John Gill Commentary Genesis 17:3

"And Abram fell on his face: and God talked with him, saying," — Genesis 17:3 (ASV)

And Abram fell on his face At the sight of so glorious a Person that appeared to him, and in reverence of his majesty, and as sensible of his unworthiness of such a visit, and of having such favours bestowed upon him; and not because he was not as yet circumcised, as the Targum of Jonathan expresses it; and so other Jewish ^F6 writers observe, that before he was circumcised he fell, when God spoke to him, but afterwards he sat and stood, (Genesis 18:1) ; but it may be observed, that not only uncircumcised persons, as Balaam, (Numbers 22:31) , in whom Jarchi instances, but circumcised ones, as Ezekiel, (Ezekiel 1:28) , Joshua, (Joshua 5:14) , and others, have fallen on their faces at a divine appearance:

and God talked with him ; after he was raised up, and was strengthened and encouraged to stand up before God, and hear what he had to say to him; for after this we read of his falling on his face again, (Genesis 17:17) ; which shows that he had been erect, after he first fell on his face: saying; as follows.

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FOOTNOTES:

• F6: Jarchi in loc. Pirke Eliezer, ut supra. (c. 29.)