Genesis 17:2

17:2 Then I will confirm my covenant ¹  between me and you, and I will give you a multitude of descendants.” ² 

Genesis 17:6

17:6 I will make you ³  extremely ⁴  fruitful. I will make nations of you, and kings will descend from you. ⁵ 

Genesis 17:20

17:20 As for Ishmael, I have heard you. ⁶  I will indeed bless him, make him fruitful, and give him a multitude of descendants. ⁷  He will become the father of twelve princes; ⁸  I will make him into a great nation.

[17:2]  ¹ tn Following the imperative, the cohortative indicates consequence. If Abram is blameless, then the Lord will ratify the covenant. Earlier the Lord ratified part of his promise to Abram (see Gen 15:18-21), guaranteeing him that his descendants would live in the land. But the expanded form of the promise, which includes numerous descendants and eternal possession of the land, remains to be ratified. This expanded form of the promise is in view here (see vv. 2b, 4-8). See the note at Gen 15:18 and R. B. Chisholm, “Evidence from Genesis,” A Case for Premillennialism, 35-54.

[17:2]  ² tn Heb “I will multiply you exceedingly, exceedingly.” The repetition is emphatic.

[17:6]  ³ tn This verb starts a series of perfect verbal forms with vav (ו) consecutive to express God’s intentions.

[17:6]  ⁴ tn Heb “exceedingly, exceedingly.” The repetition is emphatic.

[17:6]  ⁵ tn Heb “and I will make you into nations, and kings will come out from you.”

[17:20]  ⁵ sn The Hebrew verb translated “I have heard you” forms a wordplay with the name Ishmael, which means “God hears.” See the note on the name “Ishmael” in 16:11.

[17:20]  ⁶ tn Heb “And I will multiply him exceedingly, exceedingly.” The repetition is emphatic.

[17:20]  ⁷ tn For a discussion of the Hebrew word translated “princes,” see E. A. Speiser, “Background and Function of the Biblical Nasi’,” CBQ 25 (1963): 111-17.