1God reneweth his covenant with Abram. 5Abram's name is changed in token of greater blessings. 9Circumcision is instituted. 15Sarai's name is changed, and Isaac, with the blessing of a numerous issue, promised her. 23Abraham, his son Ishmael, and all his menservants are circumcised.
1AND when Abram was 1ninety years old and nine, the LORD appeared to Abram, and said unto him, I am the 2Almighty God; walka3before me, and be thou 4perfect.
1 Hebr. a son of ninety year and nine years. This was the 25th year after that he had received the promise of the multiplying of his seed at Haran, Gen. 12:2, 3, 4.
2 That is, Who is not only strong and able to defend and protect you against all evil, but also sufficient, to provide all good things for both body and soul; as being a God, Who possesses an all-sufficiency in Myself everlastingly and unchangeably; insomuch that he is blessed, whom I accept to be in covenant with Me.
a Gen. 5:22.
3 Without dissimulation, and with an upright heart relying upon Me, and standing in fear and awe of Me as in My presence. Also Gen. 24:20. Compare Gen. 5:22, 24.
4 See Gen. 6:9.
2And Ib will 5make my covenant between me and thee, andc will multiply thee 6exceedingly.
b Gen. 15:18; Exod. 2:24; 6:4; Lev. 26:42.
5 That is, I will renew the same and establish it with a holy sacrament. See verse 10.
c Gen. 12:2; 13:16; 15:5.
6 Hebr. in much much.
3And Abram 7fell on his face: and God talked with him, saying,
7 Testifying thereby not only his nothingness and unworthiness, but likewise his reverent, humble and thankful heart towards the almighty and gracious God. Also verse 17; Lev. 9:24; Ezek. 43:3.
4As for me, behold, my covenant is with thee, and thoud shalt be a 8father of many nations.
d Rom. 4:17.
8 Not only according to the flesh, as of the Israelites, Ishmaelites, Idumeans, Kethureans, but especially according to the spirit, as of all true believers throughout the world, of what race, nation or condition they may be; Rom. 4:16, 17. Compare Gen. 12:2, and the annotations.
5Neither shall thy name any more be called Abram, but thy name shall be 9Abraham; for a father of many nations have I made thee.
9 In this name Abraham the letter H is inserted, being the first of the word, hamon, which God uses here, signifying multitude, or quantity. This is the first name God has changed; and hence the custom obtained of giving names at circumcision.
6And I will make thee exceeding fruitful, and I will make 10nations of thee, and kingse shall come out of thee.
10 See on verse 4.
e Mat. 1:6, etc.
7And I will 11establish my covenant between me and thee and thy seed after thee in their generations for anf12everlasting covenant, to be a 13God unto thee, and to thy seed after thee.
11 Or, erect.
f Gen. 13:15.
12 Eternal for all believers in Christ, in regard of the spiritual part; but for the Israelites temporally unto the coming of Christ, in regard of the physical part, together with the appendages thereof, and especially this sacrament of circumcision.
13 That is, unto thy Savior, through the Messiah to come. This manner of speaking comprehends all the benefits which this covenant of grace brings along with it. See Lev. 26:12; Psalm 33:12; 144:15; Jer. 31:33.
8And Ig will give unto thee, and to thy seed after thee, the land 14wherein thou art a stranger, all the land of Canaan, for an 15everlasting possession; and I will be their God.
g Gen. 15:18; Deut. 1:8.
14 Into which thou hast come as a stranger, and wherein thou hast traveled and sojourned hitherto, and yet shalt sojourn. See Gen. 28:4; 36:7; 37:1. The Hebrew word is set down in the plural number to show forth the continuance and length of time of his being a stranger in that land.
15 Hebr. possession of eternity. See on verse 7.
9¶And God said unto Abraham, 16Thou shalt keep my covenant therefore, thou, and thy seed after thee in their generations.
16 That is, as for thee, or concerning thy part of the covenant. After that God had given His promises, He requires likewise the duty of His people, as the second completing part of the covenant. Compare this with verse 4.
10This is 17my covenant, which ye shall keep, between me and you and thy seed after thee; Every 18man child among you shall be circumcised.
17 That is, the sign and seal of My covenant, as verse 11 is explained. See Rom. 4:11. This kind of speech, whereby the sign bears the name of the thing signified, is frequently used in the sacraments, not only to signify and declare unto us the spiritual benefits, but likewise to confirm the same to every partaker of the covenant. Compare herewith Exod. 12:11; Mat. 26:17; Acts 22:16; 1 Cor. 10:16; 11:24, 25; Titus 3:5.
18 As the natural impurity of the women was common with the men, so the promise of grace belonged also to her, nevertheless God ordained a sacrament here, which could only be administered unto men, because that men are the principal cause of progeny, and consequently also of propagating that natural impurity and corruption. This was sufficient for that time, until the Messiah was come and would institute another sign applicable to both genders. That the women themselves are otherwise equally included in the covenant appears Gen. 34:14; Exod. 12:3, 4; Joel 2:15, 16.
11And ye shall circumcise the 19flesh of your foreskin; and ith shall be a 20token of the covenant betwixt me and you.
19 Of the manner of circumcision, see Joshua 5:2, 3.
h Acts 7:8; Rom. 4:11.
20 Here God speaks properly of the circumcision; for, she was properly a sign of the covenant, and not the covenant itself, as He likewise speaks of the other sacraments; as of the Passover, Exod. 13:9; of Holy Baptism, Mat. 3:11; and of Holy Supper, 1 Cor. 11:28.
12And hei that is eight days old shall be circumcised among you, every man child in your generations, he that is 21born in the house, or 22bought with money of any 23stranger, which is not of thy seed.
i Lev. 12:3; Luke 2:21.
21 See Gen. 14:14; 15:3.
22 Hebr. the getting, or, buying of money, that is, those gotten or bought for money.
23 Hebr. son of the stranger.
13He that is born in thy house, and he that is bought with thy money, must needs be 24circumcised: and my covenant shall be in your flesh for an 25everlasting covenant.
24 Hebr. circumcising circumcised.
25 See on verse 7.
14And the uncircumcised man child 26whose flesh of his foreskin is not circumcised, 27that soul shall be cut off from his people; he hath broken 28my covenant.
26 Understand, he being of age, and through unbelief or contempt neglecting the circumcision, or not amending afterwards his parents neglect about him in that behalf, by receiving the circumcision. Other, that shall not circumcise the flesh of the foreskin.
27 That is, the same man shall be excommunicated from the communion of God’s people. This phrase implies, according to the opinion of some, likewise a corporal punishment to be inflicted by the magistrate. Compare Exod. 31:14 and Lev. 17 on verse 4.
28 See 1 Cor. 11:27, 29.
15¶And God said unto Abraham, As for Sarai thy wife, thou shalt not call her name Sarai, but 29Sarah shall her name be.
29 As the name of Abram was changed into Abraham by inserting the letter H, so the name of Sarai is altered by exchanging the letter Jod or J, into He or H at the end. Sarai signifies, according to some, my princess, but properly my princes. Sarah signifies properly a princess, whereof the reason is given in the next verse.
16And I will 30bless her, and give thee a son also of her: yea, I will bless her, and she shall be a mother of nations; kings of people shall be of her.
30 See Gen. 1:28.
17Then Abraham 31fell upon his face, and 32laughed, and said in his heart, Shall a child be born unto him that is an 33hundred years old? and shall Sarah, 34that is ninety years old, bear?
31 See verse 3.
32 That is, not doubting, as Sarah, Gen. 18:12, but wondering and rejoicing at it, being strong in faith and fully persuaded God could and would make good His promise. See Rom. 4:19, 20, 21.
33 Hebr. a son of hundred years.
34 Hebr. a daughter of ninety years.
18And Abraham said unto God, 35O that Ishmael might live before thee!
35 Abraham wishes that Ishmael might not wholly be abandoned of God, but that God would have His eyes upon him to protect and to bless him.
19And God said, Sarahj thy wife shall bear thee a son indeed; and thou shalt call his name 36Isaac: and I will establish my covenant with him for an 37everlasting covenant, and with his seed after him.
j Gen. 18:10; 21:2.
36 Hebr. Jitschak. God gives him this name by reason of his father’s laughing. See verse 17.
37 See verse 7.
20And as for Ishmael, I have heard thee: Behold, Ik have blessed him, and will make him fruitful, and will multiply him exceedingly; 38twelve princes shall he beget, and I will make him a great nation.
k Gen. 16:10; 25:12, 16.
38 See the names of these princes, Gen. 25:13, 14, 15, 16.
21But 39my covenant will I establish with Isaac, which Sarah shall bear unto thee atl this set time in the 40next year.
39 Observe this difference: Ishmael has corporal, or outward goods promised to him, but Isaac the covenant, comprehending not only the corporal, but the spiritual blessing also.
l Gen. 21:2.
40 That is, the next ensuing.
22And he left off talking with him, and God 41went up from Abraham.
41 Namely, to heaven, in that form or shape in which He had appeared to him, verse 1.
23¶And Abraham took Ishmael his son, and all that were born in his house, and all that were bought with his money, every male among the men of Abraham's house; and circumcised the flesh of their foreskin in the selfsame day, as God had said unto him.
24And Abraham was 42ninety years old and nine, when he was circumcised in the flesh of his foreskin.
42 Hebr. a son of ninety and nine year, and so in the sequel.
25And Ishmael his son was thirteen years old, when he was circumcised in the flesh of his foreskin.
26In the 43selfsame day was Abraham circumcised, and Ishmael his son.
43 That is, that very same day, on which God had commanded Abraham the circumcision; so that he made no delay at all. Compare verse 23.
27And all the men of his house, born in the house, and bought with money 44of the stranger, were circumcised with him.
44 Hebr. from with the son of the stranger. The sense is: that not only the in-born of Abraham’s house and the bought ones were circumcised, but the strangers also who served him, being neither in-born nor bought. Other, (being) of the stranger, and not of Abraham’s family. Other, bought of the stranger. Hebr. from the son or child of a stranger, as elsewhere.