Genesis 17:20

KJV

And as for Ishmael, I have heard thee: Behold, I have blessed him, and will make him fruitful, and will multiply him exceedingly; twelve princes shall he beget, and I will make him a great nation.

KJV (with Strong's)

And as for Ishmael {H3458}, I have heard thee {H8085}: Behold, I have blessed {H1288} him, and will make him fruitful {H6509}, and will multiply {H7235} him exceedingly {H3966}{H3966}; twelve {H6240}{H8147} princes {H5387} shall he beget {H3205}, and I will make him {H5414} a great {H1419} nation {H1471}.

Complete Jewish Bible

But as for Yishma'el, I have heard you. I have blessed him. I will make him fruitful and give him many descendants. He will father twelve princes, and I will make him a great nation.

Berean Standard Bible

As for Ishmael, I have heard you, and I will surely bless him; I will make him fruitful and multiply him greatly. He will become the father of twelve rulers, and I will make him into a great nation.

American Standard Version

And as for Ishmael, I have heard thee: behold, I have blessed him, and will make him fruitful, and will multiply him exceedingly; twelve princes shall he beget, and I will make him a great nation.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Genesis 17:20 presents God's gracious and sovereign response to Abraham's heartfelt intercession for Ishmael, assuring him of substantial divine blessings despite the primary covenant promise being established through Isaac. This pivotal verse reveals God's expansive mercy and faithfulness, pledging to make Ishmael exceedingly fruitful, multiply his descendants, raise twelve princes from his lineage, and ultimately establish him as a great nation, thereby demonstrating the breadth of divine care that extends beyond the immediate covenant line.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse is deeply embedded within the narrative of the Abrahamic covenant's reaffirmation and expansion in [Genesis chapter 17](/genesis/17 "Genesis 17 - The Covenant with Abraham"). Prior to this verse, God has appeared to Abraham (formerly Abram) at 99 years old, establishing circumcision as the sign of the covenant and changing his name to Abraham ("father of many nations"). Crucially, God explicitly promises Abraham and Sarah a son, Isaac, through whom the covenant will be established and perpetuated ([Genesis 17:15-19](/genesis/17-15-19 "God's promise of Isaac")). Abraham, out of paternal love and concern for Ishmael, his son by Hagar, interjects with a plea in [Genesis 17:18](/genesis/17-18 "Abraham's prayer for Ishmael"), "O that Ishmael might live before thee!" Verse 20 is God's direct, comprehensive, and compassionate answer to this specific intercession, demonstrating His attentiveness to Abraham's prayers even as He clarifies the distinct paths of Isaac and Ishmael.

* **Historical & Cultural Context:** In the ancient Near East, lineage and progeny were paramount, signifying a man's legacy, wealth, and status. The concept of a "great nation" was tied to numerical strength, military power, and territorial influence. The practice of having children through a servant if the primary wife was barren (as with Hagar and Ishmael) was a culturally accepted, though often problematic, means of securing an heir. However, God's promise of a son through Sarah, despite her advanced age, defied natural and cultural expectations, highlighting the miraculous and sovereign nature of His covenant. Ishmael's future as a "great nation" would resonate with Abraham's understanding of national identity and power, even as it distinguished Ishmael's destiny from the unique redemptive purpose of Isaac's lineage.

* **Key Themes:** [Genesis chapter 17](/genesis/17 "Genesis 17 - The Covenant and Circumcision") is rich with theological themes that [Genesis 17:20](/genesis/17-20 "God's promise concerning Ishmael") contributes to. Firstly, it underscores the theme of **God's Faithfulness to His Promises**, demonstrating that God fulfills His word, even when it extends beyond the immediate covenant line. Secondly, the verse highlights **Divine Sovereignty**, showing God's absolute control over the destinies of individuals and nations, orchestrating their growth and development. Thirdly, it reveals the **Expansiveness of God's Grace and Mercy**, as He extends significant blessings to Ishmael, who is not the covenant heir, in response to Abraham's prayer. This distinguishes between God's specific redemptive covenant (through Isaac) and His broader, common grace that sustains and blesses all humanity. Finally, it foreshadows the **Origin of Nations**, setting the stage for the future development of both the Israelite nation through Isaac and the Arab peoples through Ishmael, all under God's providential care.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
God’s response in [Genesis 17:20](/genesis/17-20 "God's promise concerning Ishmael") is a profound testament to His attentiveness, sovereignty, and multifaceted grace. It is a direct and compassionate answer to Abraham’s intercession, revealing the depth of divine care.

#### Key Word Analysis
* **blessed (Hebrew, _bârak'_):** H1288 (bârak) is a primitive root meaning "to kneel; by implication to bless God (as an act of adoration), and (vice-versa) man (as a benefit)." Here, it signifies God bestowing favor, prosperity, and well-being upon Ishmael. It implies a divine act of empowerment for flourishing, indicating God's active intention for Ishmael's good.
* **multiply (Hebrew, _râbâh'_):** H7235 (râbâh) is a primitive root meaning "to increase (in whatever respect)." Its use here, especially when paired with "exceedingly" (H3966, _mᵉʼôd_), emphasizes a vast and abundant increase in Ishmael's descendants. This promise of exponential growth is a hallmark of God's covenant blessings, signifying a large and thriving lineage.
* **great nation (Hebrew, _gâdôwl goy'_):** H1419 (gâdôwl) means "great (in any sense)" and H1471 (gôwy) refers to "a foreign nation" or "a Gentile." The combination signifies a people of significant size, influence, and prominence. This promise assures Ishmael's descendants of a distinct national identity and considerable stature among the peoples of the earth, mirroring the language used for Abraham's primary covenant line.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"And as for Ishmael, I have heard thee:"** This opening clause immediately affirms God's personal engagement with Abraham's heartfelt plea for his son. It underscores God's attentiveness to the prayers of His people, even when those prayers concern matters secondary to His ultimate redemptive plan. It is a direct divine affirmation of Abraham's paternal concern.
* **"Behold, I have blessed him, and will make him fruitful, and will multiply him exceedingly;"** This segment details the comprehensive nature of God's blessing upon Ishmael. The past tense "I have blessed him" indicates an ongoing or already established favor, while the future tense "will make him fruitful" and "will multiply him exceedingly" promises a vast and abundant increase in his progeny. The repetition of "exceedingly" (H3966, _mᵉʼôd_) emphasizes the extraordinary degree of this multiplication, signifying a large and thriving lineage.
* **"twelve princes shall he beget,"** This is a highly specific and remarkable prophecy. It directly parallels the future formation of the twelve tribes of Israel from Jacob (Isaac's son), highlighting God's sovereign ordering of nations and His detailed foreknowledge. This promise ensures that Ishmael's descendants will form distinct, organized, and influential groups, each led by a recognized leader.
* **"and I will make him a great nation."** This concluding promise encapsulates the overall destiny of Ishmael's lineage. The phrase "great nation" (H1419, _gâdôwl_ H1471, _gôwy_) signifies a people of considerable size, influence, and prominence. It is the same language used to describe the future of Abraham's descendants through Isaac ([Genesis 12:2](/genesis/12-2 "God's promise to Abraham")), underscoring the substantial nature of the blessing Ishmael would receive, foretelling the rise of the Arab peoples.

#### Literary Devices
The passage employs several significant literary devices. **Divine Address** is prominent, as God directly responds to Abraham's prayer, emphasizing His personal and relational nature. The use of **Repetition** in "exceedingly" (Hebrew: _mᵉʼôd mᵉʼôd_) serves as an intensive, highlighting the extraordinary abundance of the promised multiplication. There is clear **Parallelism** between the promises made to Ishmael (twelve princes, great nation) and those made to Isaac's lineage (twelve tribes, great nation), though with distinct covenantal implications. This parallelism underscores God's sovereign hand in the destinies of both lines. Furthermore, the passage functions as a **Prophecy**, detailing specific future outcomes for Ishmael's descendants, which would later be fulfilled in the biblical narrative and historical record, demonstrating God's foreknowledge and unwavering commitment to His word.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
[Genesis 17:20](/genesis/17-20 "God's promise concerning Ishmael") profoundly illustrates God's comprehensive sovereignty and the multifaceted nature of His grace. While the Abrahamic covenant's redemptive line is explicitly established through Isaac, God's compassionate response to Abraham's prayer for Ishmael demonstrates a broader, common grace that extends beyond the elect lineage. This passage affirms that God hears the prayers of His people, even those concerning individuals outside the immediate covenant promises, and that His blessings are not limited to the chosen few but can encompass all humanity in various forms. It also highlights the reliability of God's prophetic word, as the specific promises concerning Ishmael's descendants are meticulously fulfilled in subsequent history.

* [Genesis 21:13](/genesis/21-13 "God's promise to make a nation of Ishmael's son")
* [Genesis 25:12-16](/genesis/25-12-16 "The descendants of Ishmael")
* [Deuteronomy 2:5](/deuteronomy/2-5 "God's provision for the descendants of Esau")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
[Genesis 17:20](/genesis/17-20 "God's promise concerning Ishmael") offers profound encouragement and guidance for believers today. Firstly, it reassures us of God's attentiveness to our prayers. Even when our petitions may not align perfectly with His ultimate redemptive plan, God hears and often responds with tangible blessings, demonstrating His compassion and personal engagement with our concerns. Abraham's intercession for Ishmael, born of a father's love, was honored by God with a comprehensive promise of prosperity. Secondly, this verse powerfully illustrates the expansive nature of God's grace. It reminds us that God's goodness and blessings are not confined solely to those within a specific covenant or chosen lineage but extend broadly to all humanity, manifesting as common grace. This should cultivate a deeper trust in God's boundless mercy and encourage us to pray not only for ourselves and our immediate circle but for all people, recognizing God's universal care. It also serves as a historical and theological anchor, helping us understand the origins and destinies of diverse peoples within God's sovereign plan.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How does God's response to Abraham's prayer for Ishmael deepen your understanding of God's character, particularly His attentiveness and compassion?**
* **In what ways does this passage distinguish between God's specific redemptive covenant and His broader, common grace, and what implications does this have for how we view God's interaction with the world?**
* **Considering God's faithfulness to His promises concerning Ishmael, how does this strengthen your faith in God's promises for your own life or for the church?**

### FAQ
**Why did Abraham pray for Ishmael if Isaac was the promised son?**

Answer: Abraham's prayer in [Genesis 17:18](/genesis/17-18 "Abraham's prayer for Ishmael"), "O that Ishmael might live before thee!", arose from a deep, natural paternal love and concern for his existing son. Although God had just explicitly revealed His plan for Isaac to be the covenant heir, Abraham had lived for years believing Ishmael was the fulfillment of God's promise of a son. His prayer was a heartfelt expression of his desire for God's blessing and recognition upon Ishmael's life, demonstrating a compassionate heart that sought God's favor for all his children, even as he submitted to God's ultimate plan. This shows Abraham's humanity and God's gracious response to it.

**Does "great nation" for Ishmael diminish the promise to Isaac?**

Answer: No, the promise of a "great nation" for Ishmael ([Genesis 17:20](/genesis/17-20 "God's promise concerning Ishmael")) does not diminish the unique and distinct covenant promise made to Isaac. While both were indeed to become "great nations," the nature and purpose of their greatness differed significantly. Isaac's lineage was chosen to carry the specific redemptive covenant, through whom the Messiah would come and through whom all the families of the earth would ultimately be blessed ([Genesis 12:3](/genesis/12-3 "God's promise to Abraham")). Ishmael's blessing was one of common grace, national prosperity, and numerical strength, distinct from the redemptive covenant that would lead to Christ. God's ability to bless both demonstrates His expansive sovereignty and His multifaceted plan for humanity, without conflating their distinct roles in His overarching purposes.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
While [Genesis 17:20](/genesis/17-20 "God's promise concerning Ishmael") primarily describes God's common grace and sovereign ordering of nations, its Christ-centered fulfillment is found in the broader context of God's unwavering faithfulness to His promises, especially the Abrahamic covenant. The meticulous fulfillment of God's promises to Ishmael, even outside the direct covenant line, serves as a powerful testament to His absolute reliability in bringing about the greater, redemptive promises concerning Isaac, Jacob, and ultimately, the Messiah. Christ, as the true and ultimate "seed" of Abraham ([Galatians 3:16](/galatians/3-16 "The promise to Abraham's seed")), fulfills the spiritual promises of fruitfulness and multiplication, extending God's blessings not merely to a physical nation, but to a spiritual multitude from every tribe, tongue, people, and nation who believe in Him ([Revelation 7:9-10](/revelation/7-9-10 "The multitude before the throne")). In Christ, God's promise to make Abraham the "father of many nations" ([Genesis 17:4](/genesis/17-4 "Abraham, father of many nations")) finds its ultimate and most glorious fulfillment, as believers from all backgrounds are grafted into the spiritual family of God through faith in Him ([Romans 11:17-24](/romans/11-17-24 "The Wild Olive Shoot")).

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

Genesis 21:18

Arise, lift up the lad, and hold him in thine hand; for I will make him a great nation.

Genesis 21:13

And also of the son of the bondwoman will I make a nation, because he [is] thy seed.

Genesis 25:12

Now these [are] the generations of Ishmael, Abraham's son, whom Hagar the Egyptian, Sarah's handmaid, bare unto Abraham:

Genesis 25:18

And they dwelt from Havilah unto Shur, that [is] before Egypt, as thou goest toward Assyria: [and] he died in the presence of all his brethren.

Genesis 16:10

¶ And the angel of the LORD said unto her, I will multiply thy seed exceedingly, that it shall not be numbered for multitude.

Genesis 16:12

And he will be a wild man; his hand [will be] against every man, and every man's hand against him; and he shall dwell in the presence of all his brethren.