« | Genesis 17 | » |
1 When Abram was 99 years old, the Lord appeared to him. He said, "I am God All-Powerful. Obey me and live the right way.
2 If you do this, I will prepare an agreement between us. I will promise to make your people a great nation."
3 Then Abram bowed down before God. God said to him,
4 "This is my part of our agreement: I will make you the father of many nations.
5 I will change your name from Abram to Abraham, because I am making you the father of many nations.
6 I will give you many descendants. New nations and kings will come from you.
7 And I will prepare an agreement between you and me. This agreement will also be for all your descendants. This agreement will continue forever. I will be your God and the God of all your descendants.
8 And I will give this land to you and to all your descendants. I will give you the land you are traveling through—the land of Canaan. I will give you this land forever, and I will be your God."
9 Then God said to Abraham, "Now, this is your part of the agreement: You and all your descendants will obey my agreement.
10 This is my agreement that all of you must obey. This is the agreement between me and you and all your descendants. Every male must be circumcised.
11 You will cut the skin to show that you follow the agreement between me and you.
12 When the baby boy is eight days old, you will circumcise him. Every boy born among your people and every boy who is a slave of your people must be circumcised.
13 So every baby boy in your nation will be circumcised. Every boy who is born from your family or bought as a slave will be circumcised.
14 Abraham, this is the agreement between you and me: Any male who is not circumcised will be cut off from his people because he has broken my agreement."
15 God said to Abraham, "I will give Sarai, your wife, a new name. Her new name will be Sarah.
16 I will bless her. I will give her a son, and you will be the father. She will be the mother of many new nations. Kings of nations will come from her."
17 Abraham bowed his face to the ground to show he respected God. But he laughed and said to himself, "I am 100 years old. I cannot have a son, and Sarah is 90 years old. She cannot have a child."
18 Then Abraham said to God, "I hope Ishmael will live and serve you."
19 God said, "No, I said that your wife Sarah will have a son. You will name him Isaac. I will make my agreement with him that will continue forever with all his descendants.
20 "You mentioned Ishmael, and I heard you. I will bless him, and he will have many children. He will be the father of twelve great leaders. His family will become a great nation.
21 But I will make my agreement with Isaac, the son who Sarah will have. He will be born at this same time next year."
22 After God finished talking with Abraham, God went up into heaven.
23 Then Abraham gathered together Ishmael and all the slaves born in his house. He also gathered all the slaves he had bought. Every man and boy in Abraham's house was gathered together, and they were all circumcised. Abraham circumcised them that day, just as God had told him to do.
24 Abraham was 99 years old when he was circumcised.
25 And Ishmael, his son, was 13 years old when he was circumcised.
26 Abraham and his son were circumcised on the same day.
27 Also, on that day all the men in Abraham's house were circumcised. All the slaves born in his house and all the slaves he had bought were circumcised.
The Easy-To-Read Version (ERV)
The Easy-To-Read Version (ERV) is a Bible translation specifically designed to be accessible and comprehensible for people with limited reading skills or those for whom English is a second language. Originally published in 1987 by the World Bible Translation Center, the ERV was initially developed to serve the deaf community, using a simplified vocabulary and straightforward sentence structures. The goal of the ERV is to make the scriptures understandable to a wide range of readers, ensuring that everyone can grasp the essential messages of the Bible without being hindered by complex language or archaic terms.
One of the defining characteristics of the ERV is its commitment to clarity and simplicity. The translators employed a thought-for-thought translation philosophy, focusing on conveying the meaning of the original texts in plain, everyday English. This approach ensures that readers can easily comprehend the Bible’s teachings and narratives, making it a valuable resource for children, new Christians, and those with limited literacy skills. The ERV avoids technical theological terms and instead uses language that is commonly spoken, making it accessible for personal study and public reading alike.
The ERV also pays careful attention to the cultural and contextual nuances of the original manuscripts. The translators sought to present the Bible’s messages in a way that is relevant and meaningful to contemporary readers while maintaining faithfulness to the original texts. This cultural sensitivity helps bridge the gap between ancient scriptures and modern readers, allowing them to connect more deeply with the biblical stories and teachings. Additionally, the ERV includes helpful footnotes and cross-references that provide further explanation and context, enhancing the reader’s understanding of the text.
Despite its strengths, the ERV has faced some criticism from those who prefer more traditional or literal translations. Critics argue that the simplified language and thought-for-thought approach can sometimes result in a loss of depth and richness found in the original texts. Some theologians believe that the ERV’s emphasis on accessibility may lead to oversimplification of complex theological concepts. Nonetheless, the Easy-To-Read Version remains a highly valuable translation for its target audience, offering a clear and approachable rendition of the Bible that helps people of all backgrounds engage with and understand the scriptures.