Genesis 17:16
I will bless her, and moreover, I will give you a son by her. I will bless her, and she shall become nations; kings of peoples shall come from her.”
English Standard Version (ESV)
This page isn't yet indexed by search engines.
This verse powerfully emphasizes the scope of God's promise: not only will Sarah bear a son, but she will also become the source of "nations," and "kings of peoples" will spring from her, highlighting the far-reaching and abundant fruitfulness beyond a single lineage.
God has just established a covenant with Abraham, changed his name from Abram to Abraham, and commanded circumcision as its sign. Now, God turns His attention to Abraham's wife, Sarai, whose name is also changed to Sarah. This declaration comes after Abraham and his household have been circumcised, and it directly addresses the long wait and Sarah's barrenness by promising a son through her, emphasizing that this child will be the true heir of God's promises.
Sarah had waited decades for a child, facing the deep ache of infertility. Yet, God's promise to her wasn't just about one baby, but a cascade of blessings.
The verse opens with a powerful repetition: 'I will bless her... yea, I will bless her.' This isn't just an echo; it's an emphasis on the multifaceted nature of God's blessing on Sarah.
A Double Portion
God doesn't just promise a child; He promises a lineage that will shape history. How can one woman become the mother of so many?
The phrase 'she shall become nations' is extraordinary. It points to a profound expansion of Sarah's identity and legacy.
From One Woman to Many Peoples:
Understand the original words
barak · Hebrew Verb
In the Bible, blessing primarily refers to the bestowal of divine favor, prosperity, and the enablement of life and fruitfulness, especially in the context of the covenant.
goy · Hebrew Noun
A social or political unit often defined by common descent, language, or territory; in Genesis, it frequently refers to the various people groups descending from the patriarchs.
melek · Hebrew Noun
A term denoting sovereignty, authority, and rule; in the Abrahamic context, it signifies the high status and royal influence of his descendants.
This promise to Sarah is not just about having a child in her old age, but a divine re-establishment of the covenant. It signifies a new era, where Sarah, once barren and overlooked, becomes the matriarch of nations, underscoring God's power to bring life and purpose from seemingly impossible circumstances.
c. 2166 BC— this verse
God establishes a covenant with Abram
God appears to Abram (soon to be renamed Abraham) and establishes a formal covenant, promising him immense blessings, numerous descendants, and a special relationship with God. He also changes Abram's name to Abraham and Sarai's to Sarah, signifying a new beginning and the fulfillment of promises. This chapter is pivotal in establishing Abraham as the father of a great nation.
c. 2166 BC
Abraham and Ishmael circumcised
As a sign of the covenant, God commands Abraham to circumcise himself, his household, and all future males on the eighth day after birth. Abraham immediately obeys, circumcising himself, Ishmael, and all the males in his household.
c. 2165 BC
Isaac is born
Following God's promise, Sarah, who was well past childbearing age, conceives and gives birth to a son, Isaac. This miraculous birth fulfills God's specific promise to Abraham and Sarah, setting the stage for the continuation of the covenant line.
c. 2149 BC
This passage directly contrasts Sarah and Hagar as allegories for the covenant of grace versus the covenant of law, echoing the idea that Sarah's offspring, though miraculous, represent a unique, divinely chosen lineage.
Isaiah 54:1-3This prophetic passage beautifully expands on Sarah's future, calling her 'barren' and exclaiming 'Enlarge the place of your tent,' directly mirroring the promise of numerous descendants from a woman who was thought to be unable to bear children.
Romans 9:7-9Paul explicitly connects Abraham's seed to Sarah, emphasizing that 'through Isaac shall your offspring be named,' highlighting that the true 'children of the promise' come through this miraculous birth, not merely through physical descent.
Hebrews 11:11-12This passage celebrates Sarah's faith, noting that she 'received power to conceive' when she was past age, directly linking her miraculous pregnancy to her belief in God's faithfulness to His promise.
gillGenesis 17:16: "And I will bless her, and give thee a son also of her: yea, I will bless her, and she shall be a mother of nations; kings of people shall be of her."
And I will bless her,.... The Targum of Jonathan adds, "in her body", with fruitfulness, who before was barren, and in her soul with spiritual blessings, and in both with the blessing of eternal life: and give thee a son also of her; as he had given him one of Hagar: God had before promised Abraham a son that should be his heir, bu…
clarkeGenesis 17:16: "And I will bless her, and give thee a son also of her: yea, I will bless her, and she shall be a mother of nations; kings of people shall be of her."
I will bless her, etc. - Sarah certainly stands at the head of all the women of the Old Testament, on account of her extraordinary privileges. I am quite of Calmet's opinion that Sarah was a type of the blessed Virgin. St. Paul considers her a type of the New Testament and heavenly Jerusalem; and as all true believers are considere…
This verse powerfully emphasizes the scope of God's promise: not only will Sarah bear a son, but she will also become the source of "nations," and "kings of peoples" will spring from her, highlighting the far-reaching and abundant fruitfulness beyond a single lineage.
God has just established a covenant with Abraham, changed his name from Abram to Abraham, and commanded circumcision as its sign. Now, God turns His attention to Abraham's wife, Sarai, whose name is also changed to Sarah. This declaration comes after Abraham and his household have been circumcised, and it directly addresses the long wait and Sarah's barrenness by promising a son through her, emphasizing that this child will be the true heir of God's promises.
God has just established a covenant with Abraham, changed his name from Abram to Abraham, and commanded circumcision as its sign. Now, God turns His attention to Abraham's wife, Sarai, whose name is also changed to Sarah. This declaration comes after Abraham and his household have been circumcised, and it directly addresses the long wait and Sarah's barrenness by promising a son through her, emphasizing that this child will be the true heir of God's promises.
Get the original Greek and Hebrew, verse-by-verse context, and related passages inside the app.
Ask a follow-up
Ask Sola things like:
Live chat about Genesis 17:16 is available in the Sola app.
Hagar and Ishmael sent away
Tensions rise between Sarah and Hagar (Abraham's concubine) and her son Ishmael. To protect Isaac's inheritance and the covenant line, Abraham, at God's direction, sends Hagar and Ishmael away. God promises to make Ishmael the father of a great nation as well.
"I will bless her, and moreover, I will give you a son by her. I will bless her, and she shall become nations; kings of peoples shall come from her.”" — This verse powerfully emphasizes the scope of God's promise: not only will Sarah bear a son, but she will also become the source of "nations," and "kings of peoples" will spring from her, highlightin…
