The Meaning of Genesis 21:4 Explained

Genesis 21:4

KJV: And Abraham circumcised his son Isaac being eight days old, as God had commanded him.

YLT: and Abraham circumciseth Isaac his son, being a son of eight days, as God hath commanded him.

Darby: And Abraham circumcised his son Isaac, being eight days old, as God had commanded him.

ASV: And Abraham circumcised his son Isaac when he was eight days old, as God had commanded him.

What is the context of Genesis 21:4?

KJV Reverse Interlinear

And Abraham  circumcised  his son  Isaac  being eight  days  old,  as God  had commanded  him. 

What does Genesis 21:4 Mean?

Context Summary

Genesis 21:1-7 - Birth Of Isaac
God is faithful. Heaven and earth may pass, but His word cannot fail. We may wait until all human hopes have died, and then, at "God's set time," the child is born. Abraham laughed at the first announcement of this event, Genesis 17:17. Later, as Sarah listened to the conversation between her husband and his mysterious guests, she laughed with incredulity, Genesis 18:12-15. But now, in the joy of long-deferred motherhood, she found that "the Lord had prepared laughter for her," and so named her child Isaac. See r.v. margin. Be of good cheer. The Lord has prepared laughter for you also, some few miles ahead on life's journey. Light is sown for the righteous, and gladness for the upright. O thou afflicted, He shall lay thy stones in fair colors! And when thy joy comes, rejoice in it. "Thou shalt rejoice in every good thing which the Lord thy God giveth thee." But in those hours think kindly of others, and do not forget that some, like Hagar, may be disappointed by what gives thee joy! [source]

Chapter Summary: Genesis 21

1  Isaac is born, and circumcised
6  Sarah's joy
8  Isaac is weaned
9  Hagar and Ishmael sent away
15  Hagar in distress
17  The angel relieves and comforts her
23  Abimelech's covenant with Abraham at Beersheba

What do the individual words in Genesis 21:4 mean?

And circumcised Abraham - Isaac his son when he was old eight days as had commanded him God
וַיָּ֤מָל אַבְרָהָם֙ אֶת־ יִצְחָ֣ק בְּנ֔וֹ בֶּן־ שְׁמֹנַ֖ת יָמִ֑ים כַּאֲשֶׁ֛ר צִוָּ֥ה אֹת֖וֹ אֱלֹהִֽים

וַיָּ֤מָל  And  circumcised 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: מוּל 
Sense: to circumcise, let oneself be circumcised, cut, be cut off.
אַבְרָהָם֙  Abraham 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: אַבְרָהָם  
Sense: friend of God and founder of Hebrew nation via God’s elective covenant.
אֶת־  - 
Parse: Direct object marker
Root: אֹות 
Sense: sign of the definite direct object, not translated in English but generally preceding and indicating the accusative.
יִצְחָ֣ק  Isaac 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יִצְחָק  
Sense: son of Abraham by Sarah his wife and father of Jacob and Esau.
בְּנ֔וֹ  his  son 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct, third person masculine singular
Root: בֵּן 
Sense: son, grandson, child, member of a group.
בֶּן־  when  he  was  old 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: בֵּן 
Sense: son, grandson, child, member of a group.
שְׁמֹנַ֖ת  eight 
Parse: Number, masculine singular construct
Root: שְׁמֹנֶה  
Sense: eight, eighth.
יָמִ֑ים  days 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural
Root: יׄום 
Sense: day, time, year.
צִוָּ֥ה  had  commanded 
Parse: Verb, Piel, Perfect, third person masculine singular
Root: צָוָה  
Sense: to command, charge, give orders, lay charge, give charge to, order.
אֱלֹהִֽים  God 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural
Root: אֱלֹהִים  
Sense: (plural).