Genesis 17 - 18

Abraham and the Covenant of Circumcision

1 When Abram was ninety-nine years old the Lord appeared to Abram and said to him, "I am God Almighty; 1 walk before me, and be n blameless, 2 that I may make my covenant between me and you, and o may multiply you greatly." 3 Then Abram p fell on his face. And God said to him, 4 "Behold, my covenant is with you, and you shall be q the father of a multitude of nations. 5 No longer shall your name be called Abram, 2 but r your name shall be Abraham, 3 s for I have made you the father of a multitude of nations. 6 I will make you exceedingly fruitful, and I will make t you into nations, and u kings shall come from you. 7 And I will v establish my covenant between me and you and your offspring after you throughout their generations for an everlasting covenant, w to be God to you and to your offspring after you. 8 And x I will give to you and to your offspring after you the land of your sojournings, all the land of Canaan, for an everlasting possession, and y I will be their God."

9 And God said to Abraham, "As for you, you shall keep my covenant, you and your offspring after you throughout their generations. 10 This is my covenant, which you shall keep, between me and you and your offspring after you: Every male among you shall be circumcised. 11 You shall be circumcised in the flesh of your foreskins, and it shall be a z sign of the covenant between me and you. 12 He who is a eight days old among you shall be circumcised. Every male throughout your generations, whether born in your house or b bought with your money from any foreigner who is not of your offspring, 13 both he who is born in your house and he who is bought with your money, shall surely be circumcised. So shall my covenant be in your flesh an everlasting covenant. 14 Any uncircumcised male who is not circumcised in the flesh of his foreskin shall be cut off from his people; he has broken my covenant."

Isaac's Birth Promised

15 And God said to Abraham, "As for Sarai your wife, you shall not call her name Sarai, but Sarah 4 shall be her name. 16 I will bless her, and moreover, I will c give 5 you a son by her. I will bless her, and d she shall become nations; kings of peoples shall come from her." 17 Then Abraham e fell on his face f and laughed and said to himself, "Shall a child be born to a man who is a hundred years old? Shall Sarah, who is ninety years old, bear a child?" 18 And Abraham said to God, "Oh that Ishmael might live before you!" 19 God said, "No, but g Sarah your wife shall bear you a son, and you shall call his name h Isaac. 6 I will establish my covenant with him as an everlasting covenant for his offspring after him. 20 As for Ishmael, I have heard you; behold, I have blessed him and will make him fruitful and i multiply him greatly. He j shall father twelve princes, and k I will make him into a great nation. 21 But l I will establish my covenant with Isaac, m whom Sarah shall bear to you at this time next year."

22 When he had finished talking with him, n God went up from Abraham. 23 Then Abraham took Ishmael his son and all those born in his house or bought with his money, every male among the men of Abraham's house, and he circumcised the flesh of their foreskins that very day, as God had said to him. 24 Abraham was ninety-nine years old when he was circumcised in the flesh of his foreskin. 25 And Ishmael his son was thirteen years old when he was circumcised in the flesh of his foreskin. 26 That very day Abraham and his son Ishmael were circumcised. 27 And all the men of his house, those born in the house and those bought with money from a foreigner, were circumcised with him.

Genesis 18

1 And the Lord appeared to him by the o oaks 7 of Mamre, as he sat at the door of his tent in the heat of the day. 2 He lifted up his eyes and looked, and behold, three men were standing in front of him. p When he saw them, he ran from the tent door to meet them and bowed himself to the earth 3 and said, "O Lord, 8 if I have found favor in your sight, do not pass by your servant. 4 Let a q little water be brought, and wash your feet, and rest yourselves under the tree, 5 while I bring a morsel of bread, that r you may refresh yourselves, and after that you may pass on - s since you have come to your servant." So they said, "Do as you have said." 6 And Abraham went quickly into the tent to Sarah and said, "Quick! Three seahs 9 of fine flour! Knead it, and make cakes." 7 And Abraham ran to the herd and took a calf, tender and good, and gave it to a young man, who prepared it quickly. 8 Then he took curds and milk and the calf that he had prepared, and set it before them. And he stood by them under the tree while they ate.

9 They said to him, "Where is Sarah your wife?" And he said, "She is t in the tent." 10 The Lord said, "I will surely return to you u about this time next year, and v Sarah your wife shall have a son." And Sarah was listening at the tent door behind him. 11 Now w Abraham and Sarah were old, advanced in years. The way of women had ceased to be with Sarah. 12 x So Sarah laughed to herself, saying, y "After I am worn out, and z my lord is old, shall I have pleasure?" 13 The Lord said to Abraham, "Why did Sarah laugh and say, 'Shall I indeed bear a child, now that I am old?' 14 a Is anything too hard 10 for the Lord? b At the appointed time I will return to you, about this time next year, and Sarah shall have a son." 15 But Sarah denied it, 11 saying, "I did not laugh," for she was afraid. He said, "No, but you did laugh."

16 Then the men set out from there, and they looked down toward Sodom. And Abraham went with them to set them on their way. 17 The Lord said, c "Shall I hide from Abraham what I am about to do, 18 seeing that Abraham shall surely become a great and mighty nation, and all the nations of the earth shall be d blessed in him? 19 For I have e chosen 12 him, that he may command his children and his household after him to keep the way of the Lord by doing righteousness and justice, so that the Lord may bring to Abraham what he has promised him." 20 Then the Lord said, "Because f the outcry against Sodom and Gomorrah is great and their sin is very grave, 21 g I will go down to see whether they have done altogether 13 according to the outcry that has come to me. And if not, h I will know."

Abraham Intercedes for Sodom

22 i So the men turned from there and went toward Sodom, but Abraham j still stood before the Lord. 23 Then Abraham drew near and said, k "Will you indeed sweep away the righteous with the wicked? 24 Suppose there are fifty righteous within the city. Will you then sweep away the place and not spare it for the fifty righteous who are in it? 25 Far be it from you to do such a thing, to put the righteous to death with the wicked, l so that the righteous fare as the wicked! Far be that from you! m Shall not the Judge of all the earth do what is just?" 26 And the Lord said, n "If I find at Sodom fifty righteous in the city, I will spare the whole place for their sake."

27 Abraham answered and said, o "Behold, I have undertaken to speak to the Lord, I who am but dust and ashes. 28 Suppose five of the fifty righteous are lacking. Will you destroy the whole city for lack of five?" And he said, "I will not destroy it if I find forty-five there." 29 Again he spoke to him and said, "Suppose forty are found there." He answered, "For the sake of forty I will not do it." 30 Then he said, "Oh let not the Lord be angry, and I will speak. Suppose thirty are found there." He answered, "I will not do it, if I find thirty there." 31 He said, "Behold, I have undertaken to speak to the Lord. Suppose twenty are found there." He answered, "For the sake of twenty I will not destroy it." 32 Then he said, p "Oh let not the Lord be angry, and I will speak again but this once. Suppose ten are found there." He answered, "For the sake of ten I will not destroy it." 33 And the Lord went his way, when he had finished speaking to Abraham, and Abraham returned to his place.

  1. Cross References
    Genesis 6:9
    These are the generations of Noah. Noah was a righteous man, blameless in his generation. Noah walked with God.
    Deuteronomy 18:13
    You shall be blameless before the Lord your God.
    Job 1:1
    There was a man in the land of Uz whose name was Job, and that man was blameless and upright, one who feared God and turned away from evil.
    Psalms 119:1
    Blessed are those whose way is blameless, who walk in the law of the Lord!
    Matthew 5:48
    You therefore must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.
  2. Cross References
    Genesis 12:2
    And I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing.
    Genesis 13:16
    I will make your offspring as the dust of the earth, so that if one can count the dust of the earth, your offspring also can be counted.
    Genesis 22:17
    I will surely bless you, and I will surely multiply your offspring as the stars of heaven and as the sand that is on the seashore. And your offspring shall possess the gate of his enemies.
  3. Cross References
    Genesis 17:17
    Then Abraham fell on his face and laughed and said to himself, "Shall a child be born to a man who is a hundred years old? Shall Sarah, who is ninety years old, bear a child?
  4. Cross References
    Romans 4:11 - 12
    He received the sign of circumcision as a seal of the righteousness that he had by faith while he was still uncircumcised. The purpose was to make him the father of all who believe without being circumcised, so that righteousness would be counted to them as well.
    Romans 4:16
    That is why it depends on faith, in order that the promise may rest on grace and be guaranteed to all his offspring - not only to the adherent of the law but also to the one who shares the faith of Abraham, who is the father of us all.
  5. Cross References
    Nehemiah 9:7
    You are the Lord, the God who chose Abram and brought him out of Ur of the Chaldeans and gave him the name Abraham.
  6. Cross References
    Romans 4:17
    As it is written, "I have made you the father of many nations" - in the presence of the God in whom he believed, who gives life to the dead and calls into existence the things that do not exist.
  7. Cross References
    Genesis 35:11
    And God said to him, "I am God Almighty: be fruitful and multiply. A nation and a company of nations shall come from you, and kings shall come from your own body.
  8. Cross References
    Genesis 17:16
    I will bless her, and moreover, I will give you a son by her. I will bless her, and she shall become nations; kings of peoples shall come from her.
  9. Cross References
    Galatians 3:17
    This is what I mean: the law, which came 430 years afterward, does not annul a covenant previously ratified by God, so as to make the promise void.
  10. Cross References
    Hebrews 11:16
    But as it is, they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared for them a city.
    Genesis 26:24
    And the Lord appeared to him the same night and said, "I am the God of Abraham your father. Fear not, for I am with you and will bless you and multiply your offspring for my servant Abraham's sake.
    Genesis 28:13
    And behold, the Lord stood above it and said, "I am the Lord, the God of Abraham your father and the God of Isaac. The land on which you lie I will give to you and to your offspring.
  11. Cross References
    Genesis 12:7
    Then the Lord appeared to Abram and said, "To your offspring I will give this land." So he built there an altar to the Lord, who had appeared to him.
    Genesis 13:15
    For all the land that you see I will give to you and to your offspring forever.
    Psalms 105:11
    Saying, "To you I will give the land of Canaan as your portion for an inheritance.
  12. Cross References
    Exodus 6:7
    I will take you to be my people, and I will be your God, and you shall know that I am the Lord your God, who has brought you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians.
    Leviticus 26:12
    And I will walk among you and will be your God, and you shall be my people.
  13. Cross References
    Acts 7:8
    And he gave him the covenant of circumcision. And so Abraham became the father of Isaac, and circumcised him on the eighth day, and Isaac became the father of Jacob, and Jacob of the twelve patriarchs.
    Romans 4:11
    He received the sign of circumcision as a seal of the righteousness that he had by faith while he was still uncircumcised. The purpose was to make him the father of all who believe without being circumcised, so that righteousness would be counted to them as well.
  14. Cross References
    Leviticus 12:3
    And on the eighth day the flesh of his foreskin shall be circumcised.
    Luke 1:59
    And on the eighth day they came to circumcise the child. And they would have called him Zechariah after his father.
    Luke 2:21
    And at the end of eight days, when he was circumcised, he was called Jesus, the name given by the angel before he was conceived in the womb.
    Philippians 3:5
    Circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; as to the law, a Pharisee.
  15. Cross References
    Exodus 12:48 - 49
    If a stranger shall sojourn with you and would keep the Passover to the Lord, let all his males be circumcised. Then he may come near and keep it; he shall be as a native of the land. But no uncircumcised person shall eat of it.
  16. Cross References
    Genesis 18:10
    The Lord said, "I will surely return to you about this time next year, and Sarah your wife shall have a son." And Sarah was listening at the tent door behind him.
  17. Cross References
    Genesis 35:11
    And God said to him, "I am God Almighty: be fruitful and multiply. A nation and a company of nations shall come from you, and kings shall come from your own body.
  18. Cross References
    Genesis 17:3
    Then Abram fell on his face. And God said to him.
  19. Cross References
    Genesis 21:6
    And Sarah said, "God has made laughter for me; everyone who hears will laugh over me.
    Romans 4:19
    He did not weaken in faith when he considered his own body, which was as good as dead ( since he was about a hundred years old), or when he considered the barrenness of Sarah's womb.
    John 8:56
    Your father Abraham rejoiced that he would see my day. He saw it and was glad.
  20. Cross References
    Genesis 18:10
    The Lord said, "I will surely return to you about this time next year, and Sarah your wife shall have a son." And Sarah was listening at the tent door behind him.
    Genesis 21:2
    And Sarah conceived and bore Abraham a son in his old age at the time of which God had spoken to him.
    Galatians 4:23
    But the son of the slave was born according to the flesh, while the son of the free woman was born through promise.
    Galatians 4:28
    Now you, brothers, like Isaac, are children of promise.
  21. Cross References
    Genesis 21:3
    Abraham called the name of his son who was born to him, whom Sarah bore him, Isaac.
  22. Cross References
    Genesis 16:10
    The angel of the Lord also said to her, "I will surely multiply your offspring so that they cannot be numbered for multitude.
  23. Cross References
    Genesis 25:12 - 16
    These are the generations of Ishmael, Abraham's son, whom Hagar the Egyptian, Sarah's servant, bore to Abraham.
  24. Cross References
    Genesis 21:13
    And I will make a nation of the son of the slave woman also, because he is your offspring.
    Genesis 21:18
    Up! Lift up the boy, and hold him fast with your hand, for I will make him into a great nation.
  25. Cross References
    Genesis 26:2 - 5
    And the Lord appeared to him and said, "Do not go down to Egypt; dwell in the land of which I shall tell you.
  26. Cross References
    Genesis 21:2
    And Sarah conceived and bore Abraham a son in his old age at the time of which God had spoken to him.
  27. Cross References
    Genesis 35:13
    Then God went up from him in the place where he had spoken with him.
  28. Cross References
    Genesis 13:18
    So Abram moved his tent and came and settled by the oaks of Mamre, which are at Hebron, and there he built an altar to the Lord.
    Genesis 14:13
    Then one who had escaped came and told Abram the Hebrew, who was living by the oaks of Mamre the Amorite, brother of Eshcol and of Aner. These were allies of Abram.
  29. Cross References
    Genesis 19:1
    The two angels came to Sodom in the evening, and Lot was sitting in the gate of Sodom. When Lot saw them, he rose to meet them and bowed himself with his face to the earth
    Hebrews 13:2
    Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for thereby some have entertained angels unawares.
  30. Cross References
    Genesis 19:2
    And said, "My lords, please turn aside to your servant's house and spend the night and wash your feet. Then you may rise up early and go on your way." They said, "No; we will spend the night in the town square.
    Genesis 24:32
    So the man came to the house and unharnessed the camels, and gave straw and fodder to the camels, and there was water to wash his feet and the feet of the men who were with him.
    Genesis 43:24
    And when the man had brought the men into Joseph's house and given them water, and they had washed their feet, and when he had given their donkeys fodder.
    Luke 7:44
    Then turning toward the woman he said to Simon, "Do you see this woman? I entered your house; you gave me no water for my feet, but she has wet my feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair.
    John 13:14
    If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another's feet.
  31. Cross References
    Judges 19:5
    And on the fourth day they arose early in the morning, and he prepared to go, but the girl's father said to his son-in-law, "Strengthen your heart with a morsel of bread, and after that you may go.
    Psalms 104:15
    And wine to gladden the heart of man, oil to make his face shine and bread to strengthen man's heart.
  32. Cross References
    Genesis 19:8
    Behold, I have two daughters who have not known any man. Let me bring them out to you, and do to them as you please. Only do nothing to these men, for they have come under the shelter of my roof.
    Genesis 33:10
    Jacob said, "No, please, if I have found favor in your sight, then accept my present from my hand. For I have seen your face, which is like seeing the face of God, and you have accepted me.
  33. Cross References
    Genesis 24:67
    Then Isaac brought her into the tent of Sarah his mother and took Rebekah, and she became his wife, and he loved her. So Isaac was comforted after his mother's death.
  34. Cross References
    Genesis 18:14
    Is anything too hard for the Lord ? At the appointed time I will return to you, about this time next year, and Sarah shall have a son.
    2 Kings 4:16
    And he said, "At this season, about this time next year, you shall embrace a son." And she said, "No, my lord, O man of God; do not lie to your servant.
  35. Cross References
    Genesis 17:19
    God said, "No, but Sarah your wife shall bear you a son, and you shall call his name Isaac. I will establish my covenant with him as an everlasting covenant for his offspring after him.
    Genesis 17:21
    But I will establish my covenant with Isaac, whom Sarah shall bear to you at this time next year.
    Genesis 21:2
    And Sarah conceived and bore Abraham a son in his old age at the time of which God had spoken to him.
    Romans 9:9
    For this is what the promise said: "About this time next year I will return, and Sarah shall have a son.
  36. Cross References
    Genesis 17:17
    Then Abraham fell on his face and laughed and said to himself, "Shall a child be born to a man who is a hundred years old? Shall Sarah, who is ninety years old, bear a child?
    Romans 4:19
    He did not weaken in faith when he considered his own body, which was as good as dead ( since he was about a hundred years old), or when he considered the barrenness of Sarah's womb.
    Hebrews 11:11 - 12
    By faith Sarah herself received power to conceive, even when she was past the age, since she considered him faithful who had promised.
  37. Cross References
    Genesis 17:17
    Then Abraham fell on his face and laughed and said to himself, "Shall a child be born to a man who is a hundred years old? Shall Sarah, who is ninety years old, bear a child?
  38. Cross References
    Luke 1:18
    And Zechariah said to the angel, "How shall I know this? For I am an old man, and my wife is advanced in years.
  39. Cross References
    1 Peter 3:6
    As Sarah obeyed Abraham, calling him lord. And you are her children, if you do good and do not fear anything that is frightening.
  40. Cross References
    Job 42:2
    I know that you can do all things, and that no ...
    Jeremiah 32:17
    Ah, Lord God! It is you who have made the heave...
    Jeremiah 32:27
    Behold, I am the Lord, the God of all flesh. Is...
    Zechariah 8:6
    Thus says the Lord of hosts: If it is marvelous...
    Matthew 19:26
    But Jesus looked at them and said, "With man th...
    Luke 1:37
    For nothing will be impossible with God.
  41. Cross References
    Genesis 18:10
    The Lord said, "I will surely return to you about this time next year, and Sarah your wife shall have a son." And Sarah was listening at the tent door behind him.
  42. Cross References
    Psalms 25:14
    The friendship of the Lord is for those who fear him, and he makes known to them his covenant.
    Amos 3:7
    For the Lord God does nothing without revealing his secret to his servants the prophets.
    John 15:15
    No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you.
  43. Cross References
    Genesis 12:3
    I will bless those who bless you, and him who dishonors you I will curse, and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.
    Genesis 22:18
    And in your offspring shall all the nations of the earth be blessed, because you have obeyed my voice.
    Genesis 26:4
    I will multiply your offspring as the stars of heaven and will give to your offspring all these lands. And in your offspring all the nations of the earth shall be blessed.
    Acts 3:25
    You are the sons of the prophets and of the covenant that God made with your fathers, saying to Abraham, 'And in your offspring shall all the families of the earth be blessed.
    Galatians 3:8
    And the Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, preached the gospel beforehand to Abraham, saying, "In you shall all the nations be blessed.
  44. Cross References
    Amos 3:2
    You only have I known of all the families of the earth; therefore I will punish you for all your iniquities.
  45. Cross References
    Genesis 4:10
    And the Lord said, "What have you done? The voice of your brother's blood is crying to me from the ground.
    Genesis 19:13
    For we are about to destroy this place, because the outcry against its people has become great before the Lord, and the Lord has sent us to destroy it.
    Isaiah 3:9
    For the look on their faces bears witness against them; they proclaim their sin like Sodom; they do not hide it. Woe to them! For they have brought evil on themselves.
    Ezekiel 16:49 - 50
    Behold, this was the guilt of your sister Sodom: she and her daughters had pride, excess of food, and prosperous ease, but did not aid the poor and needy.
    James 5:4
    Behold, the wages of the laborers who mowed your fields, which you kept back by fraud, are crying out against you, and the cries of the harvesters have reached the ears of the Lord of hosts.
  46. Cross References
    Genesis 11:5
    And the Lord came down to see the city and the tower, which the children of man had built.
    Genesis 11:7
    Come, let us go down and there confuse their language, so that they may not understand one another's speech.
    Exodus 3:8
    And I have come down to deliver them out of the hand of the Egyptians and to bring them up out of that land to a good and broad land, a land flowing with milk and honey, to the place of the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Amorites, the Perizzites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites.
  47. Cross References
    Joshua 22:22
    The Mighty One, God, the Lord! The Mighty One, God, the Lord! He knows; and let Israel itself know! If it was in rebellion or in breach of faith against the Lord, do not spare us today
  48. Cross References
    Genesis 18:16
    Then the men set out from there, and they looked down toward Sodom. And Abraham went with them to set them on their way.
    Genesis 19:1
    The two angels came to Sodom in the evening, and Lot was sitting in the gate of Sodom. When Lot saw them, he rose to meet them and bowed himself with his face to the earth
  49. Cross References
    Genesis 18:1
    And the Lord appeared to him by the oaks of Mamre, as he sat at the door of his tent in the heat of the day.
    Psalms 106:23
    Therefore he said he would destroy them - had not Moses, his chosen one, stood in the breach before him, to turn away his wrath from destroying them.
    Jeremiah 18:20
    Should good be repaid with evil? Yet they have dug a pit for my life. Remember how I stood before you to speak good for them, to turn away your wrath from them.
  50. Cross References
    Genesis 20:4
    Now Abimelech had not approached her. So he said, "Lord, will you kill an innocent people?
    Numbers 16:22
    And they fell on their faces and said, "O God, the God of the spirits of all flesh, shall one man sin, and will you be angry with all the congregation?
    2 Samuel 24:17
    Then David spoke to the Lord when he saw the angel who was striking the people, and said, "Behold, I have sinned, and I have done wickedly. But these sheep, what have they done? Please let your hand be against me and against my father's house.
  51. Cross References
    Job 8:20
    Behold, God will not reject a blameless man, nor take the hand of evildoers.
  52. Cross References
    Deuteronomy 32:4
    The Rock, his work is perfect, for all his ways are justice. A God of faithfulness and without iniquity, just and upright is he.
    Job 8:3
    Does God pervert justice? Or does the Almighty pervert the right?
    Job 34:10
    Therefore, hear me, you men of understanding: far be it from God that he should do wickedness, and from the Almighty that he should do wrong.
    Romans 3:5 - 6
    But if our unrighteousness serves to show the righteousness of God, what shall we say? That God is unrighteous to inflict wrath on us? ( I speak in a human way.)
  53. Cross References
    Jeremiah 5:1
    Run to and fro through the streets of Jerusalem, look and take note! Search her squares to see if you can find a man, one who does justice and seeks truth, that I may pardon her.
    Ezekiel 22:30
    And I sought for a man among them who should build up the wall and stand in the breach before me for the land, that I should not destroy it, but I found none.
    Isaiah 65:8
    Thus says the Lord : "As the new wine is found in the cluster, and they say, 'Do not destroy it, for there is a blessing in it,' so I will do for my servants' sake, and not destroy them all.
  54. Cross References
    Luke 18:1
    And he told them a parable to the effect that they ought always to pray and not lose heart.
  55. Cross References
    Judges 6:39
    Then Gideon said to God, "Let not your anger burn against me; let me speak just once more. Please let me test just once more with the fleece. Please let it be dry on the fleece only, and on all the ground let there be dew.
English Standard Version (ESV) The Holy Bible, English Standard Version Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a division of Good News Publishers.