The Meaning of Genesis 17:10 Explained

Genesis 17:10

KJV: This is my covenant, which ye shall keep, between me and you and thy seed after thee; Every man child among you shall be circumcised.

YLT: this is My covenant which ye keep between Me and you, and thy seed after thee: Every male of you is to be circumcised;

Darby: This is my covenant which ye shall keep, between me and you and thy seed after thee that every male among you be circumcised.

ASV: This is my covenant, which ye shall keep, between me and you and thy seed after thee: every male among you shall be circumcised.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

This [is] my covenant,  which ye shall keep,  between me and you and thy seed  after thee;  Every man child  among you shall be circumcised. 

What does Genesis 17:10 Mean?

Context Summary

Genesis 17:1-14 - God's Covenant With Abraham
At least thirteen years had passed since the promise of Isaac was first made. Years of sorrow and discipline, but God had not forgotten. Always under such circumstances the Eternal voice bids us to walk before him and be perfect. Our surrender must be complete, our obedience absolute, our faith fixed steadfastly on the Promiser. So only can God fulfill His covenant, which includes fruitfulness, the salvation of our households, the inheritance and abundance of spiritual reproductiveness. These promises were made to Abram, being yet uncircumcised, when he was yet a Gentile, proving that they were irrespective of any mere Hebrew interpretation. See Romans 4:11. But the rite was the sign and seal of the national covenant with the Hebrew race. Spiritually it stands for the separation of the believer; and though the rite passed away with Judaism, its spiritual significance is permanent, see Colossians 2:11. [source]

Chapter Summary: Genesis 17

1  God renews the covenant with Abram,
5  and changes his name to Abraham, in token of a greater blessing
9  Circumcision is instituted
15  Sarai's name is changed to Sarah, and she is blessed
17  Isaac is promised, and the time of his birth fixed
23  Abraham and Ishmael are circumcised

What do the individual words in Genesis 17:10 mean?

This [is] My covenant which you shall keep between Me and you and your descendants after you Shall be circumcised among you every male child
זֹ֣את בְּרִיתִ֞י אֲשֶׁ֣ר תִּשְׁמְר֗וּ בֵּינִי֙ וּבֵ֣ינֵיכֶ֔ם וּבֵ֥ין זַרְעֲךָ֖ אַחֲרֶ֑יךָ הִמּ֥וֹל לָכֶ֖ם כָּל־ זָכָֽר

זֹ֣את  This  [is] 
Parse: Pronoun, feminine singular
Root: זׄאת  
Sense: this, this one, here, which, this … that, the one … the other, such.
בְּרִיתִ֞י  My  covenant 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular construct, first person common singular
Root: בְּרִית  
Sense: covenant, alliance, pledge.
תִּשְׁמְר֗וּ  you  shall  keep 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, second person masculine plural
Root: שָׁמַר  
Sense: to keep, guard, observe, give heed.
בֵּינִי֙  between  Me 
Parse: Preposition, first person common singular
Root: בַּיִן 
Sense: between, among, in the midst of (with other preps), from between.
וּבֵ֣ינֵיכֶ֔ם  and  you 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Preposition, second person masculine plural
Root: בַּיִן 
Sense: between, among, in the midst of (with other preps), from between.
זַרְעֲךָ֖  your  descendants 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct, second person masculine singular
Root: זֶרַע  
Sense: seed, sowing, offspring.
אַחֲרֶ֑יךָ  after  you 
Parse: Preposition, second person masculine singular
Root: אַחַר 
Sense: after the following part, behind (of place), hinder, afterwards (of time).
הִמּ֥וֹל  Shall  be  circumcised 
Parse: Verb, Nifal, Infinitive absolute
Root: מוּל 
Sense: to circumcise, let oneself be circumcised, cut, be cut off.
לָכֶ֖ם  among  you 
Parse: Preposition, second person masculine plural
כָּל־  every 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: כֹּל  
Sense: all, the whole.
זָכָֽר  male  child 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: זָכָר  
Sense: male (of humans and animals) adj.