Genesis 17:21

Genesis 17:21

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

a. NLT: But my covenant will be confirmed with Isaac, who will be born to you and Sarah about this time next year.”

b. NIV: But my covenant I will establish with Isaac, whom Sarah will bear to you by this time next year.”

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

d. Amplified Bible: But My covenant, My promise and pledge, I will establish with Isaac, whom Sarah will bear to you at this season next year.

e. Septuagint: But I will establish my covenant with Isaac, whom Sarrha shall bear to thee at this time, in the next year. 

f. Stone Edition Chumash: But I will maintain My covenant through Isaac whom Sarah will bear to you by this time next year.

1. “But my covenant will I establish with Isaac…”

a. my covenant [1285 * bryith] [Strong: from 1262 (in the sense of cutting (like 1254)); a compact (because made by passing between pieces of flesh):--confederacy, (con-)feder(-ate), covenant, league.]

b. will I establish [6965 * quwm] [Strong: a primitive root; to rise (in various applications, literal, figurative, intensive and causative):--abide, accomplish, X be clearer, confirm, continue, decree, X be dim, endure, X enemy, enjoin, get up, make good, help, hold, (help to) lift up (again), make, X but newly, ordain, perform, pitch, raise (up), rear (up), remain, (a-)rise (up) (again, against), rouse up, set (up), (e-)stablish, (make to) stand (up), stir up, strengthen, succeed, (as-, make) sure(-ly), (be) up(-hold, - rising).]

c. Isaac [3327 * Yitchaq] [Strong: from 6711; laughter (i.e. mochery); Jitschak (or Isaac), son of Abraham:--Isaac.]

1). We must see this distinction. The Abrahamic Covenant would be through Isaac including the promise of the land.  Ishmael is not included in this Covenant. In order to show the distinction more clearly lets look at Genesis 17:18-21 straight through.

a). Genesis 17:18-21 And Abraham said unto God, O that Ishmael might live before thee!

17:19 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.

17:20 And as for Ishmael, I have heard thee: Behold, I have blessed him, and will make him fruitful, and will multiply him exceedingly; twelve princes shall he beget, and I will make him a great nation.

17:21 But my covenant will I establish with Isaac, which Sarah shall bear unto thee at this set time in the next year.

2). Now there will be some who in ignorance to these verses protest and try to include the Arab nations in the Abrahamic Covenant because they also are the seed of Abraham. Well the blessing on the Arab nations that they are great in number and many are rich is because they are the “seed” of Abraham, but the Covenant was to be with Issac, the Arab nations are not considered included as an heir. 

a). Genesis 21:8-13And the child grew, and was weaned: and Abraham made a great feast the same day that Isaac was weaned.

21:9 And Sarah saw the son of Hagar the Egyptian, which she had born unto Abraham, mocking.

21:10 Wherefore she said unto Abraham, Cast out this bondwoman and her son: for the son of this bondwoman shall not be heir with my son, even with Isaac.

21:11 And the thing was very grievous in Abraham's sight because of his son.

21:12 And God said unto Abraham, Let it not be grievous in thy sight because of the lad, and because of thy bondwoman; in all that Sarah hath said unto thee, hearken unto her voice; for in Isaac shall thy seed be called.

21:13 And also of the son of the bondwoman will I make a nation, because he is thy seed.

3). This also gives us a chronological mile marker, Isaac was born about a year after this meeting. Abraham was 99 years old at the time, Genesis 17:1.

2. “…which Sarah shall bear unto thee at this set time in the next year.”

a. which Sarah [8283 * Sarah] [Strong: the same as 8282; Sarah, Abraham's wife:--Sarah.]

b. shall bear [3205 * yalad] [Strong: a primitive root; to bear young; causatively, to beget; medically, to act as midwife; specifically, to show lineage:--bear, beget, birth((-day)), born, (make to) bring forth (children, young), bring up, calve, child, come, be delivered (of a child), time of delivery, gender, hatch, labour, (do the office of a) midwife, declare pedigrees, be the son of, (woman in, woman that) travail(-eth, -ing woman).]

c. at this set time [4150 * mow’ed] [Strong: from 3259; properly, an appointment, i.e. a fixed time or season; specifically, a festival; conventionally a year; by implication, an assembly (as convened for a definite purpose); technically the congregation; by extension, the place of meeting; also a signal (as appointed beforehand):--appointed (sign, time), (place of, solemn) assembly, congregation, (set, solemn) feast, (appointed, due) season, solemn(-ity), synogogue, (set) time (appointed).]

d. in the next [312 * ‘acher] [Strong: from 309; properly, hinder; generally, next, other, etc.:--(an-)other man, following, next, strange.]

e. year [8141 * shaneh] [Strong: from 8138; a year (as a revolution of time):--+ whole age, X long, + old, year(X -ly).]

1). Looking at the wording it seems definite that the birth would happen a year from the time these words were spoken to Abraham.This shows that the events in the next chapter, Genesis 18 occurred very soon after. See notes about Genesis 18:9 & 10 and the phrase, “according to the time of life.”