Gen 17:1-21 | TNotes | STEP | Summary for Gen 17:1-27: 17:1-27 God now gave the family signs that the promises would be fulfilled. He changed Abram’s name to Abraham (17:1-8 ), instituted the rite of circumcision as the sign of the covenant (17:9-14 , 23-27 ), and changed Sarai’s name to Sarah (17:15-22 ). 17:1 El-Shaddai: This name for God emphasizes his power (see also 28:3 ; 35:11 ; 43:14 ; 48:3 ; 49:25 ). • Serve me faithfully and live a blameless life: Being a blessing to the nations required obedience from Abram; his conduct would be guided by Almighty God.

Summary for Gen 17:1-27: 17:1-27 ^a God now gave the family signs that the promises would be fulfilled. He changed Abram’s name to Abraham (17:1-8 ^b), instituted the rite of circumcision as the sign of the covenant (17:9-14 ^c, 23-27 ^d), and changed Sarai’s name to Sarah (17:15-22 ^e). 17:1 ^f El-Shaddai: This name for God emphasizes his power (see also 28:3 ^g; 35:11 ^h; 43:14 ⁱ; 48:3 ^j; 49:25 ^k).

• Serve me faithfully and live a blameless life: Being a blessing to the nations required obedience from Abram; his conduct would be guided by Almighty God.
Summary for Gen 17:4-5: 17:4-5 ^l God guaranteed his promise by changing Abram’s name. Abram referred to his noble lineage, as Terah was the “exalted father” (11:27 ^m). His new name, Abraham (Hebrew ’ab hamon) was a wordplay on the promise of his own progeny (see also John 8:31-59 ⁿ; Rom 4:16-17 ^o; Gal 3:7 ^p, 15-19 ^q, 29 ^r). Whenever the new name was used, he and his household would remember that a multitude of nations would issue from him.
17:6 ^s kings will be among them! This is the first indication that Israel would become a monarchy (see also 35:11 ^t; 36:31 ^u; Num 24:7 ^v; Deut 17:14-18 ^w; 28:36 ^x).
Summary for Gen 17:7-8: 17:7-8 ^y 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 ^z; Zech 8:8 ^aa; Luke 1:68-79 ^ab; Rev 21:1-4 ^ac).
Summary for Gen 17:9-14: 17:9-14 ^ad God gave circumcision as a confirming sign that reminded all households of loyalty to the covenant.
17:14 ^ae will be cut off: This punishment seems to have several applications. A person could be exiled from society or put to death by the community; most often it warned that a person might die prematurely as God cut him off from the land of the living (see Exod 31:14 ^af; Lev 7:20-27 ^ag; 17:3-4 ^ah; 20:17-18 ^ai; 23:28-29 ^aj; Num 15:30-31 ^ak; see also Ps 31:22 ^al; Ezek 21:4 ^am; Rom 9:3 ^an; 11:22 ^ao). Failure to be circumcised was a serious violation (see Exod 4:24-26 ^ap; cp. Gal 5:2-4 ^aq).
Summary for Gen 17:15-16: 17:15-16 ^ar Sarah: The new name, fitting for one who would be the mother of kings, was a milestone in Sarah’s calling and brought attention to the promise.
Summary for Gen 17:17-18: 17:17-18 ^as Abraham laughed (Hebrew yitskhaq) because the promise seemed unbelievable; he had begun to believe that his line would come through Ishmael. But Abraham and Sarah would have a son of their own.
17:19 ^at The name Isaac (Hebrew yitskhaq, “he laughs”) would constantly recall Abraham’s disbelieving laughter when he heard the promise. It was also a reminder of God’s favor and his pleasure in the birth (cp. 21:6 ^au).
Summary for Gen 17:20-21: 17:20-21 ^av Ishmael would not be abandoned; his family would prosper (see 25:13-16 ^aw), but the covenant promises were for Isaac.