A Midrash interpreted the words of , "And when after my skin thus is destroyed (, "nikkefu"), then through my flesh shall I see God," to allude to Abraham. According to the Midrash, Abraham reasoned that after he circumcised himself, many proselytes flocked ("hikkif") to attach themselves to the covenant, and it was thus because Abraham did so that God revealed God's Self to Abraham, as reports, "And the Lord appeared to him." (And thus through circumcision performed on his flesh did Abraham come to see God.)