10 This is my covenant, H1285 which ye shall keep, H8104 between me and you and thy seed H2233 after thee; H310 Every man child H2145 among you shall be circumcised. H4135
In G1722 whom G3739 also G2532 ye are circumcised G4059 with the circumcision G4061 made without hands, G886 in G1722 putting off G555 the body G4983 of the sins G266 of the flesh G4561 by G1722 the circumcision G4061 of Christ: G5547 Buried with G4916 him G846 in G1722 baptism, G908 wherein G1722 G3739 also G2532 ye are risen with G4891 him through G1223 the faith G4102 of the operation G1753 of God, G2316 who G3588 hath raised G1453 him G846 from G1537 the dead. G3498
For G1161 I testify G3143 again G3825 to every G3956 man G444 that is circumcised, G4059 that G3754 he is G2076 a debtor G3781 to do G4160 the whole G3650 law. G3551 Christ G5547 is become of no effect unto you, G575 G2673 whosoever of you G3748 are justified G1344 by G1722 the law; G3551 ye are fallen from G1601 grace. G5485 For G1063 we G2249 through the Spirit G4151 wait for G553 the hope G1680 of righteousness G1343 by G1537 faith. G4102 For G1063 in G1722 Jesus G2424 Christ G5547 neither G3777 circumcision G4061 availeth G2480 any thing, G5100 nor G3777 uncircumcision; G203 but G235 faith G4102 which worketh G1754 by G1223 love. G26
Is G2564 any man G5100 called G2564 being circumcised? G4059 let him G1986 not G3361 become uncircumcised. G1986 Is G2564 any G5100 called G2564 in G1722 uncircumcision? G203 let him G4059 not G3361 be circumcised. G4059 Circumcision G4061 is G2076 nothing, G3762 and G2532 uncircumcision G203 is G2076 nothing, G3762 but G235 the keeping G5084 of the commandments G1785 of God. G2316
Cometh this G3778 blessedness G3108 then G3767 upon G1909 the circumcision G4061 only, or G2228 upon G1909 the uncircumcision G203 also? G2532 for G1063 we say G3004 that G3754 faith G4102 was reckoned G3049 to Abraham G11 for G1519 righteousness. G1343 How G4459 was it G3049 then G3767 reckoned? G3049 when he was G5607 in G1722 circumcision, G4061 or G2228 in G1722 uncircumcision? G203 Not G3756 in G1722 circumcision, G4061 but G235 in G1722 uncircumcision. G203 And G2532 he received G2983 the sign G4592 of circumcision, G4061 a seal G4973 of the righteousness G1343 of the faith G4102 which G3588 he had yet being G1722 uncircumcised: G203 that G1519 he G846 might be G1511 the father G3962 of all G3956 them that believe, G4100 though G1223 they be not circumcised; G203 that G1519 righteousness G1343 might be imputed G3049 unto them G846 also: G2532
Behold, the days H3117 come, H935 saith H5002 the LORD, H3068 that I will punish H6485 all them which are circumcised H4135 with the uncircumcised; H6190 Egypt, H4714 and Judah, H3063 and Edom, H123 and the children H1121 of Ammon, H5983 and Moab, H4124 and all that are in the utmost H7112 corners, H6285 that dwell H3427 in the wilderness: H4057 for all these nations H1471 are uncircumcised, H6189 and all the house H1004 of Israel H3478 are uncircumcised H6189 in the heart. H3820
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible » Commentary on Genesis 17
Commentary on Genesis 17 Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
CHAPTER 17
Ge 17:1-27. Renewal of the Covenant.
1. Abram … ninety years old and nine—thirteen years after the birth of Ishmael [Ge 16:16]. During that interval he had enjoyed the comforts of communion with God but had been favored with no special revelation as formerly, probably on account of his hasty and blameable marriage with Hagar.
the Lord appeared—some visible manifestation of the divine presence, probably the Shekinah or radiant glory of overpowering effulgence.
I am the Almighty God—the name by which He made Himself known to the patriarchs (Ex 6:3), designed to convey the sense of "all-sufficient" (Ps 16:5, 6; 73:25).
walk … and … perfect—upright, or sincere (Ps 51:6) in heart, speech, and behavior.
3. Abram fell on his face—the attitude of profoundest reverence assumed by Eastern people. It consists in the prostrate body resting on the hands and knees, with the face bent till the forehead touches the ground. It is an expression of conscious humility and profound reverence.
4. my covenant is with thee—Renewed mention is made of it as the foundation of the communication that follows. It is the covenant of grace made with all who believe in the Saviour.
5. but thy name shall be Abraham—In Eastern countries a change of name is an advertisement of some new circumstance in the history, rank, or religion of the individual who bears it. The change is made variously, by the old name being entirely dropped for the new, or by conjoining the new with the old; or sometimes only a few letters are inserted, so that the altered form may express the difference in the owner's state or prospects. It is surprising how soon a new name is known and its import spread through the country. In dealing with Abraham and Sarai, God was pleased to adapt His procedure to the ideas and customs of the country and age. Instead of Abram, "a high father," he was to be called Abraham, "father of a multitude of nations" (see Re 2:17).
8. I will give unto thee … the land—It had been previously promised to Abraham and his posterity (Ge 15:18). Here it is promised as an "everlasting possession," and was, therefore, a type of heaven, "the better country" (Heb 11:16).
10. Every man child among you shall be circumcised—This was the sign in the Old Testament Church as baptism is in the New, and hence the covenant is called "covenant of circumcision" (Ac 7:8; Ro 4:11). The terms of the covenant were these: on the one hand Abraham and his seed were to observe the right of circumcision; and on the other, God promised, in the event of such observance, to give them Canaan for a perpetual possession, to be a God to him and his posterity, and that in him and his seed all nations should be blessed.
15, 16. As for Sarai … I will … give thee a son also of her—God's purposes are gradually made known. A son had been long ago promised to Abraham. Now, at length, for the first time he is informed that it was to be a child of Sarai.
17. Abraham fell upon his face, and laughed—It was not the sneer of unbelief, but a smile of delight at the improbability of the event (Ro 4:20).
18. O that Ishmael might live before thee—natural solicitude of a parent. But God's thoughts are not as man's thoughts [Isa 55:8].
19, 20. The blessings of the covenant are reserved for Isaac, but common blessings were abundantly promised to Ishmael; and though the visible Church did not descend from his family, yet personally he might, and it is to be hoped did, enjoy its benefits.