Genesis 17:27 meaning summary explained with word-by-word analysis enriched with context, commentary and Cross References from KJV, NIV, ESV and NLT.
Genesis 17:27 kjv
And all the men of his house, born in the house, and bought with money of the stranger, were circumcised with him.
Genesis 17:27 nkjv
and all the men of his house, born in the house or bought with money from a foreigner, were circumcised with him.
Genesis 17:27 niv
And every male in Abraham's household, including those born in his household or bought from a foreigner, was circumcised with him.
Genesis 17:27 esv
And all the men of his house, those born in the house and those bought with money from a foreigner, were circumcised with him.
Genesis 17:27 nlt
along with all the other men and boys of the household, whether they were born there or bought as servants. All were circumcised with him.
Genesis 17 27 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Gen 12:4 | So Abram went, as the Lord had told him... | Abram's immediate obedience to God's call. |
| Gen 14:14 | When Abram heard that his kinsman had been taken captive, he led forth his trained men, born in his house... | Indicates Abraham's large, established household. |
| Gen 17:1-2 | ...I am El Shaddai; walk before Me and be blameless. I will establish My covenant between Me and you... | Introduction of the covenant with God's promise. |
| Gen 17:9-10 | “As for you, you must keep My covenant, you and your descendants after you... Every male among you shall be circumcised." | The command for circumcision as the covenant sign. |
| Gen 17:12-13 | An eight-day-old male... every male throughout your generations, whether born in your house or bought with your money... must be circumcised... | God's specific command for inclusivity in circumcision. |
| Gen 17:23 | Then Abraham took Ishmael his son and all those born in his house... and circumcised them... the very same day... | Abraham's prompt obedience; a previous mention of circumcision. |
| Ex 12:44 | but every man's servant who is bought for money, when you have circumcised him, then he may eat of it. | Circumcision as a requirement for participating in Passover, illustrating inclusion of servants in religious rites. |
| Deut 6:6-7 | These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. Impress them on your children... | Responsibility of head of household for spiritual instruction. |
| Josh 5:2-9 | ...all the male Israelites... Joshua made flint knives and circumcised them... the place where the Lord rolled away the reproach of Egypt. | Covenant sign reenforced upon entry to the promised land. |
| Isa 56:3-6 | Let not the foreigner who has joined himself to the Lord say... eunuchs... foreigners... I will give them a place and a name better than sons and daughters. | God's ultimate inclusivity for those outside natural Israel. |
| Rom 2:28-29 | For no one is a Jew who is merely one outwardly... but a Jew is one inwardly... Circumcision is a matter of the heart, by the Spirit. | Spiritual meaning of circumcision beyond the physical. |
| Rom 4:3 | For what does the Scripture say? "Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness." | Basis of Abraham's standing with God – faith, which leads to obedience. |
| 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. | Circumcision as a sign of existing faith, not a means to it. |
| 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 of the covenant, confirming Abraham's act. |
| Gal 3:7-9 | Understand, then, that those who have faith are children of Abraham... and those who have faith are blessed along with Abraham... | Faith, not physical lineage, determines spiritual lineage from Abraham. |
| Gal 5:6 | For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision has any value. The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love. | New Covenant understanding of circumcision's relevance. |
| Gal 6:15 | For neither circumcision counts for anything, nor uncircumcision, but a new creation. | Emphasizes internal spiritual transformation. |
| Col 2:11 | In Him you were also circumcised with a circumcision made without hands, in the removal of the body of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ. | Christ's spiritual circumcision. |
| Heb 11:8 | By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to a place that he was to receive as an inheritance. | Highlight Abraham's obedient character. |
| 1 Pet 3:21 | Baptism... corresponds to this, saves you not as a removal of dirt from the body but as an appeal to God for a good conscience. | New Covenant sign, spiritual reality like circumcision. |
| John 15:1-5 | I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser... every branch that bears fruit He prunes... | Spiritual 'circumcision' of the heart, sanctification. |
Genesis 17 verses
Genesis 17 27 meaning
Genesis 17:27 concludes the account of Abraham's immediate and comprehensive obedience to God's command regarding circumcision. It explicitly states that every male in his household, regardless of whether they were born within his household or acquired from external sources through purchase, underwent circumcision simultaneously with Abraham. This act signifies the extension of the covenant sign to the entire patriarchal unit, emphasizing a complete commitment to the divine covenant within his domain.
Genesis 17 27 Context
Genesis 17:27 is the concluding verse of a pivotal passage (Genesis 17:9-27) detailing the establishment of the covenant of circumcision between God and Abraham. Prior to this verse, God has explicitly commanded Abraham to circumcise himself, his son Ishmael, and all males within his household as an everlasting sign of the covenant. This includes not only those born in his house but also those bought with money from any foreigner (Gen 17:12-13). The immediate preceding verses (Gen 17:23-26) describe Abraham's swift obedience: he circumcised Ishmael and all the male members of his household on that very day, highlighting the promptness and totality of his compliance. Verse 27 specifically re-emphasizes the inclusivity and completeness of this act, ensuring that no eligible male in his extensive patriarchal family unit was omitted from the covenant sign. This moment underscores Abraham's unwavering faith and commitment, translating God's abstract command into a concrete, painful, and comprehensive act of communal consecration, thereby setting the pattern for future generations of the covenant people.
Genesis 17 27 Word analysis
- And all the men:
וְכָל־אִישׁ(ve-chol-ish)וְכָל(ve-chol): "and all" or "every." This emphasizes comprehensiveness, indicating no one was excluded. It highlights the universality within Abraham's defined household.אִישׁ(ish): "man," "male person." Refers to individual males.- Significance: Stresses the absolute extent of the obedience within Abraham's responsibility.
- of his house:
בֵיתוֹ֙(be-tho)בַּיִת(bayit): "house," "household," "family." This refers not just to a dwelling but to the entire extended familial and dependency unit.- Significance: Denotes the patriarchal family structure, where the head's covenant responsibility extended to all members within his domain, including servants and dependants.
- born in the house:
יְלִ֣יד בָּ֔יִת(yelid bayit)יְלִ֖יד(yelid): "born."בַּ֥יִת(bayit): "house," "household."- Significance: Refers to slaves or servants who were born within the household, thus integrated members, possibly indicating long-term residency and closer relationship.
- and bought with money:
וּמִקְנַת־כָּ֑סֶף(u-miqnat-kasef)וּמִקְנַת(u-miqnat): "and bought."מִקְנַתmeans "acquisition," specifically "a purchase."כָּ֑סֶף(kasef): "silver," "money."- Significance: Refers to individuals who became servants or slaves through purchase. This broadens the scope beyond inherited household members to include those recently acquired. It shows that even foreigners brought into the household became part of its spiritual identity.
- of a stranger:
מֵאֵ֥ת זָֽר׃(me-et zar)מֵאֵת(me-et): "from," "from the hand of."זָֽר׃(zar): "stranger," "foreigner," "one not of kin."- Significance: Explicitly highlights that the purchased individuals could come from outside the Abrahamic lineage or cultural group, reinforcing the inclusive nature of the covenant sign within Abraham's extended family. It transcends birth status and national origin for those dwelling in Abraham's home.
- were circumcised with him:
וַיִּמֹּ֥לוּ אִתּֽוֹ׃(vayimalu itto)וַיִּמֹּלוּ(vayimalu): "and they were circumcised." A passive form, emphasizing the act done to them. The verb form implies completion and immediate action.אִתּֽוֹ׃(itto): "with him," meaning "with Abraham."- Significance: This phrase is crucial. It signifies the communal nature of the act. They were not merely circumcised but with Abraham, sharing in his obedience and, by extension, the covenant relationship under his authority. It implies a unified submission to God's command. This immediate performance underscores Abraham's absolute obedience and sets a precedent for household faith.
Genesis 17 27 Bonus section
The massive scale of this household circumcision event is notable. From Genesis 14:14, we know Abraham had "318 trained men, born in his house," suggesting his entire male retinue was extensive. Genesis 17:27 implies an even larger number, as it includes "bought with money of a stranger," meaning many individuals beyond his birth-born household staff. This underscores the immense faith and commitment required from Abraham to lead such a large-scale, painful, and deeply personal ritual, impacting hundreds of individuals. This communal embracing of the covenant sign, under the authority of Abraham, highlights a foundational truth: faith is often demonstrated not just in personal actions but in the spiritual governance and direction provided for one's entire household, making it a "church in the house." This immediate, total compliance serves as a powerful model of unreserved obedience to divine instruction.
Genesis 17 27 Commentary
Genesis 17:27 encapsulates the totality of Abraham's obedience following God's command to establish circumcision as the perpetual sign of His covenant. It meticulously emphasizes that the injunction applied not merely to Abraham and his direct descendants, but inclusively to every male within his considerable household. This includes the "born in the house," those long-term servants likely integrated into the household's social fabric, and the "bought with money of a stranger," individuals newly acquired or from outside the established family, representing an external addition. The inclusion of these varied categories demonstrates the pervasive nature of the covenant and Abraham's unwavering commitment to extending God's divine stipulations throughout his entire sphere of influence. This act transformed Abraham's large domestic unit into a distinct, circumcised community set apart by God. It prefigures the principle that God's people would comprise not only those by physical descent but also those brought in from outside, underscoring an expansive vision of covenant community. The pain and universality of the act solidified the household's identity under God, underscoring the spiritual responsibility of the head of the household for all within his care.