The Meaning of Genesis 17:21 Explained

Genesis 17:21

KJV: But my covenant will I establish with Isaac, which Sarah shall bear unto thee at this set time in the next year.

YLT: and My covenant I establish with Isaac, whom Sarah doth bear to thee at this appointed time in the next year;'

Darby: But my covenant will I establish with Isaac, whom Sarah shall bear to thee at this appointed time in the next year.

ASV: But my covenant will I establish with Isaac, whom Sarah shall bear unto thee at this set time in the next year.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

But my covenant  will I establish  with Isaac,  which Sarah  shall bear  unto thee at this set time  in the next  year. 

What does Genesis 17:21 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 17:21 mean?

But My covenant I will establish with Isaac whom shall bear to you Sarah at time this in the year next
וְאֶת־ בְּרִיתִ֖י אָקִ֣ים אֶת־ יִצְחָ֑ק אֲשֶׁר֩ תֵּלֵ֨ד לְךָ֤ שָׂרָה֙ לַמּוֹעֵ֣ד הַזֶּ֔ה בַּשָּׁנָ֖ה הָאַחֶֽרֶת

בְּרִיתִ֖י  My  covenant 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular construct, first person common singular
Root: בְּרִית  
Sense: covenant, alliance, pledge.
אָקִ֣ים  I  will  establish 
Parse: Verb, Hifil, Imperfect, first person common singular
Root: קוּם 
Sense: to rise, arise, stand, rise up, stand up.
יִצְחָ֑ק  Isaac 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יִצְחָק  
Sense: son of Abraham by Sarah his wife and father of Jacob and Esau.
אֲשֶׁר֩  whom 
Parse: Pronoun, relative
Root: אֲשֶׁר 
Sense: (relative part.).
תֵּלֵ֨ד  shall  bear 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, third person feminine singular
Root: יָלַד 
Sense: to bear, bring forth, beget, gender, travail.
לְךָ֤  to  you 
Parse: Preposition, second person masculine singular
שָׂרָה֙  Sarah 
Parse: Proper Noun, feminine singular
Root: שָׂרָה  
Sense: wife of Abraham and mother of Isaac.
לַמּוֹעֵ֣ד  at  time 
Parse: Preposition-l, Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: מֹועֵד  
Sense: appointed place, appointed time, meeting.
הַזֶּ֔ה  this 
Parse: Article, Pronoun, masculine singular
Root: זֶה  
Sense: this, this one, here, which, this … that, the one … the other, another, such.
בַּשָּׁנָ֖ה  in  the  year 
Parse: Preposition-b, Article, Noun, feminine singular
Root: שָׁנָה  
Sense: year.
הָאַחֶֽרֶת  next 
Parse: Article, Adjective, feminine singular
Root: אַחֵר  
Sense: another, other, following.