Genesis 17:4

Read in context

Genesis 17:2–6 · Berean Standard Bible

2 I will establish My covenant between Me and you, and I will multiply you exceedingly.”

3 Then Abram fell facedown, and God said to him,

4 “As for Me, this is My covenant with you: You will be the father of many nations.

5 No longer will you be called Abram, but your name will be Abraham, for I have made you a father of many nations.

6 I will make you exceedingly fruitful; I will make nations of you, and kings will descend from you.

Hebrew words

Data created by STEPBible.org based on work at Tyndale House Cambridge (CC BY 4.0).

Study Genesis 17:4

Read the commentary on Genesis 17

Cross-references

The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge lists these related verses. Scripture text comes from the Berean Standard Bible.

Genesis 12:2

I will make you into a great nation, and I will bless you; I will make your name great, so that you will be a blessing.

Genesis 13:16

I will make your offspring like the dust of the earth, so that if one could count the dust of the earth, then your offspring could be counted.

Genesis 16:10

Then the angel added, “I will greatly multiply your offspring so that they will be too numerous to count.”

Genesis 22:17

I will surely bless you, and I will multiply your descendants like the stars in the sky and the sand on the seashore. Your descendants will possess the gates of their enemies.

Genesis 25:1

Now Abraham had taken another wife, named Keturah,

Genesis 25:2

and she bore him Zimran, Jokshan, Medan, Midian, Ishbak, and Shuah.

Genesis 25:3

Jokshan was the father of Sheba and Dedan. And the sons of Dedan were the Asshurites, the Letushites, and the Leummites.

Genesis 25:4

The sons of Midian were Ephah, Epher, Hanoch, Abida, and Eldaah. All these were descendants of Keturah.

Genesis 25:5

Abraham left everything he owned to Isaac.

Genesis 25:6

But while he was still alive, Abraham gave gifts to the sons of his concubines and sent them away from his son Isaac to the land of the east.

Genesis 25:7

Abraham lived a total of 175 years.

Genesis 25:8

And at a ripe old age he breathed his last and died, old and contented, and was gathered to his people.

Genesis 25:9

His sons Isaac and Ishmael buried him in the cave of Machpelah near Mamre, in the field of Ephron son of Zohar the Hittite.

Genesis 25:10

This was the field that Abraham had bought from the Hittites. Abraham was buried there with his wife Sarah.

Genesis 25:11

After Abraham’s death, God blessed his son Isaac, who lived near Beer-lahai-roi.

Genesis 25:12

This is the account of Abraham’s son Ishmael, whom Hagar the Egyptian, Sarah’s maidservant, bore to Abraham.

Genesis 25:13

These are the names of the sons of Ishmael in the order of their birth: Nebaioth the firstborn of Ishmael, then Kedar, Adbeel, Mibsam,

Genesis 25:14

Mishma, Dumah, Massa,

Genesis 25:15

Hadad, Tema, Jetur, Naphish, and Kedemah.

Genesis 25:16

These were the sons of Ishmael, and these were their names by their villages and encampments—twelve princes of their tribes.

Genesis 25:17

Ishmael lived a total of 137 years. Then he breathed his last and died, and was gathered to his people.

Genesis 25:18

Ishmael’s descendants settled from Havilah to Shur, which is near the border of Egypt as you go toward Asshur. And they lived in hostility toward all their brothers.

Genesis 32:12

But You have said, ‘I will surely make you prosper, and I will make your offspring like the sand of the sea, too numerous to count.’”

Genesis 35:11

And God told him, “I am God Almighty. Be fruitful and multiply. A nation—even a company of nations—shall come from you, and kings shall descend from you.

Genesis 36:1

This is the account of Esau (that is, Edom).

Genesis 36:2

Esau took his wives from the daughters of Canaan: Adah daughter of Elon the Hittite, Oholibamah daughter of Anah and granddaughter of Zibeon the Hivite,

Genesis 36:3

and Basemath daughter of Ishmael and sister of Nebaioth.

Genesis 36:4

And Adah bore Eliphaz to Esau, Basemath gave birth to Reuel,

Genesis 36:5

and Oholibamah gave birth to Jeush, Jalam, and Korah. These were the sons of Esau, who were born to him in the land of Canaan.

Genesis 36:6

Later, Esau took his wives and sons and daughters and all the people of his household, along with his livestock, all his other animals, and all the property he had acquired in Canaan, and he moved to a land far away from his brother Jacob.

Genesis 36:7

For their possessions were too great for them to dwell together; the land where they stayed could not support them because of their livestock.

Genesis 36:8

So Esau (that is, Edom) settled in the area of Mount Seir.

Genesis 36:9

This is the account of Esau, the father of the Edomites, in the area of Mount Seir.

Genesis 36:10

These are the names of Esau’s sons: Eliphaz son of Esau’s wife Adah, and Reuel son of Esau’s wife Basemath.

Genesis 36:11

The sons of Eliphaz were Teman, Omar, Zepho, Gatam, and Kenaz.

Genesis 36:12

Additionally, Timna, a concubine of Esau’s son Eliphaz, gave birth to Amalek. These are the grandsons of Esau’s wife Adah.

Genesis 36:13

These are the sons of Reuel: Nahath, Zerah, Shammah, and Mizzah. They are the grandsons of Esau’s wife Basemath.

Genesis 36:14

These are the sons of Esau’s wife Oholibamah (daughter of Anah and granddaughter of Zibeon) whom she bore to Esau: Jeush, Jalam, and Korah.

Genesis 36:15

These are the chiefs among the sons of Esau. The sons of Eliphaz the firstborn of Esau: Chiefs Teman, Omar, Zepho, Kenaz,

Genesis 36:16

Korah, Gatam, and Amalek. They are the chiefs of Eliphaz in the land of Edom, and they are the grandsons of Adah.

Genesis 36:17

These are the sons of Esau’s son Reuel: Chiefs Nahath, Zerah, Shammah, and Mizzah. They are the chiefs descended from Reuel in the land of Edom, and they are the grandsons of Esau’s wife Basemath.

Genesis 36:18

These are the sons of Esau’s wife Oholibamah: Chiefs Jeush, Jalam, and Korah. They are the chiefs descended from Esau’s wife Oholibamah, the daughter of Anah.

Genesis 36:19

All these are the sons of Esau (that is, Edom), and they were their chiefs.

Genesis 36:20

These are the sons of Seir the Horite, who were living in the land: Lotan, Shobal, Zibeon, Anah,

Genesis 36:21

Dishon, Ezer, and Dishan. They are the chiefs of the Horites, the descendants of Seir in the land of Edom.

Genesis 36:22

The sons of Lotan were Hori and Hemam. Timna was Lotan’s sister.

Genesis 36:23

These are the sons of Shobal: Alvan, Manahath, Ebal, Shepho, and Onam.

Genesis 36:24

These are the sons of Zibeon: Aiah and Anah. (This is the Anah who found the hot springs in the wilderness as he was pasturing the donkeys of his father Zibeon.)

Genesis 36:25

These are the children of Anah: Dishon and Oholibamah daughter of Anah.

Genesis 36:26

These are the sons of Dishon: Hemdan, Eshban, Ithran, and Cheran.

Genesis 36:27

These are the sons of Ezer: Bilhan, Zaavan, and Akan.

Genesis 36:28

These are the sons of Dishan: Uz and Aran.

Genesis 36:29

These are the chiefs of the Horites: Chiefs Lotan, Shobal, Zibeon, Anah,

Genesis 36:30

Dishon, Ezer, and Dishan. They are the chiefs of the Horites, according to their divisions in the land of Seir.

Genesis 36:31

These are the kings who reigned in the land of Edom before any king reigned over the Israelites:

Genesis 36:32

Bela son of Beor reigned in Edom; the name of his city was Dinhabah.

Genesis 36:33

When Bela died, Jobab son of Zerah from Bozrah reigned in his place.

Genesis 36:34

When Jobab died, Husham from the land of the Temanites reigned in his place.

Genesis 36:35

When Husham died, Hadad son of Bedad, who defeated Midian in the country of Moab, reigned in his place. And the name of his city was Avith.

Genesis 36:36

When Hadad died, Samlah from Masrekah reigned in his place.

Genesis 36:37

When Samlah died, Shaul from Rehoboth on the Euphrates reigned in his place.

Genesis 36:38

When Shaul died, Baal-hanan son of Achbor reigned in his place.

Genesis 36:39

When Baal-hanan son of Achbor died, Hadad reigned in his place. His city was named Pau, and his wife’s name was Mehetabel daughter of Matred, the daughter of Me-zahab.

Genesis 36:40

These are the names of Esau’s chiefs, according to their families and regions, by their names: Chiefs Timna, Alvah, Jetheth,

Genesis 36:41

Oholibamah, Elah, Pinon,

Genesis 36:42

Kenaz, Teman, Mibzar,

Genesis 36:43

Magdiel, and Iram. These were the chiefs of Edom, according to their settlements in the land they possessed. Esau was the father of the Edomites.

Numbers 1:1

On the first day of the second month of the second year after the Israelites had come out of the land of Egypt, the LORD spoke to Moses in the Tent of Meeting in the Wilderness of Sinai. He said:

Numbers 1:2

“Take a census of the whole congregation of Israel by their clans and families, listing every man by name, one by one.

Numbers 1:3

You and Aaron are to number those who are twenty years of age or older by their divisions—everyone who can serve in Israel’s army.

Numbers 1:4

And one man from each tribe, the head of each family, must be there with you.

Numbers 1:5

These are the names of the men who are to assist you: From the tribe of Reuben, Elizur son of Shedeur;

Numbers 1:6

from Simeon, Shelumiel son of Zurishaddai;

Numbers 1:7

from Judah, Nahshon son of Amminadab;

Numbers 1:8

from Issachar, Nethanel son of Zuar;

Numbers 1:9

from Zebulun, Eliab son of Helon;

Numbers 1:10

from the sons of Joseph: from Ephraim, Elishama son of Ammihud, and from Manasseh, Gamaliel son of Pedahzur;

Numbers 1:11

from Benjamin, Abidan son of Gideoni;

Numbers 1:12

from Dan, Ahiezer son of Ammishaddai;

Numbers 1:13

from Asher, Pagiel son of Ocran;

Numbers 1:14

from Gad, Eliasaph son of Deuel;

Numbers 1:15

and from Naphtali, Ahira son of Enan.”

Numbers 1:16

These men were appointed from the congregation; they were the leaders of the tribes of their fathers, the heads of the clans of Israel.

Numbers 1:17

So Moses and Aaron took these men who had been designated by name,

Numbers 1:18

and on the first day of the second month they assembled the whole congregation and recorded their ancestry by clans and families, counting one by one the names of those twenty years of age or older,

Numbers 1:19

just as the LORD had commanded Moses. So Moses numbered them in the Wilderness of Sinai:

Numbers 1:20

From the sons of Reuben, the firstborn of Israel, according to the records of their clans and families, counting one by one the names of every male twenty years of age or older who could serve in the army,

Numbers 1:21

those registered to the tribe of Reuben numbered 46,500.

Numbers 1:22

From the sons of Simeon, according to the records of their clans and families, counting one by one the names of every male twenty years of age or older who could serve in the army,

Numbers 1:23

those registered to the tribe of Simeon numbered 59,300.

Numbers 1:24

From the sons of Gad, according to the records of their clans and families, counting the names of all those twenty years of age or older who could serve in the army,

Numbers 1:25

those registered to the tribe of Gad numbered 45,650.

Numbers 1:26

From the sons of Judah, according to the records of their clans and families, counting the names of all those twenty years of age or older who could serve in the army,

Numbers 1:27

those registered to the tribe of Judah numbered 74,600.

Numbers 1:28

From the sons of Issachar, according to the records of their clans and families, counting the names of all those twenty years of age or older who could serve in the army,

Numbers 1:29

those registered to the tribe of Issachar numbered 54,400.

Numbers 1:30

From the sons of Zebulun, according to the records of their clans and families, counting the names of all those twenty years of age or older who could serve in the army,

Numbers 1:31

those registered to the tribe of Zebulun numbered 57,400.

Numbers 1:32

From the sons of Joseph: From the sons of Ephraim, according to the records of their clans and families, counting the names of all those twenty years of age or older who could serve in the army,

Numbers 1:33

those registered to the tribe of Ephraim numbered 40,500.

Numbers 1:34

And from the sons of Manasseh, according to the records of their clans and families, counting the names of all those twenty years of age or older who could serve in the army,

Numbers 1:35

those registered to the tribe of Manasseh numbered 32,200.

Numbers 1:36

From the sons of Benjamin, according to the records of their clans and families, counting the names of all those twenty years of age or older who could serve in the army,

Numbers 1:37

those registered to the tribe of Benjamin numbered 35,400.

Numbers 1:38

From the sons of Dan, according to the records of their clans and families, counting the names of all those twenty years of age or older who could serve in the army,

Numbers 1:39

those registered to the tribe of Dan numbered 62,700.

Numbers 1:40

From the sons of Asher, according to the records of their clans and families, counting the names of all those twenty years of age or older who could serve in the army,

Numbers 1:41

those registered to the tribe of Asher numbered 41,500.

Numbers 1:42

From the sons of Naphtali, according to the records of their clans and families, counting the names of all those twenty years of age or older who could serve in the army,

Numbers 1:43

those registered to the tribe of Naphtali numbered 53,400.

Numbers 1:44

These were the men numbered by Moses and Aaron, with the assistance of the twelve leaders of Israel, each one representing his family.

Numbers 1:45

So all the Israelites twenty years of age or older who could serve in Israel’s army were counted according to their families.

Numbers 1:46

And all those counted totaled 603,550.

Numbers 1:47

The Levites, however, were not numbered along with them by the tribe of their fathers.

Numbers 1:48

For the LORD had said to Moses:

Numbers 1:49

“Do not number the tribe of Levi in the census with the other Israelites.

Numbers 1:50

Instead, you are to appoint the Levites over the tabernacle of the Testimony, all its furnishings, and everything in it. They shall carry the tabernacle and all its articles, care for it, and camp around it.

Numbers 1:51

Whenever the tabernacle is to move, the Levites are to take it down, and whenever it is to be pitched, the Levites are to set it up. Any outsider who goes near it must be put to death.

Numbers 1:52

The Israelites are to camp by their divisions, each man in his own camp and under his own standard.

Numbers 1:53

But the Levites are to camp around the tabernacle of the Testimony and watch over it, so that no wrath will fall on the congregation of Israel. So the Levites are responsible for the tabernacle of the Testimony.”

Numbers 1:54

Thus the Israelites did everything just as the LORD had commanded Moses.

Numbers 26:1

After the plague had ended, the LORD said to Moses and Eleazar son of Aaron the priest,

Numbers 26:2

“Take a census of the whole congregation of Israel by the houses of their fathers—all those twenty years of age or older who can serve in the army of Israel.”

Numbers 26:3

So on the plains of Moab by the Jordan, across from Jericho, Moses and Eleazar the priest issued the instruction,

Numbers 26:4

“Take a census of the men twenty years of age or older, as the LORD has commanded Moses.” And these were the Israelites who came out of the land of Egypt:

Numbers 26:5

Reuben was the firstborn of Israel. These were the descendants of Reuben: The Hanochite clan from Hanoch, the Palluite clan from Pallu,

Numbers 26:6

the Hezronite clan from Hezron, and the Carmite clan from Carmi.

Numbers 26:7

These were the clans of Reuben, and their registration numbered 43,730.

Numbers 26:8

Now the son of Pallu was Eliab,

Numbers 26:9

and the sons of Eliab were Nemuel, Dathan, and Abiram. It was Dathan and Abiram, chosen by the congregation, who fought against Moses and Aaron with the followers of Korah who rebelled against the LORD.

Numbers 26:10

And the earth opened its mouth and swallowed them along with Korah, whose followers died when the fire consumed 250 men. They serve as a warning sign.

Numbers 26:11

However, the line of Korah did not die out.

Numbers 26:12

These were the descendants of Simeon by their clans: The Nemuelite clan from Nemuel, the Jaminite clan from Jamin, the Jachinite clan from Jachin,

Numbers 26:13

the Zerahite clan from Zerah, and the Shaulite clan from Shaul.

Numbers 26:14

These were the clans of Simeon, and there were 22,200 men.

Numbers 26:15

These were the descendants of Gad by their clans: The Zephonite clan from Zephon, the Haggite clan from Haggi, the Shunite clan from Shuni,

Numbers 26:16

the Oznite clan from Ozni, the Erite clan from Eri,

Numbers 26:17

the Arodite clan from Arod, and the Arelite clan from Areli.

Numbers 26:18

These were the clans of Gad, and their registration numbered 40,500.

Numbers 26:19

The sons of Judah were Er and Onan, but they died in the land of Canaan.

Numbers 26:20

These were the descendants of Judah by their clans: The Shelanite clan from Shelah, the Perezite clan from Perez, and the Zerahite clan from Zerah.

Numbers 26:21

And these were the descendants of Perez: the Hezronite clan from Hezron and the Hamulite clan from Hamul.

Numbers 26:22

These were the clans of Judah, and their registration numbered 76,500.

Numbers 26:23

These were the descendants of Issachar by their clans: The Tolaite clan from Tola, the Punite clan from Puvah,

Numbers 26:24

the Jashubite clan from Jashub, and the Shimronite clan from Shimron.

Numbers 26:25

These were the clans of Issachar, and their registration numbered 64,300.

Numbers 26:26

These were the descendants of Zebulun by their clans: The Seredite clan from Sered, the Elonite clan from Elon, and the Jahleelite clan from Jahleel.

Numbers 26:27

These were the clans of Zebulun, and their registration numbered 60,500.

Numbers 26:28

The descendants of Joseph included the clans of Manasseh and Ephraim.

Numbers 26:29

These were the descendants of Manasseh: The Machirite clan from Machir, the father of Gilead, and the Gileadite clan from Gilead.

Numbers 26:30

These were the descendants of Gilead: the Iezerite clan from Iezer, the Helekite clan from Helek,

Numbers 26:31

the Asrielite clan from Asriel, the Shechemite clan from Shechem,

Numbers 26:32

the Shemidaite clan from Shemida, and the Hepherite clan from Hepher.

Numbers 26:33

Now Zelophehad son of Hepher had no sons but only daughters. The names of his daughters were Mahlah, Noah, Hoglah, Milcah, and Tirzah.

Numbers 26:34

These were the clans of Manasseh, and their registration numbered 52,700.

Numbers 26:35

These were the descendants of Ephraim by their clans: The Shuthelahite clan from Shuthelah, the Becherite clan from Becher, and the Tahanite clan from Tahan.

Numbers 26:36

And the descendants of Shuthelah were the Eranite clan from Eran.

Numbers 26:37

These were the clans of Ephraim, and their registration numbered 32,500. These clans were the descendants of Joseph.

Numbers 26:38

These were the descendants of Benjamin by their clans: The Belaite clan from Bela, the Ashbelite clan from Ashbel, the Ahiramite clan from Ahiram,

Numbers 26:39

the Shuphamite clan from Shupham, and the Huphamite clan from Hupham.

Numbers 26:40

And the descendants of Bela from Ard and Naaman were the Ardite clan from Ard and the Naamite clan from Naaman.

Numbers 26:41

These were the clans of Benjamin, and their registration numbered 45,600.

Numbers 26:42

These were the descendants of Dan by their clans: The Shuhamite clan from Shuham. These were the clans of Dan.

Numbers 26:43

All of them were Shuhamite clans, and their registration numbered 64,400.

Numbers 26:44

These were the descendants of Asher by their clans: The Imnite clan from Imnah, the Ishvite clan from Ishvi, and the Beriite clan from Beriah.

Numbers 26:45

And these were the descendants of Beriah: the Heberite clan from Heber and the Malchielite clan from Malchiel.

Numbers 26:46

And the name of Asher’s daughter was Serah.

Numbers 26:47

These were the clans of Asher, and their registration numbered 53,400.

Numbers 26:48

These were the descendants of Naphtali by their clans: The Jahzeelite clan from Jahzeel, the Gunite clan from Guni,

Numbers 26:49

the Jezerite clan from Jezer, and the Shillemite clan from Shillem.

Numbers 26:50

These were the clans of Naphtali, and their registration numbered 45,400.

Numbers 26:51

These men of Israel numbered 601,730 in all.

Numbers 26:52

Then the LORD said to Moses,

Numbers 26:53

“The land is to be divided among the tribes as an inheritance, according to the number of names.

Numbers 26:54

Increase the inheritance for a large tribe and decrease it for a small one; each tribe is to receive its inheritance according to the number of those registered.

Numbers 26:55

Indeed, the land must be divided by lot; they shall receive their inheritance according to the names of the tribes of their fathers.

Numbers 26:56

Each inheritance is to be divided by lot among the larger and smaller tribes.”

Numbers 26:57

Now these were the Levites numbered by their clans: The Gershonite clan from Gershon, the Kohathite clan from Kohath, and the Merarite clan from Merari.

Numbers 26:58

These were the families of the Levites: The Libnite clan, the Hebronite clan, the Mahlite clan, the Mushite clan, and the Korahite clan. Now Kohath was the father of Amram,

Numbers 26:59

and Amram’s wife was named Jochebed. She was also a daughter of Levi, born to Levi in Egypt. To Amram she bore Aaron, Moses, and their sister Miriam.

Numbers 26:60

Nadab, Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar were born to Aaron,

Numbers 26:61

but Nadab and Abihu died when they offered unauthorized fire before the LORD.

Numbers 26:62

The registration of the Levites totaled 23,000, every male a month old or more; they were not numbered among the other Israelites, because no inheritance was given to them among the Israelites.

Numbers 26:63

These were the ones numbered by Moses and Eleazar the priest when they counted the Israelites on the plains of Moab by the Jordan, across from Jericho.

Numbers 26:64

Among all these, however, there was not one who had been numbered by Moses and Aaron the priest when they counted the Israelites in the Wilderness of Sinai.

Numbers 26:65

For the LORD had told them that they would surely die in the wilderness. Not one was left except Caleb son of Jephunneh and Joshua son of Nun.

Romans 4:11

And he received the sign of circumcision as a seal of the righteousness that he had by faith while he was still uncircumcised. So then, he is the father of all who believe but are not circumcised, in order that righteousness might be credited to them.

Romans 4:12

And he is also the father of the circumcised who not only are circumcised, but who also walk in the footsteps of the faith that our father Abraham had before he was circumcised.

Romans 4:13

For the promise to Abraham and his offspring that he would be heir of the world was not given through the law, but through the righteousness that comes by faith.

Romans 4:14

For if those who live by the law are heirs, faith is useless and the promise is worthless,

Romans 4:15

because the law brings wrath. And where there is no law, there is no transgression.

Romans 4:16

Therefore, the promise comes by faith, so that it may rest on grace and may be guaranteed to all Abraham’s offspring—not only to those who are of the law, but also to those who are of the faith of Abraham. He is the father of us all.

Romans 4:17

As it is written: “I have made you a father of many nations.” He is our father in the presence of God, in whom he believed, the God who gives life to the dead and calls into being what does not yet exist.

Romans 4:18

Against all hope, Abraham in hope believed and so became the father of many nations, just as he had been told, “So shall your offspring be.”

Galatians 3:28

There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.

Galatians 3:29

And if you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s seed and heirs according to the promise.