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Selected Verse: Acts 7:8 - Strong Concordance

Verse	Translation	Text
Ac 7:8	Strong Concordance	And [2532] he gave [1325] him [846] the covenant [1242] of circumcision [4061]: and [2532] so [3779] Abraham begat [1080] Isaac [2464], and [2532] circumcised [4059] him [846] the eighth [3590] day [2250]; and [2532] Isaac [2464] begat Jacob [2384]; and [2532] Jacob [2384] begat the twelve [1427] patriarchs [3966].
	King James	And he gave him the covenant of circumcision: and so Abraham begat Isaac, and circumcised him the eighth day; and Isaac begat Jacob; and Jacob begat the twelve patriarchs.

Summary Of Commentaries Associated With The Selected Verse

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A Commentary, Critical, Practical, and Explanatory on the Old and New Testaments, by Robert Jamieson, A.R. Fausset and David Brown [1882]
the covenant of circumcision--that is, the covenant of which circumcision was the token. and so--that is, according to the terms of this covenant, on which Paul reasons (Gal. 3:1-26). the twelve patriarchs--so called as the founders of the twelve tribes of Israel.

A Commentary, Critical, Practical, and Explanatory on the Old and New Testaments, by Robert Jamieson, A.R. Fausset and David Brown [1882]

the covenant of circumcision--that is, the covenant of which circumcision was the token.

and so--that is, according to the terms of this covenant, on which Paul reasons (Gal. 3:1-26).

the twelve patriarchs--so called as the founders of the twelve tribes of Israel.

Notes on the Bible, by Albert Barnes, [1834]
And he gave him - That is, God appointed or commanded this, Gen 17:9-13. The covenant - The word "covenant" denotes properly "a compact or agreement between two or more persons," usually attended with seals, pledges, or sanctions. In Gen 17:7, and elsewhere, it is said that God would establish his "covenant" with Abraham; that is, he made him certain definite promises, attended with pledges and seals, etc. The idea of a strict "compact" or "agreement" between God and man, as between "equal parties"; is not found in the Bible. The word is commonly used, as here, to denote "a promise on the part of God," attended with pledges, and demanding, on the part of man, in order to avail himself of its benefits, a specified course of conduct. The "covenant" is therefore another name for denoting two things on the part of God: (1) A "command," which man is not at liberty to reject, as he would be if it were a literal covenant; and, (2) A "promise," which is to be fulfilled only on the condition of obedience. The covenant with Abraham was simply a "promise" to give him the land, and to make him a great nation, etc. It was never proposed to Abraham with the supposition that he was at liberty to reject it, or to refuse to comply with its conditions. Circumcision was appointed as the mark or indication that Abraham and those thus designated were the persons included in the gracious purpose and promise. It served to separate them as a special people; a people whose unique characteristic it was that they obeyed and served the God who had made the promise to Abraham. The phrase "covenant of circumcision" means, therefore, the covenant or promise which God made to Abraham, of which circumcision was the distinguishing "mark" or "sign." The twelve patriarchs - The word "patriarch" properly denotes "the father and ruler of a family." But it is commonly applied, by way of eminence, to "the progenitors" of the Jewish race, particularly to "the twelve sons of Jacob." See the notes on Act 2:29.

Notes on the Bible, by Albert Barnes, [1834]

And he gave him - That is, God appointed or commanded this, Gen 17:9-13.

The covenant - The word "covenant" denotes properly "a compact or agreement between two or more persons," usually attended with seals, pledges, or sanctions. In Gen 17:7, and elsewhere, it is said that God would establish his "covenant" with Abraham; that is, he made him certain definite promises, attended with pledges and seals, etc. The idea of a strict "compact" or "agreement" between God and man, as between "equal parties"; is not found in the Bible. The word is commonly used, as here, to denote "a promise on the part of God," attended with pledges, and demanding, on the part of man, in order to avail himself of its benefits, a specified course of conduct. The "covenant" is therefore another name for denoting two things on the part of God:

(1) A "command," which man is not at liberty to reject, as he would be if it were a literal covenant; and,

(2) A "promise," which is to be fulfilled only on the condition of obedience. The covenant with Abraham was simply a "promise" to give him the land, and to make him a great nation, etc. It was never proposed to Abraham with the supposition that he was at liberty to reject it, or to refuse to comply with its conditions. Circumcision was appointed as the mark or indication that Abraham and those thus designated were the persons included in the gracious purpose and promise. It served to separate them as a special people; a people whose unique characteristic it was that they obeyed and served the God who had made the promise to Abraham. The phrase "covenant of circumcision" means, therefore, the covenant or promise which God made to Abraham, of which circumcision was the distinguishing "mark" or "sign."

The twelve patriarchs - The word "patriarch" properly denotes "the father and ruler of a family." But it is commonly applied, by way of eminence, to "the progenitors" of the Jewish race, particularly to "the twelve sons of Jacob." See the notes on Act 2:29.

Vincent's Word Studies, by Marvin R. Vincent [1886]
The covenant of circumcision There is no article, and it is better omitted in rendering. He gave him a covenant, the peculiar character of which is defined by the next word - of circumcision; i.e., of which circumcision was the completion and seal.

Explanatory Notes on the Whole Bible, by John Wesley [1754-65]
And so he begat Isaac - After the covenant was given, of which circumcision was the seal. Gen 17:10.

Adam Clarke Commentary on the Whole Bible - Published 1810-1826
He gave him the covenant of circumcision - That is, he instituted the rite of circumcision, as a sign of that covenant which he had made with him and his posterity. See Gen 17:10, etc. And so Abraham begat Isaac - Και οὑτως, And thus, in this covenant, he begat Isaac; and as a proof that he was born under this covenant, was a true son of Abraham and inheritor of the promises, he circumcised him the eighth day; and this rite being observed in the family of Isaac, Jacob and his twelve sons were born under the covenant; and thus their descendants, the twelve tribes, being born under the same covenant, and practising the same rite, were, by the ordinance of Gods legal inheritors of the promised land, and all the secular and spiritual advantages connected with it.

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²⁹ Men [435] and brethren [80], let [2036] me [1832] freely [3326] [3954] speak [2036] unto [4314] you [5209] of [4012] the patriarch [3966] David [1138], that [3754] he is [5053] both [2532] dead [5053] and [2532] buried [2290], and [2532] his [846] sepulchre [3418] is [2076] with [1722] us [2254] unto [891] this [5026] day [2250].

⁷ And I will establish [06965] my covenant [01285] between me and thee and thy seed [02233] after thee [0310] in their generations [01755] for an everlasting [05769] covenant [01285], to be a God [0430] unto thee, and to thy seed [02233] after thee [0310].

⁹ And God [0430] said [0559] unto Abraham [085], Thou shalt keep [08104] my covenant [01285] therefore, thou, and thy seed [02233] after thee [0310] in their generations [01755].
¹⁰ This is my covenant [01285], which ye shall keep [08104], between me and you and thy seed [02233] after thee [0310]; Every man child [02145] among you shall be circumcised [04135].
¹¹ And ye shall circumcise [05243] the flesh [01320] of your foreskin [06190]; and it shall be a token [0226] of the covenant [01285] betwixt me and you.
¹² And he that is eight [08083] days [03117] old [01121] shall be circumcised [04135] among you, every man child [02145] in your generations [01755], he that is born [03211] in the house [01004], or bought [04736] with money [03701] of any stranger [01121] [05236], which is not of thy seed [02233].
¹³ He that is born [03211] in thy house [01004], and he that is bought [04736] with thy money [03701], must needs [04135] be circumcised [04135]: and my covenant [01285] shall be in your flesh [01320] for an everlasting [05769] covenant [01285].

¹⁰ This is my covenant [01285], which ye shall keep [08104], between me and you and thy seed [02233] after thee [0310]; Every man child [02145] among you shall be circumcised [04135].