Genesis 17:4 kjv
As for me, behold, my covenant is with thee, and thou shalt be a father of many nations.
Genesis 17:4 nkjv
"As for Me, behold, My covenant is with you, and you shall be a father of many nations.
Genesis 17:4 niv
"As for me, this is my covenant with you: You will be the father of many nations.
Genesis 17:4 esv
"Behold, my covenant is with you, and you shall be the father of a multitude of nations.
Genesis 17:4 nlt
"This is my covenant with you: I will make you the father of a multitude of nations!
Genesis 17 4 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Gen 12:2 | "I will make of you a great nation..." | First call, initial promise of great nation. |
| Gen 13:16 | "...I will make your offspring as the dust of the earth..." | Promise of uncountable physical descendants. |
| Gen 15:5 | "...Look toward heaven, and count the stars, if you are able to count them.’ Then he said to him, ‘So shall your offspring be.’” | Promise of innumerable offspring, divine oath. |
| Gen 17:5 | "No longer shall your name be called Abram, but your name shall be Abraham, for I have made you the father of a multitude of nations." | Direct continuation, reason for name change. |
| Gen 17:6 | "I will make you exceedingly fruitful, and I will make nations of you, and kings shall come from you." | Expansion of fruitfulness and national impact. |
| Gen 22:17 | "...I will surely bless you, and I will surely multiply your offspring as the stars of heaven and as the sand that is on the seashore..." | Reaffirmation of blessings and multitude after testing. |
| Exod 32:13 | "Remember Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, your servants, to whom you swore by your own self, and said to them, ‘I will multiply your offspring as the stars of heaven..." | God remembers His covenant with Abraham. |
| Deut 1:10 | "The LORD your God has multiplied you, so that today you are as the stars of heaven for multitude." | Partial physical fulfillment to Israel. |
| Isa 41:8-9 | "But you, Israel, my servant, Jacob whom I have chosen, the offspring of Abraham, my friend..." | Israel's identity tied to Abraham. |
| Isa 51:2 | "Look to Abraham your father and to Sarah who bore you; for he was but one when I called him, that I might bless him and multiply him." | God's power in calling one to become many. |
| Psa 105:8-10 | "He remembers his covenant forever, the word that he commanded, for a thousand generations... the covenant that he made with Abraham..." | God's everlasting faithfulness to the covenant. |
| Ezek 16:3 | "Your origin and your birth were in the land of the Canaanites; your father was an Amorite, and your mother a Hittite." | Highlighting Abraham's humble origins contrasting with God's grand promise. |
| Rom 4:11 | "...the father of all who believe..." | Abraham as the spiritual father through faith for the uncircumcised. |
| Rom 4:13 | "For the promise to Abraham and his offspring that he would be heir of the world did not come through the law but through the righteousness of faith." | Covenant through faith, not law, universal heirship. |
| Rom 4:16-17 | "...that he might be the father of all who believe—not only those who are of the circumcision but also those who are of the faith of Abraham. As it is written, “I have made you the father of many nations”—in the presence of the God in whom he believed, who gives life to the dead and calls into existence things that do not exist." | Abraham as spiritual father of many nations, Gentile inclusion, God's power to create. |
| Gal 3:7-9 | "Know then that it is those of faith who are the sons of Abraham... God would justify the Gentiles by faith, preached the gospel beforehand to Abraham, saying, 'In you shall all the nations be blessed.' So then, those who are of faith are blessed along with Abraham, the man of faith." | Gentiles become spiritual children of Abraham through faith. |
| Gal 3:29 | "And if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s offspring, heirs according to promise." | Christian believers are true Abrahamic heirs. |
| Heb 6:13-14 | "For when God made a promise to Abraham, since he had no one greater by whom to swear, he swore by himself, saying, 'Surely I will bless you and multiply you.'" | God's unbreakable oath guarantees the promise. |
| Heb 11:11-12 | "By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac... So from one man, and him as good as dead, were born descendants as many as the stars of heaven and as many as the innumerable grains of sand by the seashore." | Abraham and Sarah's faith in God's promise against odds. |
| Rev 7:9 | "After this I looked, and behold, a great multitude that no one could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb..." | Ultimate fulfillment of "multitude of nations" in global worship. |
| Gen 25:12-16 | "These are the generations of Ishmael, Abraham's son... twelve princes according to their tribes." | Physical fulfillment of "nations" through Ishmael's line. |
| Gen 36:1, 9-10 | "These are the generations of Esau... these are the generations of Esau, the father of Edom... these are the names of the chiefs of Esau." | Physical fulfillment of "nations" through Esau's line. |
Genesis 17 verses
Genesis 17 4 Meaning
Genesis 17:4 declares God's solemn and unwavering promise to Abram, stating His established covenant and defining Abram's future role as the progenitor not merely of a numerous family but of a vast array of distinct peoples and ethnic groups. This verse marks a pivotal moment, reconfirming and expanding upon earlier covenantal promises, emphasizing divine initiative and an astonishing, seemingly impossible, future for an old, childless man.
Genesis 17 4 Context
Genesis 17 opens 13 years after Abram, despairing of having an heir through Sarai, had a child, Ishmael, with Hagar (Gen 16). At 99 years old, Abram is near the end of his reproductive life, and Sarai is 89 and still barren. This period of waiting and human striving underscores the miraculous nature of God's renewed appearance and declaration. God reveals Himself as El Shaddai, God Almighty, emphasizing His power to fulfill what seems impossible. This chapter introduces circumcision as the physical sign of the covenant, solidifying its continuity and signifying a sacred identity. The promise of Gen 17:4 serves as the foundation for the pivotal name change from Abram ("exalted father") to Abraham ("father of a multitude"), clearly defining his new identity and destiny in light of God's sovereign decree. The historical-cultural context of the Ancient Near East included powerful kings making treaties with lesser rulers (suzerain-vassal treaties), but God's covenant with Abraham is overwhelmingly one-sided in its grace and promises, challenging the self-reliance and polytheistic fertility cults prevalent at the time.
Genesis 17 4 Word analysis
- As for me (אֲנִי, 'ani): This opening Hebrew word is an emphatic first-person pronoun, meaning "I, myself." It underscores God's absolute initiative and sovereignty in establishing and upholding the covenant. The covenant does not depend on Abram's strength or worthiness, but entirely on God's divine character and will.
- behold (הִנֵּה, hineh): This interjection commands immediate attention, signaling a solemn and certain declaration. It emphasizes the truth and weightiness of the pronouncement that follows, ensuring Abram (and the reader) fully grasps the divine revelation. It conveys certainty and imminence.
- my covenant (בְּרִיתִי, beriti): Berit means "covenant" or "solemn agreement." The possessive suffix "-i" means "my." This highlights that it is God's covenant, authored and defined by Him. It signifies a binding commitment, a solemn oath from the Creator to His chosen servant, carrying profound theological significance as the foundation of God's plan of redemption.
- is with you (אִתָּךְ, ittakh): "With you" explicitly designates Abram as the immediate recipient and central figure through whom the covenantal promises will flow. While personally directed to Abram, it implies a ripple effect through him to future generations.
- and you (וְאַתָּה, v'attah): The conjunction "and" links this new declarative statement directly to the preceding covenant declaration. The emphatic "you" (singular, referring to Abram) continues the direct, personal address, emphasizing the transformation that will occur in him.
- shall be (הָיִיתָ, hayita): This is a Hebrew perfect tense verb, "you have become" or "you are." In this prophetic context, it's a declarative or prophetic perfect, signifying a future event so certain from God's perspective that it is spoken of as already accomplished or firmly established. It eliminates any doubt about the fulfillment.
- the father (אַב־, av-): "Father" here implies not merely a biological parent but a progenitor, patriarch, and source of origin. It designates Abraham's foundational role for a vast lineage.
- of a multitude (הָמוֹן, hamon): This term signifies a great number, an abundance, a vast throng, or even a tumult. It indicates an overwhelming and countless quantity, far beyond a mere "large family." This word hints at an expansive reach.
- of nations (גּוֹיִם, goyim): Goyim is the plural form of goy, meaning "nations," "peoples," or "ethnic groups." This is crucial, as it transcends the idea of merely a single, numerous people (like Israel) and explicitly points to diverse groups from various places. This prophecy foresaw Abraham's spiritual fatherhood extending beyond physical Israel to encompass believers from every nation on earth.
Words-Group Analysis:
- "As for me, behold, my covenant is with you": This powerful opening phrase underscores the unilateral and sovereign nature of the Abrahamic covenant. It is God's promise, initiated and maintained by Him. The certainty indicated by "behold" stresses the immutable character of God's commitment. This directly addresses any human doubt or past attempts at self-fulfillment (like Hagar).
- "and you shall be the father of a multitude of nations": This declaration is the core content of the promise for Abram's identity. The combination of "father," "multitude," and "nations" elevates Abram's status beyond merely being a national founder. It speaks to an unprecedented demographic and geopolitical impact. The term "nations" (goyim) directly foreshadows the eventual inclusion of non-Israelite peoples into the blessing derived from Abraham through Christ, extending his spiritual progeny across the globe.
Genesis 17 4 Bonus section
The specific phrasing of "father of a multitude of nations" (אַב־הָמוֹן גּוֹיִם, av hamon goyim) also cleverly ties into the very sound and meaning of Abraham's new name, "Abraham." While "Abram" meant "exalted father," "Abraham" doesn't have a clear direct etymology from within Hebrew itself in the same way. However, it sounds like a combination of av (father) and hamon (multitude/throng). This phonetic resonance between the name and the prophecy reinforces the divinely ordained purpose for Abram's life. The change of name is not just symbolic but prescriptive, confirming and cementing the reality of the promised future into his very identity. It speaks to a divine decree that fundamentally redefines who he is, and how he will be remembered. This immediate linguistic connection emphasizes that God’s promises are intentional, purposeful, and embedded in every detail of His unfolding plan.
Genesis 17 4 Commentary
Genesis 17:4 captures the profound shift in Abram's identity and God's plan for humanity. God, introducing Himself as "El Shaddai," God Almighty, powerfully affirms that He is the sole architect and sustainer of the covenant. The declaration, "my covenant is with you," underscores that this is a divine initiative, rooted in God's immutable character and not contingent on human merit or performance. The explicit mention of "a multitude of nations" unveils the expansive nature of God's redemptive purpose, revealing that Abraham's progeny would not be confined to a single physical nation (Israel) but would encompass a vast, global spiritual family. This seemingly impossible promise given to an old, childless man highlights God's ability to act beyond human limitations and biological realities. It defies conventional wisdom and established norms of succession in the ancient world, pointing entirely to God's sovereign power. This covenantal promise serves as a foundational theological pillar, anticipating the gospel message of salvation for all peoples through faith, fulfilling God's original purpose for blessing the families of the earth through Abraham's "seed" (Gen 12:3), who is Christ (Gal 3:16). Abraham becomes a model of faith, believing in God who gives life to the dead and calls into existence things that do not exist (Rom 4:17).