The Meaning of Genesis 17:18 Explained

Genesis 17:18

KJV: And Abraham said unto God, O that Ishmael might live before thee!

YLT: And Abraham saith unto God, 'O that Ishmael may live before Thee;'

Darby: And Abraham said to God, Oh that Ishmael might live before thee!

ASV: And Abraham said unto God, Oh that Ishmael might live before thee!

Discover Genesis 17:18

CONTEXT: What is the Context of Genesis 17:18?

MEANING: What does Genesis 17:18 Mean?

WORDS: What do the individual words in Genesis 17:18 mean?

RELATIONS: What do the major concepts mean in Genesis 17:18?

KJV Reverse Interlinear

And Abraham  said  unto God,  O that  Ishmael  might live  before thee! 

What does Genesis 17:18 Mean?

Context Summary

Genesis 17:15-27 - Isaac Is Promised
There are two allusions to laughter in these chapters. Sarah's was the laugh of incredulity, see Genesis 18:12; but Abraham's was the laugh of happy confidence, which reckoned on God. As r.v. puts it, he looked his difficulties in the face, and then turned away to the promise of God, and wavered not, but waxed strong, giving glory to God. Ponder Romans 4:20-21. Therefore, he obtained promises for his wife, for Ishmael, and for the coming child, which was to bear the name of Laughter, partly because of that hour, and also because he would bring sunshine into the old man's life. His heart had entwined about Ishmael. As he had watched the masterful and clever youth, he had said to himself, "He will hold the camp together when I am gone." But the divine covenant could not be with one that had slave-blood in his veins and was not to abide in the house forever. See John 8:35; Galatians 4:22. The covenant is always with Isaac. [source]

Chapter Summary: Genesis 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

What do the individual words in Genesis 17:18 mean?

and said Abraham to God Oh that Ishmael might live before You
וַיֹּ֥אמֶר אַבְרָהָ֖ם אֶל־ הָֽאֱלֹהִ֑ים ל֥וּ יִשְׁמָעֵ֖אל יִחְיֶ֥ה ! לְפָנֶֽיךָ

וַיֹּ֥אמֶר  and  said 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: אָמַר 
Sense: to say, speak, utter.
אַבְרָהָ֖ם  Abraham 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: אַבְרָהָם  
Sense: friend of God and founder of Hebrew nation via God’s elective covenant.
הָֽאֱלֹהִ֑ים  God 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine plural
Root: אֱלֹהִים  
Sense: (plural).
ל֥וּ  Oh  that 
Parse: Preposition
Root: לוּ  
Sense: if, oh that!, if only!.
יִשְׁמָעֵ֖אל  Ishmael 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יִשְׁמָעֵאל  
Sense: son of Abraham and Sarah’s handmaid Hagar and the progenitor of the Arabian peoples.
יִחְיֶ֥ה  might  live 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: חָיָה  
Sense: to live, have life, remain alive, sustain life, live prosperously, live for ever, be quickened, be alive, be restored to life or health.
! לְפָנֶֽיךָ  before  You 
Parse: Preposition-l, Noun, common plural construct, second person masculine singular
Root: לִפְנֵי 
Sense: face.

What are the major concepts related to Genesis 17:18?

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Similar Scriptures for Genesis 17:18

Jeremiah 32:39 [3]
Acts 2:39 [3]
Psalms 4:6 [2]
Isaiah 59:2 [2]
Psalms 41:12 [2]
Genesis 4:12 [2]
Genesis 4:14 [2]