Genesis 17:20 NIV

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 17:20

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

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 17:20

Twelve princes shall he beget, etc. - See the names of these twelve princes, Genesis 25:12-16 . From Ishmael proceeded the various tribes of the Arabs, called also Saracens by Christian writers. They were anciently, and still continue to be, a very numerous and powerful people. "It was somewhat wonderful, and not to be foreseen by human sagacity," says Bishop Newton, "that a man's whole posterity should so nearly resemble him, and retain the same inclinations, the same habits, and the same... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 17:20

Verse 20 20.And as for Ishmael. He here more clearly discriminates between the two sons of Abraham. For in promising to the one wealth, dignity, and other things pertaining to the present life, he proves him to be a son according to the flesh. But he makes a special covenant with Isaac, which rises above the world and this frail life: not for the sake of cutting Ishmael off from the hope of eternal life, but in order to teach him that salvation is to be sought from the race of Isaac, where it... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Genesis 17:15-27

The covenant completed. I. THE ADMISSION OF SARAI . 1. The changed name . As on entering within the covenant the name of Abram was changed to Abraham, so, to signalize the reception of his spouse, Sarai was transformed into Sarah ( vide Exposition), the transformation having in her case the same significance as it had in Abraham's. In particular it proclaimed that, like Abraham, Sarah was now a justified and regenerated believer in the Divine promise. N . B .... 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 17:20

Genesis 17:20. As for Ishmael, I have heard thee; I have blessed him That is, I have many blessings in store for him. 1st, His posterity shall be numerous: I will multiply him exceedingly. 2d, They shall be considerable: twelve princes shall he beget. We may charitably hope that spiritual blessings also were bestowed upon him, though the visible church was not brought out of his loins. read more

Donald C. Fleming

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - Genesis 17:1-27

The covenant sealed (17:1-27)As Abram and Sarai grew older, God told them again that he would be faithful to his promises. He revealed himself to them in a new name of power (God Almighty) and gave them each new names (Abraham and Sarah) to emphasize that he would make them parents of a multitude (17:1-6,15-16). The Almighty had made a covenant to be God to Abraham and his descendants, and he would give them Canaan to be their homeland (7-8).To reassure Abraham that he would keep his covenant... read more

E.W. Bullinger

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - Genesis 17:20

I have heard. Showing the subject of Abraham's prayer. exceedingly. Figure of speech Epizeuxis ( greatly greatly) . read more

James Burton Coffman

Coffman Commentaries on the Bible - Genesis 17:20-21

"And as for Ishmael, I have heard thee: behold I have blessed him, and will make him fruitful, and will multiply him exceedingly; twelve princes shall he beget, and I will make him a great nation. But my covenant will I establish with Isaac, whom Sarah shall bear unto thee at this set time in the next year.""Princes shall he beget ..." Note that the superiority of Isaac over Ishmael is doubly apparent, not only in his being born of the free woman, but also in the higher rank of those who would... read more