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.

Genesis 17:20 nkjv

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

Genesis 17:20 niv

And as for Ishmael, I have heard you: I will surely bless him; I will make him fruitful and will greatly increase his numbers. He will be the father of twelve rulers, and I will make him into a great nation.

Genesis 17:20 esv

As for Ishmael, I have heard you; behold, I have blessed him and will make him fruitful and multiply him greatly. He shall father twelve princes, and I will make him into a great nation.

Genesis 17:20 nlt

As for Ishmael, I will bless him also, just as you have asked. I will make him extremely fruitful and multiply his descendants. He will become the father of twelve princes, and I will make him a great nation.

Genesis 17 verses

Genesis 17 20 Meaning

Genesis 17:20 confirms God's compassionate response to Abraham's plea concerning Ishmael. While reaffirming that His specific covenant (especially concerning the covenant nation and spiritual lineage) would be established through Isaac (Gen 17:19, 21), God assures Abraham that He has heard his prayer regarding Ishmael. God then promises to bless Ishmael significantly, guaranteeing his immense fruitfulness, extraordinary multiplication, the raising of twelve influential leaders or "princes" from him, and the establishment of his descendants as a great and populous nation. This demonstrates God's sovereignty and His ability to bless beyond the chosen covenant line.

Genesis 17 20 Context

Genesis chapter 17 is a pivotal chapter that records God establishing the covenant of circumcision with Abraham, revealing deeper aspects of His promise. It immediately follows the narrative of Abraham attempting to fulfill God's promise through human means, leading to the birth of Ishmael through Hagar (Gen 16). In chapter 17, at age ninety-nine, Abraham receives a renewed, detailed, and expanded covenant promise from God (El Shaddai - God Almighty). God promises to make him the father of a "multitude of nations" (Gen 17:4), renames Abram to Abraham, and introduces circumcision as the sign of this eternal covenant. Critically, God clarifies that the specific heir through whom the covenant would continue is Isaac, to be born to Sarah (Gen 17:15-16). Abraham, in a moment of concern, intercedes for Ishmael, saying, "Oh that Ishmael might live before You!" (Gen 17:18). Verse 20 is God's direct, compassionate, and gracious answer to this specific prayer from Abraham, distinguishing His general blessings upon Ishmael from the specific covenant blessings reserved for Isaac.

Genesis 17 20 Word analysis

• As for Ishmael (וְיִשְׁמָעֵאל, və-yišmāʿēʾl): Literally, "and Ishmael." The conjunctive "and" links this statement to the preceding discussion about Isaac, showing it's an additional, separate pronouncement. Ishmael's name means "God hears" or "God will hear," which perfectly prefigures the divine statement that follows. His name serves as a prophetic utterance regarding God's attentiveness.
• I have heard you (שְׁמַעְתִּיךָ, šəmāʿtîḵā): From the verb šāmaʿ, meaning "to hear, listen, obey." This is a direct affirmation of God's responsiveness to Abraham's plea (Gen 17:18). It underscores God's personal relationship with His people and His willingness to answer specific requests, even those not directly pertaining to His central covenant.
• behold (הִנֵּה, hinnêh): An interjection signaling something important or immediate, drawing attention to the declaration that follows. It highlights the divine emphasis on the promised blessings.
• I have blessed him (בֵּרַכְתִּי, bêraḵtî): From bārakh, "to bless." This refers to a general, though profound, divine favor and prosperity, distinct from the specific spiritual, land, and nation promises of the Abrahamic covenant passed through Isaac. God’s blessing is a bestowal of good.
• and will make him fruitful (וְהִפְרֵיתִי, vəhip̄rêtî): From pārâ, "to be fruitful, bear fruit, cause to multiply." This reflects the general blessing given to humanity (Gen 1:28, 9:1), indicating a vast progeny and thriving existence. It’s an extension of His creative blessing.
• and will multiply him greatly (וְהִרְבֵּיתִי אֹתוֹ בִּמְאֹד מְאֹד, vəhirbêtî ʾōṯô bi̱mʾōḏ məʾōḏ): "And I will cause him to become numerous by very very much." Rābâ means "to multiply, become great in number." The phrase bi̱mʾōḏ məʾōḏ ("exceedingly, greatly, very, very much") intensifies the multiplication, promising a vast and innumerable population for Ishmael's descendants. This emphasizes the magnitude of the future nation.
• He shall father twelve princes (שְׁנֵים־עָשָׂר נְשִׂיאִם, šəneim-ʿāsār nəśîʾīm): Literally, "twelve leaders/chiefs." Nāśîʾ denotes a prince, chief, or head of a tribe. This specific number (twelve) directly parallels the twelve tribes that would descend from Jacob (Israel), hinting at a parallel, powerful, tribal structure for Ishmael's lineage, though outside the special covenant with Israel. It signifies political and social prominence.
• and I will make him into a great nation (וְנָתַתִּיו לְגוֹי גָּדוֹל, vənāṯattîw ləḡōy gāḏōl): "And I will make him into a great nation." Gôy means "nation, people," often referring to an ethnic group or a distinct body of people, particularly a gentile nation (non-Israelite). Gāḏôl means "great, large." This phrase gôy gāḏôl (great nation) is significant, as it's the very same terminology God used when first promising Abraham to make him into a great nation (Gen 12:2). Here, it applies to Ishmael, signifying a strong, populous, and established national identity, yet not holding the specific covenant promises reserved for Israel.

Words-group analysis:

• "I have heard you; behold, I have blessed him": This phrase beautifully illustrates God's grace and personal engagement. Despite His overarching plan, He stops to acknowledge Abraham’s specific human concern for his firstborn son. It highlights divine attentiveness.
• "make him fruitful and will multiply him greatly": This twofold description of population growth emphasizes exponential and widespread increase. It echoes foundational blessings given to mankind at creation and reinforces the divine power to create and sustain life on a grand scale.
• "He shall father twelve princes, and I will make him into a great nation": This paired promise outlines the socio-political structure and numerical power of Ishmael’s descendants. "Twelve princes" suggests organized tribal leadership and a recognized authority, mirroring the structure often seen in the ancient Near East. "Great nation" seals the promise of their collective influence and demographic might. This dual declaration fulfills the general promises concerning Abraham’s non-Isaac descendants and highlights the distinct, yet significant, lineage of Ishmael.

Genesis 17 20 Bonus section

• The naming of "Ishmael" ("God hears") prior to this specific request (Gen 16:11) retroactively validates the meaning of his name. God truly hears, and this verse is a prime demonstration.
• The promise of "twelve princes" is fulfilled in Gen 25:12-16, where Ishmael's twelve sons are named and identified as such. This highlights God's specific fulfillment of prophecies and promises.
• While a "great nation," the descendants of Ishmael (e.g., Arabs, historically) were not granted the covenant land or the specific spiritual inheritance bestowed upon Israel. This underscores the precise nature of God's covenants and His careful delineation of blessings.
• This verse counters any potential idea that God is uncaring about those not explicitly in the covenant line of Isaac. God's blessings extend broadly, demonstrating His universal rule and grace over creation and humanity.
• The interaction demonstrates a key principle of prayer: God hears, but His answer is always consistent with His broader perfect will, which includes both covenant blessings and general providential care.

Genesis 17 20 Commentary

Genesis 17:20 reveals a remarkable facet of God's character: His boundless compassion and faithfulness to all His word, even outside the primary redemptive covenant. When Abraham pleads for Ishmael, God could have remained silent, emphasizing Isaac alone. Instead, He actively confirms His intent to bless Ishmael, reinforcing earlier promises made to Hagar (Gen 16:10). This passage differentiates between two distinct streams of divine blessing. The covenant promise, with its profound spiritual, land, and redemptive implications, is explicitly confined to Isaac (Gen 17:21). However, the general blessing of prosperity, numerous progeny, and national prominence is unconditionally bestowed upon Ishmael.

This verse serves as a crucial theological boundary marker. It teaches that God is sovereign over all nations, not just His chosen covenant people. His benevolence extends widely, providing for the descendants of Ishmael with abundance and significance (evidenced later in Gen 25:12-16). This showcases God's justice and His hearing of prayer, demonstrating that no sincere plea of faith is ignored, even if the answer aligns with a broader divine plan rather than changing the fundamental covenant lineage. It reminds believers that God's plans are multi-faceted; while He elects a particular line for specific purposes, His grace and blessing can also be manifested globally.