Genesis 17:10

“This is my covenant which you will keep, between me and you and your offspring after you: every male among you shall be circumcised.”
Genesis 17:10 · direct translation from the Hebrew

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With the Hebrew beneath

Thisזֹאתis my covenantבְּרִיתִיwhichאֲשֶׁרyou will keep,תִּשְׁמְרוּbetween meבֵּינִיand youוּבֵינֵיכֶםandוּבֵיןyour offspringזַרְעֲךָafter you:אַחֲרֶיךָeveryכָּלmaleזָכָרamong youלָכֶםshall be circumcised.הִמּוֹל

Theme · John 7:22

Go to John 7:22

Jesus says that circumcision comes “from the fathers”; in Genesis 17:10 God commands it to Abraham as the sign of the covenant.

The same term appears in both passages.

הִמּוֹלhimolH4135περιτομήνperitomēnG4061“circumcise”

Circumcisionמוּל / περιτομήמול peritomē

The cutting of the foreskin of males. Genesis 17:10-12 gives it to Abraham as the sign of the covenant, on the eighth day after birth; Leviticus 12:3 commands it for Israel. Deuteronomy 10:16 and 30:6 also speak of circumcising the heart.

See it in the glossary

Genesis 17:10, word by word

is my covenantבְּרִיתִberiti

covenant

The commitment God makes with his people, with promises and commands.

Where else “beriti” appears

you will keepתִּשְׁמְרוּtishmru

keep

To obey the covenant or the commands.

Where else “tishmru” appears

your offspringזַרְעֲzara

offspring

The children, grandchildren and whole line that come from someone.

Where else “zara” appears

maleזָכָרzachar

male

A person of the male sex, man or boy.

Where else “zachar” appears

shall be circumcisedהִמּוֹלhimol

circumcise

To circumcise, also the heart.

Where else “himol” appears

The context

9Elohim said to Abraham, “As for you, you will keep my covenant, you and your offspring after you throughout their generations.

10 · This verse (above)

11You shall be circumcised in the flesh of your foreskin, and it will be a sign of the covenant between me and you.

Read all of Genesis 17

To study Genesis 17 in a group

1. What it says
What new names did Abram and Sarai receive, and what did Elohim promise Abraham (vv. 5, 15-16)?
2. What it means
What does it show about Elohim’s plan that Abram becomes Abraham, “father of a multitude of nations” (v. 5)?
3. How I live it
What helps you remember each day what Elohim has said about you and your life?

How to use it