Berean Standard Bible

Genesis 17

1When Abramאַבְרָ֔ם'av.RamH87wasוַיְהִ֣יvay.HiH1961ninety-nineתִּשְׁעִ֥ים וְתֵ֣שַׁעtish.'Im ve.Te.sha'H8673 H8672yearsשָׁנָ֖הsha.NahH8141oldבֶּן־ שָׁנִ֑יםben- sha.NimH1121 H8141,the LORDיְהוָ֜הYah.wehH3068appearedוַיֵּרָ֨אvai.ye.Ra'H7200toאֶל־'el-H413himאַבְרָ֗ם'av.RamH87and saidוַיֹּ֤אמֶר אֵלָיו֙vai.Yo.mer 'e.LavH559 H413, “Iאֲנִי־'a.ni-H589am Godאֵ֣ל'elH410Almightyשַׁדַּ֔יsha.DaiH7706.Walkהִתְהַלֵּ֥ךְhit.ha.LekhH1980before Meלְפָנַ֖יle.fa.NaiH6440and beוֶהְיֵ֥הveh.YehH1961blamelessתָמִֽים׃ta.MimH8549.

2I will establishוְאֶתְּנָ֥הve.'e.te.NahH5414My covenantבְרִיתִ֖יve.ri.TiH1285between Me and youH996,and I will multiplyוְאַרְבֶּ֥הve.'ar.BehH7235youאוֹתְךָ֖'ot.KhaH853exceedinglyH3966.”

3Then Abramאַבְרָ֖ם'av.RamH87fell facedownוַיִּפֹּ֥ל עַל־ פָּנָ֑יוvai.yi.Pol 'al- pa.NavH5307 H5921 H6440,and Godאֱלֹהִ֖ים לֵאמֹֽר׃'E.lo.Him le.MorH430 H559saidוַיְדַבֵּ֥רvay.da.BerH1696to himאִתּ֛וֹ'i.ToH854,

4“As for Meאֲנִ֕י'a.NiH589,this isהִנֵּ֥הhi.NehH2009My covenantבְרִיתִ֖יve.ri.TiH1285with youאִתָּ֑ךְ'i.TakhH854:You will beוְהָיִ֕יתָve.ha.Yi.taH1961the fatherלְאַ֖בle.'AvH1of manyהֲמ֥וֹןha.MonH1995nationsגּוֹיִֽם׃go.YimH1471.

5Noוְלֹא־ve.lo'-H3808longer willע֛וֹדodH5750אֶת־'et-H853you be calledיִקָּרֵ֥אyi.ka.Re'H7121שִׁמְךָ֖shim.KhaH8034Abramאַבְרָ֑ם'av.RamH87,but your nameשִׁמְךָ֙shim.KhaH8034will beוְהָיָ֤הve.ha.YahH1961Abrahamאַבְרָהָ֔ם'av.ra.HamH85,forכִּ֛יkiH3588I have made youנְתַתִּֽיךָ׃ne.ta.Ti.khaH5414a fatherאַב־'av-H1of manyהֲמ֥וֹןha.MonH1995nationsגּוֹיִ֖םgo.YimH1471.

6I will make you exceedinglyH3966אֹֽתְךָ֙'o.te.KhaH853fruitfulוְהִפְרֵתִ֤יve.hif.re.TiH6509;I will makeוּנְתַתִּ֖יךָu.ne.ta.Ti.khaH5414nationsלְגוֹיִ֑םle.go.YimH1471of you,and kingsוּמְלָכִ֖יםu.me.la.KhimH4428will descendיֵצֵֽאוּ׃ye.Tze.'uH3318from youמִמְּךָ֥mime.KhaH4480.

7I will establishוַהֲקִמֹתִ֨יva.ha.ki.mo.TiH6965אֶת־'et-H853My covenantבְּרִיתִ֜יbe.ri.TiH1285as an everlastingעוֹלָ֑םo.LamH5769covenantלִבְרִ֣יתliv.RitH1285between Me and youH996and your descendantsאַחֲרֶ֛יךָ לְדֹרֹתָ֖ם'a.cha.Rei.kha le.do.ro.TamH310 H1755after youזַרְעֲךָ֧zar.'a.KhaH2233,to beלִהְי֤וֹתlih.YotH1961yourGodלֵֽאלֹהִ֔יםle.lo.HimH430and the God of your descendantsוּֽלְזַרְעֲךָ֖u.le.zar.'a.KhaH2233after youאַחֲרֶֽיךָ׃'a.cha.Rei.khaH310.

8And to youand your descendantsוּלְזַרְעֲךָ֨u.le.zar.'a.KhaH2233אַחֲרֶ֜יךָ'a.cha.Rei.khaH310אֵ֣ת׀'etH853I will giveוְנָתַתִּ֣יve.na.ta.TiH5414the landאֶ֣רֶץ'E.retzH776where you are residingמְגֻרֶ֗יךָme.gu.Rei.khaH4033אֵ֚ת'etH853—allכָּל־kol-H3605the landאֶ֣רֶץ'E.retzH776of Canaanכְּנַ֔עַןke.Na.'anH3667—as an eternalעוֹלָ֑םo.LamH5769possessionלַאֲחֻזַּ֖תla.'a.chu.ZatH272;and I will beוְהָיִ֥יתִיve.ha.Yi.tiH1961theirGodלֵאלֹהִֽים׃le.lo.HimH430.”

The Covenant of Circumcision

9Godאֱלֹהִים֙'E.lo.HimH430also saidוַיֹּ֤אמֶרvai.Yo.merH559toאֶל־'el-H413Abrahamאַבְרָהָ֔ם'av.ra.HamH85, “Youוְאַתָּ֖הve.'a.TahH859אֶת־'et-H853must keepתִשְׁמֹ֑רtish.MorH8104My covenantבְּרִיתִ֣יbe.ri.TiH1285—youאַתָּ֛ה'a.TahH859and your descendantsוְזַרְעֲךָ֥ve.zar.'a.KhaH2233in the generationsלְדֹרֹתָֽם׃le.do.ro.TamH1755after youאַֽחֲרֶ֖יךָ'a.cha.Rei.khaH310.

10Thisזֹ֣אתzotH2063is My covenantבְּרִיתִ֞יbe.ri.TiH1285withH996you and your descendantsזַרְעֲךָ֖zar.'a.KhaH2233after youאַחֲרֶ֑יךָ'a.cha.Rei.khaH310,whichאֲשֶׁ֣ר'a.SherH834you are to keepתִּשְׁמְר֗וּtish.me.RuH8104:Everyכָּל־kol-H3605male among youזָכָֽר׃za.KharH2145must be circumcisedהִמּ֥וֹלhi.MolH4135.

11You are to circumciseוּנְמַלְתֶּ֕םu.ne.mal.TemH4135אֵ֖ת'etH853the fleshבְּשַׂ֣רbe.SarH1320of your foreskinעָרְלַתְכֶ֑ם'a.re.lat.KhemH6190,and this will beוְהָיָה֙ve.ha.YahH1961a signלְא֣וֹתle.'otH226of the covenantבְּרִ֔יתbe.RitH1285between Me and youH996.

12Generation after generationלְדֹרֹתֵיכֶ֑םle.do.ro.tei.KhemH1755,everyכָּל־kol-H3605maleזָכָ֖רza.KharH2145must be circumcisedיִמּ֥וֹלyi.MolH4135וּבֶן־u.ven-H1121when he is eightשְׁמֹנַ֣תshe.mo.NatH8083days oldיָמִ֗יםya.MimH3117,including those bornיְלִ֣ידye.LidH3211in your householdבָּ֔יִתBa.yitH1004and those purchasedוּמִקְנַת־ כֶּ֙סֶף֙u.mik.nat- ke.sefH4736 H3701from aמִכֹּ֣ל בֶּן־mi.Kol ben-H3605 H1121foreignerנֵכָ֔רne.KharH5236—even thoseהֽוּא׃Hu'H1931whoאֲשֶׁ֛ר'a.SherH834are notלֹ֥אlo'H3808your offspringמִֽזַּרְעֲךָ֖mi.zar.'a.KhaH2233.

13Whether they are bornיְלִ֥ידye.LidH3211in your householdבֵּֽיתְךָ֖bei.te.KhaH1004or purchasedוּמִקְנַ֣ת כַּסְפֶּ֑ךָu.mik.Nat kas.Pe.khaH4736 H3701,they must be circumcisedH4135.My covenantבְרִיתִ֛יve.ri.TiH1285in your fleshבִּבְשַׂרְכֶ֖םbiv.sar.KhemH1320will beוְהָיְתָ֧הve.ha.ye.TahH1961an everlastingעוֹלָֽם׃o.LamH5769covenantלִבְרִ֥יתliv.RitH1285.

14וְעָרֵ֣ל׀ve.'a.RelH6189But if any maleזָכָ֗רza.KharH2145אֲשֶׁ֤ר'a.SherH834is notלֹֽא־lo'-H3808circumcisedיִמּוֹל֙yi.mOlH4135אֶת־'et-H853בְּשַׂ֣רbe.SarH1320עָרְלָת֔וֹa.re.la.ToH6190, heהַנֶּ֥פֶשׁ הַהִ֖ואha.Ne.fesh ha.Hiv'H1931 H5315will be cut offוְנִכְרְתָ֛הve.nikh.re.TahH3772from his peopleמֵעַמֶּ֑יהָme.'a.Mei.haH5971אֶת־'et-H853;he has brokenהֵפַֽר׃ סhe.FarH6565My covenantבְּרִיתִ֖יbe.ri.TiH1285.”

15Then Godאֱלֹהִים֙'E.lo.HimH430saidוַיֹּ֤אמֶרvai.Yo.merH559toאֶל־'el-H413Abrahamאַבְרָהָ֔ם'av.ra.HamH85, “As for Saraiשָׂרַ֣יsa.RaiH8297your wifeאִשְׁתְּךָ֔'ish.te.KhaH802,do notלֹא־lo'-H3808callתִקְרָ֥אtik.Ra'H7121אֶת־'et-H853herשְׁמָ֖הּshe.MahH8034Saraiשָׂרָ֑יsa.RaiH8297,forכִּ֥יkiH3588her nameשְׁמָֽהּ׃she.MahH8034is to beSarahשָׂרָ֖הsa.RahH8283.

16And I will bless herוּבֵרַכְתִּ֣יu.ve.rakh.TiH1288אֹתָ֔הּ'o.TahH853and will surelyוְגַ֨םve.GamH1571giveנָתַ֧תִּיna.Ta.tiH5414youa sonבֵּ֑ןBenH1121by herמִמֶּ֛נָּהmi.Me.nahH4480.I will bless herוּבֵֽרַכְתִּ֙יהָ֙u.ve.rakh.Ti.haH1288,and she will beוְהָֽיְתָ֣הve.ha.ye.TahH1961the motherof nationsלְגוֹיִ֔םle.go.YimH1471;kingsמַלְכֵ֥יmal.KheiH4428of peoplesעַמִּ֖ים'a.MimH5971will descendיִהְיֽוּ׃yih.YuH1961from herמִמֶּ֥נָּהmi.Me.nahH4480.”

17Abrahamאַבְרָהָ֛ם'av.ra.HamH85fell facedownוַיִּפֹּ֧ל עַל־ פָּנָ֖יוvai.yi.Pol 'al- pa.NavH5307 H5921 H6440.Then he laughedוַיִּצְחָ֑קvai.yitz.ChakH6711and saidוַיֹּ֣אמֶרvai.Yo.merH559to himselfבְּלִבּ֗וֹbe.li.BoH3820, “Can a child be bornיִוָּלֵ֔ד וְאִ֨ם־yi.va.Led ve.'Im-H3205 H518to a man who isהַלְּבֶ֤ןha.le.VenH1121a hundredמֵאָֽה־me.'ah-H3967years oldשָׁנָה֙sha.NahH8141?Can Sarahשָׂרָ֔ה הֲבַת־sa.Rah ha.vat-H8283 H1323give birthתֵּלֵֽד׃te.LedH3205at the age of ninetyתִּשְׁעִ֥ים שָׁנָ֖הtish.'Im sha.NahH8673 H8141?”

18And Abrahamאַבְרָהָ֖ם'av.ra.HamH85saidוַיֹּ֥אמֶרvai.Yo.merH559toאֶל־'el-H413Godהָֽאֱלֹהִ֑יםha.'E.lo.HimH430, “O thatל֥וּluH3863Ishmaelיִשְׁמָעֵ֖אלyish.ma.'ElH3458might liveיִחְיֶ֥הyich.YehH2421under Yourלְפָנֶֽיךָ׃le.fa.Nei.khaH6440blessing!”

19But Godאֱלֹהִ֗ים'E.lo.HimH430repliedוַיֹּ֣אמֶרvai.Yo.merH559, “Your wifeאִשְׁתְּךָ֗'ish.te.KhaH802Sarahשָׂרָ֣הsa.RahH8283will indeedאֲבָל֙'a.ValH61bearיֹלֶ֤דֶתyo.Le.detH3205youa sonבֵּ֔ןBenH1121,and you are to nameוְקָרָ֥אתָve.ka.Ra.taH7121אֶת־'et-H853himשְׁמ֖וֹshe.MoH8034Isaacיִצְחָ֑קyitz.ChakH3327.I will establishוַהֲקִמֹתִ֨יva.ha.ki.mo.TiH6965אֶת־'et-H853My covenantבְּרִיתִ֥יbe.ri.TiH1285with himאִתּ֛וֹ'i.ToH854as an everlastingעוֹלָ֖םo.LamH5769covenantלִבְרִ֥יתliv.RitH1285for his descendantsלְזַרְע֥וֹle.zar.'OH2233after himאַחֲרָֽיו׃'a.cha.RavH310.

20As for Ishmaelוּֽלְיִשְׁמָעֵ֘אלu.le.yish.ma.'eLH3458,I have heard youשְׁמַעְתִּיךָ֒she.ma'.ti.KhaH8085, andI will surelyהִנֵּ֣ה׀hi.NehH2009blessבֵּרַ֣כְתִּיbe.Rakh.tiH1288himאֹת֗וֹ'o.ToH853;I will make him fruitfulוְהִפְרֵיתִ֥יve.hif.rei.TiH6509אֹת֛וֹ'o.ToH853and multiplyוְהִרְבֵּיתִ֥יve.hir.bei.TiH7235himאֹת֖וֹ'o.ToH853greatlyH3966.He will become the fatherיוֹלִ֔ידyo.LidH3205of twelveשְׁנֵים־ עָשָׂ֤רshe.neim- 'a.SarH8147 H6240rulersנְשִׂיאִם֙ne.si.'ImH5387,and I will make himוּנְתַתִּ֖יוu.ne.ta.TivH5414into a greatגָּדֽוֹל׃ga.DolH1419nationלְג֥וֹיle.GoyH1471.

21Butוְאֶת־ve.'EtH853I will establishאָקִ֣ים'a.KimH6965My covenantבְּרִיתִ֖יbe.ri.TiH1285withאֶת־'et-H854Isaacיִצְחָ֑קyitz.ChakH3327,whomאֲשֶׁר֩'a.SherH834Sarahשָׂרָה֙sa.RahH8283will bearתֵּלֵ֨דte.LedH3205to youat thisהַזֶּ֔הha.ZehH2088timeלַמּוֹעֵ֣דla.mo.'EdH4150nextהָאַחֶֽרֶת׃ha.'a.Che.retH312yearבַּשָּׁנָ֖הba.sha.NahH8141.”

22When He had finishedוַיְכַ֖לvay.KhalH3615speakingלְדַבֵּ֣רle.da.BerH1696withאִתּ֑וֹ'i.ToH854Abraham,Godאֱלֹהִ֔ים'E.lo.HimH430went upוַיַּ֣עַלvai.Ya.'alH5927fromמֵעַ֖לme.'AlH5921himאַבְרָהָֽם׃'av.ra.HamH85.

23On thatהַזֶּ֔הha.ZehH2088veryבְּעֶ֙צֶם֙be.'E.tzemH6106dayהַיּ֣וֹםhai.YomH3117Abrahamאַבְרָהָ֜ם'av.ra.HamH85אֶת־'et-H853tookוַיִּקַּ֨חvai.yi.KachH3947his sonבְּנ֗וֹbe.NoH1121וְאֵ֨תve.'EtH853Ishmaelיִשְׁמָעֵ֣אלyish.ma.'ElH3458and allכָּל־kol-H3605those bornיְלִידֵ֤יye.li.DeiH3211in his householdבֵיתוֹ֙vei.ToH1004וְאֵת֙ve.'EtH853or purchasedמִקְנַ֣תmik.NatH4736with his moneyכָּל־ כַּסְפּ֔וֹkol- kas.PoH3701 H3605—everyכָּל־kol-H3605maleזָכָ֕רza.KharH2145among the membersבְּאַנְשֵׁ֖יbe.'an.SheiH582of Abraham’sאַבְרָהָ֑ם'av.ra.HamH85householdבֵּ֣יתbeitH1004—and he circumcised themוַיָּ֜מָל אֶת־ בְּשַׂ֣ר עָרְלָתָ֗םvai.Ya.mol 'et- be.Sar 'a.re.la.TamH4135 H853 H1320 H6190,just asכַּאֲשֶׁ֛רka.'a.SherH834Godאֱלֹהִֽים׃'E.lo.HimH430had toldדִּבֶּ֥רdi.BerH1696himאִתּ֖וֹ'i.ToH854.

24So Abrahamוְאַ֨בְרָהָ֔םve.'Av.ra.HamH85was ninety-nineתִּשְׁעִ֥ים וָתֵ֖שַׁעtish.'Im va.Te.sha'H8673 H8672years oldבֶּן־ שָׁנָ֑הben- sha.NahH1121 H8141when he was circumcisedבְּהִמֹּל֖וֹ בְּשַׂ֥ר עָרְלָתֽוֹ׃be.hi.mo.Lo be.Sar a.re.la.ToH1320 H6190 H4135,

25and his sonבְּנ֔וֹbe.NoH1121Ishmaelוְיִשְׁמָעֵ֣אלve.yish.ma.'ElH3458was thirteenבֶּן־ שְׁלֹ֥שׁ עֶשְׂרֵ֖ה שָׁנָ֑הben- she.Losh 'es.Reh sha.NahH7969 H6240 H1121 H8141בְּשַׂ֥רbe.SarH1320עָרְלָתֽוֹ׃a.re.la.ToH6190בְּהִ֨מֹּל֔וֹbe.Hi.mo.LoH4135אֵ֖ת'etH853;

26Abrahamאַבְרָהָ֑ם'av.ra.HamH85and his sonבְּנֽוֹ׃be.NoH1121Ishmaelוְיִשְׁמָעֵ֖אלve.yish.ma.'ElH3458were circumcisedנִמּ֖וֹלni.MolH4135on theהַזֶּ֔הha.ZehH2088sameבְּעֶ֙צֶם֙be.'E.tzemH6106dayהַיּ֣וֹםhai.YomH3117.

27And allוְכָל־ve.kholH3605the menאַנְשֵׁ֤י'an.SheiH582of Abraham’s householdבֵיתוֹ֙vei.ToH1004—both servants bornיְלִ֣ידye.LidH3211in his householdבָּ֔יִתBa.yitH1004and those purchasedוּמִקְנַת־ כֶּ֖סֶףu.mik.nat- Ke.sefH4736 H3701 H854from foreignersבֶּן־ נֵכָ֑רben- ne.KharH1121 H5236—were circumcised with himנִמֹּ֖לוּni.Mo.luH4135.

The Covenant of Circumcision

Commentaries on Genesis 17