Circumcision: Sign of the Covenant
Genesis 17, verse 1. When Abram was ninety-nine years old, the Lord appeared to Abram and said to him, “I am your God; be pleasing before Me and blameless. Genesis 17, verse 2. I will establish My covenant between Me and you, and will multiply you exceedingly.” Genesis 17, verse 3. Then Abram fell on his face, and God talked with him, saying, Genesis 17, verse 4. “As for Me, behold, My covenant is with you, and you shall be a father of many nations. Genesis 17, verse 5. No longer shall your name be called Abram, but your name shall be Abraham; for I have made you a father of many nations. Genesis 17, verse 6. I will make you exceedingly fruitful; and I will make nations of you, and kings shall come from you. Genesis 17, verse 7. I will establish My covenant between Me and you and your seed after you in their generations, for an everlasting covenant, to be your God and the God of your seed after you. Genesis 17, verse 8. Also I will give you and your seed after you the land you are occupying as a sojourner, all the land of Canaan, as an everlasting possession; and I will be their God.” Genesis 17, verse 9. Then God said to Abraham, “As for you, you shall keep My covenant, you and your seed after you throughout their generations. Genesis 17, verse 10. This is the covenant you shall keep, between Me and you and your seed after you throughout their generations: Every male child among you shall be circumcised; Genesis 17, verse 11. and you shall be circumcised in the flesh of your foreskin. It shall be a sign of the covenant between Me and you. Genesis 17, verse 12. A child of eight days old shall be circumcised by you—every male child throughout your genealogy, he who is born in your house or bought with money from any foreigner not of your seed. Genesis 17, verse 13. He who is born in your house, and he who is bought with your money must be circumcised; and My covenant shall be in your flesh for an everlasting covenant. Genesis 17, verse 14. And the uncircumcised male child, who is not circumcised in the flesh of his foreskin on the eighth day, that soul shall be cut off from his people; for he has broken My covenant.” Genesis 17, verse 15. Then God said to Abraham, “As for Sarai your wife, you shall not call her name Sarai, but Sarah shall be her name. Genesis 17, verse 16. And I will bless her and also give you a son by her; and I will bless him, and he shall become nations; and kings of peoples shall be from him.” Genesis 17, verse 17. Then Abraham fell on his face and laughed, and said in his mind, “Shall a child be born to a man who is one hundred years old, and shall Sarah, who is ninety years old, bear a child?” Genesis 17, verse 18. And Abraham said to God, “Oh, that Ishmael might live before You!” Genesis 17, verse 19. Then God said, “No, Sarah your wife shall bear you a son, and you shall call his name Isaac; and I will establish My covenant with him for an everlasting covenant, and with his seed after him. Genesis 17, verse 20. As for Ishmael, I have heard you. Behold, I have blessed him and will increase and multiply him exceedingly. He shall beget twelve nations, and I will make him a great nation. Genesis 17, verse 21. But My covenant I will establish with Isaac, whom Sarah shall bear to you at this time next year.” Genesis 17, verse 22. So God finished talking with Abraham and departed from him. Genesis 17, verse 23. So Abraham took Ishmael his son, all who were born in his house, and all who were bought with his money, every male among the men of Abraham's house, and he circumcised the flesh of their foreskins that very same day, as God said to him. Genesis 17, verse 24. Now Abraham was ninety-nine years old when he was circumcised in the flesh of his foreskin. Genesis 17, verse 25. And Ishmael his son was thirteen years old when he was circumcised in the flesh of his foreskin. Genesis 17, verse 26. That very same day Abraham was circumcised, and his son Ishmael. Genesis 17, verse 27. Also, all the men of his house, born in the house or bought with money from a foreigner, were circumcised with him.