Genesis 17:10 kjv
This is my covenant, which ye shall keep, between me and you and thy seed after thee; Every man child among you shall be circumcised.
Genesis 17:10 nkjv
This is My covenant which you shall keep, between Me and you and your descendants after you: Every male child among you shall be circumcised;
Genesis 17:10 niv
This is my covenant with you and your descendants after you, the covenant you are to keep: Every male among you shall be circumcised.
Genesis 17:10 esv
This is my covenant, which you shall keep, between me and you and your offspring after you: Every male among you shall be circumcised.
Genesis 17:10 nlt
This is the covenant that you and your descendants must keep: Each male among you must be circumcised.
Genesis 17 10 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Gen 12:2-3 | I will make of you a great nation... and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed. | Initial covenant promise of nation and blessing. |
| Gen 15:18 | On that day the LORD made a covenant with Abram, saying, "To your offspring I give this land..." | Formal establishment of the covenant and land promise. |
| Gen 17:7 | I will establish My covenant between Me and you and your descendants after you in their generations, for an everlasting covenant... | Defines the everlasting nature and parties of the covenant. |
| Gen 17:11 | You shall be circumcised in the flesh of your foreskin, and it shall be a sign of the covenant between Me and you. | Directly names circumcision as the sign. |
| Lev 12:3 | On the eighth day the flesh of his foreskin shall be circumcised. | Prescribes the specific timing for circumcision. |
| Deut 10:16 | Circumcise therefore the foreskin of your heart, and be no longer stubborn. | Introduces the concept of spiritual circumcision. |
| Deut 30:6 | The LORD your God will circumcise your heart and the heart of your offspring... | God's active role in spiritual transformation. |
| Josh 5:2-9 | ...the LORD said to Joshua, "Today I have rolled away the reproach of Egypt from you." | Mass circumcision upon entering the Promised Land. |
| Jer 4:4 | Circumcise yourselves to the LORD; remove the foreskins of your hearts, O men of Judah... | Call for internal spiritual renewal beyond physical sign. |
| Rom 2:28-29 | For no one is a Jew who is merely one outwardly... True circumcision is a matter of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the letter. | New Testament understanding of true circumcision. |
| Rom 4:11 | He received the sign of circumcision as a seal of the righteousness that he had by faith while he was still uncircumcised. | Abraham justified by faith before circumcision. |
| Gal 3:7 | Know then that it is those of faith who are the sons of Abraham. | Spiritual lineage replaces physical as primary. |
| Gal 3:29 | And if you are Christ's, then you are Abraham's offspring, heirs according to promise. | Defines heirship through Christ, not physical descent. |
| Gal 5:6 | For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision counts for anything, but only faith working through love. | Emphasizes the irrelevance of physical rites for salvation. |
| Gal 6:15 | For neither circumcision counts for anything, nor uncircumcision, but a new creation. | New creation in Christ as the true mark. |
| Eph 2:11 | Therefore remember that at one time you Gentiles in the flesh... were called "the uncircumcision" by what is called the "circumcision"... | Historical distinction between Jew and Gentile. |
| Col 2:11-12 | In Him also you were circumcised with a circumcision made without hands, by putting off the body of the flesh, by the circumcision of Christ... | Spiritual circumcision in Christ, not by human effort. |
| Phil 3:2-3 | Look out for the dogs, look out for the evil doers, look out for those who mutilate the flesh. For we are the circumcision, who worship God in Spirit. | Denounces reliance on physical circumcision for salvation. |
| Acts 7:8 | And He gave him the covenant of circumcision. And so Abraham became the father of Isaac, and circumcised him on the eighth day... | Stephen's summary highlights God's command to Abraham. |
| Acts 15:1, 10-11 | But some men came down from Judea and were teaching the brothers, "Unless you are circumcised according to the custom of Moses, you cannot be saved." | Debate on circumcision as a requirement for Gentile believers. |
| 1 Cor 7:19 | For neither circumcision counts for anything nor uncircumcision, but keeping the commandments of God. | Places emphasis on obedience to God's will. |
| Rev 7:4 | And I heard the number of the sealed, 144,000, sealed from every tribe of the sons of Israel. | Focus shifts to spiritual sealing/marking, not physical. |
Genesis 17 verses
Genesis 17 10 Meaning
Genesis 17:10 declares the specific outward sign of the covenant established between God and Abraham, which was to extend to all future generations. This divine pronouncement makes circumcision the definitive, physical mark distinguishing Abraham's lineage and their commitment to the Lord. It signifies a unique relationship with God, binding every male born into or joining the household to the terms and promises of the covenant.
Genesis 17 10 Context
Genesis 17 focuses entirely on God's renewed covenant with Abraham, establishing circumcision as its definitive physical sign. This chapter follows chapter 15 where God made a unilateral covenant with Abram, promising him countless descendants and the land. Chapter 16 details Sarah's plan leading to Ishmael's birth. Chapter 17 opens with God appearing to Abram at 99 years old, reiterating His promises (verse 1-8) and formally instituting the requirement of circumcision (verse 9-14). Verse 10 specifically articulates the central command, outlining who must undergo the rite ("every male") and who are the beneficiaries/participants of the covenant ("Me and you and your descendants"). Historically, covenants in the Ancient Near East often involved visible marks or symbols. However, the requirement of circumcision for every male, including household members, distinguished God's covenant with Abraham. This mark underscored exclusive belonging to the God of Israel and differentiated His people from surrounding nations.
Genesis 17 10 Word analysis
This is My covenant (זֹאת בְּרִיתִי, zot b'ritiy):
- This: Points directly to what follows, emphasizing its immediate relevance.
- is My covenant: B'ritiy (בריתי) means "My covenant," derived from b'rit (בְּרִית), a deeply significant Hebrew term. It signifies a solemn, binding agreement, oath, or treaty established by a superior party. In this context, it highlights God's initiation and supreme authority. This covenant is distinct from human contracts; it's divinely established, signifying God's sovereign pledge and demands upon His chosen people.
which you shall keep (אֲשֶׁר תִּשְׁמְרוּ, asher tishm'ru):
- which: Refers back to the covenant.
- you shall keep: From shamár (שָׁמַר), meaning "to guard," "observe," "obey," or "preserve." It conveys the responsibility laid upon Abraham and his descendants to faithfully uphold their part of the covenant. It is not merely a passive reception but an active observance.
between Me and you and your descendants after you:
- between Me and you: Reinforces the personal, direct relationship between God and Abraham.
- and your descendants after you: (וּבֵין זַרְעֲךָ אַחֲרֶיךָ, u-vein zar'akha akhareykha) Zera (זֶרַע) means "seed" or "descendants." This explicitly broadens the covenant's scope to include all future generations, making it a perpetual and familial obligation. It emphasizes continuity through lineage.
Every male among you shall be circumcised:
- Every male (כָּל זָכָר, kol zakhar): Universality within the designated group. Not limited to biological descendants of Abraham, but every male within his household, including those purchased (verse 12-13). This widens the immediate scope of participation.
- among you: Specifies the direct recipients and the sphere of the command – those connected to Abraham.
- shall be circumcised: (יִמּוֹל, yimmol) A passive verb form of mul (מול), meaning "to cut off" or "to circumcise." It is a surgical procedure involving the removal of the foreskin. This act is the sign (אוֹת, oth) of the covenant (verse 11), a permanent physical mark on the body. It distinguished the Israelite people, served as a perpetual reminder of their covenant identity, and underscored purity and separation unto God.
Genesis 17 10 Bonus section
The covenant presented in Genesis 17 is often understood as a 'conditional grant' in theological discussions. While the promises of God in the Abrahamic Covenant (land, numerous descendants, blessing) are ultimately unconditional, the sign of the covenant and the associated blessings of obeying the covenant had specific human requirements. Failure to circumcise would result in being "cut off from his people" (Gen 17:14), demonstrating that while the overarching promise rested on God's faithfulness, the individual's participation and continuation within the covenant community depended on their adherence to its prescribed mark.
The unique aspect of circumcision compared to other ANE practices, was not just its existence, but its command directly from God, its perpetual nature, its association with a singular God (YHWH), and its role as a visible identifier of God's chosen people distinct from all other nations. It was a clear demonstration of loyalty to Yahweh, and an act that required commitment, rather than something merely given at birth (as it also applied to household slaves). This covenant established a theological lineage, not merely a biological one, setting the stage for the unfolding of God's redemptive plan through Abraham's seed.
Genesis 17 10 Commentary
Genesis 17:10 unveils the specific and enduring emblem of the Abrahamic Covenant: male circumcision. This physical rite was not merely a cultural practice but a divine command, establishing a clear, bodily distinction for God's chosen people. It served as a constant reminder to every circumcised male, from his eighth day of life, that he belonged to God and was bound by His promises and expectations. This command reinforced the concept of a "set-apart" people, physically marked to carry God's blessings and embody His covenant on earth.
The inclusion of "your descendants after you" underscores the covenant's generational nature, solidifying its place as a foundational element of Israelite identity throughout history. The "every male" stipulation emphasized inclusivity within Abraham's household—both those born to him and those brought under his patriarchal authority—thereby creating a distinct, sacred community dedicated to the Lord. While the physical act itself was vital, later prophetic revelation (Deut 10:16; Jer 4:4) and New Testament theology (Rom 2:29; Col 2:11) would expand its meaning, emphasizing the need for an inner "circumcision of the heart" – a spiritual transformation necessary for genuine relationship with God and the true fulfillment of the covenant's purpose in Christ. This progression highlights that while physical signs serve their purpose in redemptive history, ultimate divine-human relationship transcends ritual and rests on inner faith and spiritual newness.