אַבְרָהָם
Abraham, the later name of Abram
Definition
Abraham is the covenantal name given by God to Abram, signifying his new identity as 'father of a multitude' (Genesis 17:5). This name change marks the establishment of the Abrahamic covenant, where God promises to make him exceedingly fruitful, the father of many nations, and the channel of blessing to all peoples (Genesis 12:2-3, 17:4-8). Throughout Scripture, Abraham stands as the foundational patriarch of Israel, the recipient of God's promises, and the exemplar of faith (Genesis 15:6, Romans 4:3).
Biblical Usage
The name Abraham is used exclusively as a proper noun for the patriarch, appearing 159 times in the Old Testament. It is most frequent in Genesis (127 times), especially in the narrative of the covenant (Genesis 17) and the story of Isaac (Genesis 22). It also appears significantly in the historical books (e.g., Exodus 2:24, 1 Kings 18:36) and the Prophets (e.g., Isaiah 41:8, Micah 7:20), where he is invoked as the ancestor to whom God's promises were made. The Psalms and later writings reference him as a model of faith and the recipient of God's oath (Psalm 105:6, 9).
Etymology
The name Abraham (אַבְרָהָם) is a divinely given alteration of Abram (אַבְרָם), meaning 'exalted father.' God explicitly renames him, explaining it as a contraction from 'av' (אָב, father) and 'hamon' (הָמוֹן, multitude), thus meaning 'father of a multitude' (Genesis 17:5). This etymology highlights the shift from a personal descriptor to a prophetic, covenantal identity tied to God's promise of innumerable offspring.
Semantic Range
Abraham is central to biblical theology as the father of faith and the recipient of the unconditional covenant of grace. His name change signifies a new, God-given identity rooted in divine promise, not human achievement. Understanding the Hebrew meaning ('father of a multitude') enriches the reading of passages about God's faithfulness to His promises (e.g., Romans 4:13-18, Galatians 3:6-9). He is the prototype of justification by faith and the foundational figure for Israel, the church, and the fulfillment of God's redemptive plan for all nations.
In the ancient Near East, a name change by a superior, especially a deity, signified a transformation in identity, status, or destiny. God's renaming of Abram to Abraham was a powerful, public act establishing a new covenantal relationship and a future-oriented identity. The promise of becoming a 'father of a multitude' would have been profoundly significant in a culture where progeny, lineage, and legacy were paramount measures of blessing and social standing.
Abram (ʼAbrâm, H87) — Abraham's original name, meaning 'exalted father,' used before the covenant in Genesis 17. Isaac (Yitschâq, H3327) — Abraham's son of promise, through whom the covenant lineage continues. Israel (Yisrâʼêl, H3478) — The covenantal name for Abraham's grandson Jacob and his descendants, fulfilling the promise of a great nation.
Word Details
How this works
Hebrew definitions are from Brown-Driver-Briggs (1906) and Strong's Exhaustive Concordance (1890), both public domain. BDB was groundbreaking for its era but reflects 19th-century assumptions about Semitic etymology. Modern scholarship (HALOT, DCH) has revised many entries. Use these definitions as a starting point for exploration, not as the final word on a term's meaning in context.
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