Discovery BoxGenesis 17:20-27
Context17:20 As for Ishmael, I have heard you. 1 I will indeed bless him, make him fruitful, and give him a multitude of descendants. 2 He will become the father of twelve princes; 3 I will make him into a great nation. 17:21 But I will establish my covenant with Isaac, whom Sarah will bear to you at this set time next year.” 17:22 When he finished speaking with Abraham, God went up from him. 4
17:23 Abraham took his son Ishmael and every male in his household (whether born in his house or bought with money) 5 and circumcised them 6 on that very same day, just as God had told him to do. 17:24 Now Abraham was 99 years old 7 when he was circumcised; 8 17:25 his son Ishmael was thirteen years old 9 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.
[17:20] 1 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] 2 tn Heb “And I will multiply him exceedingly, exceedingly.” The repetition is emphatic.
[17:20] 3 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.
[17:22] 4 tn Heb “And when he finished speaking with him, God went up from Abraham.” The sequence of pronouns and proper names has been modified in the translation for stylistic reasons.
[17:23] 5 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] 6 tn Heb “circumcised the flesh of their foreskin.” The Hebrew expression is somewhat pleonastic and has been simplified in the translation.
[17:24] 7 tn Heb “the son of ninety-nine years.”
[17:24] 8 tn Heb “circumcised in the flesh of his foreskin” (also in v. 25).
