Gen 17:1-8 | 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).