Genesis 17:1

The Sign of the Covenant

1 When Abram was ninety-nine years old, the Lord ^aappeared to Abram and said to him, ^b“I am Almighty God; ^cwalk before Me and be ^dblameless.

2 And I will make My ^acovenant between Me and you, and ^bwill multiply you exceedingly.”

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

4 “As for Me, behold, My covenant is with you, and you shall be a ^afather of many nations.

Commentaries:

Forerunner Commentary
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What Does Genesis 17:1 Mean?

The Hebrew word for blameless or perfect in Genesis 17:1 means complete, as do related Greek and English terms. The command requires Abraham to fulfill his part of the covenant by walking before God and being without sin. Only Christ met this condition at the end of His life. He remained blameless, satisfied every requirement, and thereby qualified as the sole inheritor of the promises made to Abraham.

Genesis 17:1-2

By the command, "Be blameless [perfect, KJV]," Abraham had to do something to fulfill his part of the covenant.

John W. Ritenbaugh
The Covenants, Grace, and Law (Part Twenty-Seven)

Genesis 17:1

The Hebrew word rendered "blameless" (NKJV) or "perfect" (KJV) in Genesis 17:1 means "entire, complete, full, without blemish." The Greek word found in Matthew 5:48 translated "perfect" means "finished, complete, having reached its end," and implies being fully grown or mature. The definition of the English word perfect is "lacking nothing essential to the whole, without defect, complete." All three definitions contain the word "complete."

Mike Ford
Perfection...Piece by Piece

**Other Forerunner Commentary entries containing Genesis 17:1:**

Genesis 13:14-15

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