God reneweth his promise to Abram, 5. changeth his name, 10. and commandeth Circumcision. 15. changeth also his wife's name, promiseth a son of her. 20. blesseth also Ismael. 21. but especially Isaac. 23. Abraham circumcised himself, and Ismael, and all the men of his house.God reneweth his promise to Abram, 5. changeth his name, 10. and commandeth Circumcision. 15. changeth also his wiues name, promiseth a sonne of her. 20. blesseth also Ismael. 21. but especially Isaac. 23. Abraham circumcised himselfe, and Ismael, and al the men of his house.
And after he began to be ninety and nine years old, our Lord appeared to him: and said to him: I am the God almighty: walk before me, and be perfect.AND after he beganne to be nyntie and nyne yeares old, our Lord appeared to him: and said to him: I am the God almightie: walke before me, and be perfect.Postquam vero nonaginta et novem annorum esse cœperat, apparuit ei Dominus, dixitque ad eum : Ego Deus omnipotens : ambula coram me, et esto perfectus.
2And I will make my covenant between me and thee: and I will multiply thee exceedingly.And I wil make my couenant betwen me and thee: and I wil multiplie thee exceedingly.Ponamque fœdus meum inter me et te, et multiplicabo te vehementer nimis.
3Abram fell flat on his face.Abram fel flat on his face.Cecidit Abram pronus in faciem.
4And God said to him: I am, and my covenant is with thee, and thou shalt be a father of many nations.And God said to him: I am, and my couenant is with thee, & thou shalt be a father of manie nations.Dixitque ei Deus : Ego sum, et pactum meum tecum, erisque pater multarum gentium.
5Neither shall thy name be called any more Abram: but thou shalt be called Abraham: because a father of many nations I have made thee.Neyther shal thy name be called any more Abram: but thou shalt be called Abraham: because a father of many nations I haue made thee.Nec ultra vocabitur nomen tuum Abram, sed appellaberis Abraham : quia patrem multarum gentium constitui te.
6And I will make thee increase exceedingly, and I will make thee into nations, and kings shall come forth of thee.And I wil make thee encrease exceedingly, and I wil make thee into nations, and kinges shal come forth of thee.Faciamque te crescere vehementissime, et ponam te in gentibus, regesque ex te egredientur.
7And I will establish my covenant between me and thee, and between thy seed after thee in their generations by a perpetual covenant: to be thy God, and thy seed's after thee.And I wil establish my couenant betwen me and thee, and betwen thy seede after thee in their generations by a perpetual couenant: to be thy God, and thy seedes after thee.Et statuam pactum meum inter me et te, et inter semen tuum post te in generationibus suis, fœdere sempiterno : ut sim Deus tuus, et seminis tui post te.
8And I will give to thee, and to thy seed the land of thy sojourning, pilgrimage · Vulgate: peregrinationis, all the land of Chanaan for a perpetual possession, and I will be their God.And I wil geue to thee, and to thy seed the land of thy peregrination, al the land of Chanaan for a perpetual possession, and I wil be their God.Daboque tibi et semini tuo terram peregrinationis tuæ, omnem terram Chanaan in possessionem æternam, eroque Deus eorum.
9Again God said to Abraham: And thou therefore shalt keep my covenant, and thy seed after thee in their generations.Againe God said to Abraham: And thou therfore shalt keepe my couenant, and thy seed after thee in their generations.Dixit iterum Deus ad Abraham : Et tu ergo custodies pactum meum, et semen tuum post te in generationibus suis.
10This is my covenant which you shall observe between me and you, and thy seed after thee: All the male-kind of you shall be circumcised:This is my couenant which you shal obserue betwen me and you, and thy seed after thee: Al the male-kind of you shalbe circumcised:Hoc est pactum meum quod observabitis inter me et vos, et semen tuum post te : circumcidetur ex vobis omne masculinum :
11and you shall circumcise the flesh of your foreskin · Vulgate: præputii, that it may be for a sign of the covenant between me and you.and you shal circumcise the flesh of your prepuce, that it may be for a signe of the couenant betwen me and you.et circumcidetis carnem præputii vestri, ut sit in signum fœderis inter me et vos.
12An infant of eight days shall be circumcised among you, all male-kind in your generations: as well the a slave born in the household · Vulgate: vernaculus shall be circumcised, as the bought servant of whosoever he is, not of your stock:An infant of eight daies shalbe circumcised among you, al malekind in your generations: aswel the homebred shal be circumcised, as the bought seruant of whosoeuer he is, not of your stocke:Infans octo dierum circumcidetur in vobis, omne masculinum in generationibus vestris : tam vernaculus, quam emptitius circumcidetur, et quicumque non fuerit de stirpe vestra :
13and my covenant shall be in your flesh for a perpetual covenant.and my couenant shal be in your flesh for a perpetual couenant.eritque pactum meum in carne vestra in fœdus æternum.
14The male, whose flesh of his prepuce shall not be circumcised, that soul shall be destroyed out of his people: because he hath broken my covenant.The male, whose flesh of his prepuce shal not be circumcised, that soule shalbe destroied out of his people: because he hath broken my couenant.Masculus, cujus præputii caro circumcisa non fuerit, delebitur anima illa de populo suo : quia pactum meum irritum fecit.
15God said also to Abraham: Sarai thy wife thou shalt not call Sarai, but Sara.God said also to Abraham: Sarai thy wife thou shalt not cal Sarai, but Sara.Dixit quoque Deus ad Abraham : Sarai uxorem tuam non vocabis Sarai, sed Saram.
16And I will bless her, and of her I will give thee a son, whom I will bless, and he shall be into nations, and kings of peoples shall spring of him.And I wil blesse her, and of her I wil giue thee a sonne, whom I wil blesse, and he shalbe into nations, and kings of peoples shal spring of him.Et benedicam ei, et ex illa dabo tibi filium cui benedicturus sum : eritque in nationes, et reges populorum orientur ex eo.
17Abraham fell upon his face, and laughed, saying in his heart: Shall, thinkest, supposest · Vulgate: putas thou, to him that is an hundred year old a son be born? and Sara that is ninety years old shall she bear?Abraham fel vpon his face, & laughed, saying in his hart: Shal trowest thou to him that is an hundred yeare old a sonne be borne? and Sara that is nyntie yeares old shal she beare?Cecidit Abraham in faciem suam, et risit, dicens in corde suo : Putasne centenario nascetur filius ? et Sara nonagenaria pariet ?
18And he said to God: I would that Ismael may live before thee.And he said to God: I would that Ismael may liue before thee.Dixitque ad Deum : Utinam Ismaël vivat coram te.
19And God said to Abraham: Sara thy wife shall bear thee a son, and thou shalt call his name Isaac, and I will establish my covenant to him for a perpetual covenant, and to his seed after him.And God said to Abraham: Sara thy wife shal beare thee a sonne, and thou shalt cal his name Isaac, and I wil establish my couenant to him for a perpetual couenant, and to his seed after him.Et ait Deus ad Abraham : Sara uxor tua pariet tibi filium, vocabisque nomen ejus Isaac, et constituam pactum meum illi in fœdus sempiternum, et semini ejus post eum.
20Concerning Ismael also I have heard thee. behold, I will bless him, and increase, and multiply him exceedingly: twelve princes, chieftains · Vulgate: duces shall he beget, and I will make him into a great nation.Concerning Ismael also I haue heard thee. behold, I wil blesse him, and encrease, and multiplie him exceadingly: twelue dukes shal he beget, and I wil make him into a great nation.Super Ismaël quoque exaudivi te : ecce, benedicam ei, et augebo, et multiplicabo eum valde : duodecim duces generabit, et faciam illum in gentem magnam.
21But my covenant I will establish with Isaac, whom Sara shall bring forth to thee at this time another year.But my couenant I wil establish with Isaac, whom Sara shal bring forth to thee at this time an other yeare.Pactum vero meum statuam ad Isaac, quem pariet tibi Sara tempore isto in anno altero.
22And when he had left off speaking with him, God ascended from Abraham.And when he had left of speaking with him, God ascended from Abraham.Cumque finitus esset sermo loquentis cum eo, ascendit Deus ab Abraham.
23And Abraham took Ismael his son, and all the homebred of his house: and all whom he had bought, all the males of all the men of his house: and he circumcised the flesh of their prepuce forthwith the very same day, as God had commanded him.And Abraham tooke Ismael his sonne, and al the homebred of his house: and al whom he had bought, al the males of al the men of his house: and he circumcised the flesh of their prepuce forthwith the very same day, as God had commanded him.Tulit autem Abraham Ismaël filium suum, et omnes vernaculos domus suæ, universosque quos emerat, cunctos mares ex omnibus viris domus suæ : et circumcidit carnem præputii eorum statim in ipsa die, sicut præceperat ei Deus.
24Abraham was ninety and nine years old, when he circumcised the flesh of his prepuce.Abraham was nyntie and nyne yeares old, when he circumcised the flesh of his prepuce.Abraham nonaginta et novem erat annorum quando circumcidit carnem præputii sui.
25And Ismael his son was full thirteen years old at the time of his circumcision.And Ismael his sonne was ful thirtene yeares old at the time of his circumcision.Et Ismaël filius tredecim annos impleverat tempore circumcisionis suæ.
26The selfsame day was Abraham circumcised and Ismael his son.The selfsame day was Abraham circumcised and Ismael his sonne.Eadem die circumcisus est Abraham et Ismaël filius ejus :
27And all the men of his house, as well the homebred, as the bought servants and strangers were circumcised together.And al the men of his house, aswel the homebred, as the bought seruants and strangers were circumcised together.et omnes viri domus illius, tam vernaculi, quam emptitii et alienigenæ pariter circumcisi sunt.
Annotations
17:5Many nations. Abram signifying High or Noble father, changed into Abraham, which signifieth father of many (nations) and Sarai signifying My Princes, changed into Sara, which absolutely signifieth Princess, import great Mysteries intended by God. For by this changing of names was declared and confirmed, that Abraham by the issue that he should have of Sara, should be father of many nations, which St. Paul expressly applieth to his spiritual children, those especially that should believe in Christ, of the Gentiles prefigured by Isaac born of the freewoman, by the promise, as the Jews were prefigured by Ismael born of the bondwoman according to the flesh, concluding with the prophet Isaias that Many are the children of the desolate, that before was barren. For albeit Abraham was natural father of four nations, the Ismaelites, Madianites, Idumeans, and the Israelites, yet he was spiritual father of many more, of all nations that believe in Christ from his own time to the end of the world, of which some are Jews, but the greatest part Gentiles, as the same Apostle showeth. Rom. 4. Gal. 4. Ephes. 3. Colos. 1. and in other places. wherefore it is clear, that the Church of Christ doth always consist of many nations, not as Donatists and Protestants absurdly say, sometimes of few invisible or unknown persons, for so Abraham should sometimes be father of few or no nations, which derogateth either from God's omnipotency if he could not, or from his fidelity if he should not maintain his promise, made to Abraham for ever.
17:10Shall be circumcised. The Sacrament of Circumcision here first instituted, about 400 years before the Law of Moyses, is a perfect figure of Baptism, resembling it in four things. First by both these Sacraments the faithful are distinguished from infidels. Secondly profession of faith is made in them both, either by those that receive the same, if they be of discretion, or by others for them, if they be infants. Thirdly by both these Sacraments entrance is made into the Church, and to the participation of other Sacraments and spiritual rites. Fourthly both these Sacraments induce subjection to the jurisdiction, and laws of the Church. But Baptism doth far excel Circumcision in that it is more easy, or less painful, more universal, for it pertaineth to all nations, and both sexes, and especially in virtue and efficacy, for Baptism as an instrumental cause remitteth sin and justifieth, Circumcision was a sign that grace was given, and sin remitted. Again Baptism imprinteth a character in the soul, the other leaveth a mark only in the flesh. Finally Baptism openeth the gate of heaven, in virtue of Christ's passion now past, which circumcision could not before Christ suffered death. Of which both resemblance and difference St. Augustine treateth in many places, especially li. 3. de doct. christ. c. 9. Epist. 118. ad Januarium. li. 19. c. 13. cont. Faust. & in Psal. 73. where he also maketh like comparison between other Sacraments of the old and new Testament.
17:14Shall be destroyed. Here occur two difficulties about the true sense of this hard place. First whether this punishment belonged to them only, by whose fault circumcision was omitted: or to infants also that should be circumcised and were not. Secondly whether temporal punishment, or eternal was here threatened for transgression of this precept. Touching the first doubt, it seemeth probable, that this punishment pertained only to those, by whose negligence themselves, or others of their charge, were not circumcised: for that the reason why such a one is punished is alleged, Because he hath broken God's covenant. Which is only in their power to keep or break, that are of discretion, and not in the power of infants. The indifferency also of the Hebrew and Greek text favoureth this sense, for where according to the Latin we read, The male whose flesh of prepuce is not circumcised, The Hebrew and Greek may be translated, The male that doth not circumcise the flesh of his prepuce, which cannot be meant of an infant of eight days old. This exposition is likewise confirmed by example, Exodi 4. where Moyses was in danger to be slain by an Angel, because his son was not circumcised. Nevertheless St. Augustine (li. 3. c. 18. cont. Julian. li. 16. c. 27. civit. and in other places) proveth that this commination pertained also to infants. whose judgement is confirmed by the 70 Interpreters adding for explication these words, the eighth day, which necessarily include infants, as subject to this punishment, not for that they could transgress this precept, or commit a new sin, but for lack of circumcision. The reason whereof is, for that God now determined this only remedy for original sin, in the male sex of Abraham's seed, in place of sacrifice, or other profession of faith used before, and that in case it could conveniently be applied, for otherwise the former remedies were still available. Concerning the other difficulty many ancient fathers expound these words, shall be destroyed out of his people, of only temporal punishment; either death, as the like phrase signifieth, Exodi 12. Whosoever shall eat leavened bread, his soul shall perish out of Israel; or temporal separation from the people of God, as Num. 19. Every one that toucheth the dead corse, shall perish out of Israel. But St. Augustine (li. 3. c. 18. cont. Julian. li. 5. hypog. & alibi) St. Gregory (li. 4. Moral. c. 2. & 3.) St. Prosper (li. de promiss. Dei p. 1. c. 14.) St. Bede (li. 2. in Lucam c. 8.) and St. Bernard (ser. 3. de circum.) understand this threatening not only of temporal punishment, but also of eternal separation from God, and the society of Saints. And that also infants are so secluded only for lack of this remedy, as now children which die without Baptism, committing no new fault are deprived of the vision of God, for their original sin, not remitted. Whereupon is gathered that albeit Circumcision was principally instituted to distinguish the people of God, which should come of Abraham's seed, from other nations, yet it was also for remission of original sin: not in all, but in those to whom God appointed this particular remedy.