New International Version When Abram was ninety-nine years old, the LORD appeared to him and said, “I am God Almighty; walk before me faithfully and be blameless. New Living Translation When Abram was ninety-nine years old, the LORD appeared to him and said, “I am El-Shaddai—‘God Almighty.’ Serve me faithfully and live a blameless life. English Standard Version When Abram was ninety-nine years old the LORD appeared to Abram and said to him, “I am God Almighty; walk before me, and be blameless, Berean Standard Bible When Abram was ninety-nine years old, the LORD appeared to him and said, “I am God Almighty. Walk before Me and be blameless. Berean Literal Bible And Abram was a son of ninety years and nine years, and YHWH appeared to Abram and said to him, “I am El-Shaddai; walk before Me and be blameless. King James Bible 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. New King James Version When Abram was ninety-nine years old, the LORD appeared to Abram and said to him, “I am Almighty God; walk before Me and be blameless. New American Standard Bible Now when Abram was ninety-nine years old, the LORD appeared to Abram and said to him, “I am God Almighty; Walk before Me, and be blameless. NASB 1995 Now when Abram was ninety-nine years old, the LORD appeared to Abram and said to him, “I am God Almighty; Walk before Me, and be blameless. NASB 1977 Now when Abram was ninety-nine years old, the LORD appeared to Abram and said to him, “I am God Almighty; Walk before Me, and be blameless. Legacy Standard Bible Now it happened that when Abram was ninety-nine years old, Yahweh appeared to Abram and said to him, “I am God Almighty; Walk before Me and be blameless, Amplified Bible When Abram was ninety-nine years old, the LORD appeared to him and said, “I am God Almighty; Walk [habitually] before Me [with integrity, knowing that you are always in My presence], and be blameless and complete [in obedience to Me]. Berean Annotated Bible When Abram (exalted father) was ninety-nine years old, the LORD {YHWH} appeared to him and said, “I am God Almighty {El-Shaddai}. Walk before Me and be blameless. Christian Standard Bible When Abram was ninety-nine years old, the LORD appeared to him, saying, “I am God Almighty. Live in my presence and be blameless. Holman Christian Standard Bible When Abram was 99 years old, the LORD appeared to him, saying, “I am God Almighty. Live in My presence and be blameless. American Standard Version And when Abram was ninety years old and nine, Jehovah appeared to Abram, and said unto him, I am God Almighty; walk before me, and be thou perfect. Contemporary English Version When Abram was 99 years old, the LORD appeared to him again and said, "I am God All-Powerful. If you obey me and always do right, English Revised Version And when Abram was ninety years old and nine, the LORD appeared to Abram, and said unto him, I am God Almighty; walk before me, and be thou perfect. GOD'S WORD® Translation When Abram was 99 years old, the LORD appeared to him. He said to Abram, "I am God Almighty. Live in my presence with integrity. Good News Translation When Abram was ninety-nine years old, the LORD appeared to him and said, "I am the Almighty God. Obey me and always do what is right. International Standard Version When Abram was 99 years old, the LORD appeared to Abram and announced, "I am God Almighty. Live in constant awareness that I'm always with you, and be blameless. NET Bible When Abram was 99 years old, the LORD appeared to him and said, "I am the sovereign God. Walk before me and be blameless. New Heart English Bible When Abram was ninety-nine years old, God appeared to him, and said to him, "I am El Shaddai. Walk before me, and be blameless. Webster's Bible Translation And when Abram was ninety and nine years old, the LORD appeared to Abram, and said to him, I am the Almighty God; walk before me, and be thou perfect. Majority Text Translations Majority Standard BibleWhen Abram was ninety-nine years old, the LORD appeared to him and said, “I am God Almighty. Walk before Me and be blameless. World English Bible When Abram was ninety-nine years old, Yahweh appeared to Abram and said to him, “I am God Almighty. Walk before me and be blameless. Literal Translations Literal Standard VersionAnd Abram is a son of ninety-nine years, and YHWH appears to Abram, and says to him, “I [am] God Almighty, habitually walk before Me, and be perfect; Berean Literal Bible And Abram was a son of ninety years and nine years, and YHWH appeared to Abram and said to him, “I am El-Shaddai; walk before Me and be blameless. Young's Literal Translation And Abram is a son of ninety and nine years, and Jehovah appeareth unto Abram, and saith unto him, 'I am God Almighty, walk habitually before Me, and be thou perfect; Smith's Literal Translation And Abram shall be the son of ninety years and nine years: Jehovah shall be seen to Abram and will say to him, I am God Almighty; walk thou before me, and be complete. Catholic Translations Douay-Rheims BibleAnd after he began to be ninety and nine years old, the Lord appeared to him: and said unto him: I am the Almighty God: walk before me, and be perfect. Catholic Public Domain Version In truth, after he began to be ninety-nine years of age, the Lord appeared to him. And he said to him: “I am the Almighty God. Walk in my sight and become complete. New American Bible When Abram was ninety-nine years old, the LORD appeared to Abram and said: I am God the Almighty. Walk in my presence and be blameless. New Revised Standard Version When Abram was ninety-nine years old, the LORD appeared to Abram, and said to him, “I am God Almighty; walk before me, and be blameless. Translations from Aramaic Lamsa BibleWHEN Abram was ninety-nine years old, the LORD appeared to him, and said to him, I am the Almighty God; walk well before me, and be faultless. Peshitta Holy Bible Translated And I shall give my covenant between me and you and I shall increase you greatly.” OT Translations JPS Tanakh 1917And when Abram was ninety years old and nine, the LORD appeared to Abram, and said unto him: 'I am God Almighty; walk before Me, and be thou wholehearted. Brenton Septuagint Translation And Abram was ninety-nine years old, and the Lord appeared to Abram and said to him, I am thy God, be well-pleasing before me, and be blameless. Additional Translations ... Audio Bible (Voice ▾ Musical ▾) Context The Renaming of Abraham1When Abram was ninety-nine years old, the LORD appeared to him and said, “I am God Almighty. Walk before Me and be blameless. 2I will establish My covenant between Me and you, and I will multiply you exceedingly.”… Cross References When Abram was ninety-nine years old, Romans 4:19 Without weakening in his faith, he acknowledged the decrepitness of his body (since he was about a hundred years old) and the lifelessness of Sarah’s womb. Genesis 18:11 And Abraham and Sarah were already old and well along in years; Sarah had passed the age of childbearing. Genesis 21:5 Abraham was a hundred years old when his son Isaac was born to him. the LORD appeared to him Genesis 12:7 Then the LORD appeared to Abram and said, “I will give this land to your offspring.” So Abram built an altar there to the LORD, who had appeared to him. Genesis 18:1 Then the LORD appeared to Abraham by the Oaks of Mamre in the heat of the day, while he was sitting at the entrance of his tent. Acts 7:2 And Stephen declared: “Brothers and fathers, listen to me! The God of glory appeared to our father Abraham while he was still in Mesopotamia, before he lived in Haran, and said, “I am God Almighty. Exodus 6:3 I appeared to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob as God Almighty, but by My name the LORD I did not make Myself known to them. Genesis 28:3 May God Almighty bless you and make you fruitful and multiply you, so that you may become a company of peoples. Revelation 1:8 “I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, who is and was and is to come—the Almighty. Walk before Me 1 Kings 2:4 and so that the LORD may fulfill His promise to me: ‘If your descendants take heed to walk faithfully before Me with all their heart and soul, you will never fail to have a man on the throne of Israel.’ 2 Kings 20:3 “Please, O LORD, remember how I have walked before You faithfully and with wholehearted devotion; I have done what is good in Your sight.” And Hezekiah wept bitterly. Psalm 56:13 For You have delivered my soul from death, and my feet from stumbling, that I may walk before God in the light of life. and be blameless. Deuteronomy 18:13 You must be blameless before the LORD your God. Job 1:1 There was a man in the land of Uz whose name was Job. And this man was blameless and upright, fearing God and shunning evil. Psalm 15:2 He who walks with integrity and practices righteousness, who speaks the truth from his heart, Genesis 35:11 And God told him, “I am God Almighty. Be fruitful and multiply. A nation—even a company of nations—shall come from you, and kings shall descend from you. Treasury of Scripture And when Abram was ninety years old and nine, the LORD appeared to Abram, and said to him, I am the Almighty God; walk before me, and be you perfect. A. Genesis 16:16 And Abram was fourscore and six years old, when Hagar bare Ishmael to Abram. the Lord. Genesis 12:1 Now the LORD had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father's house, unto a land that I will shew thee: Almighty. Genesis 18:14 Is any thing too hard for the LORD? At the time appointed I will return unto thee, according to the time of life, and Sarah shall have a son. Genesis 28:3 And God Almighty bless thee, and make thee fruitful, and multiply thee, that thou mayest be a multitude of people; Genesis 35:11 And God said unto him, I am God Almighty: be fruitful and multiply; a nation and a company of nations shall be of thee, and kings shall come out of thy loins; walk. Genesis 5:22,24 And Enoch walked with God after he begat Methuselah three hundred years, and begat sons and daughters: … Genesis 6:9 These are the generations of Noah: Noah was a just man and perfect in his generations, and Noah walked with God. Genesis 48:15 And he blessed Joseph, and said, God, before whom my fathers Abraham and Isaac did walk, the God which fed me all my life long unto this day, perfect. Genesis 6:9 These are the generations of Noah: Noah was a just man and perfect in his generations, and Noah walked with God. Deuteronomy 18:13 Thou shalt be perfect with the LORD thy God. Job 1:1 There was a man in the land of Uz, whose name was Job; and that man was perfect and upright, and one that feared God, and eschewed evil. Jump to Previous Abram Almighty Appeared Blameless Face Habitually Nine Ninety Ninety-Nine Perfect Ruler Upright Walk Ways WholeheartedJump to Next Abram Almighty Appeared Blameless Face Habitually Nine Ninety Ninety-Nine Perfect Ruler Upright Walk Ways WholeheartedGenesis 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. When Abram was ninety-nine years old, Thirteen years had passed since Ishmael’s birth, and Abram and Sarai remained without the promised son. Abram’s age magnifies the impossibility of the situation by natural means and prepares for God’s covenant promise to be fulfilled solely by His power. Rom 4:19 Without weakening in his faith, he acknowledged… the LORD appeared to him God personally came to Abram at a decisive moment in covenant history. The appearance renewed divine fellowship after years of silence and assured Abram that God had neither forgotten His promise nor abandoned His servant. Gen 12:7 Then the LORD appeared to Abram and said,… and said, “I am God Almighty. El Shaddai declares God’s complete power and sufficiency. The God who created life would give a son to an aged man and his barren wife, preserve the covenant line, and accomplish all He had promised. Exo 6:3 I appeared to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob… Walk before Me Abram was called to order his whole life in conscious fellowship with God, trusting His word and submitting to His will. Covenant blessing carried covenant responsibility: Abram was to live openly before the God who saw and guided him. 1Ki 2:4 and so that the LORD may fulfill His promise to me:… and be blameless. God required wholehearted integrity, not sinless perfection earned by human effort. Abram was to reject divided loyalties and obey the Lord faithfully, anticipating the holiness required of all who belong to God and fulfilled perfectly in Jesus Christ. Deu 18:13 You must be blameless before the LORD your God. Persons / Places / Events 1. AbramAt this point in Genesis, Abram is ninety-nine years old. He is a key patriarch in the Bible, chosen by God to be the father of many nations. 2. The LORD (Yahweh) The covenant-making God who appears to Abram. He reveals Himself as "God Almighty" (El Shaddai), emphasizing His power and sufficiency. 3. El Shaddai This is the first time God uses this name in the Bible. It highlights His omnipotence and ability to fulfill His promises. 4. Covenant Renewal This event marks a significant moment in the covenant relationship between God and Abram, setting the stage for the promises of descendants and land. 5. Walk Before Me This phrase indicates a call to live in a manner that is pleasing to God, emphasizing a life of faith and obedience. Teaching Points Understanding God's IdentityRecognize God as El Shaddai, the Almighty, who is capable of fulfilling His promises regardless of human limitations. Living Blamelessly Strive to live a life of integrity and obedience, walking before God in faith and righteousness. Faith in God's Timing Trust in God's perfect timing, as Abram did, even when circumstances seem impossible. Covenant Relationship Reflect on the importance of maintaining a covenant relationship with God, marked by faithfulness and commitment. God's Call to Action Respond to God's call with action, as Abram did, by aligning your life with His will and purposes. Bible Study Questions and Answers 1. What is the meaning of Genesis 17:1?2. How does Genesis 17:1 emphasize God's call for us to live blamelessly? 3. What does "walk before Me" in Genesis 17:1 imply about daily conduct? 4. How does Genesis 17:1 connect to Jesus' teachings on righteousness? 5. In what ways can we apply "be blameless" from Genesis 17:1 today? 6. How does Genesis 17:1 challenge us to deepen our relationship with God? 7. What does "walk before Me and be blameless" mean in Genesis 17:1? 8. How does Genesis 17:1 define God's covenant with Abraham? 9. Why is God referred to as "God Almighty" in Genesis 17:1? 10. What are the top 10 Lessons from Genesis 17? What Does Genesis 17:1 Mean When Abram was ninety-nine years oldGenesis 17:1 opens with a time stamp: “When Abram was ninety-nine years old…”. • Thirteen years have passed since Ishmael’s birth (Genesis 16:16), and twenty-four since Abram first left Haran at age seventy-five (Genesis 12:4). • God’s promise of a son through Sarai appears humanly impossible now (Romans 4:19), underscoring that the outcome will be entirely by God’s power (Hebrews 6:15). • The verse reminds us that no season of life is beyond God’s reach; He calls and uses people at any age (Psalm 92:14). the LORD appeared to him “…the LORD appeared to him…”. • Scripture treats this as a real, personal manifestation, not a dream or vision—God steps into Abram’s world (Genesis 12:7; Genesis 18:1). • Acts 7:2 affirms that “the God of glory appeared to our father Abraham,” highlighting the event’s historical reality. • John 14:21 promises continued divine self-revelation to those who love God, showing that intimacy with Him is still offered today. I am God Almighty “…and said, ‘I am God Almighty.’” • This title stresses God’s limitless power to fulfill His word (Exodus 6:3; Revelation 1:8). • By introducing Himself this way, the Lord assures Abram that nothing—age, barrenness, cultural norms—can thwart His covenant purposes (Jeremiah 32:17). • It also calls Abram (and us) to anchor faith in God’s character, not in fluctuating circumstances (2 Corinthians 6:18). Walk before Me “Walk before Me…” • “Walk” pictures a steady, daily lifestyle rather than a one-time act (Genesis 5:24; Galatians 5:25). • “Before Me” signals living transparently in God’s presence—aware that every step unfolds under His gaze (Psalm 86:11). Practical outworking: – Consistent obedience (Deuteronomy 13:4) – Ongoing fellowship and conversation with God (1 Thessalonians 5:17) – Intentional alignment of choices with His will (Colossians 1:10) and be blameless “…and be blameless.” • “Blameless” speaks of integrity and wholehearted devotion, not sinless perfection (Job 1:1; Psalm 15:1-2). • God desires an undivided heart—one that refuses compromise (Philippians 2:15). • The call anticipates the New Covenant work of Christ, who makes believers “blameless at His coming” (1 Thessalonians 5:23). Steps toward blamelessness: – Honest confession and repentance (1 John 1:9) – Dependence on the Spirit’s enabling (Galatians 5:16) – Practicing righteousness in daily relationships (Ephesians 4:25-32) summary Genesis 17:1 records a pivotal encounter: at ninety-nine, Abram meets the God who is almighty, who invites ongoing relationship, and who calls for a life of integrity. The verse frames the covenant that follows by highlighting God’s timing, presence, power, and ethical demand. For every believer, it issues the same invitation—trust the Almighty, walk before Him each day, and pursue a blameless life made possible by His grace. XVII.CONFIRMATION OF THE COVENANT BY THE SACRAMENT OF CIRCUMCISION. (1) Abram was ninety years old and nine.—Thirteen years, therefore, had passed by since the birth of Ishmael, who doubtless during this time had grown very dear to the childless old man, as we gather from the wish expressed in Genesis 17:18. I am the Almighty God.—Heb., El shaddai. The word is Archaic, but there is no doubt that it means strong so as to overpower. Besides its use in Genesis we find it employed as the name of Deity by Balaam (Numbers 24:4; Numbers 24:16); by Naomi (Ruth 1:20); and in the Book of Job, where it occurs thirty-one times. We may thus regard it as “one of the more general worldwide titles of the Most High” (Speaker’s Commentary). In ... Verse 1. - And when Abram was ninety years old and nine - consequently an interval of thirteen years had elapsed since the birth of Ishmael; the long delay on the part of God being probably designed as chastisement for Abram's second nuptials (Calvin), and at least corresponding with Abram's undue haste (Lange) - the Lord appeared to Abram - lest he should regard Ishmael's birth as a complete fulfillment of the promise (Menochius), and be satisfied with Hagar's child as the expected seed (Calvin) - and said to him, I am the Almighty God - El Shaddai, found six times in Genesis and thirty-one times in Job, composed of El, God, and Shaddai; not a nomen compositum (from שֶׁ = אֲשֶׁר and דַּי) signifying qui sufficiens est (Aquinas, Symmachus, Theodoret, Saadias, Maimonides, Calvin), but either a pluralis excellentiae., from the singular שַׁר, powerful - root ךשׁדַד, to be strong (Gesenius, Rosenmüller, Wordsworth), or a singular from the same root with the substantive termination יַ, as in הַגַּי, the festal, יְשִׁישַׁי, the old man, סִינַי, the thorn-grown (Keil, Oehler, Lange); descriptive of God as revealing himself violently in his might, hence correctly rendered παντοκράτωρ by the LXX. in Job (Oehler); distinguishing Jehovah, the God of salvation, from Elohim, the God who creates nature so that it is and supports it that it may stand, as "the God who compels nature to do what is contrary to itself, and subdues it to bow and minister to grace" (Delitzsch); characterizing Jehovah the covenant God, "as possessing the power to realize his promises, even when the order of nature presented no prospect of their fulfillment, and the powers of nature were insufficient to secure it" (Keil); perhaps, like Elohim and Adonai, one of the world-wide titles of the Most High since it was known to Balaam (Numbers 24:4, 16), and is constantly used in Job ('Speaker's Commentary'). Said in Exodus 6:2, 3 to have been the name by which God was known to the patriarchs, it is regarded by the partitionists as characteristic of the Elohist (Tuch, Blcek, Colenso, Davidson, Ewald), and accordingly to that writer the present chapter is assigned, and the Jehovah of this verse expiated as an alteration of the original Elohist's narrative; but the πρῶτον ψεῦδος of this criticism lurks in the identification of El-Shaddai with Elohim, whereas it is not Elohim, but Jehovah, who reveals himself as E1 Shaddai not alone in the Pentateuch, but in the historical and prophetical books as well (cf. Ruth 1:20, 21; vide Keil's Introduction, pt. § 2; div. 1. § 25). Walk before me. Literally, set thyself to walk, as inch. 13:17, in my presence, as if conscious of my inspection and solicitous of my approval; not behind me, as if sensible of shortcomings, and desirous to elude observation. The phrase intimates a less exalted piety than the corresponding phrase used of Enoch (5. 24) and Noah (Genesis 6:9). And be thou perfect. Tamim, ἄμεμπτοις (LXX.), used of Noah in Genesis 6:9, and rendered τέλειος (LXX.), while perhaps retrospectively glancing at Abram's sin in marrying Hagar, indicates that absolute standard of moral attainment, viz., completeness of being in respect of purity, which the supreme Lawgiver sets before his intelligent creatures (cf. Matthew 5:8).Parallel Commentaries ... Hebrew When Abramאַבְרָ֔ם (’aḇ·rām) Noun - proper - masculine singular Strong's 87: Abram -- 'exalted father', the original name of Abraham was וַיְהִ֣י (way·hî) Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular Strong's 1961: To fall out, come to pass, become, be ninety-nine תִּשְׁעִ֥ים (tiš·‘îm) Number - common plural Strong's 8673: Ninety years שָׁנִ֑ים (šā·nîm) Noun - feminine plural Strong's 8141: A year old, בֶּן־ (ben-) Noun - masculine singular construct Strong's 1121: A son the LORD יְהוָ֜ה (Yah·weh) Noun - proper - masculine singular Strong's 3068: LORD -- the proper name of the God of Israel appeared וַיֵּרָ֨א (way·yê·rā) Conjunctive waw | Verb - Nifal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular Strong's 7200: To see to אֶל־ (’el-) Preposition Strong's 413: Near, with, among, to him אַבְרָ֗ם (’aḇ·rām) Noun - proper - masculine singular Strong's 87: Abram -- 'exalted father', the original name of Abraham and said, וַיֹּ֤אמֶר (way·yō·mer) Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular Strong's 559: To utter, say “I אֲנִי־ (’ă·nî-) Pronoun - first person common singular Strong's 589: I am God אֵ֣ל (’êl) Noun - masculine singular Strong's 410: Strength -- as adjective, mighty, the Almighty Almighty. שַׁדַּ֔י (šad·day) Noun - proper - masculine singular Strong's 7706: The Almighty Walk הִתְהַלֵּ֥ךְ (hiṯ·hal·lêḵ) Verb - Hitpael - Imperative - masculine singular Strong's 1980: To go, come, walk before Me לְפָנַ֖י (lə·p̄ā·nay) Preposition-l | Noun - masculine plural construct | first person common singular Strong's 6440: The face and be וֶהְיֵ֥ה (weh·yêh) Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine singular Strong's 1961: To fall out, come to pass, become, be blameless. תָמִֽים׃ (ṯā·mîm) Adjective - masculine singular Strong's 8549: Entire, integrity, truth Additonal Resources Genesis 17:1 Blue Letter BibleGenesis 17:1 Bible Gateway Genesis 17:1 Bible.com Genesis 17:1 NIV |
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