And I will establish my covenant between me and you and your offspring after you throughout their generations for an everlasting covenant, to be God to you and to your offspring after you.
English Standard Version (ESV)
The promise here isn't just about God being a god for you, but your God. This phrase implies an intimate, all-encompassing relationship where God makes Himself available for every aspect of your life, not just the big moments. It means He's committed to being your source, your guide, and your refuge, in every generation that follows.
And I will establish my covenant between me and you and your offspring after you throughout their generations for an everlasting covenant, to be God to you and to your offspring after you.
English Standard Version (ESV)
God is reaffirming His promises to Abraham, who is now ninety-nine years old, by establishing an everlasting covenant. This covenant involves circumcision as a physical sign, marking Abraham and all males in his household as participants. The passage immediately preceding this verse details Abraham's obedience in circumcising his entire household, including himself and Ishmael.
God's promises aren't based on human performance, but on His own unchanging character. Discover what that means for the stability of His covenant with you.
In Genesis 17:7, God declares, 'I will establish my covenant... for an everlasting covenant, to be a God to you and to your offspring after you.' The key here is 'establish' and 'everlasting.' This wasn't a new agreement but a confirmation and strengthening of an existing one.
God's Initiative
This covenant is 'established' not because Abraham met certain conditions perfectly, but because God, who is eternally faithful, initiates and upholds it. The commentaries highlight that the Hebrew word for 'establish' suggests a firm, enduring foundation. God's nature as 'El Shaddai' (Almighty God) ensures His power to fulfill His promises, regardless of human frailty.
Unchanging Love
The term 'everlasting' points to the timeless and unending nature of this covenant. It wasn't meant to last only for Abraham's lifetime or even for the nation of Israel. It signifies a relationship that transcends time, grounded in God's own eternal being. This means the core of the covenant—God being God to His people—is a promise that will never fail.
What does it truly mean for God to 'be a God' to someone? It's more than just a title; it's a profound, all-encompassing relationship.
The promise, 'to be a God unto thee, and to thy seed after thee,' is the heart of the covenant. It's not merely about protection or provision, but about a complete relationship.
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More Than Just Blessings
Commentators emphasize that this phrase encapsulates all saving benefits. It means God Himself, in His fullness, is the inheritance of His people. It includes spiritual blessings – His presence, guidance, and righteousness – and points towards eternal life. While temporal blessings like the land were part of the promise to Abraham's physical descendants, the ultimate fulfillment of 'being their God' is spiritual and eternal.
A Relational Foundation
This promise forms the foundation for every aspect of the relationship between God and His people. It implies that God will work all things for their protection, consolation, and salvation. It's a promise that transcends mere existence and touches upon a life lived in deep communion with the Divine.
Understand the original words
berit · Hebrew Noun
In a biblical context, this term denotes a relational, binding agreement between God and His people, often initiated by God and involving promises, stipulations, and sometimes signs or oaths. It establishes a formal, legal, and spiritual relationship where God commits Himself to His people.
zera · Hebrew Noun
Refers to descendants or progeny. In biblical theology, it carries the significance of continuity and the transmission of promises, blessings, or responsibilities from one generation to the next.
olam · Hebrew Adjective/Noun
A term indicating something that is eternal, lasting, or enduring without end. In the context of God's promises, it signifies that the agreement or state is permanent and unchangeable.
This covenant is not just a one-time promise but a foundational, enduring relationship established by God, marked by physical signs and extending through generations, even through periods of exile and judgment.
~2091 BC— this verse
God's Covenant with Abram
God first formally establishes a covenant with Abram (later Abraham), promising him numerous descendants and land. This foundational event sets the stage for future interactions and promises.
~2078 BC
Birth of Ishmael
Ishmael is born to Abram and Hagar. While significant, he is not the son through whom the promised covenant line will continue.
~2077-2064 BC
Abraham's Household Circumcised
Abraham, Ishmael, and all males in his household are circumcised as a sign of the covenant, as commanded by God. This ritual marks a physical commitment to the covenant.
~2066 BC
Birth of Isaac
Isaac is born to Abraham and Sarah, fulfilling God's promise of a son through Sarah. He becomes the heir of the covenant.
~1446-1406 BC
Exodus from Egypt
The descendants of Abraham, now a vast nation, are delivered from slavery in Egypt, marking a pivotal moment in their history as God's chosen people.
~1406-1330 BC
Conquest and Division of Canaan
Following their wilderness wanderings, the Israelites conquer and divide the Promised Land of Canaan, a key physical inheritance promised to Abraham's descendants.
~586 BC
Babylonian Exile
The southern kingdom of Judah is conquered by Babylon, and many Israelites are exiled. This event tests their covenant relationship with God and their hope for future restoration.
This passage echoes God's promise to Abraham, stating 'I am the God of your father Abraham. Do not be afraid, for I am with you...' reinforcing the enduring nature of God's covenant presence across generations.
Exodus 6:7This verse directly quotes the promise from Genesis 17, 'I will take you to be my people, and I will be your God,' highlighting how God's foundational promise to Abraham becomes the bedrock for His people's liberation and identity.
Jeremiah 31:33This prophetic passage describes a new covenant where God promises to put His law within His people and write it on their hearts, mirroring the everlasting promise in Genesis 17 to be their God in a deep, internal way.
Hebrews 11:16The New Testament author points back to Abraham's story, stating that 'God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared for them a city,' affirming the spiritual and eternal reality of the covenant God made with Abraham and his descendants.
Romans 11:16This passage uses the analogy of the firstfruits of dough and the whole lump to illustrate how Abraham's 'holy root' blesses his descendants, showing how the covenant's promise to be God to his seed continues through both natural and spiritual lineage.
calvinGenesis 17:1-27: "And when Abram was ninety years old and nine, the LORD appeared to Abram, and said unto him, I am the Almighty God; walk before me, and be thou perfect."
And Abraham took Ishmael his son, and all that were born in his house, and all that were bought with his money, every male among the men of Abraham's house; and circumcised the flesh of their foreskin in the selfsame day, as God had said unto him.
Tunc Abraham tulit Ismael filium suum, et omnes vernas domus suae, et…
clarkeGenesis 17:7: "And I will establish my covenant between me and thee and thy seed after thee in their generations for an everlasting covenant, to be a God unto thee, and to thy seed after thee."
An everlasting covenant - ברית עולם berith olam. See note on Genesis 13:15 . Here the word olam is taken in its own proper meaning, as the words immediately following prove - to be a God unto thee, and thy seed after thee; for as the soul is to endure for ever, so it shall eternally stand in need of the…
The promise here isn't just about God being a god for you, but your God. This phrase implies an intimate, all-encompassing relationship where God makes Himself available for every aspect of your life, not just the big moments. It means He's committed to being your source, your guide, and your refuge, in every generation that follows.
God is reaffirming His promises to Abraham, who is now ninety-nine years old, by establishing an everlasting covenant. This covenant involves circumcision as a physical sign, marking Abraham and all males in his household as participants. The passage immediately preceding this verse details Abraham's obedience in circumcising his entire household, including himself and Ishmael.
God is reaffirming His promises to Abraham, who is now ninety-nine years old, by establishing an everlasting covenant. This covenant involves circumcision as a physical sign, marking Abraham and all males in his household as participants. The passage immediately preceding this verse details Abraham's obedience in circumcising his entire household, including himself and Ishmael.
"And I will establish my covenant between me and you and your offspring after you throughout their generations for an everlasting covenant, to be God to you and to your offspring after you." — The promise here isn't just about God being a god for you, but your God. This phrase implies an intimate, all-encompassing relationship where God makes Himself available for every aspect of you…
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Last reviewed October 2026