Genesis 21:4

Genesis 21:4 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)And Abraham circumcised his son Isaac being eight days old, as God had commanded him.
• New International Version (NIV)When his son Isaac was eight days old, Abraham circumcised him, as God commanded him.
• English Standard Version (ESV)And Abraham circumcised his son Isaac when he was eight days old, as God had commanded him.
• New King James Version (NKJV)Then Abraham circumcised his son Isaac when he was eight days old, as God had commanded him.

Context of Genesis 21:4

2Sarah became pregnant. She gave birth to a son for Abraham when he was very old. This happened at the time when God had said that it would. 3Abraham called his son ‘Isaac’. This is the son that Sarah gave birth to. When Isaac was eight days old, Abraham circumcised him. That is what God had told him to do. 5Abraham was 100 years old when his son, Isaac, was born. 6Sarah said, ‘Now God has made me laugh. Everyone who hears about what has happened will be happy with me.’

Genesis 21:4 word by word

וַיָּ֤מָל אַבְרָהָם֙ אֶת־יִצְחָ֣ק בְּנ֔וֹ בֶּן־שְׁמֹנַ֖ת יָמִ֑ים כַּאֲשֶׁ֛ר צִוָּ֥ה אֹת֖וֹ אֱלֹהִֽים׃Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• And Abrahamאַבְרָהָם'abrâhâm · AbrahamH85
• circumcisedמוּלmûl · to circumciseH4135
• his sonבֵּןbên · son: childH1121
• Isaacיִצְחָקyitschâq · IsaacH3327
• being eightשְׁמֹנֶהshemôneh shemôneh shemônâh shemônâh · eightH8083
• daysיוֹםyôm · dayH3117
• oldבֵּןbên · son: agedH1121
• as Godאֱלֹהִים'ĕlôhîym · GodH430
• had commandedצָוָהtsâvâh · to commandH6680

Cross-references for Genesis 21:4

• Genesis 17:10This is what you and all your descendants must do to obey my covenant: Every male person in your family must be circumcised.
• Exodus 12:48There may be a foreign person who lives among you. He may want to join you to eat the Lord's Passover meal. But he must first be circumcised as well as all the men in his house. Then he can join with you and eat the Passover meal. He will be like a man who has been born in Israel. But no male person without circumcision can join the Passover feast.
• Leviticus 12:3Eight days after he is born, they must circumcise the boy.
• Deuteronomy 12:32Be careful to do everything that I am telling you. Do not add anything to these commands. Do not remove anything from them.
• Luke 1:6Zechariah and Elizabeth obeyed God's commands and rules. God saw that they were righteous people. They did not do wrong things.
• Luke 2:21When the baby was eight days old, it was time for the priest to circumcise him. His parents gave him the name ‘Jesus’. The angel had told Mary that they must give him that name. He told her that before she had the baby inside her.
• John 7:22Moses gave you a law that you must circumcise your sons. Your ancestors taught that, even before Moses was born. So you will agree to circumcise a boy, even on the day of rest.
• Acts 7:8Then God made an covenant with Abraham that his descendants would be his special people. God said, “You must circumcise all your baby boys.” Later, Abraham became the father of Isaac. Abraham circumcised Isaac when he was eight days old. Then Isaac became the father of Jacob. Jacob himself had 12 sons. These sons became the 12 ancestors of the families of Israel.

Commentaries on Genesis 21:4

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 4And Abraham circumcised his son - See note on Genesis 17:10, etc.Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 1-34Verses 1-34 - The Birth of Isaac 7. מלל mı̂lēl “speak,” an ancient and therefore solemn and poetical word. 14. חמת chêmet “bottle,” akin to חמה chāmâh “surround, enclose,” and הוּם chûm “black. באר שׁבע beêr -sheba‛ Beer-sheba, “well of seven.” 22. פיכל pı̂ykol Pikhol, “mouth or spokesman of all.” 23. נין nı̂yn “offspring, kin;” related: “sprout, flourish.” נכד neked “progeny,” perhaps “acquaintance,” cognate with נגד ngd “be before” (the eyes) and…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 3-4Abraham responded in faith by naming his son Isaac and circumcising him according to the terms of the covenant (see 17:9–14).Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 3-43-4. Abraham called the name of his son ... Isaac ... and circumcised--God was acknowledged in the name which, by divine command, was given for a memorial (compare Ge 17:19), and also in the dedication of the child by administering the seal of the covenant (compare Ge 17:10-12).Read the comment

Topics related to Genesis 21:4

• Circumcision
• Isaac
• Obedience

In the dictionaries

• Abraham
• God
• Isaac
• Abraham, Abram
• god, false god, goddess, idol, idolater, idolatrous, idolatry
• Call
• Cast
• Everlasting
• Falsely
• Grievous

Commentaries on Genesis 21

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Rashi on Tanakh
• Calvin’s Commentaries
• Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
• John Wesley’s Notes
• Darby Translation Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
• Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings