Genesis 17:3

Genesis 17:3

And Abram fell on his face: and God talked with him, saying,

a. NLT: At this, Abram fell face down on the ground. Then God said to him,

b. NIV: Abram fell facedown, and God said to him,

c. YLT: And Abram falleth upon his face, and God speaketh with him, saying,

d. Amplified Bible: Then Abram fell on his face, and God said to him,

e. Septuagint: And Abram fell upon his face, and God spoke to him, saying,

f. Stone Edition Torah/Writings/Prophets: Abram threw himself upon his face, and God spoke with him saying,

1. “And Abram fell on his face…”

a. Abram [87 * ‘Abram] [Strong: contracted from 48; high father; Abram, the original name of Abraham:--Abram.]

b. fell [5307 * naphal] [Strong: a primitive root; to fall, in a great variety of applications (intransitive or causative, literal or figurative):--be accepted, cast (down, self, (lots), out), cease, die, divide (by lot), (let) fail, (cause to, let, make, ready to) fall (away, down, -en, -ing), fell(-ing), fugitive, have (inheritance), inferior, be judged (by mistake for 6419 ), lay (along), (cause to) lie down, light (down), be (X hast) lost, lying, overthrow, overwhelm, perish, present(-ed, -ing), (make to) rot, slay, smite out, X surely, throw down.]

c. face [6440 * paniym] [Strong: plural (but always as singular) of an unused noun (paneh {paw-neh'}; from 6437); the face (as the part that turns); used in a great variety of applications (literally and figuratively); also (with prepositional prefix) as a preposition (before, etc.):--+ accept, a-(be- )fore(-time), against, anger, X as (long as), at, + battle, + because (of), + beseech, countenance, edge, + employ, endure, + enquire, face, favour, fear of, for, forefront(-part), form(-er time, -ward), from, front, heaviness, X him(-self), + honourable, + impudent, + in, it, look(-eth) (- s), X me, + meet, X more than, mouth, of, off, (of) old (time), X on, open, + out of, over against, the partial, person, + please, presence, propect, was purposed, by reason of, + regard, right forth, + serve, X shewbread, sight, state, straight, + street, X thee, X them(-selves), through (+ - out), till, time(-s) past, (un-)to(-ward), + upon, upside (+ down), with(- in, + -stand), X ye, X you.]

1). It is understandable why Abram fell on his face, first of all it was God that was appearing to him. Secondly, we see here a 13 year gap in the life of Abram. The last verse of the previous chapter has Abram at 86 years old and the first verse of chapter 17 has Abram at 99. There is no record of God speaking with Abram during that time. I personally believe there was no communication. The last recorded communication between God and Abram was in Genesis 15, before the mistake of Abram and Sarah seeking to get the “seed” of Genesis 15:5 from Hagar. At the very beginning of that span of time came the horrible decision of sleeping with Hagar and Ishmael being the result and the beginning of strife between Sarai and Hagar (Genesis 16:1-5). That strife and bitterness continued for about 15 more years, and lasted until Hagar and Ishmael were forced to leave (Genesis 21:9-14). There is no doubt that Abram loved Ishmael, we know that from Genesis 17:18; but also during that 13 years, between Genesis 16:16 and Genesis 17:1, I’m sure Abram regretted over and over the mistake with Hagar. I’m also sure that during that time he longed to hear and see El Shaddai. When it finally happened, I believe he was so overcome with fear, joy and humility, he fell on his face.

2). . Commentaries

a). Matthew Henry:  “So long the promise of Isaac was deferred… Perhaps to correct Abram's over-hasty marrying of Hagar. Note, The comforts we sinfully anticipate are justly delayed.

b).  Robert Jamieson, A.R. Fausset and David Brown: During that interval he had enjoyed the comforts of communion with God but had been favored with no special revelation as formerly, probably on account of his hasty and blameable marriage with Hagar.

c). John Wesley: Full thirteen years after the birth of Ishmael. So long the promise of Isaac was deferred; Perhaps to correct Abram's over - hasty marrying of Hagar.

d). Pulpit Commentary: Consequently an interval of thirteen years had elapsed since the birth of Ishmael; the long delay on the part of God being probably designed as chastisement for Abram’s second nuptials (Calvin), and at least corresponding with Abram’s undue haste (Lange)

2). Abraham fell on his face twice during this encounter, the first was in verse 3, and the other was in verse 17. The reason for this is Abraham had to get up from off the ground the first time in order for the LORD to explain Abraham and his seed’s part in entering and keeping the Covenant, i.e., circumcision: Genesis 17:9-14. Very soon after that Abraham fell on his face again.

2. “…and God talked with him, saying,”

a. God [430 * ‘elohyim] [Strong: plural of 433; gods in the ordinary sense; but specifically used (in the plural thus, especially with the article) of the supreme God; occasionally applied by way of deference to magistrates; and sometimes as a superlative:--angels, X exceeding, God (gods)(-dess, -ly), X (very) great, judges, X mighty.]

b. talked [1696 * dabar] [Strong:  a primitive root; perhaps properly, to arrange; but used figuratively (of words), to speak; rarely (in a destructive sense) to subdue:--answer, appoint, bid, command, commune, declare, destroy, give, name, promise, pronounce, rehearse, say, speak, be spokesman, subdue, talk, teach, tell, think, use (entreaties), utter, X well, X work.]

c. saying [559 * ‘amar] [Strong: a primitive root; to say (used with great latitude):--answer, appoint, avouch, bid, boast self, call, certify, challenge, charge, + (at the, give) command(-ment), commune, consider, declare, demand, X desire, determine, X expressly, X indeed, X intend, name, X plainly, promise, publish, report, require, say, speak (against, of), X still, X suppose, talk, tell, term, X that is, X think, use (speech), utter, X verily, X yet.]