Gen 17:3-8 | TNotes

Summary for Gen 17:4-5: 17:4-5 ^a God guaranteed his promise by changing Abram’s name. Abram referred to his noble lineage, as Terah was the “exalted father” (11:27 ^b). His new name, Abraham (Hebrew ’ab hamon) was a wordplay on the promise of his own progeny (see also John 8:31-59 ^c; Rom 4:16-17 ^d; Gal 3:7 ^e, 15-19 ^f, 29 ^g). Whenever the new name was used, he and his household would remember that a multitude of nations would issue from him.
17:6 ^h kings will be among them! This is the first indication that Israel would become a monarchy (see also 35:11 ⁱ; 36:31 ^j; Num 24:7 ^k; Deut 17:14-18 ^l; 28:36 ^m).
Summary for Gen 17:7-8: 17:7-8 ⁿ The land of Canaan was to be an everlasting possession for the descendants of Abraham; the Lord would be their God forever (see Jer 31:31-40 ^o; Zech 8:8 ^p; Luke 1:68-79 ^q; Rev 21:1-4 ^r).