Genesis 17:16

And I will bless her, and give thee a son also of her: yea, I will bless her, and she shall be [a mother] of nations; kings of people shall be of her.

And I will bless {H1288} her, and give {H5414} thee a son {H1121} also of her: yea, I will bless {H1288} her, and she shall be a mother of nations {H1471}; kings {H4428} of people {H5971} shall be of her.

I will bless her; moreover, I will give you a son by her. Truly I will bless her: she will be a mother of nations; kings of peoples will come from her."

And I will bless her and will surely give you a son by her. I will bless her, and she will be the mother of nations; kings of peoples will descend from her.โ€

And I will bless her, and moreover I will give thee a son of her: yea, I will bless her, and she shall be a mother of nations; kings of peoples shall be of her.

Commentary

Context of Genesis 17:16

Genesis chapter 17 marks a pivotal moment in God's covenant with Abraham (then still Abram). God reveals Himself as El Shaddai, "God Almighty," and reiterates and expands His promises. This chapter details the institution of circumcision as the sign of the covenant, the change of Abram's name to Abraham ("father of many nations"), and significantly, the change of Sarai's name to Sarah ("princess"). Prior to this, Sarah had been barren, a source of great concern and shame in their culture. Verse 16 directly follows God's declaration that Sarah, despite her advanced age and barrenness, would indeed bear Abraham a son, Isaac, through whom the covenant promises would continue.

Key Themes and Messages

  • Divine Faithfulness and Power: This verse underscores God's absolute faithfulness to His covenant promises and His omnipotence. He can bring life from barrenness, fulfilling His word against all human expectation and physical limitation. This miraculous promise highlights that God's plans are not limited by human circumstances.
  • Sarah's Pivotal Role: For the first time, God explicitly states that the promised heir will come through Sarah, not Hagar or any other woman. Her name change to "Sarah" (princess) in the preceding verse (Genesis 17:15) emphasizes her royal destiny and the significant role she would play in God's redemptive plan.
  • Mother of Nations and Kings: The promise that she would be "a mother of nations" and that "kings of people shall be of her" is a powerful expansion of the covenant. It signifies not just a numerous progeny, but also a lineage of influence, authority, and leadership, including the line leading to the Messiah. This promise foreshadows the future kings of Israel and ultimately, the King of kings.
  • Miraculous Provision: The birth of Isaac, as promised here, is a testament to God's ability to do the impossible (Genesis 21:2). It required both Abraham's and Sarah's faith, despite their initial reactions of disbelief and laughter.

Linguistic Insights

The Hebrew word for "bless" used here is barak (ื‘ึธึผืจึทืšึฐ), which implies divine favor, empowerment, and prosperity. When God declares "I will bless her," it signifies a profound impartation of grace and ability, especially in overcoming her barrenness. The term "nations" is goyim (ื’ึผื•ึนื™ึดื), referring to peoples or ethnic groups, while "kings" is melakim (ืžึฐืœึธื›ึดื™ื), highlighting the royal lineage that would descend from her. The repetition of "I will bless her" emphasizes the certainty and divine initiative of this promise.

Practical Application

Genesis 17:16 offers profound encouragement for believers today. It reminds us that:

  • God is a Promise-Keeper: Even when circumstances seem impossible or human efforts fail, God's promises stand firm. We can trust His word to be fulfilled in His perfect timing.
  • God Uses the Unlikely: Sarah's barrenness and old age made her an unlikely candidate for the mother of nations. This teaches us that God often chooses the weak or overlooked to accomplish His mighty purposes, demonstrating that the glory belongs to Him alone.
  • Expect the Miraculous: This verse invites us to have faith in God's ability to do what seems humanly impossible. It encourages us to pray boldly and to believe for breakthroughs in areas where we might feel limited or barren.
  • Our Lineage Matters to God: While not all of us will literally be mothers of nations, this verse highlights the significance God places on family and lineage, and how He works through generations to fulfill His grand design for humanity.
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Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated โ€” the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • Genesis 35:11 (5 votes)

    And God said unto him, I [am] God Almighty: be fruitful and multiply; a nation and a company of nations shall be of thee, and kings shall come out of thy loins;

  • Isaiah 49:23 (3 votes)

    And kings shall be thy nursing fathers, and their queens thy nursing mothers: they shall bow down to thee with [their] face toward the earth, and lick up the dust of thy feet; and thou shalt know that I [am] the LORD: for they shall not be ashamed that wait for me.

  • Genesis 17:6 (3 votes)

    And I will make thee exceeding fruitful, and I will make nations of thee, and kings shall come out of thee.

  • Genesis 18:10 (2 votes)

    And he said, I will certainly return unto thee according to the time of life; and, lo, Sarah thy wife shall have a son. And Sarah heard [it] in the tent door, which [was] behind him.

  • Genesis 18:14 (2 votes)

    Is any thing too hard for the LORD? At the time appointed I will return unto thee, according to the time of life, and Sarah shall have a son.

  • Romans 9:9 (2 votes)

    For this [is] the word of promise, At this time will I come, and Sara shall have a son.

  • Genesis 24:60 (2 votes)

    And they blessed Rebekah, and said unto her, Thou [art] our sister, be thou [the mother] of thousands of millions, and let thy seed possess the gate of those which hate them.