Genesis 17 in the early church
224 passages quote, allude to, or echo Genesis 17, grouped by verse; passages on the same verse are in date order. Verse text from the Berean Standard Bible (public domain). References use the Protestant English Bible's numbering, with a writer's own numbering in brackets where it differs.
Verses: 1 · 2 · 4 · 5 · 6 · 7 · 8 · 9 · 10 · 11 · 12 · 13 · 14 · 15 · 16 · 17 · 18 · 19 · 20 · 22 · 23 · 24 · 25 · 26
Genesis 17:1
When Abram was ninety-nine years old, the LORD appeared to him and said, “I am God Almighty. Walk before Me and be blameless.
| Reference | Passage | Kind | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gen 17:1 | The Instructor 1.7.56 · Clement of Alexandria | quotation, high confidence | ca. 190–200 |
| Gen 17:1 | Prophetic Extracts 1.3 · Eusebius of Caesarea | quotation, high confidence | before 325 (probably ca. 310–320) |
| Gen 17:1–2 | Demonstration of the Gospel 5.9.1 · Eusebius of Caesarea | quotation, high confidence | ca. 314–324 |
| Gen 17:1–27 | Demonstration 11.4 · Aphrahat | allusion, high confidence | 337-345 |
| Gen 17:1–27 | Genesis, lines 575–599 · Cyprianus Gallus | allusion, high confidence | early 5th cent. |
| Gen 17:1–21 | City of God 16.26 · Augustine of Hippo | quotation, high confidence | 413–426 |
| Gen 17:1 | Apologetic Book 5.2 · Orosius | quotation, high confidence | ca. 415–416 |
| Gen 17:1 | Apologetic Book 23.3 · Orosius | quotation, high confidence | ca. 415–416 |
| Gen 17:1–14 | Book 3, lines 580–605 · Claudius Marius Victor | allusion, high confidence | ca. 425-430 |
Genesis 17:2
I will establish My covenant between Me and you, and I will multiply you exceedingly.”
| Reference | Passage | Kind | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gen 17:2 | The Instructor 1.7.56 · Clement of Alexandria | quotation, high confidence | ca. 190–200 |
| Gen 17:2 | Demonstration of the Gospel 1.6.9 · Eusebius of Caesarea | allusion, medium confidence | ca. 314–324 |
Genesis 17:4
“As for Me, this is My covenant with you: You will be the father of many nations.
| Reference | Passage | Kind | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gen 17:4 | Miscellanies 1.29.182 · Clement of Alexandria | quotation, high confidence | ca. 198–203 |
| Gen 17:4 | Preparation for the Gospel 7.8.23 · Eusebius of Caesarea | allusion, high confidence | ca. 313–324 |
| Gen 17:4 | Life of Constantine 3.53.3 · Eusebius of Caesarea | allusion, medium confidence | ca. 337–339 |
| Gen 17:4–5 | Catechetical Lecture 5.5 · Cyril of Jerusalem | allusion, high confidence | ca. 350 |
| Gen 17:4–5 | Tractates 2.12.1 · Zeno of Verona | allusion, high confidence | ca. 362-380 |
| Gen 17:4 | On Catechizing the Uninstructed 22 · Augustine of Hippo | allusion, high confidence | ca. 399–405 |
Genesis 17:5
No longer will you be called Abram, but your name will be Abraham, for I have made you a father of many nations.
| Reference | Passage | Kind | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gen 17:5 | Epistle of Barnabas 13.7 · Anonymous | allusion, high confidence | ca. 70–135 (often ca. 130) |
| Gen 17:5 | Dialogue with Trypho 11.5 · Justin Martyr | allusion, high confidence | ca. 155–160 |
| Gen 17:5 | Dialogue with Trypho 113.2 · Justin Martyr | allusion, high confidence | ca. 155–160 |
| Gen 17:5 | Dialogue with Trypho 119.4 · Justin Martyr | allusion, high confidence | ca. 155–160 |
| Gen 17:5 | Miscellanies 5.1.8 · Clement of Alexandria | allusion, high confidence | ca. 198–203 |
| Gen 17:5 | Against the Jews 2 · Anonymous | quotation, high confidence | 3rd cent. (disputed) |
| Gen 17:5 | On Mount Sinai and Mount Zion 5 · Anonymous | allusion, high confidence | 3rd cent. (disputed) |
| Gen 17:5 | Against Marcion 4.13 · Tertullian | allusion, high confidence | 207/208 (third edition, completed later) |
| Gen 17:5 | Against Marcion 4.34 · Tertullian | allusion, high confidence | 207/208 (third edition, completed later) |
| Gen 17:5 | Against Marcion 5.3 · Tertullian | allusion, high confidence | 207/208 (third edition, completed later) |
| Gen 17:5 | On Monogamy 6 · Tertullian | allusion, high confidence | ca. 210–217 |
| Gen 17:5 | Fragments on Genesis, column 115 · Origen | quotation, high confidence | ca. 220-254 |
| Gen 17:5 | PG 12:1187 (Ps 9 LXX) · Origen | allusion, high confidence | ca. 220-254 |
| Gen 17:5 | Commentary on John 6.18 · Origen | allusion, high confidence | ca. 230–248 |
| Gen 17:5 | On Prayer 24.2 · Origen | allusion, high confidence | ca. 233–234 |
| Gen 17:5 | Homilies on Joshua 23.4 · Origen | allusion, high confidence | ca. 238–250 (Rufinus's translation ca. 400–410) |
| Gen 17:5 | Homilies on Numbers 25.3 · Origen | allusion, high confidence | ca. 238–250 (Rufinus's translation ca. 400–410) |
| Gen 17:5 | Homilies on Jeremiah 19.11 · Origen | allusion, high confidence | ca. 240 |
| Gen 17:5 | Commentary on Matthew 13.2 · Origen | allusion, medium confidence | ca. 246–248 |
| Gen 17:5 | Commentary on Romans 0.2 · Origen | allusion, high confidence | ca. 244–246 (Rufinus's translation ca. 405–406) |
| Gen 17:5 | Commentary on Romans 4.2 · Origen | allusion, high confidence | ca. 244–246 (Rufinus's translation ca. 405–406) |
| Gen 17:5 | Commentary on Romans 4.5 · Origen | quotation, high confidence | ca. 244–246 (Rufinus's translation ca. 405–406) |
| Gen 17:5 | Preparation for the Gospel 11.6.1 · Eusebius of Caesarea | allusion, medium confidence | ca. 313–324 |
| Gen 17:5 | Preparation for the Gospel 11.6.26 · Eusebius of Caesarea | quotation, high confidence | ca. 313–324 |
| Gen 17:5 | Demonstration of the Gospel 4.17.2 · Eusebius of Caesarea | allusion, high confidence | ca. 314–324 |
| Gen 17:5 | Demonstration 11.1 · Aphrahat | quotation, high confidence | 337-345 |
| Gen 17:5 | Demonstration 11.10 · Aphrahat | quotation, high confidence | 337-345 |
| Gen 17:5 | Demonstration 12.11 · Aphrahat | quotation, high confidence | 337-345 |
| Gen 17:5 | Demonstration 16.1 · Aphrahat | quotation, high confidence | 337-345 |
| Gen 17:5 | Commentary on Matthew 18 · Hilary of Poitiers | allusion, high confidence | ca. 353–355 |
| Gen 17:5 | Against Arius 1.17 · Marius Victorinus | allusion, high confidence | ca. 357–362 |
| Gen 17:5 | Treatise on the Mysteries 1.18.1 · Hilary of Poitiers | allusion, high confidence | ca. 360–366 |
| Gen 17:5 | Treatise on the Mysteries 1.18.2 · Hilary of Poitiers | allusion, high confidence | ca. 360–366 |
| Gen 17:5 | Oration 8.4 · Gregory of Nazianzus | allusion, high confidence | ca. 362–383 |
| Gen 17:5 | Commentary on Romans 4:17 · Ambrosiaster | quotation, high confidence | ca. 366–384 |
| Gen 17:5 | Question 44, section 5 · Ambrosiaster | allusion, high confidence | ca. 370–384 |
| Gen 17:5 | Question 108, section 2 · Ambrosiaster | allusion, high confidence | ca. 370–384 |
| Gen 17:5 | Question 108, section 7 · Ambrosiaster | allusion, medium confidence | ca. 370–384 |
| Gen 17:5 | Altercatio, chapter 2, speech 34 · Evagrius of Gaul | allusion, high confidence | ca. 400 |
| Gen 17:5 | Letter 196.10 · Augustine of Hippo | quotation, high confidence | ca. 386–430 |
| Gen 17:5 | On Genesis against the Manichaeans 1.23 · Augustine of Hippo | quotation, high confidence | ca. 388–390 |
| Gen 17:5 | Homily 15 · Gregory of Nyssa | allusion, high confidence | ca. 390–394 |
| Gen 17:5 | Sermon 122.4 · Augustine of Hippo | quotation, high confidence | ca. 391-430 |
| Gen 17:5 | On the Spirit and the Letter 40 · Augustine of Hippo | quotation, high confidence | 412 |
| Gen 17:5 | City of God 16.10 · Augustine of Hippo | allusion, high confidence | 413–426 |
| Gen 17:5–6 | City of God 16.28 · Augustine of Hippo | quotation, high confidence | 413–426 |
| Gen 17:5 | City of God 20.23 · Augustine of Hippo | quotation, high confidence | 413–426 |
| Gen 17:5 | Commentary on Jeremiah 4.63 · Jerome | allusion, high confidence | ca. 414-419 |
| Gen 17:5 | On the Soul and Its Origin 4.24 · Augustine of Hippo | allusion, high confidence | ca. 419–420 |
| Gen 17:5 | Against Two Letters of the Pelagians 3.8 · Augustine of Hippo | allusion, high confidence | ca. 420–421 |
| Gen 17:5 | Book 3, lines 606–635 · Claudius Marius Victor | allusion, high confidence | ca. 425-430 |
| Gen 17:5 | Sermon 154 · Peter Chrysologus | quotation, high confidence | ca. 425-450 |
| Gen 17:5 | Book 5, section 17 · Sedulius | allusion, high confidence | ca. 425-450 |
| Gen 17:5 | On the Predestination of the Saints 10 · Augustine of Hippo | quotation, high confidence | ca. 428/429 |
| Gen 17:5 | Instructions 2.1 · Eucherius of Lyon | allusion, medium confidence | ca. 428-434 |
| Gen 17:5 | Part 1, chapter 13 · Quodvultdeus of Carthage | quotation, high confidence | ca. 445-450 |
Genesis 17:6
I will make you exceedingly fruitful; I will make nations of you, and kings will descend from you.
| Reference | Passage | Kind | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gen 17:6 | On Genesis against the Manichaeans 1.23 · Augustine of Hippo | quotation, high confidence | ca. 388–390 |
Genesis 17:7
I will establish My covenant as an everlasting covenant between Me and you and your descendants after you, to be your God and the God of your descendants after you.
| Reference | Passage | Kind | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gen 17:7 | Homilies on Jeremiah 9.3 · Origen | allusion, medium confidence | ca. 240 |
| Gen 17:7 | Apostolic Constitutions 7.33.5 · Anonymous | quotation, high confidence | ca. 380 |
| Gen 17:7 | Explanation of Twelve Psalms 43.14.2 · Ambrose | allusion, low confidence | ca. 387-397 |
| Gen 17:7 | On Genesis against the Manichaeans 1.23 · Augustine of Hippo | quotation, high confidence | ca. 388–390 |
Genesis 17:8
And to you and your descendants I will give the land where you are residing—all the land of Canaan—as an eternal possession; and I will be their God.”
| Reference | Passage | Kind | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gen 17:8 | On the Trinity 9 · Novatian | quotation, high confidence | ca. 240–250 |
| Gen 17:8 | On Genesis against the Manichaeans 1.23 · Augustine of Hippo | quotation, high confidence | ca. 388–390 |
| Gen 17:8 | Against Faustus the Manichaean 4.1 · Augustine of Hippo | allusion, medium confidence | ca. 398–400 |
Genesis 17:9
God also said to Abraham, “You must keep My covenant—you and your descendants in the generations after you.
| Reference | Passage | Kind | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gen 17:9 | Commentary on Romans 2.13 · Origen | quotation, high confidence | ca. 244–246 (Rufinus's translation ca. 405–406) |
| Gen 17:9–14 | Against Adimantus, a Disciple of Mani 16 · Augustine of Hippo | quotation, high confidence | ca. 394 |
Genesis 17:10
This is My covenant with you and your descendants after you, which you are to keep: Every male among you must be circumcised.
Genesis 17:11
You are to circumcise the flesh of your foreskin, and this will be a sign of the covenant between Me and you.
| Reference | Passage | Kind | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gen 17:11 | Dialogue with Trypho 16.2 · Justin Martyr | allusion, high confidence | ca. 155–160 |
| Gen 17:11 | Against Heresies 3.12.11 · Irenaeus of Lyons | allusion, medium confidence | ca. 180–190 |
| Gen 17:11 | Against Heresies 4.16.1 · Irenaeus of Lyons | quotation, high confidence | ca. 180–190 |
| Gen 17:11 | Commentary on Matthew 12.3 · Origen | allusion, medium confidence | ca. 246–248 |
| Gen 17:11 | Commentary on Romans 2.13 · Origen | quotation, high confidence | ca. 244–246 (Rufinus's translation ca. 405–406) |
| Gen 17:11 | Commentary on Romans 4:9 · Ambrosiaster | allusion, high confidence | ca. 366–384 |
| Gen 17:11 | Question 81, section 1 · Ambrosiaster | allusion, medium confidence | ca. 370–384 |
| Gen 17:11 | Panarion (Adversus Haereses), Haer. 1-64 30.33.1 · Epiphanius of Salamis | allusion, high confidence | 374-377 |
Genesis 17:12
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 17:13
Whether they are born in your household or purchased, they must be circumcised. My covenant in your flesh will be an everlasting covenant.
| Reference | Passage | Kind | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gen 17:13 | Dialogue with Trypho 10.3 · Justin Martyr | allusion, high confidence | ca. 155–160 |
| Gen 17:13 | Commentary on Romans 2.13 · Origen | quotation, high confidence | ca. 244–246 (Rufinus's translation ca. 405–406) |
Genesis 17:14
But if any male is not circumcised, he will be cut off from his people; he has broken My covenant.”
Genesis 17:15
Then God said to Abraham, “As for Sarai your wife, do not call her Sarai, for her name is to be Sarah.
| Reference | Passage | Kind | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gen 17:15 | Dialogue with Trypho 113.2 · Justin Martyr | allusion, high confidence | ca. 155–160 |
| Gen 17:15 | Against Marcion 4.13 · Tertullian | allusion, high confidence | 207/208 (third edition, completed later) |
| Gen 17:15 | PG 12:1187 (Ps 9 LXX) · Origen | allusion, high confidence | ca. 220-254 |
| Gen 17:15 | Homilies on Joshua 23.4 · Origen | allusion, high confidence | ca. 238–250 (Rufinus's translation ca. 400–410) |
| Gen 17:15 | Homilies on Numbers 25.3 · Origen | allusion, high confidence | ca. 238–250 (Rufinus's translation ca. 400–410) |
| Gen 17:15 | Homilies on Jeremiah 19.11 · Origen | allusion, high confidence | ca. 240 |
| Gen 17:15 | Commentary on Matthew 13.2 · Origen | allusion, medium confidence | ca. 246–248 |
| Gen 17:15 | Commentary on Romans 0.2 · Origen | allusion, high confidence | ca. 244–246 (Rufinus's translation ca. 405–406) |
| Gen 17:15 | Demonstration of the Gospel 4.17.3 · Eusebius of Caesarea | allusion, high confidence | ca. 314–324 |
| Gen 17:15 | Commentary on Matthew 18 · Hilary of Poitiers | allusion, high confidence | ca. 353–355 |
| Gen 17:15 | Treatise on the Mysteries 1.18.1 · Hilary of Poitiers | allusion, high confidence | ca. 360–366 |
| Gen 17:15 | Homily 15 · Gregory of Nyssa | allusion, high confidence | ca. 390–394 |
| Gen 17:15 | Commentary on Jeremiah 4.63 · Jerome | allusion, high confidence | ca. 414-419 |
| Gen 17:15–27 | Book 3, lines 606–635 · Claudius Marius Victor | allusion, high confidence | ca. 425-430 |
| Gen 17:15 | Sermon 154 · Peter Chrysologus | allusion, high confidence | ca. 425-450 |
| Gen 17:15 | Instructions 2.1 · Eucherius of Lyon | allusion, medium confidence | ca. 428-434 |
Genesis 17:16
And I will bless her and will surely give you a son by her. I will bless her, and she will be the mother of nations; kings of peoples will descend from her.”
| Reference | Passage | Kind | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gen 17:16 | Against Faustus the Manichaean 22.32 · Augustine of Hippo | allusion, medium confidence | ca. 398–400 |
| Gen 17:16 | City of God 16.28 · Augustine of Hippo | quotation, high confidence | 413–426 |
Genesis 17:17
Abraham fell facedown. Then he laughed and said to himself, “Can a child be born to a man who is a hundred years old? Can Sarah give birth at the age of ninety?”
| Reference | Passage | Kind | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gen 17:17 | Commentary on Romans 4.6 · Origen | allusion, high confidence | ca. 244–246 (Rufinus's translation ca. 405–406) |
| Gen 17:17 | Commentary on Galatians 4.23 · Marius Victorinus | allusion, high confidence | ca. 360–363 |
| Gen 17:17 | Commentary on Romans 4:19–22 · Ambrosiaster | allusion, high confidence | ca. 366–384 |
| Gen 17:17 | Panarion (Adversus Haereses), Haer. 1-64 30.28.6 · Epiphanius of Salamis | quotation, high confidence | 374-377 |
| Gen 17:17 | Panarion (Adversus Haereses), Haer. 1-64 30.28.7 · Epiphanius of Salamis | quotation, high confidence | 374-377 |
| Gen 17:17 | Questions and Answers to the Orthodox 102 · Anonymous | allusion, high confidence | 5th century (disputed) |
| Gen 17:17 | City of God 16.31 · Augustine of Hippo | allusion, high confidence | 413–426 |
| Gen 17:17 | City of God 16.32 · Augustine of Hippo | quotation, high confidence | 413–426 |
Genesis 17:18
And Abraham said to God, “O that Ishmael might live under Your blessing!”
| Reference | Passage | Kind | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gen 17:18 | Fragments on Genesis, column 115 · Origen | quotation, high confidence | ca. 220-254 |
| Gen 17:18 | Letter to Marcellinus 11 · Athanasius of Alexandria | allusion, medium confidence | uncertain, after 335 |
| Gen 17:18 | Tractates on the Psalms 51.18 · Hilary of Poitiers | quotation, high confidence | ca. 360–367 |
Genesis 17:19
But God replied, “Your wife Sarah will indeed bear you a son, and you are to name him Isaac. I will establish My covenant with him as an everlasting covenant for his descendants after him.
| Reference | Passage | Kind | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gen 17:19 | Preparation for the Gospel 11.6.29 · Eusebius of Caesarea | allusion, high confidence | ca. 313–324 |
| Gen 17:19 | Demonstration of the Gospel 4.17.3 · Eusebius of Caesarea | allusion, medium confidence | ca. 314–324 |
| Gen 17:19–21 | Demonstration 14.33 · Aphrahat | allusion, high confidence | 337-345 |
| Gen 17:19–20 | On the Trinity 4.24 · Hilary of Poitiers | quotation, high confidence | ca. 356–360 |
| Gen 17:19 | Tractates 2.11.1 · Zeno of Verona | allusion, medium confidence | ca. 362-380 |
| Gen 17:19 | Tractates 2.11.2 · Zeno of Verona | allusion, medium confidence | ca. 362-380 |
Genesis 17:20
As for Ishmael, I have heard you, and I will surely bless him; I will make him fruitful and multiply him greatly. He will become the father of twelve rulers, and I will make him into a great nation.
| Reference | Passage | Kind | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gen 17:20 | Commentary on the Song of Songs 2.114 · Origen | allusion, high confidence | ca. 240–245 (Rufinus's translation ca. 410) |
| Gen 17:20 | On the Trinity 4.26 · Hilary of Poitiers | quotation, high confidence | ca. 356–360 |
| Gen 17:20 | On the Trinity 5.13 · Hilary of Poitiers | allusion, high confidence | ca. 356–360 |
Genesis 17:22
When He had finished speaking with Abraham, God went up from him.
| Reference | Passage | Kind | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gen 17:22 | Dialogue with Trypho 127.1 · Justin Martyr | quotation, high confidence | ca. 155–160 |
| Gen 17:22 | Ancoratus 29.6 · Epiphanius of Salamis | quotation, medium confidence | 374 |
Genesis 17:23
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.
| Reference | Passage | Kind | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gen 17:23 | Epistle of Barnabas 9.8 · Anonymous | allusion, medium confidence | ca. 70–135 (often ca. 130) |
| Gen 17:23–26 | Against Celsus 5.48 · Origen | allusion, high confidence | ca. 248 |
| Gen 17:23 | Preparation for the Gospel 9.22.7 · Eusebius of Caesarea | allusion, high confidence | ca. 313–324 |
Genesis 17:24
So Abraham was ninety-nine years old when he was circumcised,
| Reference | Passage | Kind | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gen 17:24 | Arabic Pentateuch fragment V · Hippolytus of Rome | allusion, high confidence | unknown (transmitted in a medieval Arabic catena) |
| Gen 17:24 | Commentary on Romans 4.2 · Origen | allusion, medium confidence | ca. 244–246 (Rufinus's translation ca. 405–406) |
| Gen 17:24 | Preparation for the Gospel 7.8.24 · Eusebius of Caesarea | allusion, high confidence | ca. 313–324 |
| Gen 17:24 | Question 109, section 5 · Ambrosiaster | allusion, high confidence | ca. 370–384 |
| Gen 17:24 | Panarion (Adversus Haereses), Haer. 1-64 4.1.3 · Epiphanius of Salamis | allusion, high confidence | 374-377 |
Genesis 17:25
and his son Ishmael was thirteen;
| Reference | Passage | Kind | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gen 17:25 | Fragments on Genesis, column 75 · Origen | allusion, medium confidence | ca. 220-254 |
| Gen 17:25 | Preparation for the Gospel 6.11.69 · Eusebius of Caesarea | allusion, medium confidence | ca. 313–324 |
Genesis 17:26
Abraham and his son Ishmael were circumcised on the same day.
| Reference | Passage | Kind | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gen 17:26 | Arabic Pentateuch fragment V · Hippolytus of Rome | allusion, high confidence | unknown (transmitted in a medieval Arabic catena) |