Genesis Chapter 17 — The Covenant of Circumcision
God renews His covenant with ninety-nine-year-old Abram, changing his name to Abraham and instituting circumcision as a sign of their agreement.
Open this chapter in the Biblicast app for the full reading experience with audio narration and explanations.
Notable Verses
Genesis 17:5
“Your name will no more be called Abram, but your name will be Abraham; for I have made you the father of a multitude of nations.”
This verse records the significant moment God renames the patriarch to reflect his new destiny.
Genesis 17:10
“This is my covenant, which you shall keep, between me and you and your offspring after you. Every male among you shall be circumcised.”
It introduces the physical sign of the covenant between God and Abraham's descendants.
Genesis 17:19
“God said, 'No, but Sarah, your wife, will bear you a son. You shall call his name Isaac.'”
This identifies the specific heir through whom the covenantal line would continue.
Chapter Summary
When Abram is ninety-nine years old, the LORD appears to him to reaffirm their covenant. God changes Abram's name to Abraham, signifying that he will be the father of many nations. As a physical sign of this everlasting covenant, God commands that every male in Abraham's household be circumcised, including servants and foreigners. God also changes Sarai's name to Sarah and promises that she will bear a son within the next year. Abraham, though laughing at the thought of becoming a father at one hundred, asks for a blessing upon Ishmael. God promises to make Ishmael the father of twelve princes and a great nation, yet clarifies that the covenant will specifically continue through Sarah's son, Isaac. The chapter concludes with Abraham's immediate obedience, as he and all the males in his house are circumcised on that very day.
Frequently Asked Questions
The name Abraham is explained in the text as meaning the father of a multitude of nations, representing the expansion of God's promise to him.
God established circumcision as a physical token of the everlasting covenant between Himself and Abraham's household, to be performed on males when they are eight days old.
Abraham fell on his face and laughed, questioning in his heart how a man of one hundred and a woman of ninety could have a child.
While the covenant was reserved for Isaac, God heard Abraham's request for Ishmael and promised to bless him, make him fruitful, and make him the father of twelve princes.
Study Note
The name 'Isaac' literally means 'he laughs,' reflecting both Abraham's laughter in this chapter and Sarah's later reaction to the news of his birth.
Continue in the App
Get the full experience — immersive audio, instant explanations, highlights, notes, and reading plans.