Genesis 17:21 kjv

But my covenant will I establish with Isaac, which Sarah shall bear unto thee at this set time in the next year.

Genesis 17:21 nkjv

But My covenant I will establish with Isaac, whom Sarah shall bear to you at this set time next year."

Genesis 17:21 niv

But my covenant I will establish with Isaac, whom Sarah will bear to you by this time next year."

Genesis 17:21 esv

But I will establish my covenant with Isaac, whom Sarah shall bear to you at this time next year."

Genesis 17:21 nlt

But my covenant will be confirmed with Isaac, who will be born to you and Sarah about this time next year."

Genesis 17 verses

Genesis 17 21 Meaning

Genesis 17:21 unequivocally declares God's firm resolve to establish His covenant not through Ishmael, as Abraham wished, but specifically through Isaac, the son promised miraculously to Abraham and Sarah in their old age. This verse confirms God's precise timing and His sovereign choice in fulfilling His redemptive plan through a specific lineage, highlighting the distinction between general divine blessings and the particular, salvific covenant.

Genesis 17 21 Context

Genesis chapter 17 is a pivotal chapter in the unfolding of the Abrahamic covenant. It begins with God appearing to Abraham (then Abram) when he was ninety-nine years old, re-establishing and expanding upon His earlier promises. God introduces the covenant of circumcision as an outward sign of this everlasting covenant between Himself and Abraham's descendants. It's in this chapter that God changes Abram's name to Abraham ("father of a multitude") and Sarai's name to Sarah ("princess"). Crucially, God announces that Sarah, despite her advanced age, will bear a son. Abraham's immediate response (v. 17-18) is laughter and a plea for Ishmael—his son by Hagar, already thirteen years old—to be the covenant heir. God acknowledges Ishmael with blessings (v. 20) but unequivocally distinguishes Ishmael's future from the specific covenant lineage. Genesis 17:21 serves as a definitive counterpoint to Abraham's human desire, making it crystal clear that the specific, central covenant would pass exclusively through the yet-to-be-born son, Isaac, demonstrating God's sovereign choice over human intervention or presumption. This declaration prepares the narrative for Isaac's miraculous birth and establishes the divine method of lineage that will ultimately lead to Christ.

Genesis 17 21 Word analysis

• But: (Hebrew: vav with a strong disjunctive force, וְ – conjunction wə, 'and, but')

  • Creates a sharp contrast, explicitly setting apart what follows from Abraham's desire for Ishmael. It means "yet" or "nevertheless," signaling a direct qualification to the previous verses where Ishmael's blessing was mentioned.

• My covenant: (Hebrew: bĕrîtî, בְּרִיתִי – "my covenant")

  • Bĕrît refers to a solemn, binding agreement, often initiated by God (a unilateral pact).
  • The possessive suffix "-i" (my) emphasizes divine ownership and initiative. It's God's established promise, not negotiable or subject to human alteration. This covenant specifically includes land, nationhood, God's personal presence, and a relationship that distinguishes Abraham's descendants.

• I will establish: (Hebrew: ʾaqîm, אָקִים – future form of qûm, 'to rise, stand up, establish, confirm')

  • Denotes God's active, intentional, and sure act. It implies firmness and immutability, that God alone will bring this to pass. It is not dependent on human effort or failing, but on God's omnipotence and faithfulness.

• with Isaac: (Hebrew: ʾet-yitsḥāq, אֶת־יִצְחָק – "with Isaac")

  • Names the precise and exclusive recipient of the covenant. This selection bypasses natural lines and emphasizes divine sovereignty.
  • Isaac's name means "he laughs" (from tsakhak), subtly echoing Sarah's earlier reaction of disbelief mixed with joy (Gen 18:12) and Abraham's laughter (Gen 17:17). This underlines the miraculous, humanly impossible nature of his birth.

• whom Sarah shall bear to you: (Hebrew: ʾăšer têled lĕkā Śārāh, אֲשֶׁר תֵּלֵד לְךָ שָׂרָה – "who Sarah shall bear to you")

  • Reiterates the seemingly impossible means of Isaac's birth, through an aged, barren Sarah. This reinforces that the promise is fully God's doing, not a result of Abraham's natural procreative ability or alternative human schemes (like Hagar).
  • Emphasizes the role of the promised wife, Sarah, over Hagar.

• at this appointed time next year: (Hebrew: bammoʿed hazzeh baššānâ hāʾaḥeret, בַּמּוֹעֵד הַזֶּה בַּשָּׁנָה הָאַחֶרֶת – "at the season/appointed time this in the year the other")

  • Moʿed (מּוֹעֵד) means an "appointed time" or "set season." This isn't a vague future but a specific, fixed, divinely determined point on the calendar.
  • The specificity ("this time next year") underlines God's precise control over all aspects of His plan, including time. It adds an element of certitude and anticipation.

• Words-group Analysis:

  • "But My covenant I will establish with Isaac": This phrase strongly countermands Abraham's expressed desire for Ishmael to be the covenant heir. It highlights God's sovereignty and precise choice in establishing His specific redemptive covenant through a divinely appointed individual, not through human preference or fleshly strength. It shows God's faithfulness to His unique plan for salvation history.
  • "whom Sarah shall bear to you at this appointed time next year": This entire phrase underlines the miraculous nature of Isaac's birth as God's doing alone, contrasting it sharply with humanly conceived solutions (Ishmael). The specific timeframe points to God's precision and unfailing reliability in fulfilling His promises exactly as and when He wills, removing any doubt from the minds of Abraham and Sarah (and the original audience). This timing also emphasizes that it will be a "son of promise" (born supernaturally), not merely a "son of flesh" (born naturally but outside God's chosen means).

Genesis 17 21 Bonus section

The insistence on "this appointed time next year" in Genesis 17:21 is significant. It ties directly into God's use of specific "appointed times" (mo'edim) throughout biblical history, which often signify divine intervention at a precise moment, foreshadowing God's ultimate intervention in the fullness of time (Gal 4:4) with the advent of Christ. This detail underscores God's control not only over who will be born but also when. It also serves as a polemic against pagan deities, who were often depicted as capricious or limited by fate; the God of Abraham demonstrates meticulous, purposeful planning and complete authority over time and biology. The contrast between general blessing upon Ishmael (representing natural fruitfulness) and the specific covenant with Isaac (representing miraculous fulfillment and election) highlights a crucial theological distinction. While God is gracious to all, His redemptive plan follows a divinely chosen, narrow path, often operating through the seemingly weak and impossible to demonstrate His unique power and wisdom.

Genesis 17 21 Commentary

Genesis 17:21 stands as a powerful declaration of God's unwavering resolve and precision in covenant fulfillment. Abraham had received profound promises concerning Isaac, including a multitude of nations and kings from him (Gen 17:16). Yet, upon hearing of a son from 90-year-old Sarah, Abraham's natural response was human reasoning: he laughed and immediately pleaded for Ishmael, a healthy 13-year-old son, to fulfill God's covenant promises (Gen 17:17-18). God graciously promised to bless Ishmael immensely, making him the father of twelve princes and a great nation (Gen 17:20), demonstrating His benevolent nature. However, Genesis 17:21 creates an unmistakable distinction with the emphatic "But My covenant." It unequivocally states that the specific, defining covenant – the covenant through which the Abrahamic promises of land, numerous seed, blessing for nations, and God's relationship as their God would specifically flow – would be established through Isaac alone.

This verse emphasizes several key theological truths:

1. God's Sovereignty: The choice of Isaac was purely God's, independent of human merit, age, or preference. God chose the "unlikely" means (aged Sarah) to underscore that the covenant's power resided solely in His faithfulness and miraculous intervention, not in human strength or natural ability.
2. Promise over Performance: Isaac's birth, timed precisely "next year," would be an act of divine power, a child of promise, not an outcome of human contrivance or "works" as Ishmael's birth had been (Gal 4:23). This principle resonates through scripture, where God's ultimate salvation plan unfolds not through human striving but through divine grace and sovereign choice.
3. Specificity of the Covenant Line: While God blesses all peoples and families (Gen 12:3), the redemptive covenant of blessing, culminating in Christ, would be channeled through a very specific lineage initiated through Isaac. This establishes a trajectory of redemptive history, distinguishing the "children of the promise" (Rom 9:8) from those born by natural means only. This focus ensures clarity regarding the path of blessing and highlights the miraculous nature of God's workings in His chosen people.

Practical examples from life reflecting this truth:

• Waiting patiently for God's perfect timing and method rather than attempting to force outcomes through our own strength or short-sighted solutions.
• Understanding that God's plans are always precise and certain, even when they seem impossible or contrary to our human logic.
• Recognizing that true blessings flow from God's covenant faithfulness, not from human efforts to achieve them independently.