Bible Strands
Genesis 17:19
But God replied, “Your wife Sarah will indeed bear you a son, and you are to name him Isaac. I will establish My covenant with him as an everlasting covenant for his descendants after him.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — God speaks to Abraham in direct response to Abraham’s request for Ishmael’s blessing. This exchange occurs during the covenant renewal when God overrides human preference to confirm the promised heir.
The words — The text features יֹלֶ֤דֶת (yo.Le.det), meaning “[is] about to bear,” and וְ/קָרָ֥אתָ (ve./ka.Ra.ta), meaning “and you will call.” These verbs establish the imminent birth and the binding naming command.
The thread — The assurance of Sarah’s conception is repeated in Genesis 18:10 and fulfilled in Genesis 21:2. The structural pattern of divine confirmation regarding a barren wife’s pregnancy also appears in Luke 1:13.
Why it lands — The verse commands the naming of the son Isaac and declares that God’s covenant will be established with him and his descendants forever. A reader must accept that covenant continuity rests on divine declaration rather than human timeline or preference.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Hebrew words
King James Version
And God said, Sarah thy wife shall bear thee a son indeed; and thou shalt call his name Isaac: and I will establish my covenant with him for an everlasting covenant, and with his seed after him.
Cross-references
- Genesis 18:10 Then the LORD said, “I will surely return to you at this time next year, and your wife Sarah will have a son!” Now Sarah was behind him, listening at the entrance to the tent.
- Genesis 21:2 So Sarah conceived and bore a son to Abraham in his old age, at the very time God had promised.
- Luke 1:13 But the angel said to him, “Do not be afraid, Zechariah, because your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you are to give him the name John.
- Genesis 21:6 Then Sarah said, “God has made me laugh, and everyone who hears of this will laugh with me.”
- 2 Kings 4:16 And Elisha declared, “At this time next year, you will hold a son in your arms.” “No, my lord,” she said. “Do not lie to your maidservant, O man of God.”
- Galatians 4:28 Now you, brothers, like Isaac, are children of promise.
- Romans 9:6 It is not as though God’s word has failed. For not all who are descended from Israel are Israel.
- Genesis 17:21 But I will establish My covenant with Isaac, whom Sarah will bear to you at this time next year.”
- Genesis 26:3 Stay in this land as a foreigner, and I will be with you and bless you. For I will give all these lands to you and your offspring, and I will confirm the oath that I swore to your father Abraham.