¹ tn The verbal root is גּוּר (gur, “to sojourn, to reside temporarily,” i.e., as a resident alien). It is the land in which Abram resides, but does not yet possess as his very own.

² tn Or “as an eternal.”

³ tn The emphatic construction employs the Niphal imperfect tense (collective singular) and the Niphal infinitive.

⁴ tn Heb “my covenant.” Here in v. 13 the Hebrew word בְּרִית (bÿrit) refers to the outward, visible sign, or reminder, of the covenant. For the range of meaning of the term, see the note on the word “requirement” in v. 9.

⁵ tn Or “an eternal.”

⁶ sn Laughed. The Hebrew verb used here provides the basis for the naming of Isaac: “And he laughed” is וַיִּצְחָק (vayyitskhaq); the name “Isaac” is יִצְחָק (yitskhaq), “he laughs.” Abraham’s (and Sarah’s, see 18:12) laughter signals disbelief, but when the boy is born, the laughter signals surprise and joy.

⁷ tn Heb “And he fell on his face and laughed and said in his heart.”

⁸ tn The imperfect verbal form here carries a potential nuance, as it expresses the disbelief of Abraham.

⁹ tn Heb “to the son of a hundred years.”

¹⁰ sn It is important to note that even though Abraham staggers at the announcement of the birth of a son, finding it almost too incredible, he nonetheless calls his wife Sarah, the new name given to remind him of the promise of God (v. 15).

¹¹ tn Heb “the daughter of ninety years.”