Original Word: אַבְרָהָם
Part of Speech: Proper Name Masculine
Transliteration: Abraham
Pronunciation: av-raw-hawm'
Phonetic Spelling: (ab-raw-hawm')
KJV: Abraham
NASB: Abraham, Abraham's
Word Origin: [contracted from H1 (אָב - father) and an unused root (probably meaning to be populous)]

1. father of a multitude
2. Abraham, the later name of Abram

Abraham

Contracted from 'ab and an unused root (probably meaning to be populous); father of a multitude; Abraham, the later name of Abram -- Abraham.

see HEBREW 'ab

Word Origin
from ab and an unused word, see Abram
Definition
"exalted father," the father of the Jewish nation
NASB Translation
Abraham (162), Abraham's (12).

Abraham (אַבְרָהָם)

Etymology and Divine Renaming

The patriarch first appears as Abram (“exalted father”) in Genesis 11:26. In Genesis 17:5 God changes his name to Abraham, declaring, “for I have made you a father of many nations”. The renaming signals the expansion of God’s purpose from one man and household to a multitude that will bless all peoples.

Chronological Overview

• Birth in Ur, migration to Haran (Genesis 11:27-32).
• Call at age seventy-five to go to Canaan (Genesis 12:1-9).
• Sojourns in Egypt and Gerar (Genesis 12:10-20; Genesis 20).
• Separation from Lot and victory over the eastern kings (Genesis 13–14).
• Covenant ceremonies: seed promise (Genesis 15); circumcision sign (Genesis 17).
• Intercession for Sodom (Genesis 18).
• Offering of Isaac (Genesis 22).
• Purchase of the Machpelah tomb (Genesis 23).
• Arrangements for Isaac’s marriage (Genesis 24).
• Death at one hundred seventy-five and burial beside Sarah (Genesis 25:7-10).

Covenant Promises

1. Land: “To your offspring I will give this land” (Genesis 12:7).
2. Seed: “Your offspring will be as the stars of the sky” (Genesis 15:5).
3. Blessing to the nations: “All the families of the earth will be blessed through you” (Genesis 12:3).
4. Everlasting covenant confirmed by circumcision (Genesis 17:7-13).

These promises structure much of redemptive history, re-affirmed to Isaac (Genesis 26:3-5), Jacob (Genesis 28:13-15), and the nation (Exodus 6:3-8).

Pattern of Faith

Genesis 15:6 records, “Abram believed the LORD, and it was credited to him as righteousness”. This text anchors biblical teaching on justification by faith (Romans 4:1-25; Galatians 3:6-9; James 2:21-23). Abraham’s trust was evidenced by obedient acts—leaving homeland, accepting circumcision, offering Isaac—yet his standing before God rested on believing God’s promise.

Intercessor and Prophet

God calls Abraham “a prophet” (Genesis 20:7) and shares His counsel with him (Genesis 18:17-19). Abraham’s plea for Sodom illustrates priestly intercession grounded in God’s justice and mercy.

Friend of God

Three times Scripture designates Abraham “My friend” or “friend of God” (2 Chronicles 20:7; Isaiah 41:8; James 2:23). The title highlights the intimacy granted to those who walk by faith.

Typological Significance

The near-sacrifice of Isaac (Genesis 22) foreshadows the Father offering His only Son (John 3:16). The ram caught in a thicket anticipates substitutionary atonement, and the place name “The LORD Will Provide” (Genesis 22:14) points forward to Calvary.

National and Universal Blessing

Israel’s identity is repeatedly tied to Abraham: “the LORD, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob” (Exodus 3:15). Yet the promise intentionally extends to Gentiles. The prophets foresee nations streaming to share in the covenant (Isaiah 2:2-4; Micah 4:1-3), echoing Genesis 12:3.

Abraham in the Prophets and Writings

• Isaiah invokes Abraham to reassure post-exilic Israel (Isaiah 51:1-2).
• Ezekiel cites him as proof that one man can receive land (Ezekiel 33:24).
• Nehemiah 9 rehearses God’s faithfulness to Abraham as a basis for renewed covenant.
• Psalms exults, “He remembers His covenant forever, the word He commanded for a thousand generations, the covenant He made with Abraham” (Psalms 105:8-9).

These references underscore Scripture’s unified testimony to the enduring Abrahamic covenant.

Abraham in the New Testament

• Genealogy of Jesus (Matthew 1:1).
• Model of faith (Romans 4; Hebrews 11:8-19).
• Father of all who believe, whether circumcised or uncircumcised (Galatians 3:7-29).
• Example in discussions of hospitality (Hebrews 13:2) and resurrection hope (Luke 20:37-38).

Key Themes

Faith vs. works, promise vs. law, grace initiating covenant, obedience flowing from trust, divine election for universal mission, and resurrection typology all converge in Abraham’s narrative.

Representative References

Genesis 12:1-3; Genesis 15:6; Genesis 18:14; Genesis 22:14-18; Genesis 26:5; Genesis 28:13-14; Exodus 2:24; 2 Chronicles 20:7; Nehemiah 9:7-8; Psalms 47:9; Isaiah 41:8; Ezekiel 33:24; Micah 7:20.

Legacy

Approximately one hundred seventy-five Old Testament occurrences testify that to understand God’s redemptive plan one must grasp the life and promises of Abraham, the prototype believer through whom God began to gather a people for His name from every nation.

אַבְרָ֫הָ֥ם אַבְרָהָ֑ם אַבְרָהָ֔ם אַבְרָהָ֖ם אַבְרָהָ֗ם אַבְרָהָ֛ם אַבְרָהָ֜ם אַבְרָהָ֞ם אַבְרָהָ֣ם אַבְרָהָ֣ם ׀ אַבְרָהָ֤ם אַבְרָהָ֥ם אַבְרָהָ֧ם אַבְרָהָ֨ם אַבְרָהָֽם׃ אַבְרָהָם֙ אַבְרָהָם֮ אברהם אברהם׃ וְאַ֨בְרָהָ֔ם וְאַבְרָהָ֖ם וְאַבְרָהָ֣ם וְאַבְרָהָ֤ם ואברהם לְאַבְרָהָ֑ם לְאַבְרָהָ֔ם לְאַבְרָהָ֖ם לְאַבְרָהָ֗ם לְאַבְרָהָ֛ם לְאַבְרָהָ֥ם לְאַבְרָהָ֨ם לְאַבְרָהָֽם׃ לְאַבְרָהָם֩ לאברהם לאברהם׃ מֵֽאַבְרָהָ֔ם מאברהם ’aḇ·rā·hām ’aḇrāhām avraHam lə’aḇrāhām lə·’aḇ·rā·hām leavraHam mê’aḇrāhām mê·’aḇ·rā·hām meavraHam veAvraHam wə’aḇrāhām wə·’aḇ·rā·hāmInterlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts