Genesis 17:16
What does Genesis 17:16 mean?
A plain-English look at Genesis 17:16 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Genesis 17:16 means
God promised to bless Sarah and, most astonishingly given her age, declared, "moreover I will give thee a son of her." This was a direct, explicit promise of an heir through Sarah, not Hagar or Ishmael. God further affirmed, "yea, I will bless her, and she shall be a mother of nations; kings of peoples shall be of her." This expanded her significance beyond bearing one son, prophesying that she would be the matriarch of numerous peoples and royal lines. This highlights God's power to overcome human limitations and bring forth life and destiny from what seemed barren.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000And 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.
KJV
King James Version · 1611And I will bless her, and give thee a son also of her: yea, I will bless her, and she shall be a mother of nations; kings of people shall be of her.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901And 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.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949And I will give her a blessing so that you will have a son by her: truly my blessing will be on her, and she will be the mother of nations: kings of peoples will be her offspring.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862and I have blessed her, and have also given to thee a son from her; and I have blessed her, and she hath become nations--kings of peoples are from her.'
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752And I will bless her, and of her I will give thee a son, whom I will bless, and he shall become nations, and kings of people shall spring from him.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890And I will bless her, and I will give thee a son also of her; and I will bless her, and she shall become nations: kings of peoples shall be of her.
Context
Following Sarah's renaming in verse 15, this verse immediately reveals the profound reason for her new name and expanded significance: she will bear the promised son. This direct and astonishing announcement clarifies the lineage through which the covenant will be continued, dispelling any lingering doubts about Ishmael's primary role. This promise is foundational and will elicit Abraham's direct, human reaction in the subsequent verses as he grapples with the remarkable implications of God's word.
v.15And God said unto Abraham, As for Sarai thy wife, thou shalt not call her name Sarai, but Sarah shall her name be.
v.16This passage
v.17Then Abraham fell upon his face, and laughed, and said in his heart, Shall a child be born unto him that is a hundred years old? and shall Sarah, that is ninety years old, bear?
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- 1 Peter 3:6
as Sarah obeyed Abraham, calling him lord: whose children ye now are, if ye do well, and are not put in fear by any terror.
- Genesis 17:6
And I will make thee exceeding fruitful, and I will make nations of thee, and kings shall come out of thee.
- Genesis 24:60
And they blessed Rebekah, and said unto her, Our sister, be thou the mother of thousands of ten thousands, and let thy seed possess the gate of those that hate them.
- Genesis 12:2
and I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and be thou a blessing:
- Genesis 18:10
And he said, I will certainly return unto thee when the season cometh round; and, lo, Sarah thy wife shall have a son. And Sarah heard in the tent door, which was behind him.
- Romans 9:9
For this is a word of promise, According to this season will I come, and Sarah shall have a son.
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