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27,299 commentary entries
The Pulpit Commentary
The Pulpit Commentary on Genesis 17:2
And I will make my covenant between me and thee. Literally, I will give (cf. Genesis 9:9, Genesis 9:11, Genesis 9:12). Neither an additional covenant to that described in Genesis 15:1-21. (Rosenmüller), nor a different…
The Pulpit Commentary on Genesis 17:3
And Abram fell on his face—in reverential awe and worship. Other attitudes of devotion are mentioned. And God—Elohim, the third name for the Deity within the compass of as many verses, thus indicating identity of being—…
The Pulpit Commentary on Genesis 17:4
As for me. Literally, I, standing alone at the beginning of the sentence by way of emphasis. Equivalent to "So far as I am concerned," or, "I for my part," or, "So far as relates to me." Behold, my covenant is with thee…
The Pulpit Commentary on Genesis 17:5
Neither shall thy name any mere be called Abram,—Abram, i.e. high father (vide Genesis 11:26); but Abraham—Abraham (in Arabic signifying a multitude); hence "the father of a multitude," as the next clause explains—for a…
The Pulpit Commentary on Genesis 17:6
And I will make thee exceeding fruitful, and I will make nations of thee,—a promise fulfilled in the Ishmaelites, the descendants of Keturah, the Edomites, and the Israelites—and kings (e.g. David and Solomon) shall com…
The Pulpit Commentary on Genesis 17:7
And I will establish my covenant between me and thee and thy seed after thee in their generations for an everlasting covenant,—literally, for a covenant of eternity (vide Genesis 9:16)—to be a God unto thee, and to thy…
The Pulpit Commentary on Genesis 17:8
And I will give unto thee, and to thy seed after thee, the land wherein thou art a stranger,—literally, of thy sojournings (Genesis 12:9; Acts 7:5; Hebrews 11:9)—all the land of Canaan (vide Genesis 10:19),—for an everl…
The Pulpit Commentary on Genesis 17:9
And God said unto Abraham, Thou—literally, and thou, the other party to the covenant, the antithesis to I (Genesis 17:4)—shalt keep my covenant—literally, my covenant thou shalt keep—therefore, thou, and thy seed after…
The Pulpit Commentary on Genesis 17:10
This is my covenant (i.e. the sign of it, as in Genesis 9:12), which ye shall keep (i.e. observe to. do), between me and you and thy seed after thee; Every man child among you shall be circumcised. Literally, circumcise…
The Pulpit Commentary on Genesis 17:11
And ye shall circumcise the flesh of your foreskin. עָרְלָה, ἀκροβυστία, membrum prveputiatum, from עָרַל, to be naked, bare, hence to be odious, unclean, impure, was regarded afterwards as unclean (Deuteronomy 10:16;…
The Pulpit Commentary on Genesis 17:12
And he that is eight days old—literally, and the son of eight days (cf. Genesis 17:1)—shall be circumcised among you (Le Genesis 12:3; Luke 2:21; Philippians 3:5), every man child—"The fact that several times the circum…
The Pulpit Commentary on Genesis 17:13
He that is born in thy house, and he that is bought with thy money, must needs be circumcised. Literally, circumcised, must be circumcised, he that is born, &c; the niph. inf. abe. with the finite verb occupying the pla…
The Pulpit Commentary on Genesis 17:14
And the uncircumcised man child whose flesh of his foreskin is not circumcised, that soul shall be cut off from his people. Ἐξολοθρευθήσεται ἐκ τοῦ γένους αὐτῆς (LXX.), i.e. shall be destroyed from amongst his na…
The Pulpit Commentary on Genesis 17:15
"Thou shalt not call her name Sarai, but Sarah shall her name be," &c. "Mother of nations;" "kings of peoples shall be of her." I. EXALTATION OF THE LOWLY. A pilgrim and stranger, made a princess. A mother of nations, t…
The Pulpit Commentary on Genesis 17:15-27
The covenant completed. I. THE ADMISSION OF SARAI. 1. The changed name. As on entering within the covenant the name of Abram was changed to Abraham, so, to signalize the reception of his spouse, Sarai was transformed in…
The Pulpit Commentary on Genesis 18:1
And the Lord—Jehovah, the Divine name employed throughout the present and succeeding chapters, which are accordingly assigned to the Jehovist (Tuch, Bleek, Davidson, Colenso), with the exception of Genesis 19:29, which…
The Pulpit Commentary on Genesis 18:1-15
The theophany at Mamre. "The Lord appeared unto him" (Genesis 18:1). I. THE PREPARATION FOR DIVINE MANIFESTATION. 1. Abraham stands on a higher plane of spiritual life. He is endeavoring to fulfill the commandment given…
The Pulpit Commentary on Genesis 18:1-15
EXPOSITION
The Pulpit Commentary on Genesis 18:1-15
Noontide at, Mamre, or angels' visits. I. THE ARRIVAL OF THE STRANGERS. 1. The appearance they presented. Seemingly three men, they were in reality three angels, or, more correctly, Jehovah accompanied by two celestial…
The Pulpit Commentary on Genesis 18:1-15
The theophany at Mamre. I. THE DIVINE VISIT TO THE PATRIARCH. 1. A remarkable proof of the Divine condescension. 2. A striking adumbration of the incarnation of Christ. 3. An instructive emblem of God's gracious visits…
The Pulpit Commentary on Genesis 18:2
And he lift up his eyes and looked, and, lo, three men stood by him. Not in addition to (Kalisch), but including (Keil), Jehovah, whose appearance to the patriarch, having in the previous verse been first generally stat…
The Pulpit Commentary on Genesis 18:3
And said, My Lord—Adonai, literally, Lord, as in Genesis 15:2, q.v. (LXX; κύριε; Vulgate, Domine; Syriac, Onkelos, Kalisch, Alford, Lange), though the term may have indicated nothing more than-Abraham's recognition of…
The Pulpit Commentary on Genesis 18:4
Let a little water, I pray yon, be fetched, and wash your feet. Feet washing was a necessary part of Oriental hospitality (cf. Genesis 19:2; Genesis 24:32; Genesis 43:24). "Among the ancient Egyptians the basins kept in…
The Pulpit Commentary on Genesis 18:5
And I will fetch a morsel of bread,—a modest description of what proved a sumptuous repast (vide Genesis 18:6, Genesis 18:8)—and comfort ye your hearts;—literally, strengthen or support them, i.e. by eating and drinking…