The Meaning of Genesis 17:20 Explained

Genesis 17:20

KJV: And as for Ishmael, I have heard thee: Behold, I have blessed him, and will make him fruitful, and will multiply him exceedingly; twelve princes shall he beget, and I will make him a great nation.

YLT: As to Ishmael, I have heard thee; lo, I have blessed him, and made him fruitful, and multiplied him, very exceedingly; twelve princes doth he beget, and I have made him become a great nation;

Darby: And for Ishmael I have heard thee: behold, I will bless him, and will make him fruitful, and will very greatly multiply him; twelve princes shall he beget, and I will make him a great nation.

ASV: And as for Ishmael, I have heard thee: behold, I have blessed him, and will make him fruitful, and will multiply him exceedingly; twelve princes shall he beget, and I will make him a great nation.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

And as for Ishmael,  I have heard thee:  Behold, I have blessed  him, and will make him fruitful,  and will multiply  him exceedingly;  twelve  princes  shall he beget,  and I will make him  a great  nation. 

What does Genesis 17:20 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 17:20 mean?

And as for Ishmael I have heard you Behold I have blessed him and will make fruitful him and will multiply exceedingly greatly two [and] ten princes He shall beget and I will make him a nation great
וּֽלְיִשְׁמָעֵ֘אל‪‬ שְׁמַעְתִּיךָ֒ הִנֵּ֣ה ׀ בֵּרַ֣כְתִּי אֹת֗וֹ וְהִפְרֵיתִ֥י אֹת֛וֹ וְהִרְבֵּיתִ֥י בִּמְאֹ֣ד מְאֹ֑ד שְׁנֵים־ עָשָׂ֤ר נְשִׂיאִם֙ יוֹלִ֔יד וּנְתַתִּ֖יו לְג֥וֹי גָּדֽוֹל

וּֽלְיִשְׁמָעֵ֘אל‪‬  And  as  for  Ishmael 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Preposition-l, Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יִשְׁמָעֵאל  
Sense: son of Abraham and Sarah’s handmaid Hagar and the progenitor of the Arabian peoples.
שְׁמַעְתִּיךָ֒  I  have  heard  you 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, first person common singular, second person masculine singular
Root: שָׁמַע 
Sense: to hear, listen to, obey.
הִנֵּ֣ה ׀  Behold 
Parse: Interjection
Root: הִנֵּה  
Sense: behold, lo, see, if.
בֵּרַ֣כְתִּי  I  have  blessed 
Parse: Verb, Piel, Perfect, first person common singular
Root: בָּרַךְ 
Sense: to bless, kneel.
וְהִפְרֵיתִ֥י  and  will  make  fruitful 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Hifil, Conjunctive perfect, first person common singular
Root: פָּרָה 
Sense: to bear fruit, be fruitful, branch off.
וְהִרְבֵּיתִ֥י  and  will  multiply 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Hifil, Conjunctive perfect, first person common singular
Root: הַרְבָּה 
Sense: be or become great, be or become many, be or become much, be or become numerous.
בִּמְאֹ֣ד  exceedingly 
Parse: Preposition-b, Adverb
Root: מְאֹד  
Sense: exceedingly, much subst.
מְאֹ֑ד  greatly 
Parse: Adverb
Root: מְאֹד  
Sense: exceedingly, much subst.
שְׁנֵים־  two 
Parse: Number, md
Root: שְׁנַיִם  
Sense: two.
עָשָׂ֤ר  [and]  ten 
Parse: Number, masculine singular
Root: עָשָׂר 
Sense: ten, -teen (in combination with other numbers).
נְשִׂיאִם֙  princes 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural
Root: נָשִׂיא 
Sense: one lifted up, chief, prince, captain, leader.
יוֹלִ֔יד  He  shall  beget 
Parse: Verb, Hifil, Imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: יָלַד 
Sense: to bear, bring forth, beget, gender, travail.
וּנְתַתִּ֖יו  and  I  will  make  him 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Conjunctive perfect, first person common singular, third person masculine singular
Root: יָתַן 
Sense: to give, put, set.
לְג֥וֹי  a  nation 
Parse: Preposition-l, Noun, masculine singular
Root: גֹּוי 
Sense: nation, people.
גָּדֽוֹל  great 
Parse: Adjective, masculine singular
Root: גָּבֹול 
Sense: great.

What are the major concepts related to Genesis 17:20?

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