Genesis 17:18
“And Abraham said vnto God, O that Ishmael might liue before thee.”
1611 King James Version (KJV)
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Genesis 17:18 Context
16And I will blesse her, and giue thee a sonne also of her: yea I wil blesse her, and she shalbe a mother of nations; Kings of people shall be of her. 17Then Abraham fell vpon his face, and laughed, and said in his heart, Shall a child be borne vnto him that is an hundred yeeres old? and shal Sarah that is ninetie yeeres old, beare? 18And Abraham said vnto God, O that Ishmael might liue before thee. 19And God said, Sarah thy wife shall beare thee a sonne in deede, and thou shalt call his name Isaac: and I will establish my couenant with him, for an euerlasting couenant, and with his seed after him. 20And as for Ishmael, I haue heard thee: behold, I haue blessed him, and will make him fruitfull, and will multiplie him exceedingly: Twelue princes shall he beget, and I will make him a great nation.
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Other Translations for Genesis 17:18
And Abraham said unto God, O that Ishmael might live before thee!
- King James Version
And Abraham said to God, "Oh that Ishmael might live before You!"
- New American Standard Version (1995)
And Abraham said unto God, Oh that Ishmael might live before thee!
- American Standard Version (1901)
And Abraham said to God, If only Ishmael's life might be your care!
- Basic English Bible
And Abraham said to God, Oh that Ishmael might live before thee!
- Darby Bible
And Abraham said to God, O that Ishmael might live before thee!
- Webster's Bible
Abraham said to God, "Oh that Ishmael might live before you!"
- World English Bible
And Abraham saith unto God, `O that Ishmael may live before Thee;'
- Youngs Literal Bible
And Abraham said unto God: 'Oh that Ishmael might live before Thee!'
- Jewish Publication Society Bible
Wesley's Notes for Genesis 17:18
17:18 And Abraham said, O that Ishmael might live before thee! - This he speaks nor as desiring that Ishmael might be preferred before the son he should have by Sarah, but as dreading lest he should be forsaken of God, he puts up this petition on his behalf. The great thing we should desire of God, for our children, is, that they may live before him, that is, that they may be kept in covenant with him, and may have grace to walk before him in their uprightness. God's answer to this prayer, is an answer of peace. Abraham could not say he sought God's face in vain.