Genesis 17:23-27

17:23 Abraham took his son Ishmael and every male in his household (whether born in his house or bought with money) ¹  and circumcised them ²  on that very same day, just as God had told him to do. 17:24 Now Abraham was 99 years old ³  when he was circumcised; ⁴  17:25 his son Ishmael was thirteen years old ⁵  when he was circumcised. 17:26 Abraham and his son Ishmael were circumcised on the very same day. 17:27 All the men of his household, whether born in his household or bought with money from a foreigner, were circumcised with him.

Matthew 16:24

16:24 Then Jesus said to his disciples, “If anyone wants to become my follower, ⁶  he must deny ⁷  himself, take up his cross, ⁸  and follow me.

[17:23]  ¹ tn Heb “Ishmael his son and all born in his house and all bought with money, every male among the men of the house of Abraham.”

[17:23]  ² tn Heb “circumcised the flesh of their foreskin.” The Hebrew expression is somewhat pleonastic and has been simplified in the translation.

[17:24]  ³ tn Heb “the son of ninety-nine years.”

[17:24]  ⁴ tn Heb “circumcised in the flesh of his foreskin” (also in v. 25).

[17:25]  ⁵ tn Heb “the son of thirteen years.”

[16:24]  ⁶ tn Grk “to come after me.”

[16:24]  ⁷ tn This translation better expresses the force of the Greek third person imperative than the traditional “let him deny,” which could be understood as merely permissive.

[16:24]  ⁸ sn To bear the cross means to accept the rejection of the world for turning to Jesus and following him. Discipleship involves a death that is like a crucifixion; see Gal 6:14.