Abraham
Israelite / Jew Hebrew, from Ur of the Chaldees · Creation & Patriarchs · Old Testament
- Also called
- Abram
- Name means
- Father of a multitude (Abram: exalted father)
- Role
- Patriarch; father of the faithful and friend of God
- When
- c. 2000 BC (traditional)
What they did
Called by God to leave his country for the land of Canaan. He believed God's promise of a son and a nation, and was ready to offer Isaac in obedience.
Why it matters: the purpose of their role
God promised that in Abraham all families of the earth would be blessed. Through his seed, Christ, the blessing of righteousness by faith comes to Jews and Gentiles alike (Galatians 3:8).
And he believed in the LORD; and he counted it to him for righteousness. Genesis 15:6 (KJV)
Bible references
Now the LORD had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father’s house, unto a land that I will shew thee: And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing: And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed. Genesis 12:1-3 (KJV)
And he believed in the LORD; and he counted it to him for righteousness. Genesis 15:6 (KJV)
Neither shall thy name any more be called Abram, but thy name shall be Abraham; for a father of many nations have I made thee. Genesis 17:5 (KJV)
And said, By myself have I sworn, saith the LORD, for because thou hast done this thing, and hast not withheld thy son, thine only son: That in blessing I will bless thee, and in multiplying I will multiply thy seed as the stars of the heaven, and as the sand which is upon the sea shore; and thy seed shall possess the gate of his enemies; And in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed; because thou hast obeyed my voice. Genesis 22:16-18 (KJV)
For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness. Romans 4:3 (KJV)
And the scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the heathen through faith, preached before the gospel unto Abraham, saying, In thee shall all nations be blessed. Galatians 3:8 (KJV)
Family
- Father
- Terah
- Spouse(s)
- Sarah, Hagar, Keturah
- Children
- Ishmael, Isaac, Zimran, Jokshan, Medan, Midian, Ishbak, Shuah
- Brothers / sisters
- Nahor, Haran
Uncle of Lot. Lived 175 years (Genesis 25:7).
A fuller character study, with strengths, failures, lessons and a relationship diagram:
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