Genesis 17 7

Genesis 17:7 kjv

And I will establish my covenant between me and thee and thy seed after thee in their generations for an everlasting covenant, to be a God unto thee, and to thy seed after thee.

Genesis 17:7 nkjv

And I will establish My covenant between Me and you and your descendants after you in their generations, for an everlasting covenant, to be God to you and your descendants after you.

Genesis 17:7 niv

I will establish my covenant as an everlasting covenant between me and you and your descendants after you for the generations to come, to be your God and the God of your descendants after you.

Genesis 17:7 esv

And I will establish my covenant between me and you and your offspring after you throughout their generations for an everlasting covenant, to be God to you and to your offspring after you.

Genesis 17:7 nlt

"I will confirm my covenant with you and your descendants after you, from generation to generation. This is the everlasting covenant: I will always be your God and the God of your descendants after you.

Genesis 17 verses

Genesis 17 7 meaning

This verse states God's unconditional promise to Abraham, reaffirming and expanding His covenant. It declares God's intent to establish a permanent and everlasting covenant, not just with Abraham himself, but extending to his descendants "throughout their generations." The core promise of this covenant is God's unwavering commitment "to be God to you and to your offspring after you," signifying a deeply intimate, possessive, and sustaining relationship. It lays the foundational theological truth that Yahweh pledges to remain faithful as the covenant-keeping God for Abraham's spiritual lineage through all time.

Genesis 17 7 Context

Genesis chapter 17 marks a significant renewal and expansion of God's covenant with Abram (whose name is changed to Abraham in this chapter, v. 5). The previous mention of the covenant was in Genesis 15, where God unilaterally affirmed His promise. Here, thirteen years after Ishmael's birth, God appears to Abraham, now 99 years old, reiterates the promises of land, numerous descendants, and blessings, and introduces circumcision as the covenant sign for all male descendants. Verse 7, in particular, solidifies the perpetual nature of this covenant, extending beyond Abraham to all his future "seed" throughout every generation, underscoring its everlasting and personal dimension, where God commits to be their God. This chapter serves to formalize the lineage through which God's saving plan would proceed, confirming an unconditional covenant to an aged patriarch who was beyond natural hope for biological fatherhood through Sarah.

Genesis 17 7 Word analysis

• And I will establish: Hebrew הֲקִמֹתִי (haqimōthî) from the root קוּם (qum), meaning "to cause to stand," "to confirm," or "to fulfill." This highlights God's sovereign, active, and sure initiation of the covenant, rather than a mere agreement. It signifies making something firm, durable, and bringing it into being definitively.
• My covenant: Hebrew בְּרִית (bəriyt). This term denotes a binding agreement or promise, but in the context of God and humanity, it signifies a relationship of solemn obligation, established by divine grace and power. "My" emphasizes divine ownership and prerogative, setting it apart as uniquely God's initiative and promise.
• between Me and you: This establishes a direct, personal, and relational bond between the divine covenantor and Abraham. It is the immediate recipient of the covenant benefits and responsibilities, emphasizing the intimate nature of the relationship God desires with His chosen people.
• and your offspring after you: Hebrew זַרְעֲךָ (zarʿakha), literally "your seed." This term refers to direct progeny and future descendants. The covenant's benefits and obligations are not confined to Abraham but extend through generations. This foreshadows both a physical line (Israel) and, ultimately, a singular, spiritual descendant (Christ, according to Gal 3:16) and those in Him.
• throughout their generations: This phrase underscores the perpetuity and hereditary nature of the covenant within Abraham's line. It indicates a continuous succession, ensuring the covenant's relevance and validity for all time through the descendants.
• for an everlasting covenant: Hebrew עוֹלָם (ʿôlām), meaning "forever," "eternal," "perpetual," or "ancient." This signifies an enduring quality that knows no end. It emphasizes the immutability and permanence of God's commitment. This is a covenant that will not expire or be revoked, although it may be progressively fulfilled and modified in its administration (e.g., the New Covenant).
• to be God to you: This phrase describes the very essence of the covenant relationship. It means God commits to being Abraham's protective, providing, guiding, and relational Deity. It implies ownership, care, and a deep commitment from God's side, laying the foundation for "I will be their God, and they will be My people." This is a definitive and personal relationship, not merely an abstract theological truth.
• and to your offspring after you: This reiterates the broad scope of the covenant's relational promise, confirming that the intimate divine presence and provision promised to Abraham extend to his entire lineage, ensuring God's ongoing commitment to them through the ages.

Genesis 17 7 Bonus section

• Unconditional vs. Conditional: Unlike later Mosaic covenants, the Abrahamic Covenant, reaffirmed here, is largely unconditional. God's "I will" statements denote His sovereign initiative and responsibility for its establishment and continuation, without human conditions being prerequisite for its inception or enduring validity. While there are human responsibilities within the covenant (like circumcision as a sign in Gen 17, or obedience later), these are responses to, not preconditions of, the core promises.
• Scope of "Offspring": The Hebrew term zarʿakha (seed) has both immediate and long-range implications. Initially, it refers to the numerous physical descendants of Abraham through Isaac. However, the New Testament expands this to refer supremely to Jesus Christ as the singular spiritual "Seed" who fulfills the promise, and subsequently to all those who are united to Christ by faith, regardless of their ethnic origin. This spiritualizes the concept of being "Abraham's offspring," broadening the covenant community beyond national Israel to encompass all believers.
• Theological Foundation: This verse, "I will be God to you and to your offspring," is the theological root of what becomes a consistent refrain throughout Scripture: God's desire for a relationship with His people as their possessive and redeeming God (e.g., Exod 6:7; Jer 31:33; Rev 21:3). It defines the covenant as primarily relational before it is about land or blessing, anchoring the identity of God's people in His gracious election and commitment.

Genesis 17 7 Commentary

Genesis 17:7 stands as a cornerstone of biblical theology, detailing the everlasting and unconditional nature of God's Abrahamic Covenant. It shifts focus from material blessings to the profound spiritual core: God's promise to be God to Abraham and his future generations. This unilateral declaration by God ("I will establish") highlights His sovereign faithfulness and eternal commitment. The "everlasting" nature of the covenant means its essence and divine intent endure perpetually, finding ultimate fulfillment in Jesus Christ, the singular "offspring" (Gal 3:16), through whom all believers—Jew and Gentile—become "Abraham's offspring, heirs according to promise" (Gal 3:29). This verse forms the bedrock for Israel's identity and Messianic hope, assuring them of God's abiding presence and divine-human relationship that finds its apex in the New Covenant (Heb 8:10), where God's ultimate desire to dwell with and be the God of His people is fully realized.