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Genesis 17:18-20
New English Translation
Genesis 17:18-20
New English Translation
18 Abraham said to God, “O that[a] Ishmael might live before you!”[b]
19 God said, “No, Sarah your wife is going to bear you a son, and you will name him Isaac.[c] I will confirm my covenant with him as a perpetual[d] covenant for his descendants after him. 20 As for Ishmael, I have heard you.[e] I will indeed bless him, make him fruitful, and give him a multitude of descendants.[f] He will become the father of twelve princes;[g] I will make him into a great nation.
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- Genesis 17:18 tn The wish is introduced with the Hebrew particle לוּ (lu), “O that.”
- Genesis 17:18 tn Or “live with your blessing.”
- Genesis 17:19 tn Heb “will call his name Isaac.” The name means “he laughs,” or perhaps “may he laugh” (see the note on the word “laughed” in v. 17).
- Genesis 17:19 tn Or “as an eternal.”
- Genesis 17:20 sn The Hebrew verb translated “I have heard you” forms a wordplay with the name Ishmael, which means “God hears.” See the note on the name “Ishmael” in 16:11.
- Genesis 17:20 tn Heb “And I will multiply him exceedingly, exceedingly.” The repetition is emphatic.
- Genesis 17:20 tn For a discussion of the Hebrew word translated “princes,” see E. A. Speiser, “Background and Function of the Biblical Nasi’,” CBQ 25 (1963): 111-17.
New English Translation (NET)
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