Genesis Chapter 17 Bible Study – The Covenant of Circumcision

God Appears to Abram as El Shaddai

Genesis 17 begins with God appearing to Abram when he is ninety-nine years old, saying, “I am the Almighty God; walk before me, and be thou perfect” (Genesis 17:1). The name “El Shaddai” emphasizes God’s all-sufficiency and power to fulfill His promises. The command to “walk before me” calls Abram to live in constant awareness of God’s presence, similar to Enoch’s walk with God in Genesis 5:24.

The call to be “perfect” speaks of wholehearted devotion, echoed later in Deuteronomy 18:13, “Thou shalt be perfect with the Lord thy God.”

God Confirms His Covenant

In Genesis 17:2-4, God reaffirms His covenant with Abram, promising to multiply him exceedingly. Abram falls on his face in reverence, and God declares, “My covenant is with thee, and thou shalt be a father of many nations.” This expands the earlier promise in Genesis 12:2, moving from a great nation to multiple nations, fulfilled spiritually in Romans 4:16-17, where all who have faith are called Abraham’s descendants.

Abram’s Name Changed to Abraham

God changes Abram’s name (“exalted father”) to Abraham (“father of a multitude”) in Genesis 17:5. Name changes in Scripture often signify a new role or destiny, as seen with Jacob becoming Israel (Genesis 32:28) and Simon becoming Peter (John 1:42). This change confirms that Abraham’s identity is inseparable from God’s covenant promise.

The Promise of Nations and Kings

Genesis 17:6-8 promises that nations and kings will come from Abraham, and God will give him and his descendants the land of Canaan as an everlasting possession. The mention of kings anticipates Israel’s monarchy under David and ultimately points to Jesus, the King of Kings (Matthew 1:1). The “everlasting” nature of the covenant is affirmed in Psalm 105:8-11.

The Covenant of Circumcision

God gives Abraham the sign of the covenant in Genesis 17:9-14: every male among his descendants must be circumcised on the eighth day. This physical sign sets Israel apart from other nations and serves as a reminder of God’s promises.

Circumcision later becomes a central identity marker for Israel (Joshua 5:2-9) but is fulfilled spiritually in the New Testament as the “circumcision of the heart” through faith (Romans 2:28-29; Colossians 2:11).

Failure to be circumcised meant being “cut off” from the people, underscoring the seriousness of covenant participation.

Sarai’s Name Changed to Sarah

In Genesis 17:15-16, God changes Sarai’s name to Sarah, meaning “princess,” and promises she will be the mother of nations and kings. This declaration comes despite her barrenness and old age, highlighting God’s power to accomplish what is humanly impossible (Luke 1:37).

Abraham’s Laughter and God’s Clarification

Abraham laughs in Genesis 17:17, not in unbelief but in astonishment, considering he is ninety-nine and Sarah ninety. This is similar to Sarah’s laughter in Genesis 18:12. Abraham suggests that Ishmael might live before God, but God insists the covenant will be established through a son named Isaac, meaning “he laughs” (Genesis 17:18-19).

God’s Blessing on Ishmael

Though Ishmael is not the covenant heir, God promises to bless him, make him fruitful, and multiply him greatly, making him a father of twelve princes and a great nation (Genesis 17:20). This fulfills God’s earlier promise to Hagar in Genesis 16:10-12 and demonstrates His compassion toward those outside the covenant line.

Covenant Established Through Isaac

God confirms in Genesis 17:21 that His covenant will be established with Isaac, who will be born to Sarah by the next year. This clear timeline eliminates ambiguity and sets the stage for the miraculous fulfillment in Genesis 21.

Abraham’s Obedience to the Covenant Sign

In Genesis 17:23-27, Abraham obeys immediately, circumcising himself, Ishmael, and all males in his household that very day. His prompt obedience parallels Noah’s complete compliance with God’s commands in Genesis 6:22 and demonstrates faith expressed through action (James 2:21-23).

By performing circumcision on the same day, Abraham models the biblical principle of not delaying obedience (Psalm 119:60).