New International VersionAbram fell facedown, and God said to him,
New Living TranslationAt this, Abram fell face down on the ground. Then God said to him,
English Standard VersionThen Abram fell on his face. And God said to him,
Berean Standard BibleThen Abram fell facedown, and God said to him,
King James BibleAnd Abram fell on his face: and God talked with him, saying,
New King James VersionThen Abram fell on his face, and God talked with him, saying:
New American Standard BibleAbram fell on his face, and God talked with him, saying,
NASB 1995Abram fell on his face, and God talked with him, saying,
NASB 1977And Abram fell on his face, and God talked with him, saying,
Legacy Standard BibleThen Abram fell on his face, and God spoke with him, saying,
Amplified BibleThen Abram fell on his face [in worship], and God spoke with him, saying,
Christian Standard BibleThen Abram fell facedown and God spoke with him:
Holman Christian Standard BibleThen Abram fell facedown and God spoke with him: “
American Standard VersionAnd Abram fell on his face: and God talked with him, saying,
Contemporary English VersionAbram bowed with his face to the ground, and God said:
English Revised VersionAnd Abram fell on his face: and God talked with him, saying,
GOD'S WORD® TranslationImmediately, Abram bowed with his face touching the ground, and again God spoke to him,
Good News TranslationAbram bowed down with his face touching the ground, and God said,
International Standard VersionThen Abram fell to the ground as God continued speaking to him.
NET BibleAbram bowed down with his face to the ground, and God said to him,
New Heart English BibleThen Abram fell facedown, and God talked with him, saying,
Webster's Bible TranslationAnd Abram fell on his face: and God talked with him, saying, Majority Text Translations Majority Standard BibleThen Abram fell facedown, and God said to him,
World English BibleAbram fell on his face. God talked with him, saying, Literal Translations Literal Standard VersionAnd Abram falls on his face, and God speaks with him, saying,
Young's Literal Translation And Abram falleth upon his face, and God speaketh with him, saying,
Smith's Literal TranslationAnd Abram will fall upon his face, and God will speak to him, saying, Catholic Translations Douay-Rheims BibleAbram tell flat on his face.
Catholic Public Domain VersionAbram fell prone on his face.
New American BibleAbram fell face down and God said to him:
New Revised Standard VersionThen Abram fell on his face; and God said to him, Translations from Aramaic Lamsa BibleAnd Abram fell on his face; and God talked with him, saying,
Peshitta Holy Bible Translated“Behold, I do establish my covenant with you and you shall be the father to the multitude of the nations. OT Translations JPS Tanakh 1917And Abram fell on his face; and God talked with him, saying:
Brenton Septuagint TranslationAnd Abram fell upon his face, and God spoke to him, saying,
Additional Translations ... Audio Bible
Context The Renaming of Abraham… 2I will establish My covenant between Me and you, and I will multiply you exceedingly.” 3Then Abramfell facedown,and Godsaidto him,4“As for Me, this is My covenant with you: You will be the father of many nations.…
Cross References Exodus 3:6Then He said, “I am the God of your father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.” At this, Moses hid his face, for he was afraid to look at God.
Exodus 34:8Moses immediately bowed down to the ground and worshiped.
Numbers 16:22But Moses and Aaron fell facedown and said, “O God, the God of the spirits of all flesh, when one man sins, will You be angry with the whole congregation?”
Joshua 5:14“Neither,” He replied. “I have now come as Commander of the LORD’s army.” Then Joshua fell facedown in reverence and asked Him, “What does my Lord have to say to His servant?”
1 Kings 18:39When all the people saw this, they fell facedown and said, “The LORD, He is God! The LORD, He is God!”
1 Chronicles 21:16When David lifted up his eyes and saw the angel of the LORD standing between heaven and earth, with a drawn sword in his hand stretched out over Jerusalem, David and the elders, clothed in sackcloth, fell facedown.
Nehemiah 8:6Then Ezra blessed the LORD, the great God, and with their hands uplifted, all the people said, “Amen, Amen!” Then they bowed down and worshiped the LORD with their faces to the ground.
Job 1:20Then Job stood up, tore his robe, and shaved his head. He fell to the ground and worshiped,
Isaiah 6:5Then I said: “Woe is me, for I am ruined, because I am a man of unclean lips dwelling among a people of unclean lips; for my eyes have seen the King, the LORD of Hosts.”
Ezekiel 1:28The appearance of the brilliant light all around Him was like that of a rainbow in a cloud on a rainy day. This was the appearance of the likeness of the glory of the LORD. And when I saw it, I fell facedown and heard a voice speaking.
Matthew 17:6When the disciples heard this, they fell facedown in terror.
Matthew 28:9Suddenly Jesus met them and said, “Greetings!” They came to Him, grasped His feet, and worshiped Him.
Mark 5:33Then the woman, knowing what had happened to her, came and fell down before Him trembling in fear, and she told Him the whole truth.
Luke 5:8When Simon Peter saw this, he fell at Jesus’ knees. “Go away from me, Lord,” he said, “for I am a sinful man.”
Luke 17:16He fell facedown at Jesus’ feet in thanksgiving to Him—and he was a Samaritan.
Treasury of Scripture And Abram fell on his face: and God talked with him, saying, Genesis 17:17 Then Abraham fell upon his face, and laughed, and said in his heart, Shalla child be born unto him that is an hundred years old? and shall Sarah, that is ninety years old, bear? Exodus 3:6 Moreover he said, Iam the God of thy father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob. And Moses hid his face; for he was afraid to look upon God. Leviticus 9:23,24 And Moses and Aaron went into the tabernacle of the congregation, and came out, and blessed the people: and the glory of the LORD appeared unto all the people… Jump to Previous AbramEarthFaceFacedownFallethFellSpeakethTalkedTalkingJump to Next AbramEarthFaceFacedownFallethFellSpeakethTalkedTalkingGenesis 17 1.God renews the covenant with Abram,5.and changes his name to Abraham, in token of a greater blessing.9.Circumcision is instituted.15.Sarai's name is changed to Sarah, and she is blessed.17.Isaac is promised, and the time of his birth fixed.23.Abraham and Ishmael are circumcised.Then Abram fell facedown,Abram's act of falling facedown is a gesture of deep reverence and submission, common in ancient Near Eastern cultures when encountering a divine presence. This posture signifies humility and acknowledgment of God's supreme authority. In biblical context, similar acts of worship and submission are seen in Joshua 5:14 and Ezekiel 1:28, where individuals respond to divine encounters with physical prostration. This act also prefigures the ultimate submission of Jesus Christ, who, in the Garden of Gethsemane, submitted to the Father's will ( Matthew 26:39). and God said to him, The phrase indicates a direct communication from God to Abram, emphasizing the personal relationship between the divine and human. This encounter is part of a series of covenants God makes with Abram, which are foundational to the Abrahamic faiths. The communication underscores God's initiative in establishing His covenant, a theme that runs throughout Scripture, culminating in the New Covenant through Jesus Christ (Hebrews 8:6-13). The divine speech acts as a continuation of God's promises to Abram, which began inGenesis 12, and sets the stage for the renaming of Abram to Abraham, signifying a new identity and mission. Persons / Places / Events 1. AbramLater known as Abraham, he is a central figure in the Bible, regarded as the father of faith. At this point in Genesis, God is establishing His covenant with Abram, promising to make him the father of many nations. 2. GodThe Almighty, who initiates a covenant with Abram, demonstrating His sovereign will and purpose for Abram and his descendants. 3. CovenantThis event marks the establishment of a significant covenant between God and Abram, which includes promises of land, descendants, and blessings. Teaching Points Humility Before GodAbram's response of falling facedown signifies humility and reverence. In our walk with God, we are called to approach Him with a humble heart, recognizing His sovereignty and our dependence on Him. The Importance of ListeningAbram's posture of falling facedown also indicates a readiness to listen. In our spiritual lives, we must cultivate a posture of listening to God's voice through His Word and prayer. Faith and ObedienceAbram's life is a testament to faith and obedience. As believers, we are called to trust in God's promises and obey His commands, even when the path is unclear. God's FaithfulnessThe covenant with Abram is a reminder of God's faithfulness. He keeps His promises, and we can trust Him to fulfill His Word in our lives. Identity in God's PromisesAbram's identity is transformed through God's covenant. As Christians, our identity is rooted in the promises of God, and we are called to live in light of who He says we are. Bible Study Questions and Answers 1.What is the meaning of Genesis 17:3?
2.How does Abram's response in Genesis 17:3 demonstrate reverence and submission to God?
3.What does "Abram fell facedown" reveal about his relationship with God?
4.How can we emulate Abram's humility in our daily walk with God?
5.What other biblical figures showed similar humility before God as Abram did?
6.How does Genesis 17:3 inspire us to listen for God's voice in prayer?
7.Why did Abram fall facedown in Genesis 17:3, and what does it signify about his faith?
8.How does Genesis 17:3 reflect the nature of God's covenant with Abram?
9.What historical evidence supports the events described in Genesis 17:3?
10.What are the top 10 Lessons from Genesis 17?
11.What is adoration in the Bible?
12.What is the Abrahamic Family House?
13.What teachings does the Bible provide?
14.Is grounding/earthing mentioned in the Bible?What Does Genesis 17:3 Mean Then Abram- “Then” links directly to God’s appearance inGenesis 17:1–2, showing this moment is the next step in the unfolding covenant. - Abram, now 99 years old, has already walked years in faith (Genesis 12:1–4; 15:6); the narrative underscores his consistent responsiveness to God’s initiatives (Hebrews 11:8–9). - God is the prime mover; Abram’s role is to receive and respond (Romans 4:1–3). fell facedown- A physical act of worship, humility, and utter submission (Numbers 20:6;Joshua 5:14). - Indicates acknowledgment of God’s holiness and absolute authority (Revelation 1:17). - Demonstrates faith that bows before divine revelation, not negotiating but surrendering (Psalm 95:6). Key observations: • Worship precedes deeper revelation. • True faith expresses itself in humility. and God said- The covenant-making God now speaks; His word is the foundation of everything that follows (Isaiah 55:11). - Divine speech carries creative, authoritative power (Hebrews 1:1–2). - God’s voice is personal yet sovereign, guiding His people (John 10:27). Implications: • We listen before we move. • God’s promises are as sure as His character. to him- God addresses Abram individually, underscoring a personal relationship (Psalm 25:14). - Covenant is not a distant decree but an intimate commitment (Genesis 18:17). - This personal word to Abram ripples outward to bless “all nations” through Christ (Galatians 3:29). Takeaways: • God engages people by name. • Personal faith becomes the channel of universal blessing. summaryGenesis 17:3 shows Abram responding to God’s initiative with wholehearted worship. His face-down posture reveals humility and faith; God’s subsequent speech affirms a personal, authoritative covenant. The verse calls believers to bow low before the Lord’s holiness, listen attentively to His voice, and trust that His personal promises carry global purpose. Verse 3. - And Abram fell on his face - in reverential awe and worship ( vide Ver. 17; cf. Genesis 24:52; Numbers 16:22; Mark 14:35). Other attitudes of devotion are mentioned ( 1 Kings 8:54; Mark 4:25; 1 Timothy 2:8). And God- Elohim, the third name for the Deity within the compass of as many verses, thus indicating identity of being - talked with him, saying -
Parallel Commentaries ...
Hebrew Then Abramאַבְרָ֖ם(’aḇ·rām)Noun - proper - masculine singular Strong's 87:Abram -- 'exalted father', the original name of Abrahamfell facedown,וַיִּפֹּ֥ל(way·yip·pōl)Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular Strong's 5307:To fall, lieand Godאֱלֹהִ֖ים(’ĕ·lō·hîm)Noun - masculine plural Strong's 430:gods -- the supreme God, magistrates, a superlativesaidוַיְדַבֵּ֥ר(way·ḏab·bêr)Conjunctive waw | Verb - Piel - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular Strong's 1696:To arrange, to speak, to subdueto him,אִתּ֛וֹ(’it·tōw)Preposition | third person masculine singular Strong's 854:Nearness, near, with, by, at, among
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OT Law: Genesis 17:3 Abram fell on his face (Gen. Ge Gn) |