Genesis 17:15-21

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Genesis 17:15-22

Here is, I. The promise made to Abraham of a son by Sarai, that son in whom the promise made to him should be fulfilled, that he should be the father of many nations; for she also shall be a mother of nations, and kings of people shall be of her, Gen. 17:16. Note, 1. God reveals the purposes of his good-will to his people by degrees. God had told Abraham long before that he should have a son, but never till now that he should have a son by Sarai. 2. The blessing of the Lord makes fruitful, and... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 17:15

And God said unto Abraham ,.... After he had changed his name, and given him the covenant of circumcision: as for Sarai thy wife, thou shalt not call her name Sarai, but Sarah her name shall be ; her former name Sarai signifies "my princess", or rather "princesses", being to him in the room of many, and better than ten thousand; yet only a princess to him, and in his family, being sole mistress there: but Sarah signifies, as Jarchi observes, "princess" absolutely, because she was... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 17:16

And I will bless her ,.... The Targum of Jonathan adds, "in her body", with fruitfulness, who before was barren, and in her soul with spiritual blessings, and in both with the blessing of eternal life: and give thee a son also of her ; as he had given him one of Hagar: God had before promised Abraham a son that should be his heir, but he had not till now told him that he should be born of Sarah his wife: yea, I will bless her ; which is repeated for the confirmation of it, and for... read more

John Gill

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

Then Abraham fell upon his face ,.... In reverence of the divine Being, and as amazed at what was told him: and laughed ; not through distrust and diffidence of the promise, as Sarah did, for he staggered not at that through unbelief, but for joy at such good news; and so Onkelos renders it, "and he rejoiced", with the joy of faith; it may be our Lord refers to this in John 8:56 ; he saw Christ in the promise of Isaac, and rejoiced that he should spring from his seed: the Targums of... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 17:18

And Abraham said unto God ,.... Being told he should have a son by Sarah, that should be his heir, he is concerned for Ishmael what would become of him; and who, being grown up, had doubtless a large share in his affections, and it is highly probable he began to think he was the promised seed, since he had lived to such an age, and had no other son, and Sarah was past bearing children: but now perceiving it would be otherwise, he puts up a petition for Ishmael, whom he did not neglect upon... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 17:19

And God said, Sarah thy wife shall bear thee a son indeed ,.... This is repeated for the confirmation of it, and thus expressed to remove all doubt about it, if any there were, that hung upon Abraham's mind; as well as to let him know that the promise of a son by Sarah was not to be superseded by his prayer for Ishmael, for whom he might have a greater flow of natural affection than for his unborn son, in whom his seed should be called: and thou shall call his name Isaac ; which... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 17:20

And as for Ishmael, I have heard thee, &c.; Took notice of his prayer for him, and accepted of and would answer him, and did, as follows: behold, I have blessed him ; determined in his mind to bless him, promised to bless him, Genesis 16:10 ; had blessings laid up and in reserve for him: and will make him fruitful, and will multiply him exceedingly ; as he did, many of the Arabian nations, the Hagarenes, Saracens, and Turks, all springing from him: twelve princes shall he... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 17:21

But my covenant will one establish with Isaac ,.... The covenant of circumcision; for though Ishmael was circumcised, and his posterity practised that rite, yet it was not enjoined them of God; nor was it to them, or served the same purpose as to the Israelites; and particularly the promise of the land of Canaan, made in that covenant, belonged only to the posterity of Isaac, and to those only in the line of Jacob, and especially that of the Messiah springing from him, which circumcision had... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 17:15

Thou shalt not call her name Sarai, but Sarah - See note on Genesis 17:5 . read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 17:16

I will bless her, etc. - Sarah certainly stands at the head of all the women of the Old Testament, on account of her extraordinary privileges. I am quite of Calmet's opinion that Sarah was a type of the blessed Virgin. St. Paul considers her a type of the New Testament and heavenly Jerusalem; and as all true believers are considered as the children of Abraham, so all faithful holy women are considered the daughters of Sarah, Galatians 4:22 , Galatians 4:24 , Galatians 4:26 . See also ... read more

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