Genesis 17:8

King James Version:

(The Lord speaking is red text)

And I will give unto thee, and to thy seed after thee, the land wherein thou art a stranger, all the land of Canaan, for an everlasting possession; and I will be their God.

Complete Jewish Bible:

I will give you and your descendants after you the land in which you are now foreigners, all the land of Kena'an, as a permanent possession; and I will be their God."

Berean Standard Bible:

And to you and your descendants I will give the land where you are residing—all the land of Canaan—as an eternal possession; and I will be their God.”

American Standard Version:

And I will give unto thee, and to thy seed after thee, the land of thy sojournings, all the land of Canaan, for an everlasting possession; and I will be their God.

KJV with Strong’s Numbers:

And I will give^{H5414} unto thee, and to thy seed^{H2233} after thee^{H310}, the land^{H776} wherein thou art a stranger^{H4033}, all the land^{H776} of Canaan^{H3667}, for an everlasting^{H5769} possession^{H272}; and I will be their God^{H430}.

Cross-References (KJV):

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Commentary for Genesis 17:8

**Themes:**

1. **Covenant Promise:** Genesis 17:8 emphasizes the covenant that God makes with Abraham, promising land and divine relationship. This promise is not only for Abraham but also extends to his descendants.

2. **Promised Land:** The land of Canaan is specified as the eternal inheritance of Abraham's seed, which becomes a central theme in the Jewish identity and hope.

3. **Eternal Relationship with God:** The verse underscores the everlasting nature of the covenant, not just in terms of land, but also in the spiritual sense of God being the God of Abraham's descendants.

4. **Faith and Trust:** Abraham's acceptance of this promise while he is a "stranger" in the land reflects his trust in God's provision, which is a recurring theme in his life.

**Historical Context:**

- **Patriarchal Era:** The events surrounding this verse occurred during the Patriarchal Age, around the second millennium BCE, when Abraham, the patriarch of the Israelites, lived.

- **Abraham's Journey:** Abraham had migrated from his birthplace, Ur in Mesopotamia, to the land of Canaan in response to God's earlier call (Genesis 12).

- **Covenant Reaffirmation:** Genesis 17 is part of a larger narrative where God reaffirms the covenant with Abraham, changing his name from Abram to Abraham and instituting the covenant of circumcision.

- **Canaanite Presence:** At this time, Canaan was inhabited by various Canaanite tribes, and the promise of the land to Abraham's descendants sets the stage for future narratives of conquest and settlement by the Israelites.

- **Theological Significance:** This promise becomes foundational for the Jewish people's understanding of their historical connection to the land of Israel, and it is also significant in Christian theology as part of the overarching narrative of salvation history.

*This commentary is produced by Microsoft/WizardLM-2-8x22B AI model

Strong's Numbers and Definitions:

Note: H = Hebrew (OT), G = Greek (NT)

1. Strong's Number: H5414
   There are 1816 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: נָתַן
   Transliteration: nâthan
   Pronunciation: naw-than'
   Description: a primitive root; to give, used with greatest latitude of application (put, make, etc.); add, apply, appoint, ascribe, assign, [idiom] avenge, [idiom] be (healed), bestow, bring (forth, hither), cast, cause, charge, come, commit, consider, count, [phrase] cry, deliver (up), direct, distribute, do, [idiom] doubtless, [idiom] without fail, fasten, frame, [idiom] get, give (forth, over, up), grant, hang (up), [idiom] have, [idiom] indeed, lay (unto charge, up), (give) leave, lend, let (out), [phrase] lie, lift up, make, [phrase] O that, occupy, offer, ordain, pay, perform, place, pour, print, [idiom] pull, put (forth), recompense, render, requite, restore, send (out), set (forth), shew, shoot forth (up), [phrase] sing, [phrase] slander, strike, (sub-) mit, suffer, [idiom] surely, [idiom] take, thrust, trade, turn, utter, [phrase] weep, [phrase] willingly, [phrase] withdraw, [phrase] would (to) God, yield.
   
2. Strong's Number: H2233
   There are 205 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: זֶרַע
   Transliteration: zeraʻ
   Pronunciation: zeh'-rah
   Description: from זָרַע; seed; figuratively, fruit, plant, sowing-time, posterity; [idiom] carnally, child, fruitful, seed(-time), sowing-time.
   
3. Strong's Number: H310
   There are 766 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: אַחַר
   Transliteration: ʼachar
   Pronunciation: akh-ar'
   Description: from אָחַר; properly, the hind part; generally used as an adverb or conjunction, after (in various senses); after (that, -ward), again, at, away from, back (from, -side), behind, beside, by, follow (after, -ing), forasmuch, from, hereafter, hinder end, [phrase] out (over) live, [phrase] persecute, posterity, pursuing, remnant, seeing, since, thence(-forth), when, with.
   
4. Strong's Number: H776
   There are 2739 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: אֶרֶץ
   Transliteration: ʼerets
   Pronunciation: eh'-rets
   Description: from an unused root probably meaning to be firm; the earth (at large, or partitively a land); [idiom] common, country, earth, field, ground, land, [idiom] natins, way, [phrase] wilderness, world.
   
5. Strong's Number: H4033
   There are 10 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: מָגוּר
   Transliteration: mâgûwr
   Pronunciation: maw-goor'
   Description: or מָגֻר; from גּוּר in the sense of lodging; a temporary abode; by extension, a permanent residence; dwelling, pilgrimage, where sojourn, be a stranger. Compare מָגוֹר.
   
6. Strong's Number: H3667
   There are 91 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: כְּנַעַן
   Transliteration: Kᵉnaʻan
   Pronunciation: ken-ah'-an
   Description: from כָּנַע; humiliated; Kenaan, a son a Ham; also the country inhabited by him; Canaan, merchant, traffick.
   
7. Strong's Number: H5769
   There are 414 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: עוֹלָם
   Transliteration: ʻôwlâm
   Pronunciation: o-lawm'
   Description: or עֹלָם; from עָלַם; properly, concealed, i.e. the vanishing point; generally, time out of mind (past or future), i.e. (practically) eternity; frequentatively, adverbial (especially with prepositional prefix) always; alway(-s), ancient (time), any more, continuance, eternal, (for, (n-)) ever(-lasting, -more, of old), lasting, long (time), (of) old (time), perpetual, at any time, (beginning of the) world ([phrase] without end). Compare נֶצַח, עַד.
   
8. Strong's Number: H272
   There are 190 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: אֲחֻזָּה
   Transliteration: ʼăchuzzâh
   Pronunciation: akh-ooz-zaw'
   Description: feminine passive participle from אָחַז; something seized, i.e. a possession (especially of land); possession.
   
9. Strong's Number: H430
   There are 2334 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: אֱלֹהִים
   Transliteration: ʼĕlôhîym
   Pronunciation: el-o-heem'
   Description: plural of אֱלוֹהַּ; gods in the ordinary sense; but specifically used (in the plural thus, especially with the article) of the supreme God; occasionally applied by way of deference to magistrates; and sometimes as a superlative; angels, [idiom] exceeding, God (gods) (-dess, -ly), [idiom] (very) great, judges, [idiom] mighty.