18
Abrahamאַבְרָהָםsaidוַיֹּאמֶרto Elohim,אֶל הָאֱלֹהִים“If onlyלוּIshmaelיִשְׁמָעֵאלmight liveיִחְיֶהbefore you!”לְפָנֶיךָ
Genesis 17:18
Study it in the app“Abraham said to Elohim, “If only Ishmael might live before you!””
With the Hebrew beneath
Genesis 17:18, word by word
- Abrahamאַבְרָהָםavraham
Abraham
Abraham, the name God gave to Abram; it sounds like "father of a multitude" (Genesis 17:5). The father of the people of Israel, to whom God promised the land and blessing for all the families of the earth.
Where else “avraham” appears- saidיֹּאמֶרyomer
say
To say with the mouth to someone what one thinks or wants, or to answer him.
Where else “yomer” appears- to Elohimאֱלֹהִיםelohim
Elohim
The one true God, the Creator; the word is plural but means one.
Where else “elohim” appears- “If onlyלוּlu
if only
A word that voices a strong wish that something were otherwise: «if only…».
Where else “lu” appears- Ishmaelיִשְׁמָעֵאלyishmael
Ishmael
Ishmael, the son of Abram and Hagar, father of twelve tribal chiefs; also the name of other Israelites. The name means "God hears" (Genesis 16:11).
Where else “yishmael” appears- might liveיִחְיֶהyichye
live
To have breath and remain in this world, not die.
Where else “yichye” appears- before youפָנֶיfane
before
Literally "to the face of": in sight of someone, or on account of something.
Where else “fane” appears
The context
17Abraham fell on his face and laughed, and said in his heart, “Will a son be born to one who is a hundred years old? And Sarah, will she, at ninety years, give birth?”
18 · This verse (above)
19Elohim said, “No, but Sarah your wife will bear you a son, and you shall call his name Isaac; and I will establish my covenant with him as an eternal covenant for his offspring after him.
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?