Genesis 17:1 kjv

And when Abram was ninety years old and nine, the LORD appeared to Abram, and said unto him, I am the Almighty God; walk before me, and be thou perfect.

Genesis 17:1 nkjv

When Abram was ninety-nine years old, the LORD appeared to Abram and said to him, "I am Almighty God; walk before Me and be blameless.

Genesis 17:1 niv

When Abram was ninety-nine years old, the LORD appeared to him and said, "I am God Almighty; walk before me faithfully and be blameless.

Genesis 17:1 esv

When Abram was ninety-nine years old the LORD appeared to Abram and said to him, "I am God Almighty; walk before me, and be blameless,

Genesis 17:1 nlt

When Abram was ninety-nine years old, the LORD appeared to him and said, "I am El-Shaddai ? 'God Almighty.' Serve me faithfully and live a blameless life.

Genesis 17 verses

Genesis 17 1 Meaning

Genesis 17:1 marks a pivotal moment in the Abrahamic covenant. After a thirteen-year period of divine silence following Abram’s attempt to fulfill God's promise through Hagar, God reappears to Abram. This verse initiates a profound renewal and expansion of the covenant. God introduces Himself by a new name, El Shaddai (Almighty God), emphasizing His supreme power and all-sufficiency to fulfill His promises, particularly concerning offspring and a great nation, even in seemingly impossible circumstances due to Abram’s advanced age. In response to God's renewed covenant initiative and powerful self-disclosure, Abram is called to a deeper commitment of faith and obedience, expressed as "walk before Me and be blameless," signifying a life lived in conscious awareness of God's presence, marked by integrity and devotion.

Genesis 17 1 Context

Genesis 17:1 follows a thirteen-year gap from Genesis chapter 16. In chapter 16, Abram, influenced by Sarai, took Hagar as his concubine to produce an heir, resulting in the birth of Ishmael. This act demonstrated a lack of complete trust in God's miraculous promise and a reliance on human initiative. The subsequent divine silence serves as a poignant underscore of this misstep. Chapter 17 opens with God breaking this silence, appearing to a now 99-year-old Abram, reaffirming His covenant and elaborating on its terms. This timing highlights God's sovereignty and His unwavering commitment to His covenant, even when human attempts fall short or stray. Historically, the passage underscores the unique nature of Israel's God, distinct from the polytheistic and fertility cults of the ancient Near East where human intervention and diverse deities were believed necessary for conception. God’s self-revelation as El Shaddai directly confronts these prevailing beliefs, declaring His sole and sufficient power over life and procreation.

Genesis 17 1 Word analysis

• When Abram was ninety-nine years old:

  • "ninety-nine years old": Significance of age. This advanced age underscores the natural impossibility of having a child with Sarai (Gen 18:11-12, Rom 4:19). It emphasizes that the promised heir will be purely a work of divine power, not human capability. It also highlights the 13-year silence since Ishmael's birth (Gen 16:16), indicating a period of divine waiting or preparation.

• the LORD appeared to Abram:

  • "the LORD" (YHWH / יהוה): The personal, covenant name of God. This indicates a deeply relational and covenantal encounter. While El Shaddai (God Almighty) is revealed here, the one appearing is YHWH, highlighting the continuity and development of His self-revelation.
  • "appeared" (nireh / נִרְאָה): A Qal Nifal (passive/reflexive) verb from ra'ah (to see). Indicates a divine initiative; God made Himself visible or manifest to Abram. This is a theophany, a direct manifestation of God. It signifies the immediacy and authority of God’s presence.

• and said to him:

  • "said to him": A direct, personal communication from God. It highlights the divine prerogative to speak and command. This is not a vision or dream, but a direct verbal encounter.

• “I am Almighty God (אֲנִי־אֵ֥ל שַׁדַּ֖י / Ani-El Shaddai):

  • "I am" (Ani / אֲנִי): Emphatic personal pronoun, asserting God's identity and authority.
  • "Almighty God" (El Shaddai / אֵל שַׁדַּי): A significant divine name revealed specifically here.
    • "El" (אֵל): Generic word for God, signifying power and might, the strong One.
    • "Shaddai" (שַׁדַּי): The exact derivation is debated, but common interpretations point to "sufficiency," "power," "mountains" (implying strength/immutability), or "breasts" (implying sustenance/nourishment). The most accepted understanding is "God, the All-Sufficient One" or "God, the All-Powerful One." It signifies God's boundless ability to accomplish His will, provide, sustain, and overcome all obstacles, especially concerning the fruitfulness Abram longed for. This revelation directly counters any reliance on human strength or pagan deities for fertility and fulfillment of promises.

• walk before Me:

  • "walk" (hithalekh / הִתְהַלֵּךְ): A Hithpael (reflexive/reciprocal) verb, meaning "to walk continually, habitually, to live one's life." Not merely a physical act but a manner of life, a lifestyle.
  • "before Me" (lifnai / לְפָנַי): Literally "before My face/presence." It implies living in constant awareness of God's scrutiny and presence. It means to conduct one's life in open relationship with God, living consciously under His eye, pleasing to Him in all aspects. This calls for integrity, obedience, and dependence on Him, not self-sufficiency or following one's own desires.

• and be blameless":

  • "be" (hyeh / הֱיֵה): Imperative, a direct command to become and remain.
  • "blameless" (tamim / תָּמִים): Often translated as perfect, complete, whole, sound, innocent, sincere. It refers not to sinless perfection (which is impossible for humans) but to a genuine, undivided devotion and integrity of heart toward God. It signifies completeness of spiritual commitment, absence of hidden motives, and a consistent effort to live according to God's will. It also carries the connotation of a "whole" or "unblemished" sacrificial animal, symbolizing an acceptable offering of one's life to God.

• Words-group Analysis:

  • "I am Almighty God; walk before Me and be blameless": This phrase forms the essence of God's charge to Abram. God's declaration of who He is (the Almighty, All-Sufficient God) precedes and forms the foundation for what Abram is to do (walk faithfully and with integrity). It’s a covenant demand based on God’s character. His power (El Shaddai) guarantees His promises, and this demands a reciprocal wholehearted response from Abram.

Genesis 17 1 Bonus section

• The thirteen-year gap between Gen 16 and Gen 17 is notable for its silence. Many scholars interpret this period as a time for Abram to reflect on his actions concerning Ishmael, to learn patience, and to truly rely on God alone, preparing him for the deeper commitment required in Gen 17.
• The covenant relationship outlined in Gen 17:1 is often paralleled with the suzerain-vassal treaties of the Ancient Near East. Here, God (the Suzerain) establishes the terms and promises, while Abram (the vassal) is required to maintain fidelity ("walk before Me and be blameless").
• The transition from Abram (exalted father) to Abraham (father of a multitude) in verse 5 immediately after this profound encounter underscores the transformational power of God's covenant and His re-declaration of identity and expectation. This change of name, along with Sarai becoming Sarah, signifies a new identity linked directly to God's renewed promise and the future generation.

Genesis 17 1 Commentary

Genesis 17:1 acts as the renewed foundational promise upon which the rest of the Abrahamic covenant unfolds. God's appearance after a period of silence emphasizes His steadfastness despite human failure. His self-revelation as El Shaddai ("Almighty God" or "God All-Sufficient") is profoundly significant. This title highlights God's unique ability to bring life out of barrenness and achieve His purposes, serving as a powerful polemic against the regional polytheistic beliefs in limited or specialized deities. He alone is the source of fruitfulness and power. The command to "walk before Me and be blameless" outlines the reciprocal human responsibility within this renewed covenant. "Walking before God" implies a continuous, conscious acknowledgment of God’s presence, living in a manner pleasing to Him, characterized by constant obedience and reverent awareness. To be "blameless" signifies not sinless perfection, but an unwavering and undivided heart of integrity, sincerity, and devotion. This holistic commitment to God is the fitting response to the All-Powerful and All-Sufficient God who unconditionally gives promises even when human efforts fail. It sets the stage for a deeper relationship and the eventual fulfillment of the covenant through Isaac.