But my covenant will be confirmed with Isaac, who will be born to you and Sarah about this time next year.”
Parallel translations
- WEB But my covenant I establish with Isaac, whom Sarah will bear to you at this set time next year.”
- KJV But my covenant will I establish with Isaac, which Sarah shall bear unto thee at this set time in the next year.
- BSB But I will establish My covenant with Isaac, whom Sarah will bear to you at this time next year.”
- ESV But I will establish my covenant with Isaac, whom Sarah shall bear to you at this time next year.”
- NKJV But My covenant I will establish with Isaac, whom Sarah shall bear to you at this set time next year.”
- NASB But I will establish My covenant with Isaac, whom Sarah will bear to you at this season next year.”
Scripture quotations are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
God declared He would establish His covenant with Isaac, to be born to Sarah within a year. The promise is given a definite, near timetable.
Overview
God reaffirms that the covenant belongs to Isaac and fixes the time of his birth, removing all doubt about the promise's fulfillment. The appointed time underscores God's sovereign control over events. This precise promise heightens anticipation and demonstrates that the covenant rests wholly on God's faithful word, soon to be proven true.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 16
- Gen 21:2–3Sarah conceived, and bore Abraham a son in his old age, at the set time of which God had spoken to him.
- Gen 26:2–5Yahweh appeared to him, and said, “Don’t go down into Egypt. Live in the land I will tell you about.
- Rom 9:9For this is a word of promise, “At the appointed time I will come, and Sarah will have a son.”
- Gen 18:10He said, “I will certainly return to you at about this time next year; and behold, Sarah your wife will have a son.” Sarah heard in the tent door, which was behind him.
- Rom 9:5–6of whom are the fathers, and from whom is Christ as concerning the flesh, who is over all, God, blessed forever. Amen.
- Gal 3:29If you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s offspring and heirs according to promise.
- Gen 21:10–12Therefore she said to Abraham, “Cast out this servant and her son! For the son of this servant will not be heir with my son, Isaac.”
- Luke 1:55As he spoke to our fathers, to Abraham and his offspring forever.”
- Heb 11:9By faith, he lived as an alien in the land of promise, as in a land not his own, dwelling in tents, with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise.
- Acts 1:7He said to them, “It isn’t for you to know times or seasons which the Father has set within his own authority.
- Gen 46:1Israel traveled with all that he had, and came to Beersheba, and offered sacrifices to the God of his father, Isaac.
- Luke 1:72to show mercy towards our fathers, to remember his holy covenant,
- Exod 2:24God heard their groaning, and God remembered his covenant with Abraham, with Isaac, and with Jacob.
- Job 14:13“Oh that you would hide me in Sheol, that you would keep me secret, until your wrath is past, that you would appoint me a set time, and remember me!
- Exod 3:6Moreover he said, “I am the God of your father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.” Moses hid his face; for he was afraid to look at God.
- Gen 48:15He blessed Joseph, and said, “The God before whom my fathers Abraham and Isaac walked, the God who has fed me all my life long to this day,
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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Hebrew/Greek interlinear, word definitions, and cross-references for this verse.
Christ at the center
From the first promise that the seed of the woman would crush the serpent (3:15), through Abraham's blessing to all nations and Judah's coming ruler, Genesis sows every seed that flowers in Christ — the true offspring, the better Adam, the ram caught for Isaac.
How Genesis 17:21 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Hebrew word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.