so called from the token of it, which God is said to make or give F5 אתנה "dabo", Pagninus, Montanus, Schmidt. , being his own constitution, and depended on his sovereign will and pleasure, see Acts 7:8 , and will multiply thee exceedingly ; as he had before promised at several times, and now renews it, lest be should think that Ishmael was the promised seed; for though Hagar's seed is promised... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 17:1

The Lord appeared to Abram - See note on Genesis 15:1 . I am the Almighty God - שדי אל אני ani El shaddai , I am God all-sufficient; from שדה shadah , to shed, to pour out. I am that God who pours out blessings, who gives them richly, abundantly, continually. Walk before me - לפני התהלך hithhallech lephanai , set thyself to walk - be firmly purposed, thoroughly determined to obey, before me; for my eye is ever on thee, therefore ever consider that God seeth thee. Who... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 17:1

Verse 1 1.And when Abram was ninety years old and nine Moses passes over thirteen years of Abram’s life, not because nothing worthy of remembrance had in the meantime occurred; but because the Spirit of God, according to his own will, selects those things which are most necessary to be known. He purposely points out the length of time which had elapsed from the birth of Ishmael to the period when Isaac was promised, for the purpose of teaching us that he long remained satisfied with that son... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 17:2

Verse 2 2.And I will make my covenant He now begins more fully and abundantly to explain what he had before alluded to briefly. We have said that the covenant of God with Abram had two parts. The first was a declaration of gratuitous love; to which was annexed the promise of a happy life. But the other was an exhortation to the sincere endeavor to cultivate uprightness, since God had given, in a single word only, a slight taste of his grace; and then immediately had descended to the design of... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Genesis 17:1

And when Abram was ninety years old and nine —consequently an interval of thirteen years had elapsed since the birth of Ishmael; the long delay on the part of God being probably designed as chastisement for Abram's second nuptials (Calvin), and at least corresponding with Abram's undue haste (Lange)— the Lord appeared to Abram— lest he should regard Ishmael's birth as a complete fulfillment of the promise (Menochius), and be satisfied with Hagar's child as the expected seed (Calvin)— ... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Genesis 17:2

And I will make my covenant between me and thee . Literally, I will give (cf. Genesis 9:9 , Genesis 9:11 , Genesis 9:12 ). Neither an additional covenant to that described in Genesis 15:1-21 . (Rosenmüller), nor a different traditional account of the transaction contained in Genesis 15:1-21 . (Tuch, Bleek), nor the original Elohistic narrative of which that in Genesis 15:1-21 . was a later imitation (Knobel); but an intimation that the covenant already concluded was about... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Genesis 17:1-27

- The Sealing of the Covenant1. שׁדי shaday, Shaddai, “Irresistible, able to destroy, and by inference to make, Almighty.” שׁדד shādad “be strong, destroy.” This name is found six times in Genesis, and thirty-one times in Job.5. אברהם 'abrâhām, Abraham, from אברם 'abrām “high-father,” and הם hām the radical part of המין hāmôn a “multitude,” is obtained by a euphonic abbreviation אברהם 'abrâhām, “father of a multitude.” The root רהם rhm is a variation of רום rvm; affording, however, a... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Genesis 17:1

Genesis 17:1. And when Abram was ninety-nine years old Full thirteen years after the birth of Ishmael. So long the promise of Isaac was deferred; 1st, Perhaps to correct Abram’s over-hasty marrying of Hagar. 2d, That Abram and Sarai being so far stricken in age, God’s power in this matter might be the more magnified. The Lord appeared unto Abram In some visible display of his glory. And said, I am the almighty God By this name he chose to make himself known to Abram, Isaac, and Jacob,... read more

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