Genesis 21:4
New International Version
When his son Isaac was eight days old, Abraham circumcised him, as God commanded him.

New Living Translation
Eight days after Isaac was born, Abraham circumcised him as God had commanded.

English Standard Version
And Abraham circumcised his son Isaac when he was eight days old, as God had commanded him.

Berean Standard Bible
When his son Isaac was eight days old, Abraham circumcised him, as God had commanded him.

King James Bible
And Abraham circumcised his son Isaac being eight days old, as God had commanded him.

New King James Version
Then Abraham circumcised his son Isaac when he was eight days old, as God had commanded him.

New American Standard Bible
Then Abraham circumcised his son Isaac when he was eight days old, as God had commanded him.

NASB 1995
Then Abraham circumcised his son Isaac when he was eight days old, as God had commanded him.

NASB 1977
Then Abraham circumcised his son Isaac when he was eight days old, as God had commanded him.

Legacy Standard Bible
Then Abraham circumcised his son Isaac when he was eight days old, as God had commanded him.

Amplified Bible
So Abraham circumcised his son Isaac when he was eight days old, just as God had commanded him.

Christian Standard Bible
When his son Isaac was eight days old, Abraham circumcised him, as God had commanded him.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
When his son Isaac was eight days old, Abraham circumcised him, as God had commanded him.

American Standard Version
And Abraham circumcised his son Isaac when he was eight days old, as God had commanded him.

Contemporary English Version
and when the boy was eight days old, Abraham circumcised him, just as God had commanded.

English Revised Version
And Abraham circumcised his son Isaac when he was eight days old, as God had commanded him.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
When Isaac was eight days old, Abraham circumcised him as God had commanded.

Good News Translation
and when Isaac was eight days old, Abraham circumcised him, as God had commanded.

International Standard Version
On the eighth day after his son Isaac had been born, Abraham circumcised him, just as God had commanded him.

Majority Standard Bible
When his son Isaac was eight days old, Abraham circumcised him, as God had commanded him.

NET Bible
When his son Isaac was eight days old, Abraham circumcised him just as God had commanded him to do.

New Heart English Bible
Abraham circumcised his son, Isaac, when he was eight days old, as God had commanded him.

Webster's Bible Translation
And Abraham circumcised his son Isaac, being eight days old, as God had commanded him.

World English Bible
Abraham circumcised his son, Isaac, when he was eight days old, as God had commanded him.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
and Abraham circumcises his son Isaac, [being] a son of eight days, as God has commanded him.

Young's Literal Translation
and Abraham circumciseth Isaac his son, being a son of eight days, as God hath commanded him.

Smith's Literal Translation
And Abraham shall circumcise Isaak his son, the son of eight days, as God commanded him.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
And he circumcised him the eighth day, as God had commanded him,

Catholic Public Domain Version
And he circumcised him on the eighth day, just as God had instructed him,

New American Bible
When his son Isaac was eight days old, Abraham circumcised him, as God had commanded.

New Revised Standard Version
And Abraham circumcised his son Isaac when he was eight days old, as God had commanded him.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
And Abraham circumcised his son Isaac when he was eight days old, as God had commanded him.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And Abraham circumcised Isaaq his son, a son of eight days, as God commanded him.
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
And Abraham circumcised his son Isaac when he was eight days old, as God had commanded him.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And Abraam circumcised Isaac on the eighth day, as God commanded him.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
The Birth of Isaac
3And Abraham gave the name Isaac to the son Sarah bore to him. 4When his son Isaac was eight days old, Abraham circumcised him, as God had commanded him. 5Abraham was a hundred years old when his son Isaac was born to him.…

Cross References
Genesis 17:10-12
This is My covenant with you and your descendants after you, which you are to keep: Every male among you must be circumcised. / You are to circumcise the flesh of your foreskin, and this will be a sign of the covenant between Me and you. / Generation after generation, every male must be circumcised when he is eight days old, including those born in your household and those purchased from a foreigner—even those who are not your offspring.

Genesis 17:23-27
On that very day Abraham took his son Ishmael and all those born in his household or purchased with his money—every male among the members of Abraham’s household—and he circumcised them, just as God had told him. / So Abraham was ninety-nine years old when he was circumcised, / and his son Ishmael was thirteen; ...

Leviticus 12:3
And on the eighth day the flesh of the boy’s foreskin is to be circumcised.

Acts 7:8
Then God gave Abraham the covenant of circumcision, and Abraham became the father of Isaac and circumcised him on the eighth day. And Isaac became the father of Jacob, and Jacob of the twelve patriarchs.

Romans 4:11
And he received the sign of circumcision as a seal of the righteousness that he had by faith while he was still uncircumcised. So then, he is the father of all who believe but are not circumcised, in order that righteousness might be credited to them.

Galatians 5:3
Again I testify to every man who gets himself circumcised that he is obligated to obey the whole law.

Philippians 3:5
circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin; a Hebrew of Hebrews; as to the law, a Pharisee;

Luke 1:59
On the eighth day, when they came to circumcise the child, they were going to name him after his father Zechariah.

Luke 2:21
When the eight days before His circumcision had passed, He was named Jesus, the name the angel had given Him before He was conceived.

John 7:22-23
But because Moses gave you circumcision, you circumcise a boy on the Sabbath (not that it is from Moses, but from the patriarchs.) / If a boy can be circumcised on the Sabbath so that the law of Moses will not be broken, why are you angry with Me for making the whole man well on the Sabbath?

Joshua 5:2-9
At that time the LORD said to Joshua, “Make flint knives and circumcise the sons of Israel once again.” / So Joshua made flint knives and circumcised the sons of Israel at Gibeath-haaraloth. / Now this is why Joshua circumcised them: All those who came out of Egypt—all the men of war—had died on the journey in the wilderness after they had left Egypt. ...

Exodus 4:25-26
But Zipporah took a flint knife, cut off her son’s foreskin, and touched it to Moses’ feet. “Surely you are a bridegroom of blood to me,” she said. / So the LORD let him alone. (When she said, “bridegroom of blood,” she was referring to the circumcision.)

Deuteronomy 10:16
Circumcise your hearts, therefore, and stiffen your necks no more.

Jeremiah 4:4
Circumcise yourselves to the LORD, and remove the foreskins of your hearts, O men of Judah and people of Jerusalem. Otherwise, My wrath will break out like fire and burn with no one to extinguish it, because of your evil deeds.”

Colossians 2:11-12
In Him you were also circumcised, in the putting off of your sinful nature, with the circumcision performed by Christ and not by human hands. / And having been buried with Him in baptism, you were raised with Him through your faith in the power of God, who raised Him from the dead.


Treasury of Scripture

And Abraham circumcised his son Isaac being eight days old, as God had commanded him.

Genesis 17:10-12
This is my covenant, which ye shall keep, between me and you and thy seed after thee; Every man child among you shall be circumcised…

Exodus 12:48
And when a stranger shall sojourn with thee, and will keep the passover to the LORD, let all his males be circumcised, and then let him come near and keep it; and he shall be as one that is born in the land: for no uncircumcised person shall eat thereof.

Leviticus 12:3
And in the eighth day the flesh of his foreskin shall be circumcised.

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Genesis 21
1. Isaac is born, and circumcised.
6. Sarah's joy.
8. Isaac is weaned.
9. Hagar and Ishmael sent away.
15. Hagar in distress.
17. The angel relieves and comforts her.
23. Abimelech's covenant with Abraham at Beersheba.














When his son Isaac
The name "Isaac" means "he laughs" in Hebrew, reflecting the joy and surprise of his parents, Abraham and Sarah, at his birth in their old age. Isaac's birth is a fulfillment of God's promise to Abraham, marking a pivotal moment in the Abrahamic covenant. The name itself is a testament to God's faithfulness and the joy that comes from His promises being fulfilled.

was eight days old
The specification of "eight days" is significant in the Hebrew tradition. The number eight often symbolizes new beginnings and covenantal relationships in the Bible. The practice of circumcision on the eighth day is a divine ordinance given to Abraham in Genesis 17:12, signifying the child's entry into the covenant community. Scientifically, it is also noted that the eighth day is optimal for circumcision due to the natural peak in vitamin K levels, which aids in blood clotting.

Abraham circumcised him
Circumcision was a physical sign of the covenant between God and Abraham's descendants. Abraham's obedience in circumcising Isaac demonstrates his faith and commitment to God's commands. This act is a profound expression of trust and submission to God's will, setting a precedent for future generations. It is a reminder of the importance of obedience to God's instructions as a sign of faith.

as God had commanded him
This phrase underscores the importance of divine command and human obedience in the biblical narrative. God's command to Abraham regarding circumcision is found in Genesis 17:10-14, where it is established as an everlasting covenant. Abraham's compliance with God's command reflects his deep faith and reverence for God. It serves as an example of the blessings that follow obedience to God's word, reinforcing the theme of covenantal faithfulness throughout Scripture.

Verse 4. - And Abraham circumcised (vide on Genesis 17:11, and note at the end of that chapter) his son Isaac being eight days old (literally, a son of eight days), as (not only because, but in the manner in which) God had commanded him.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
When his son
בְּנ֔וֹ (bə·nōw)
Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singular
Strong's 1121: A son

Isaac
יִצְחָ֣ק (yiṣ·ḥāq)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3327: Isaac -- 'he laughs', son of Abraham and Sarah

was eight
שְׁמֹנַ֖ת (šə·mō·naṯ)
Number - masculine singular construct
Strong's 8083: A cardinal number, eight, eighth

days old,
יָמִ֑ים (yā·mîm)
Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 3117: A day

Abraham
אַבְרָהָם֙ (’aḇ·rā·hām)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 85: Abraham -- 'exalted father', the father of the Jewish nation

circumcised him,
וַיָּ֤מָל (way·yā·māl)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 4135: To cut short, curtail, to blunt, to destroy

as
כַּאֲשֶׁ֛ר (ka·’ă·šer)
Preposition-k | Pronoun - relative
Strong's 834: Who, which, what, that, when, where, how, because, in order that

God
אֱלֹהִֽים׃ (’ĕ·lō·hîm)
Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 430: gods -- the supreme God, magistrates, a superlative

had commanded him.
צִוָּ֥ה (ṣiw·wāh)
Verb - Piel - Perfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 6680: To lay charge (upon), give charge (to), command, order


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OT Law: Genesis 21:4 Abraham circumcised his son Isaac when he (Gen. Ge Gn)
Genesis 21:3
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