Genesis 17:6

17:6 I will make you 1  extremely 2  fruitful. I will make nations of you, and kings will descend from you. 3 

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. 4  Kings of countries 5  will come from her!”

Genesis 17:20

17:20 As for Ishmael, I have heard you. 6  I will indeed bless him, make him fruitful, and give him a multitude of descendants. 7  He will become the father of twelve princes; 8  I will make him into a great nation.

1 tn This verb starts a series of perfect verbal forms with vav (ו) consecutive to express God’s intentions.

2 tn Heb “exceedingly, exceedingly.” The repetition is emphatic.

3 tn Heb “and I will make you into nations, and kings will come out from you.”

4 tn Heb “she will become nations.”

5 tn Heb “peoples.”

6 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.

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

8 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.