Genesis 17:15-18:15

Isaac's Birth Promised

15 And God said to Abraham, "As for Sarai your wife, you shall not call her name Sarai, but Sarah 1 shall be her name. 16 I will bless her, and moreover, I will c give 2 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. 3 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 4 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, 5 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 6 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 7 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, 8 saying, "I did not laugh," for she was afraid. He said, "No, but you did laugh."

  1. 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.
  2. 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.
  3. Cross References
    Genesis 17:3
    Then Abram fell on his face. And God said to him.
  4. 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.
  5. 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.
  6. Cross References
    Genesis 21:3
    Abraham called the name of his son who was born to him, whom Sarah bore him, Isaac.
  7. 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.
  8. 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.
  9. 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.
  10. 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.
  11. 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.
  12. Cross References
    Genesis 35:13
    Then God went up from him in the place where he had spoken with him.
  13. 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.
  14. 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.
  15. 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.
  16. 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.
  17. 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.
  18. 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.
  19. 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.
  20. 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.
  21. 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.
  22. 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?
  23. 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.
  24. 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.
  25. 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.
  26. 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.
English Standard Version (ESV) The Holy Bible, English Standard Version Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a division of Good News Publishers.