Genesis 17:7-8
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. And I will give to you and to your offspring after you the land of your sojournings, all the land of Canaan, for an everlasting possession, and I will be their God.”
English Standard Version (ESV)
This page isn't yet indexed by search engines.
This covenant isn't just about a future inheritance; it's about God Himself becoming the very source and sustainer of life for Abraham and his descendants, a profound, eternal relationship that shapes their existence. This promise goes beyond earthly blessings, pointing to the ultimate reality of God's presence as the core of their being.
God is reiterating His covenant with Abram, now that Abram is 99 years old and has just been commanded to circumcise himself and all the males in his household. This promise isn't just a renewal; it's a confirmation and establishment of an eternal relationship, solidifying God's commitment to Abram and his descendants throughout all generations, and most importantly, to be their God.
The Bible calls God's covenant with Abraham 'everlasting.' What does that really mean for us, even thousands of years later?
When God establishes a covenant, it's not temporary. He uses the phrase 'everlasting covenant' (berith olam in Hebrew) to emphasize its eternal nature.
More Than a Contract
This isn't just a business deal that expires. It's a deep, unbreakable bond. While earthly generations pass, and even the physical sign of the covenant (circumcision) was eventually fulfilled in Christ, the relationship God establishes remains. It’s a promise that transcends time, pointing towards an eternal future with Him.
God's Promise, Our Hope
This 'everlasting' quality means the covenant's blessings are meant for all who belong to God, not just Abraham's physical descendants. It grounds our hope in God's unchanging faithfulness, assuring us that His commitment to us is as enduring as He is.
God promises to 'be a God' to Abraham and his descendants. What does this incredible, yet simple, statement truly encompass?
The phrase 'to be a God unto thee' is the heart of the covenant promise. It's not just about protection or provision, though those are included. It signifies a complete, intimate relationship.
All-Encompassing Provision
Commentators suggest this includes everything needed for salvation and well-being – both in this life and the next. It means God Himself, in all His sufficiency, is pledged to Abraham and his lineage. Think of it as God saying, 'I, Myself, with all that I am and all that I have, am yours.'
Beyond Temporal Blessings
While the land of Canaan was a significant part of the promise, the true 'everlasting' aspect is the spiritual and eternal relationship. It points to a reality far greater than any earthly possession – the privilege of knowing God intimately and being known by Him.
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.
megurim · Hebrew Noun
This passage echoes the promise of God to be a God to His people, emphasizing the deep, personal relationship established by the covenant, mirroring Genesis 17:7's assurance.
Jeremiah 31:33Jeremiah prophesies a new covenant where God's law will be written on their hearts, directly reflecting the enduring, internal nature of the covenant established with Abraham, where God promises to be their God.
Romans 4:16Paul explicitly links Abraham's faith to his role as the father of all who believe, highlighting that the promise of being God's people isn't just for physical descendants but for all who share Abraham's faith, as implied by the 'everlasting covenant'.
Hebrews 11:16This verse states that Abraham looked forward to a heavenly city, indicating the spiritual and eternal dimension of God's promise to be his God, aligning with the 'everlasting covenant' described in Genesis 17:7.
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…
This covenant isn't just about a future inheritance; it's about God Himself becoming the very source and sustainer of life for Abraham and his descendants, a profound, eternal relationship that shapes their existence. This promise goes beyond earthly blessings, pointing to the ultimate reality of God's presence as the core of their being.
God is reiterating His covenant with Abram, now that Abram is 99 years old and has just been commanded to circumcise himself and all the males in his household. This promise isn't just a renewal; it's a confirmation and establishment of an eternal relationship, solidifying God's commitment to Abram and his descendants throughout all generations, and most importantly, to be their God.
God is reiterating His covenant with Abram, now that Abram is 99 years old and has just been commanded to circumcise himself and all the males in his household. This promise isn't just a renewal; it's a confirmation and establishment of an eternal relationship, solidifying God's commitment to Abram and his descendants throughout all generations, and most importantly, to be their God.
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 17:7-8 is available in the Sola app.
A temporary place of residence for one who is passing through or living as an alien in a land that is not their permanent home. It emphasizes the transient nature of life before the fulfillment of God's final promise.
achuzzah · Hebrew Noun
Property or land that is held as a permanent, binding, and legal right granted by God. It signifies a secure and lasting inheritance.
"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. And I will give to you and to your offspring after…" — This covenant isn't just about a future inheritance; it's about God Himself becoming the very source and sustainer of life for Abraham and his descendants, a profound, eternal relationship that shape…
