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Joseph Benson’s Bible Commentary

Genesis 17:17

Then Abraham fell on his face, and laughed It was a laughter of delight, not of distrust. Now it was that Abraham rejoiced to see Christ's day; now he saw it and was glad; (John 8:56;) for as he saw heaven in the promise of Canaan, so he saw Christ in the promise of Isaac, and said, Shall a child be born to him that is a hundred years old? He doth not here speak of it as at all doubtful, for we are sure he staggered not at the promise, (Romans 4:20,) but as wonderful, and that which could not be effected but by the almighty power of God.

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See also Genesis 17:17 in other biblical comments:

  • Adam Clarke Bible Commentary

    Verse Genesis 17:17. _THEN ABRAHAM - LAUGHED_] I am astonished to find learned and pious men considering this as a token of Abraham's _weakness of_ _faith_ or _unbelief_, when they have the most posi...

  • Albert Barnes' Bible Commentary

    - The Sealing of the Covenant 1. שׁדי _shaday_, Shaddai, “Irresistible, able to destroy, and by inference to make, Almighty.” שׁדד _shādad_ “be strong, destroy.” This name is found six times in Gene...

  • Annotated Bible by A.C. Gaebelein

    CHAPTER 17 THE FIFTH COMMUNICATION AND THE COVENANT REPEATED _ 1. The communication and Abram worships (Genesis 17:1)_ 2. The enlarged promise (Genesis 17:4) 3. The covenant sign (Genesis 17:9) 4....

  • Arthur Peake's Commentary on the Bible

    GENESIS 12:1 TO GENESIS 25:18. THE STORY OF ABRAHAM. In this section the three main sources, J. E, P are present. Gunkel has given strong reasons for holding that J is here made up of two main sources...

  • Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes

    LAUGHED: for joy. Hebrew. _was joyful._ Compare John 8:56, "rejoiced to see my day... and was glad. "The laughter of faith, Romans 4:19. Sarah did not fall down as Abraham did, Genesis 17:3. SHALL, &C...

  • Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

    The Promise to Sarai 15. _Sarah shall her name be_ That is, _Princess_. The name "Sarai" (LXX Σάρα) is altered to "Sarah" (LXX Σάῤῥα). The name "Sarah" is the feminine form of the Heb. _Sar_, "a prin...

  • Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

    _fell upon his face_ See Genesis 17:3. _laughed_ The incredulous laughter of Abraham here, according to P, should be compared with that of Sarah, in Genesis 18:12, according to J, as a play upon the...

  • Coke's Commentary on the Holy Bible

    AND LAUGHED— If we compare the twelfth verse of the following chapter, where Sarah expresses her incredulity by _laughing,_ and consider the whole sentence here before us (especially the words, Genesi...

  • College Press Bible Study Textbook Series

    4. _The Covenant-Heir_ (Genesis 17:15-21) 15 And God said unto Abraham, As for Sarai thy wife, thou shalt not call her name Sarai, but Sarah shall her name be. 16 And I will bless her, and moreover I...

  • Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible

    _THEN ABRAHAM FELL UPON HIS FACE, AND LAUGHED, AND SAID IN HIS HEART, SHALL A CHILD BE BORN UNTO HIM THAT IS AN HUNDRED YEARS OLD? AND SHALL SARAH, THAT IS NINETY YEARS OLD, BEAR?_ Abraham fell upon...

  • Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible

    THE COVENANT OF CIRCUMCISION This chapter is from the Priestly document, of which it shows marked characteristics: see preface to Genesis 15....

  • EasyEnglish Bible Commentaries

    Many years before this, God promised that Abraham would have many *descendants. And Abraham believed God. (See Genesis 15:5-6.) But in this verse, Abraham does not believe what God says....

  • EasyEnglish Bible Commentaries

    GOD’S ANCIENT PEOPLE GENESIS _ALUN OWEN_ CHAPTER 17 GOD MAKES AN AGREEMENT WITH ABRAHAM V1 When Abram was 99 years of age, the *Lord appeared to him. The *Lord said to him, ‘I am God who can do...

  • Ellicott's Commentary On The Whole Bible

    ABRAHAM... LAUGHED. — The Jewish interpreters regard Abraham’s laugh as one of joy, and Sarah’s (Genesis 18:12) as one of unbelief. We may, however, well doubt whether there really was this difference...

  • ETCBC data on Hebrew bible

    וַ יִּפֹּ֧ל אַבְרָהָ֛ם עַל ־פָּנָ֖יו וַ יִּצְ

  • Expositor's Bible Commentary (Nicoll)

    THE COVENANT SEALED Genesis 17:1 ACCORDING to the dates here given fourteen years had passed since Abram had received any intimation of God's will regarding him. Since the covenant had been made some...

  • Frederick Brotherton Meyer's Commentary

    ISAAC IS PROMISED Genesis 17:15 There are two allusions to laughter in these Chapter s. Sarah's was the laugh of incredulity, see Genesis 18:12; but Abraham's was the laugh of happy confidence, which...

  • G. Campbell Morgan's Exposition on the Whole Bible

    This chapter gives the account of the fifth appearance of God to Abram in which a divine covenant was made. At this point his name was changed from Abram, which means exalted father, to Abraham, which...

  • Gary Hampton Commentaries

    LAUGHING AT GOD'S PROMISE When Abraham was ninety-nine years old, God told him Sarah would bear a son (Genesis 17:15-16). It is interesting that her name was changed just as Abraham's had been. Sarah...

  • Geneva Study Bible Commentary

    Then Abraham fell upon his face, and (f) laughed, and said in his heart, Shall [a child] be born unto him that is an hundred years old? and shall Sarah, that is ninety years old, bear? (f) Which proc...

  • George Haydock's Catholic Bible Commentary

    _Laughed for joy and admiration at such unexpected news. "He rejoiced," says the Chaldean, the faith of Abraham is never called into question. (Romans iv. 19.)_...

  • Hawker's Poor man's commentary

    Then Abraham fell upon his face, and laughed, and said in his heart, Shall a child be born unto him that is an hundred years old? and shall Sarah, that is ninety years old, bear? It is profitable to o...

  • Introductory Lectures - Commentary by William Kelly

    We have had hitherto God's account of that which He had made; then the trial and utter ruin of the creature, with the revelation of divine mercy in Christ the Lord. We have had in fine the judgment of...

  • John Calvin's Bible Commentary

    17._And Abraham fell upon his face _This was in token, not only of his reverence, but also of his faith. For Abraham not only adores God, but in giving him thanks, testifies that he receives and embra...

  • John Darby's Synopsis

    In chapter 17 we have a fresh revelation of the Lord to Abram, and, I think, are upon higher and holier ground. It is not here calling, or worship, or the world and victory over it in Lot (12-14 [1]),...

  • John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible

    THEN ABRAHAM FELL UPON HIS FACE,.... In reverence of the divine Being, and as amazed at what was told him: AND LAUGHED; not through distrust and diffidence of the promise, as Sarah did, for he stagge...

  • John Trapp Complete Commentary

    Then Abraham fell upon his face, and laughed, and said in his heart, Shall [a child] be born unto him that is an hundred years old? and shall Sarah, that is ninety years old, bear? Ver. 17. _Abraham...

  • KJV Original Language Details

    [ABRAHAM.] 1 God reneweth the Couenant. 5 Abram his name is changed, in token of a greater blessing. 10 Circumcision is instituted. 15 Sarai her name is changed, and she blessed. 17 Izsaac is pro...

  • Kretzmann's Popular Commentary of the Bible

    Then Abraham fell upon his face, and laughed, and said in his heart, Shall a child be born unto him that is an hundred years old? And shall Sarah, that is ninety years old, bear? The marvel of such a...

  • Kretzmann's Popular Commentary of the Bible

    A Child Promised to Sarah...

  • Lange's Commentary on the Holy Scriptures

    SIXTH SECTION _Abram and the repeated Promise of God. The name Abram changed to Abraham. The personal Covenant of Faith, now a Covenant Institution for him, his Household and his Seed. Circumcision....

  • Leslie M. Grant's Commentary on the Bible

    THE COVENANT AND ITS SIGN - CIRCUMCISION Another thirteen years passes before the Lord's appearing to Abram now at the age of 99 years. In Chapter 15:1 He had told Abram, "I am your shield, your excee...

  • Matthew Henry Commentary on the Whole Bible

    15-22 Here is the promise made to Abraham of a son by Sarai, in whom the promise made to him should be fulfilled. The assurance of this promise was the change of Sarai's name into Sarah. Sarai signif...

  • Matthew Poole's Concise Commentary On The Bible

    He LAUGHED, through admiration and holy rejoicing at so great a blessing, not through unbelief, as Sarah did, GENESIS 18:12,13, as appears from ROMANS 4:19,20. And though the outward act was the same...

  • Notes on the Pentateuch by Charles Henry Mackintosh

    Here we have God's remedy for Abraham's failure set before us." And when Abram was ninety years old and nine, the Lord appeared unto Abram, and said unto him, I am the _ Almighty God:_ walk before _ m...

  • Patchworkid's Personal Study Bible Notes

    Genesis 17:17 Abraham H85 fell H5307 (H8799) face H6440 laughed H6711 (H8799) said H559 (H8799) heart...

  • Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible

    ‘Then Abraham fell on his face, and laughed, and said in his heart, “Shall a child be born to him who is a hundred years old, and shall Sarah who is ninety years old produce a child?” And Abraham said...

  • Summarized Bible Commentary

    CONTENTS: The revelation of God. Abram's name changed. Covenant confirmed. Circumcision established. Promise of Isaac. CHARACTERS: God, Abram, Isaac, Sarah, Ishmael. CONCLUSION: When man is in the d...

  • Sutcliffe's Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

    Genesis 17:1. _The Almighty God._ The original word Shaddai is often rendered, All-sufficient. He is so called because he sheds down blessings as the rain. Genesis 17:2. _My covenant;_ so called becau...

  • The Biblical Illustrator

    _As for Sarai thy wife, thou shalt not call her name Sarai, but Sarah_ THE CLEARER REVELATION OF COVENANT BLESSINGS In God’s spiritual dealings with mankind the patience of faith is rewarded by a cl...

  • The ESV Global Study Bible's Study Notes

    GENESIS—NOTE ON GENESIS 17:1 Thirteen years after the birth of Ishmael, the Lord appears to Abram and announces that he will establish an eternal covenant with Abram and his offspring. Abram will beco...

  • The Preacher's Complete Homiletical Commentary

    CRITICAL NOTES.— Genesis 17:15. Thou shalt not call her name Sarai, but Sarah shall her name be.] “It is acknowledged on all hands that _Sarah_ means _a princess;_ but as to Sarai, Hebraists are far f...

  • Through The Bible C2000 Serie by Chuck Smith

    Now when Abram was ninety-nine years old (Genesis 17:1), So this is another thirteen years later. the LORD appeared to Abram, and said unto him, I am Almighty God (Genesis 17:1); El Shaddai. So her...

  • Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

    fell. Genesis 17:3 Leviticus 9:24 Numbers 14:5 Numbers 16:22 Numbers 16

  • Wells of Living Water Commentary

    ABRAM AND SARAI GREATLY ENLARGED Genesis 17:1 INTRODUCTORY WORDS We have passed by the sixteenth chapter of Genesis, it behooves us, therefore, to give some striking suggestions relative to Sarai a...

  • Wesley's Explanatory Notes

    Then Abraham fell on his face, and laughed — It was a laughter of delight, not of distrust. Now it was that Abraham rejoiced to see Christ's day, now he saw it and was glad, John 8:56, for as he saw h...

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