New American Standard Bible 1995

Genesis 17

Abraham and the Covenant of Circumcision

1Now when Abramאַבְרָ֔ם'av.RamH87was ninety-nineתִּשְׁעִ֥ים וְתֵ֣שַׁעtish.'Im ve.Te.sha'H8673 H8672yearsH8141oldבֶּן־ben-H1121,the Lordיְהוָ֜הYah.wehH3068appearedוַיֵּרָ֨אvai.ye.Ra'H7200to Abramאַבְרָ֗ם'av.RamH87and saidוַיֹּ֤אמֶרvai.Yo.merH559to him, “I amGodאֵ֣ל'elH410Almightyשַׁדַּ֔יsha.DaiH7706;Walkהִתְהַלֵּ֥ךְhit.ha.LekhH1980beforeלְפָנַ֖יle.fa.NaiH6440Me, and beblamelessתָמִֽים׃ta.MimH8549.

2I willestablishוְאֶתְּנָ֥הve.'e.te.NahH5414Mycovenantבְרִיתִ֖יve.ri.TiH1285betweenH996Me and you, And I willmultiplyוְאַרְבֶּ֥הve.'ar.BehH7235you exceedinglyH3966.”

3Abramאַבְרָ֖ם'av.RamH87fellוַיִּפֹּ֥לvai.yi.PolH5307on his faceפָּנָ֑יוpa.NavH6440,and Godאֱלֹהִ֖ים'E.lo.HimH430talkedוַיְדַבֵּ֥רvay.da.BerH1696with him, sayingלֵאמֹֽר׃le.MorH559,

4“As for Me, beholdהִנֵּ֥הhi.NehH2009,My covenantבְרִיתִ֖יve.ri.TiH1285is with you,And you will be the fatherלְאַ֖בle.'AvH1of amultitudeהֲמ֥וֹןha.MonH1995of nationsגּוֹיִֽם׃go.YimH1471.

5Noוְלֹא־ve.lo'-H3808longerע֛וֹדodH5750shall your nameשִׁמְךָ֖shim.KhaH8034be calledיִקָּרֵ֥אyi.ka.Re'H7121Abramאַבְרָ֑ם'av.RamH87, Butyour nameשִׁמְךָ֙shim.KhaH8034shall beAbrahamאַבְרָהָ֔ם'av.ra.HamH85; ForI have madeנְתַתִּֽיךָ׃ne.ta.Ti.khaH5414you the fatherאַב־'av-H1of a multitudeהֲמ֥וֹןha.MonH1995of nationsגּוֹיִ֖םgo.YimH1471.

6I will makeוְהִפְרֵתִ֤יve.hif.re.TiH6509you exceedinglyH3966fruitfulH6509,and I will makeוּנְתַתִּ֖יךָu.ne.ta.Ti.khaH5414nationsלְגוֹיִ֑םle.go.YimH1471of you, andkingsוּמְלָכִ֖יםu.me.la.KhimH4428will comeיֵצֵֽאוּ׃ye.Tze.'uH3318forthH3318from you.

7I will establishוַהֲקִמֹתִ֨יva.ha.ki.mo.TiH6965My covenantבְּרִיתִ֜יbe.ri.TiH1285betweenH996Me and you and yourdescendantsזַרְעֲךָ֧zar.'a.KhaH2233afterאַחֲרֶ֛יךָ'a.cha.Rei.khaH310you throughout their generationsלְדֹרֹתָ֖םle.do.ro.TamH1755for aneverlastingעוֹלָ֑םo.LamH5769covenantלִבְרִ֣יתliv.RitH1285,to be Godלֵֽאלֹהִ֔יםle.lo.HimH430to you and to yourdescendantsוּֽלְזַרְעֲךָ֖u.le.zar.'a.KhaH2233afterאַחֲרֶֽיךָ׃'a.cha.Rei.khaH310you.

8I will giveוְנָתַתִּ֣יve.na.ta.TiH5414to you and to yourdescendantsוּלְזַרְעֲךָ֨u.le.zar.'a.KhaH2233afterאַחֲרֶ֜יךָ'a.cha.Rei.khaH310you, the landאֶ֣רֶץ'E.retzH776of your sojourningsמְגֻרֶ֗יךָme.gu.Rei.khaH4033,allכָּל־kol-H3605the landאֶ֣רֶץ'E.retzH776of Canaanכְּנַ֔עַןke.Na.'anH3667,for an everlastingעוֹלָ֑םo.LamH5769possessionלַאֲחֻזַּ֖תla.'a.chu.ZatH272; andI will be their Godלֵאלֹהִֽים׃le.lo.HimH430.”

9Godאֱלֹהִים֙'E.lo.HimH430saidוַיֹּ֤אמֶרvai.Yo.merH559further to Abrahamאַבְרָהָ֔ם'av.ra.HamH85, “Now as for you,you shall keepתִשְׁמֹ֑רtish.MorH8104My covenantבְּרִיתִ֣יbe.ri.TiH1285, you and yourdescendantsוְזַרְעֲךָ֥ve.zar.'a.KhaH2233afterאַֽחֲרֶ֖יךָ'a.cha.Rei.khaH310you throughout their generationsלְדֹרֹתָֽם׃le.do.ro.TamH1755.

10ThisH2088is My covenantבְּרִיתִ֞יbe.ri.TiH1285,whichאֲשֶׁ֣ר'a.SherH834you shall keepתִּשְׁמְר֗וּtish.me.RuH8104,betweenH996Me and you and yourdescendantsזַרְעֲךָ֖zar.'a.KhaH2233afterאַחֲרֶ֑יךָ'a.cha.Rei.khaH310you: everyכָּל־kol-H3605maleזָכָֽר׃za.KharH2145among you shall be circumcisedהִמּ֥וֹלhi.MolH4135.

11Andyou shall be circumcisedוּנְמַלְתֶּ֕םu.ne.mal.TemH4135in the fleshבְּשַׂ֣רbe.SarH1320of your foreskinעָרְלַתְכֶ֑ם'a.re.lat.KhemH6190,and it shall be the signלְא֣וֹתle.'otH226of the covenantבְּרִ֔יתbe.RitH1285betweenH996Me and you.

12And everyכָּל־kol-H3605maleזָכָ֖רza.KharH2145among you who iseightשְׁמֹנַ֣תshe.mo.NatH8083daysיָמִ֗יםya.MimH3117oldוּבֶן־u.ven-H1121shall be circumcisedיִמּ֥וֹלyi.MolH4135throughout your generationsלְדֹרֹתֵיכֶ֑םle.do.ro.tei.KhemH1755, a servantwhoH3211is bornH3211in the houseבָּ֔יִתBa.yitH1004or whoH4736is boughtH4736with moneyכֶּ֙סֶף֙ke.sefH3701from anyמִכֹּ֣לmi.KolH3605foreignerבֶּן־ נֵכָ֔רben- ne.KharH1121 H5236,whoאֲשֶׁ֛ר'a.SherH834is not of yourdescendantsמִֽזַּרְעֲךָ֖mi.zar.'a.KhaH2233.

13A servantwhoH3211is bornH3211in your houseבֵּֽיתְךָ֖bei.te.KhaH1004orwhoH4736is boughtH4736with your moneyכַּסְפֶּ֑ךָkas.Pe.khaH3701shall surelyהִמּ֧וֹל׀hi.MolH4135be circumcisedיִמּ֛וֹלyi.MolH4135;thus shall My covenantבְרִיתִ֛יve.ri.TiH1285be in your fleshבִּבְשַׂרְכֶ֖םbiv.sar.KhemH1320for an everlastingעוֹלָֽם׃o.LamH5769covenantלִבְרִ֥יתliv.RitH1285.

14But an uncircumcisedוְעָרֵ֣ל׀ve.'a.RelH6189maleזָכָ֗רza.KharH2145whoאֲשֶׁ֤ר'a.SherH834is not circumcisedיִמּוֹל֙yi.mOlH4135in the fleshבְּשַׂ֣רbe.SarH1320of his foreskinעָרְלָת֔וֹa.re.la.ToH6190,that personהַנֶּ֥פֶשׁha.Ne.feshH5315shall becutוְנִכְרְתָ֛הve.nikh.re.TahH3772offH3772from his peopleמֵעַמֶּ֑יהָme.'a.Mei.haH5971;he has brokenהֵפַֽר׃ סhe.FarH6565My covenantבְּרִיתִ֖יbe.ri.TiH1285.”

15Then Godאֱלֹהִים֙'E.lo.HimH430saidוַיֹּ֤אמֶרvai.Yo.merH559to Abrahamאַבְרָהָ֔ם'av.ra.HamH85, “As for Saraiשָׂרַ֣יsa.RaiH8297your wifeאִשְׁתְּךָ֔'ish.te.KhaH802,you shall not callתִקְרָ֥אtik.Ra'H7121her nameשְׁמָ֖הּshe.MahH8034Saraiשָׂרָ֑יsa.RaiH8297, butSarahשָׂרָ֖הsa.RahH8283shall beher nameשְׁמָֽהּ׃she.MahH8034.

16I will blessוּבֵרַכְתִּ֣יu.ve.rakh.TiH1288her, and indeedוְגַ֨םve.GamH1571I will giveנָתַ֧תִּיna.Ta.tiH5414youa sonבֵּ֑ןBenH1121by her. Then I will blessוּבֵֽרַכְתִּ֙יהָ֙u.ve.rakh.Ti.haH1288her, and she shall be a mother ofnationsלְגוֹיִ֔םle.go.YimH1471;kingsמַלְכֵ֥יmal.KheiH4428of peoplesעַמִּ֖ים'a.MimH5971willcomeH1961from her.”

17Then Abrahamאַבְרָהָ֛ם'av.ra.HamH85fellוַיִּפֹּ֧לvai.yi.PolH5307on his faceפָּנָ֖יוpa.NavH6440and laughedוַיִּצְחָ֑קvai.yitz.ChakH6711,and saidוַיֹּ֣אמֶרvai.Yo.merH559in his heartבְּלִבּ֗וֹbe.li.BoH3820, “Will a child be bornיִוָּלֵ֔דyi.va.LedH3205to a manH1121one hundredמֵאָֽה־me.'ah-H3967yearsשָׁנָה֙sha.NahH8141oldH1121? Andwill Sarahשָׂרָ֔הsa.RahH8283,who is ninetyתִּשְׁעִ֥יםtish.'ImH8673yearsשָׁנָ֖הsha.NahH8141oldהֲבַת־ha.vat-H1323,bearתֵּלֵֽד׃te.LedH3205a child?”

18And Abrahamאַבְרָהָ֖ם'av.ra.HamH85saidוַיֹּ֥אמֶרvai.Yo.merH559to Godהָֽאֱלֹהִ֑יםha.'E.lo.HimH430, “Ohל֥וּluH3863that Ishmaelיִשְׁמָעֵ֖אלyish.ma.'ElH3458might liveיִחְיֶ֥הyich.YehH2421beforeלְפָנֶֽיךָ׃le.fa.Nei.khaH6440You!”

19But Godאֱלֹהִ֗ים'E.lo.HimH430saidוַיֹּ֣אמֶרvai.Yo.merH559, “Noאֲבָל֙'a.ValH61,but Sarahשָׂרָ֣הsa.RahH8283your wifeאִשְׁתְּךָ֗'ish.te.KhaH802will bearיֹלֶ֤דֶתyo.Le.detH3205youa sonבֵּ֔ןBenH1121,and you shall callוְקָרָ֥אתָve.ka.Ra.taH7121his nameשְׁמ֖וֹshe.MoH8034Isaacיִצְחָ֑קyitz.ChakH3327; andI will establishוַהֲקִמֹתִ֨יva.ha.ki.mo.TiH6965My covenantבְּרִיתִ֥יbe.ri.TiH1285with him for an everlastingעוֹלָ֖םo.LamH5769covenantלִבְרִ֥יתliv.RitH1285for hisdescendantsלְזַרְע֥וֹle.zar.'OH2233afterאַחֲרָֽיו׃'a.cha.RavH310him.

20As for Ishmaelוּֽלְיִשְׁמָעֵ֘אלu.le.yish.ma.'eLH3458,I have heardשְׁמַעְתִּיךָ֒she.ma'.ti.KhaH8085you; beholdהִנֵּ֣ה׀hi.NehH2009,I will blessבֵּרַ֣כְתִּיbe.Rakh.tiH1288him, andwill makeוְהִפְרֵיתִ֥יve.hif.rei.TiH6509him fruitfulH6509and will multiplyוְהִרְבֵּיתִ֥יve.hir.bei.TiH7235him exceedinglyH3966. He shallbecomeH3205the fatherיוֹלִ֔ידyo.LidH3205of twelveשְׁנֵים־ עָשָׂ֤רshe.neim- 'a.SarH8147 H6240princesנְשִׂיאִם֙ne.si.'ImH5387,and I will makeוּנְתַתִּ֖יוu.ne.ta.TivH5414him agreatגָּדֽוֹל׃ga.DolH1419nationלְג֥וֹיle.GoyH1471.

21But My covenantבְּרִיתִ֖יbe.ri.TiH1285I will establishאָקִ֣ים'a.KimH6965withIsaacיִצְחָ֑קyitz.ChakH3327,whomאֲשֶׁר֩'a.SherH834Sarahשָׂרָה֙sa.RahH8283will bearתֵּלֵ֨דte.LedH3205to you at thisהַזֶּ֔הha.ZehH2088seasonלַמּוֹעֵ֣דla.mo.'EdH4150nextהָאַחֶֽרֶת׃ha.'a.Che.retH312yearבַּשָּׁנָ֖הba.sha.NahH8141.”

22When He finishedוַיְכַ֖לvay.KhalH3615talkingלְדַבֵּ֣רle.da.BerH1696with him,Godאֱלֹהִ֔ים'E.lo.HimH430wentוַיַּ֣עַלvai.Ya.'alH5927up from Abrahamאַבְרָהָֽם׃'av.ra.HamH85.

23Then Abrahamאַבְרָהָ֜ם'av.ra.HamH85tookוַיִּקַּ֨חvai.yi.KachH3947Ishmaelיִשְׁמָעֵ֣אלyish.ma.'ElH3458his sonבְּנ֗וֹbe.NoH1121,and allכָּל־kol-H3605the servantswhoH3211werebornH3211in his houseבֵיתוֹ֙vei.ToH1004and allכָּל־kol-H3605whoH4736were boughtH4736with his moneyכַּסְפּ֔וֹkas.PoH3701,everyכָּל־kol-H3605maleזָכָ֕רza.KharH2145among the menH376of Abraham’sאַבְרָהָ֑ם'av.ra.HamH85householdבֵּ֣יתbeitH1004,and circumcisedוַיָּ֜מָלvai.Ya.molH4135the fleshבְּשַׂ֣רbe.SarH1320of their foreskinעָרְלָתָ֗ם'a.re.la.TamH6190in the veryH6106sameH6106dayהַיּ֣וֹםhai.YomH3117,as Godאֱלֹהִֽים׃'E.lo.HimH430had saidדִּבֶּ֥רdi.BerH1696to him.

24Now Abrahamוְאַ֨בְרָהָ֔םve.'Av.ra.HamH85was ninety-nineתִּשְׁעִ֥ים וָתֵ֖שַׁעtish.'Im va.Te.sha'H8673 H8672yearsשָׁנָ֑הsha.NahH8141oldבֶּן־ben-H1121whenhe was circumcisedבְּהִמֹּל֖וֹbe.hi.mo.LoH4135in the fleshבְּשַׂ֥רbe.SarH1320of his foreskinעָרְלָתֽוֹ׃a.re.la.ToH6190.

25AndIshmaelוְיִשְׁמָעֵ֣אלve.yish.ma.'ElH3458his sonבְּנ֔וֹbe.NoH1121was thirteenשְׁלֹ֥שׁ עֶשְׂרֵ֖הshe.Losh 'es.RehH7969 H6240yearsשָׁנָ֑הsha.NahH8141oldבֶּן־ben-H1121when he was circumcisedבְּהִ֨מֹּל֔וֹbe.Hi.mo.LoH4135in the fleshבְּשַׂ֥רbe.SarH1320of his foreskinעָרְלָתֽוֹ׃a.re.la.ToH6190.

26In the veryH6106sameH6106dayהַיּ֣וֹםhai.YomH3117Abrahamאַבְרָהָ֑ם'av.ra.HamH85was circumcisedנִמּ֖וֹלni.MolH4135,and Ishmaelוְיִשְׁמָעֵ֖אלve.yish.ma.'ElH3458his sonבְּנֽוֹ׃be.NoH1121.

27Allוְכָל־ve.kholH3605the menH376of his householdבֵיתוֹ֙vei.ToH1004,whoH3211werebornH3211in the houseבָּ֔יִתBa.yitH1004or boughtוּמִקְנַת־u.mik.nat-H4736with moneyכֶּ֖סֶףKe.sefH3701from a foreignerבֶּן־ נֵכָ֑רben- ne.KharH1121 H5236,were circumcisedנִמֹּ֖לוּni.Mo.luH4135with him.

Abraham and the Covenant of Circumcision

Commentaries on Genesis 17