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Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Genesis 17:23-27

We have here Abraham's obedience to the law of circumcision. He himself and all his family were circumcised, so receiving the token of the covenant and distinguishing themselves from other families, that had no part nor lot in the matter. 1. It was an implicit obedience: He did as God had said to him, and did not ask why or wherefore. God's will was not only a law to him, but a reason; he did it because God told him. 2. It was a speedy obedience: In the self-same day, Gen. 17:23, 26. Sincere... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 17:25

And Ishmael his son was thirteen years old when he was circumcised in the flesh of his foreskin. Hence the Arabians, as Josephus F23 Antiqu. l. 1. c. 12. sect. 2. relates, circumcise their children when at thirteen years of age, because Ishmael, the founder of their nation, was circumcised at that age; and Origen F24 Philocalia, c. 23. p. 77. asserts the same; and with which agrees what an Arabic writer says F25 Ebnol Athir apud Pocock. Specimen Arab. Hist. p. 319. of the... 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

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 17:25

thirteen. Symbolic; and in contrast with Isaac on eighth day. See App-10 , Ishmaelites and Arabians still circumcise in the 13th year. read more

James Burton Coffman

Coffman Commentaries on the Bible - Genesis 17:24-27

"And Abraham was ninety years old and nine, when he was circumcised in the flesh of his foreskin. And Ishmael his son was thirteen years old, when he was circumcised in the flesh of his foreskin. In the self-same day was Abraham circumcised, and Ishmael his son. And all the men of his house, those born in the house, and those bought with money of a foreigner, were circumcised with him."The full and prompt obedience of Abraham was here recorded in detail, the purpose of the repetition being that... read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Genesis 17:22-27

The writer’s use of the phrase "the very same day" (Genesis 17:26) points to a momentous day, one of the most important days in human history (cf. Noah’s entry into the ark, Genesis 7:13; and the Exodus, Exodus 12:17; Exodus 12:41; Exodus 12:51).This fifth revelation from God advanced God’s promises in six particulars.1. Part of God’s blessing would depend on Abraham’s maintaining the covenant of circumcision, though the Abrahamic Covenant as a whole did not depend on this (Genesis 17:1-2).2.... read more

John Dummelow

John Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 17:1-27

The Covenant of CircumcisionThis chapter is from the Priestly document, of which it shows marked characteristics: see preface to Genesis 15.1. Ninety years old and nine] Ishmael was now thirteen years old, and Abraham probably expected no other heir. But his faith was to be put to a further test. The Almighty God] Heb. el Shaddai: the name of power shows the ability to perform what was promised. Walk before me, and be thou perfeet] i.e. always conscious of My presence, and living a pious,... read more

Charles John Ellicott

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers - Genesis 17:25

(25) Ishmael. . . . was thirteen years old.—Hence the Mohammedans defer circumcision to the thirteenth year. read more

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