Genesis 17:16

17:16 I will bless her and will give you a son through her. I will bless her and she will become a mother of nations. 1  Kings of countries 2  will come from her!”

Genesis 17:20

17:20 As for Ishmael, I have heard you. 3  I will indeed bless him, make him fruitful, and give him a multitude of descendants. 4  He will become the father of twelve princes; 5  I will make him into a great nation.

1 tn Heb “she will become nations.”

2 tn Heb “peoples.”

3 sn The Hebrew verb translated “I have heard you” forms a wordplay with the name Ishmael, which means “God hears.” See the note on the name “Ishmael” in 16:11.

4 tn Heb “And I will multiply him exceedingly, exceedingly.” The repetition is emphatic.

5 tn For a discussion of the Hebrew word translated “princes,” see E. A. Speiser, “Background and Function of the Biblical Nasi’,” CBQ 25 (1963): 111-17.