Genesis 17:19 kjv

And God said, Sarah thy wife shall bear thee a son indeed; and thou shalt call his name Isaac: and I will establish my covenant with him for an everlasting covenant, and with his seed after him.

Genesis 17:19 nkjv

Then God said: "No, Sarah your wife shall bear you a son, and you shall call his name Isaac; I will establish My covenant with him for an everlasting covenant, and with his descendants after him.

Genesis 17:19 niv

Then God said, "Yes, but your wife Sarah will bear you a son, and you will call him Isaac. I will establish my covenant with him as an everlasting covenant for his descendants after him.

Genesis 17:19 esv

God said, "No, but Sarah your wife shall bear you a son, and you shall call his name Isaac. I will establish my covenant with him as an everlasting covenant for his offspring after him.

Genesis 17:19 nlt

But God replied, "No ? Sarah, your wife, will give birth to a son for you. You will name him Isaac, and I will confirm my covenant with him and his descendants as an everlasting covenant.

Genesis 17 verses

Genesis 17 19 Meaning

Genesis 17:19 articulates God's unwavering intention regarding the heir of the Abrahamic covenant. It is a direct divine counter to Abraham's suggestion that Ishmael might be the promised son. God explicitly names Sarah as the mother of the covenant heir and reveals the child's name, Isaac. Crucially, it clarifies that the Abrahamic covenant, which is everlasting, will be established specifically through Isaac and his descendants, not through Ishmael. This emphasizes divine election and God's faithfulness in bringing His promises to pass in His own sovereign way.

Genesis 17 19 Context

Genesis chapter 17 is a pivotal chapter, detailing the reaffirmation and expansion of the Abrahamic covenant established previously in chapters 12 and 15. God appears to Abraham (then Abram) when he is ninety-nine years old, reinforcing the promise of numerous descendants and land. This covenant now includes the sign of circumcision for Abraham and his male descendants, signifying their special relationship with God. Amidst these grand declarations, God changes Abram's name to Abraham ("father of many nations") and Sarai's name to Sarah ("princess"). It is within this context, after promising Abraham that Sarah would be the mother of nations and kings, that Abraham questions, expressing concern for Ishmael (born through Hagar). Verse 19 directly addresses and corrects Abraham's human-centric view, unequivocally naming Isaac as the heir and outlining the divine plan for the everlasting covenant's continuation through him. Historically and culturally, a man choosing his heir from outside his wife, especially if his wife was barren, was common; Abraham's proposal regarding Ishmael stemmed from such custom. God's declaration, however, transcends and refutes these human norms, demonstrating divine sovereignty in fulfilling His promises in unexpected ways.

Genesis 17 19 Word analysis

• And God said, No, but Sarah thy wife shall bear thee a son indeed;

  • And God said: (וַיֹּאמֶר אֱלֹהִים, vayyomer Elohim). Signifies divine authority and direct communication. The phrase "Elohim" points to God's general creative and sovereign power.
  • No: (לֹא, lo). A forceful, absolute negation. This single word emphatically rejects Abraham's human desire (for Ishmael to be the covenant heir in Gen 17:18), asserting God's unchanging and precise will. It underscores God's sovereignty over human desires or perceived solutions.
  • but Sarah thy wife: (כִּי שָׂרָה אִשְׁתְּךָ, ki Sarāh isht’khah). The Hebrew "kî" here acts as an emphatic "indeed" or "surely," preceding Sarah's name. The specific naming of Sarah emphasizes her crucial, divinely ordained role despite her advanced age and barrenness. It counters societal expectations and Abraham's doubts, highlighting God's power to transcend natural limitations.
  • shall bear thee a son indeed;: (יֹלֶדֶת לְךָ בֵּן, yoledet lekha ben). The verb "yoledet" (bear) is a participle, indicating certainty and immediacy of action, a sure future. The phrase "ben lekha" (a son for you) stresses the direct paternal relationship and the personal nature of the gift to Abraham. This re-establishes that the promise will come directly through Abraham and Sarah, correcting Abraham's attempt to facilitate God's promise through Ishmael.

• and thou shalt call his name Isaac:

  • and thou shalt call his name Isaac: (וְקָרָאתָ אֶת־שְׁמוֹ יִצְחָק, veqara’ta et-sh'mo Yitschaq).
    • thou shalt call: Implies Abraham's active participation and acceptance of God's plan.
    • Isaac: (יִצְחָק, Yitschaq). Means "He laughs" or "laughter." This name is deeply significant, reflecting both Abraham's and Sarah's incredulous laughter at the prospect of bearing a child in old age (Gen 17:17, 18:12) but ultimately transforming that doubt into joyous laughter at God's faithfulness (Gen 21:6). It stands as a perpetual memorial to God's miraculous intervention and the joy that accompanies the fulfillment of divine promise. The name signifies that God's plan is surprising, humanly impossible, and ultimately brings profound joy.

• and I will establish my covenant with him for an everlasting covenant, and with his seed after him.

  • and I will establish my covenant: (וַהֲקִמֹתִי אֶת־בְּרִיתִי, va’haqimoti et-beriti). God affirms His agency in the covenant's continuity. The verb "haqimoti" means "I will establish" or "I will confirm/perform." This verb often signifies the literal "raising up" or fulfillment of a promise. It underscores that God alone guarantees the covenant's efficacy, not human effort or choice.
  • with him: Isaac is designated as the sole heir through whom the specific covenant promises will proceed. This is a divine declaration of election, specifically excluding Ishmael from this primary covenantal lineage, though Ishmael would receive blessings.
  • for an everlasting covenant: (לִבְרִית עוֹלָם, li’vrit ‘olam).
    • Everlasting (עוֹלָם, ‘olam): Implies perpetuity, extending throughout all ages. This covenant is not temporary or conditional upon human faithfulness but is an eternal commitment by God. Its implications extend into the New Covenant in Christ (Heb 13:20), indicating God’s continuous redemptive plan through history.
  • and with his seed after him: This phrase ensures the continuation of the covenant beyond Isaac, establishing a chosen lineage (Israel) through whom the promises of nationhood, land, and global blessing will be realized. Ultimately, this "seed" points singularly to Christ (Gal 3:16), in whom all covenant promises find their fulfillment for believers from all nations.

Genesis 17 19 Bonus section

The divine 'No' to Abraham's suggestion about Ishmael reveals a critical theological concept often missed: while Ishmael was blessed and became the father of a great nation (Gen 17:20; 21:13, 18), he was not the designated covenant heir through whom the promise of the everlasting covenant, especially the messianic lineage, would pass. This highlights the distinction between general blessings and specific covenant election, emphasizing God's prerogative to choose the means and vessels of His promises. It also foreshadows later divine choices within the family of Abraham's descendants (e.g., Jacob over Esau), demonstrating that natural primogeniture did not always determine the recipient of God's covenantal blessing. This pattern of divine selection based on God's purpose, rather than human merit or birth order, is a recurring theme in biblical history.

Genesis 17 19 Commentary

Genesis 17:19 is a concise yet powerful verse that acts as a divine turning point within the Abrahamic covenant narrative. It resolves Abraham's confusion and highlights several profound theological truths. Firstly, it unmistakably asserts God's absolute sovereignty in choosing and implementing His plans. When Abraham suggests Ishmael as the covenant heir (Gen 17:18), God's immediate "No" signifies that human presumption cannot redirect divine purpose. God's ways are not contingent upon human efforts or logical estimations, but stem from His perfect will (Isa 46:10).

Secondly, the verse emphasizes the miraculous nature of God's work. By declaring that Sarah, despite her barrenness and advanced age, would bear the son, God demonstrates His power to override natural limitations (Rom 4:18-21). The name Isaac, meaning "laughter," serves as a perpetual reminder of initial disbelief transforming into ultimate joy, proving that what seems impossible to humans is fully within God's capacity (Gen 21:6).

Finally, and most crucially, this verse specifies the line of covenant succession: "I will establish my covenant with him (Isaac) for an everlasting covenant, and with his seed after him." This election principle, where God sovereignly chooses one lineage over another for the purposes of His covenant, is vital for understanding Israel's identity and ultimately the pathway to Christ (Rom 9:6-9). The "everlasting" nature of this covenant ensures its permanence and fulfillment across generations, culminating in the spiritual "seed" which is Christ (Gal 3:16) and those who are in Him, fulfilling the promise of blessing for "all families of the earth." This verse therefore not only confirms Isaac's identity but also illuminates the selective, powerful, and enduring nature of God's covenant promises, ultimately pointing to His wider redemptive plan for humanity.