The Meaning of Genesis 17:25 Explained

Genesis 17:25

KJV: And Ishmael his son was thirteen years old, when he was circumcised in the flesh of his foreskin.

YLT: and Ishmael his son is a son of thirteen years in the flesh of his foreskin being circumcised;

Darby: And Ishmael his son was thirteen years old when he was circumcised in the flesh of his foreskin.

ASV: And Ishmael his son was thirteen years old, when he was circumcised in the flesh of his foreskin.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

And Ishmael  his son  [was] thirteen  years  old,  when he was circumcised  in the flesh  of his foreskin. 

What does Genesis 17:25 Mean?

Context Summary

Genesis 17:15-27 - Isaac Is Promised
There are two allusions to laughter in these chapters. Sarah's was the laugh of incredulity, see Genesis 18:12; but Abraham's was the laugh of happy confidence, which reckoned on God. As r.v. puts it, he looked his difficulties in the face, and then turned away to the promise of God, and wavered not, but waxed strong, giving glory to God. Ponder Romans 4:20-21. Therefore, he obtained promises for his wife, for Ishmael, and for the coming child, which was to bear the name of Laughter, partly because of that hour, and also because he would bring sunshine into the old man's life. His heart had entwined about Ishmael. As he had watched the masterful and clever youth, he had said to himself, "He will hold the camp together when I am gone." But the divine covenant could not be with one that had slave-blood in his veins and was not to abide in the house forever. See John 8:35; Galatians 4:22. The covenant is always with Isaac. [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 17:25 mean?

And Ishmael his son [was] old three and ten years when he was circumcised - in the flesh of his foreskin
וְיִשְׁמָעֵ֣אל בְּנ֔וֹ בֶּן־ שְׁלֹ֥שׁ עֶשְׂרֵ֖ה שָׁנָ֑ה בְּהִ֨מֹּל֔וֹ אֵ֖ת בְּשַׂ֥ר עָרְלָתֽוֹ

וְיִשְׁמָעֵ֣אל  And  Ishmael 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יִשְׁמָעֵאל  
Sense: son of Abraham and Sarah’s handmaid Hagar and the progenitor of the Arabian peoples.
בְּנ֔וֹ  his  son 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct, third person masculine singular
Root: בֵּן 
Sense: son, grandson, child, member of a group.
בֶּן־  [was]  old 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: בֵּן 
Sense: son, grandson, child, member of a group.
שְׁלֹ֥שׁ  three 
Parse: Number, feminine singular construct
Root: מִשְׁלֹשׁ 
Sense: three, triad.
עֶשְׂרֵ֖ה  and  ten 
Parse: Number, feminine singular
Root: עָשָׂר 
Sense: ten, -teen (in combination with other numbers).
שָׁנָ֑ה  years 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular
Root: שָׁנָה  
Sense: year.
בְּהִ֨מֹּל֔וֹ  when  he  was  circumcised 
Parse: Preposition-b, Verb, Nifal, Infinitive construct, third person masculine singular
Root: מוּל 
Sense: to circumcise, let oneself be circumcised, cut, be cut off.
אֵ֖ת  - 
Parse: Direct object marker
Root: אֹות 
Sense: sign of the definite direct object, not translated in English but generally preceding and indicating the accusative.
בְּשַׂ֥ר  in  the  flesh 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: בָּשָׂר  
Sense: flesh.
עָרְלָתֽוֹ  of  his  foreskin 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular construct, third person masculine singular
Root: הָעֲרָלֹות 
Sense: foreskin, uncircumcised.

What are the major concepts related to Genesis 17:25?

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