Devine Scripture

Genesis 17:15

What does Genesis 17:15 mean?

A plain-English look at Genesis 17:15 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.

What Genesis 17:15 means

God then turned His attention to Sarai, Abraham's wife, and similarly performed a renaming. Her name was changed from "Sarai," which likely meant "my princess," to "Sarah," meaning "princess" or "mother of nations." This transformation in her name carried profound significance, aligning her identity with God's expanded covenant promises. It foreshadowed her pivotal role in the fulfillment of God's plan, particularly the promise of a son through her, and her future status as the matriarch of countless peoples and even kings, reflecting her divine destiny.

Parallel translations

WEB

World English Bible · 2000

And God said unto Abraham, As for Sarai thy wife, thou shalt not call her name Sarai, but Sarah shall her name be.

KJV

King James Version · 1611

And God said unto Abraham, As for Sarai thy wife, thou shalt not call her name Sarai, but Sarah shall her name be.

ASV

American Standard Version · 1901

And God said unto Abraham, As for Sarai thy wife, thou shalt not call her name Sarai, but Sarah shall her name be.

BBE

Bible in Basic English · 1949

And God said, As for Sarai, your wife, from now her name will be not Sarai, but Sarah.

YLT

Young's Literal Translation · 1862

And God saith unto Abraham, `Sarai thy wife--thou dost not call her name Sarai, for Sarah <FI>is<Fi> her name;

DRA

Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752

God said also to Abraham: Sarai thy wife thou shalt not call Sarai, but Sara.

DBY

Darby Bible · 1890

AndGod said to Abraham, [As to] Sarai thy wife, thou shalt not call her name Sarai, but Sarah shall be her name.

Context

Having established the sign of the covenant through circumcision and its consequences (verses 9-14), God now refocused on the other key individual in the covenant: Abraham's wife. This verse introduces the renaming of Sarai to Sarah, paralleling Abraham's own name change. This shift demonstrates that the covenant promises extend equally to her, setting the stage for the specific promise of a son through Sarah, which will be detailed in the very next verse and is foundational to the covenant's continuity.

v.14And the uncircumcised male who is not circumcised in the flesh of his foreskin, that soul shall be cut off from his people; he hath broken my covenant.

v.15This passage

v.16And I will bless her, and moreover I will give thee a son of her: yea, I will bless her, and she shall be a mother of nations; kings of peoples shall be of her.

Cross references

Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.

  • Genesis 32:28

    And he said, Thy name shall be called no more Jacob, but Israel: for thou hast striven with God and with men, and hast prevailed.

  • Genesis 17:5

    Neither shall thy name any more be called Abram, but thy name shall be Abraham; for the father of a multitude of nations have I made thee.

  • 2 Samuel 12:25

    and he sent by the hand of Nathan the prophet; and he called his name Jedidiah, for Jehovah’s sake.

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