Genesis 17 explained: A New Name and a Sign

God appears to Abram (vv. 1-2)

Thirteen years after Ishmael's birth, God appears under the title "God Almighty", whose original meaning scholars still debate. He asks Abram to live openly before him with a whole heart and promises to make a binding agreement, or covenant, with him.

A new name, lasting promise (vv. 3-8)

Abram bows to the ground in deep respect, and God renames him Abraham, which sounds like "father of many" in Hebrew. God promises nations and kings from him, the land of Canaan where he now lives as an outsider, and to be God to his family for all time.

Circumcision as the sign (vv. 9-14)

Abraham's part is to circumcise every male at eight days old, including enslaved men bought into the household, as a lasting mark in the body that they belong to this covenant. A male left uncircumcised is "cut off", which may mean shut out of the community or put to death by God, and scholars are unsure which.

Sarai becomes Sarah (vv. 15-16)

Both forms of her name likely mean "princess", so the change marks a fresh start more than a new meaning. For the first time God says plainly that the promised son will come from Sarah herself.

Abraham laughs (vv. 17-22)

Abraham laughs at the thought of a child at 100 with Sarah at 90, and pleads for Ishmael, the son he already has. God names the coming son Isaac, meaning "he laughs", promises Ishmael twelve rulers and a great nation, but sets the covenant with Isaac.

Abraham obeys that day (vv. 23-27)

The same day, Abraham circumcises himself, thirteen-year-old Ishmael, and every male in his household, both those born there and those bought. Christians later read this in light of Jesus: Paul noted Abraham trusted God before he was circumcised, and many link this sign to baptism.

Key verse: Genesis 17:7

Where Christians differ

Christians differ on who inherits these "everlasting" promises today: some hold that the land and covenant still belong in a special way to Abraham's physical descendants, while others see them fulfilled in the wider community of faith, a view that also shapes whether baptism, like circumcision, is given to infants.

Something to think about

Have you ever been told something about your future that seemed so unlikely you wanted to laugh, and what was really behind that laugh?