What happensPermalink
God renames Abram to Abraham and repeats his promise to make him a great nation through Sarah’s son. He commands circumcision as a sign of the covenant.
Why it mattersPermalink
God made these promises in Genesis 12 and Genesis 15 as well. Abraham means “father of multitudes.” Isaac means “he laughs,” a reminder that though Sarah laughed (Genesis 18), God fulfilled his Word.
Key versePermalink
“I [God] will make you [Abraham] exceedingly fruitful, and I will make you into nations, and kings shall come from you.”