The BibleGospel Companion

Abraham

אַבְרָהָם · av.ra.ham · H0085Ἀβραάμ · Abraam · G00111 other spelling“father of a great multitude” Hitchcock's 1869275 mentions in 27 books, most in Genesis (164)
Illustration — not a likeness; generated for Gospel Companion in the app's painting style — Abraham
Illustration — not a likeness; generated for Gospel Companion in the app's painting style

Who he was

Abraham, initially named Abram, was a central figure in the early history of the Israelites. He was born in Ur of the Chaldeans and was the son of Terah (Genesis 11:26–31). God called Abram to leave his country and family and go to a land that He would show him, promising to make him a great nation and to bless all peoples through him (Genesis 12:1–3).

Abram obeyed God and journeyed to Canaan with his wife Sarai and his nephew Lot (Genesis 12:4–5). God reaffirmed His covenant with Abram, promising him numerous descendants and the land of Canaan (Gen.13.14-17; 15.1-21). God changed Abram's name to Abraham, meaning "father of many," and Sarai's name to Sarah (Genesis 17:1–16).

Despite their advanced age, Abraham and Sarah miraculously bore a son, Isaac, through whom God's covenant would be established (Gen.18.1-15; 21.1-7). Abraham demonstrated his faith and obedience when God tested him by asking him to sacrifice Isaac (Genesis 22:1–19). God provided a ram as a substitute, reaffirming His promise to Abraham (Genesis 22:15–18).

Abraham's faith was credited to him as righteousness (Genesis 15:6; Romans 4:3; Galatians 3:6; Jam 2.23). He became known as the father of the faithful and the friend of God (Isaiah 41:8; 2 Chronicles 20:7; Jam 2.23). God's covenant with Abraham, which included the promise of land, descendants, and blessing, was passed down to his son Isaac and grandson Israel (or 'Jacob') (Gen.26.1-5; 28.10-15).

The life and faith of Abraham are significant in both the Old and New Testaments. He is recognized as the ancestor of the Israelites (Exo.2.24; 3.6, 15-16; 4.5) and is mentioned in connection with God's faithfulness and His promises (Exo.6.8; 32.13; 33.1; Leviticus 26:42). In the New Testament, Abraham is upheld as an example of faith (Rom.4.1-3, 9, 12, 16; Gal.3.6-9, 14, 29; Hebrews 11:8–19) and is identified as the spiritual father of all believers (Rom.4.11-12, 16-17; Gal.3.7, 29).

Jesus Christ is identified as the ultimate fulfillment of God's promises to Abraham (Matthew 1:1; Galatians 3:16). Through faith in Christ, believers from all nations become part of Abraham's spiritual lineage and heirs to the promises made to him (Gal.3.7-9, 14, 26-29).

Article: STEPBible, Tyndale House Cambridge · CC BY 4.0

Family

Family relations: STEPBible, Tyndale House Cambridge · CC BY 4.0

Every mention

275 references, counted from STEPBible, Tyndale House Cambridge · CC BY 4.0 · verse text: World English Bible (public domain)
GenesisChapter 11: 4 mentionsChapter 12: 11 mentionsChapter 13: 9 mentionsChapter 14: 7 mentionsChapter 15: 7 mentionsChapter 16: 7 mentionsChapter 17: 11 mentionsChapter 18: 12 mentionsChapter 19: 2 mentionsChapter 20: 8 mentionsChapter 21: 18 mentionsChapter 22: 16 mentionsChapter 23: 11 mentionsChapter 24: 12 mentionsChapter 25: 9 mentionsChapter 26: 6 mentionsChapter 28: 3 mentionsChapter 31: 2 mentionsChapter 32: 1 mentionChapter 35: 2 mentionsChapter 48: 2 mentionsChapter 49: 2 mentionsChapter 50: 2 mentions164 mentions
Genesis 11:26Terah lived seventy years, and became the father of Abram, Nahor, and Haran.Genesis 11:27Now this is the history of the generations of Terah. Terah became the father of Abram, Nahor, and Haran. Haran became the father of Lot.Genesis 11:29Abram and Nahor married wives. The name of Abram’s wife was Sarai, and the name of Nahor’s wife was Milcah, the daughter of Haran, who was also the father of Iscah.Genesis 11:31Terah took Abram his son, Lot the son of Haran, his son’s son, and Sarai his daughter-in-law, his son Abram’s wife. They went from Ur of the Chaldees, to go into the land of Canaan. They…Genesis 12:1Now Yahweh said to Abram, “Leave your country, and your relatives, and your father’s house, and go to the land that I will show you.Genesis 12:4So Abram went, as Yahweh had told him. Lot went with him. Abram was seventy-five years old when he departed from Haran.Genesis 12:5Abram took Sarai his wife, Lot his brother’s son, all their possessions that they had gathered, and the people whom they had acquired in Haran, and they went to go into the land of Canaan.…Genesis 12:6Abram passed through the land to the place of Shechem, to the oak of Moreh. At that time, Canaanites were in the land.Genesis 12:7Yahweh appeared to Abram and said, “I will give this land to your offspring.” He built an altar there to Yahweh, who had appeared to him.Genesis 12:9Abram traveled, still going on toward the South.Genesis 12:10There was a famine in the land. Abram went down into Egypt to live as a foreigner there, for the famine was severe in the land.Genesis 12:14When Abram had come into Egypt, some Egyptians saw that the woman was very beautiful.Genesis 12:16He dealt well with Abram for her sake. He had sheep, cattle, male donkeys, male servants, female servants, female donkeys, and camels.Genesis 12:17Yahweh afflicted Pharaoh and his house with great plagues because of Sarai, Abram’s wife.Genesis 12:18Pharaoh called Abram and said, “What is this that you have done to me? Why didn’t you tell me that she was your wife?Genesis 13:1Abram went up out of Egypt—he, his wife, all that he had, and Lot with him—into the South.Genesis 13:2Abram was very rich in livestock, in silver, and in gold.Genesis 13:4to the place of the altar, which he had made there at the first. There Abram called on Yahweh’s name.Genesis 13:5Lot also, who went with Abram, had flocks, herds, and tents.Genesis 13:7There was strife between the herdsmen of Abram’s livestock and the herdsmen of Lot’s livestock. The Canaanites and the Perizzites lived in the land at that time.Genesis 13:8Abram said to Lot, “Please, let there be no strife between you and me, and between your herdsmen and my herdsmen; for we are relatives.Genesis 13:12Abram lived in the land of Canaan, and Lot lived in the cities of the plain, and moved his tent as far as Sodom.Genesis 13:14Yahweh said to Abram, after Lot was separated from him, “Now, lift up your eyes, and look from the place where you are, northward and southward and eastward and westward,Genesis 13:18Abram moved his tent, and came and lived by the oaks of Mamre, which are in Hebron, and built an altar there to Yahweh.Genesis 14:12They took Lot, Abram’s brother’s son, who lived in Sodom, and his goods, and departed.Genesis 14:13One who had escaped came and told Abram, the Hebrew. At that time, he lived by the oaks of Mamre, the Amorite, brother of Eshcol and brother of Aner. They were allies of Abram.Genesis 14:14When Abram heard that his relative was taken captive, he led out his three hundred eighteen trained men, born in his house, and pursued as far as Dan.Genesis 14:19He blessed him, and said, “Blessed be Abram of God Most High, possessor of heaven and earth.Genesis 14:21The king of Sodom said to Abram, “Give me the people, and take the goods for yourself.”Genesis 14:22Abram said to the king of Sodom, “I have lifted up my hand to Yahweh, God Most High, possessor of heaven and earth,Genesis 14:23that I will not take a thread nor a sandal strap nor anything that is yours, lest you should say, ‘I have made Abram rich.’Genesis 15:1After these things Yahweh’s word came to Abram in a vision, saying, “Don’t be afraid, Abram. I am your shield, your exceedingly great reward.”Genesis 15:2Abram said, “Lord Yahweh, what will you give me, since I go childless, and he who will inherit my estate is Eliezer of Damascus?”Genesis 15:3Abram said, “Behold, you have given no children to me: and, behold, one born in my house is my heir.”Genesis 15:11The birds of prey came down on the carcasses, and Abram drove them away.Genesis 15:12When the sun was going down, a deep sleep fell on Abram. Now terror and great darkness fell on him.Genesis 15:13He said to Abram, “Know for sure that your offspring will live as foreigners in a land that is not theirs, and will serve them. They will afflict them four hundred years.Genesis 15:18In that day Yahweh made a covenant with Abram, saying, “I have given this land to your offspring, from the river of Egypt to the great river, the river Euphrates:Genesis 16:1Now Sarai, Abram’s wife, bore him no children. She had a servant, an Egyptian, whose name was Hagar.Genesis 16:2Sarai said to Abram, “See now, Yahweh has restrained me from bearing. Please go in to my servant. It may be that I will obtain children by her.” Abram listened to the voice of Sarai.Genesis 16:3Sarai, Abram’s wife, took Hagar the Egyptian, her servant, after Abram had lived ten years in the land of Canaan, and gave her to Abram her husband to be his wife.Genesis 16:5Sarai said to Abram, “This wrong is your fault. I gave my servant into your bosom, and when she saw that she had conceived, she despised me. May Yahweh judge between me and you.”Genesis 16:6But Abram said to Sarai, “Behold, your maid is in your hand. Do to her whatever is good in your eyes.” Sarai dealt harshly with her, and she fled from her face.Genesis 16:15Hagar bore a son for Abram. Abram called the name of his son, whom Hagar bore, Ishmael.Genesis 16:16Abram was eighty-six years old when Hagar bore Ishmael to Abram.Genesis 17:1When Abram was ninety-nine years old, Yahweh appeared to Abram and said to him, “I am God Almighty. Walk before me and be blameless.Genesis 17:3Abram fell on his face. God talked with him, saying,Genesis 17:5Your name will no more be called Abram, but your name will be Abraham; for I have made you the father of a multitude of nations.Genesis 17:9God said to Abraham, “As for you, you shall keep my covenant, you and your offspring after you throughout their generations.Genesis 17:15God said to Abraham, “As for Sarai your wife, you shall not call her name Sarai, but her name shall be Sarah.Genesis 17:17Then Abraham fell on his face, and laughed, and said in his heart, “Will a child be born to him who is one hundred years old? Will Sarah, who is ninety years old, give birth?”Genesis 17:18Abraham said to God, “Oh that Ishmael might live before you!”Genesis 17:22When he finished talking with him, God went up from Abraham.Genesis 17:23Abraham took Ishmael his son, all who were born in his house, and all who were bought with his money: every male among the men of Abraham’s house, and circumcised the flesh of their…Genesis 17:24Abraham was ninety-nine years old when he was circumcised in the flesh of his foreskin.Genesis 17:26In the same day both Abraham and Ishmael, his son, were circumcised.Genesis 18:6Abraham hurried into the tent to Sarah, and said, “Quickly prepare three seahs of fine meal, knead it, and make cakes.”Genesis 18:7Abraham ran to the herd, and fetched a tender and good calf, and gave it to the servant. He hurried to dress it.Genesis 18:11Now Abraham and Sarah were old, well advanced in age. Sarah had passed the age of childbearing.Genesis 18:13Yahweh said to Abraham, “Why did Sarah laugh, saying, ‘Will I really bear a child when I am old?’
ExodusChapter 2: 1 mentionChapter 3: 3 mentionsChapter 4: 1 mentionChapter 6: 2 mentionsChapter 32: 1 mentionChapter 33: 1 mention9 mentions
Exodus 2:24God heard their groaning, and God remembered his covenant with Abraham, with Isaac, and with Jacob.Exodus 3:6Moreover he said, “I am the God of your father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.” Moses hid his face because he was afraid to look at God.Exodus 3:15God said moreover to Moses, “You shall tell the children of Israel this, ‘Yahweh, the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, has sent me to you.’…Exodus 3:16Go and gather the elders of Israel together, and tell them, ‘Yahweh, the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, of Isaac, and of Jacob, has appeared to me, saying, “I have surely visited…Exodus 4:5“This is so that they may believe that Yahweh, the God of their fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, has appeared to you.”Exodus 6:3I appeared to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, as God Almighty; but by my name Yahweh I was not known to them.Exodus 6:8I will bring you into the land which I swore to give to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob; and I will give it to you for a heritage: I am Yahweh.’”Exodus 32:13Remember Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, your servants, to whom you swore by your own self, and said to them, ‘I will multiply your offspring as the stars of the sky, and all this land that I…Exodus 33:1Yahweh spoke to Moses, “Depart, go up from here, you and the people that you have brought up out of the land of Egypt, to the land of which I swore to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob…
LeviticusChapter 26: 1 mention1 mention
NumbersChapter 32: 1 mention1 mention
DeuteronomyChapter 1: 1 mentionChapter 6: 1 mentionChapter 9: 2 mentionsChapter 29: 1 mentionChapter 30: 1 mentionChapter 34: 1 mention7 mentions
JoshuaChapter 24: 2 mentions2 mentions
1 KingsChapter 18: 1 mention1 mention
2 KingsChapter 13: 1 mention1 mention
1 ChroniclesChapter 1: 4 mentionsChapter 16: 1 mentionChapter 29: 1 mention6 mentions
2 ChroniclesChapter 20: 1 mentionChapter 30: 1 mention2 mentions
NehemiahChapter 9: 1 mention1 mention
PsalmsChapter 47: 1 mentionChapter 105: 3 mentions4 mentions
IsaiahChapter 29: 1 mentionChapter 41: 1 mentionChapter 51: 1 mentionChapter 63: 1 mention4 mentions
JeremiahChapter 33: 1 mention1 mention
EzekielChapter 33: 1 mention1 mention
MicahChapter 7: 1 mention1 mention
MatthewChapter 1: 3 mentionsChapter 3: 1 mentionChapter 8: 1 mentionChapter 22: 1 mention6 mentions
MarkChapter 12: 1 mention1 mention
LukeChapter 1: 2 mentionsChapter 3: 2 mentionsChapter 13: 2 mentionsChapter 16: 6 mentionsChapter 19: 1 mentionChapter 20: 1 mention14 mentions
Luke 1:55as he spoke to our fathers, to Abraham and his offspring forever.”Luke 1:73the oath which he swore to Abraham our father,Luke 3:8Therefore produce fruits worthy of repentance, and don’t begin to say among yourselves, ‘We have Abraham for our father;’ for I tell you that God is able to raise up children to Abraham…Luke 3:34the son of Jacob, the son of Isaac, the son of Abraham, the son of Terah, the son of Nahor,Luke 13:16Ought not this woman, being a daughter of Abraham whom Satan had bound eighteen long years, be freed from this bondage on the Sabbath day?”Luke 13:28There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth when you see Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and all the prophets in God’s Kingdom, and yourselves being thrown outside.Luke 16:22The beggar died, and he was carried away by the angels to Abraham’s bosom. The rich man also died and was buried.Luke 16:23In Hades, he lifted up his eyes, being in torment, and saw Abraham far off, and Lazarus at his bosom.Luke 16:24He cried and said, ‘Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue! For I am in anguish in this flame.’Luke 16:25“But Abraham said, ‘Son, remember that you, in your lifetime, received your good things, and Lazarus, in the same way, bad things. But here he is now comforted and you are in anguish.Luke 16:29“But Abraham said to him, ‘They have Moses and the prophets. Let them listen to them.’Luke 16:30“He said, ‘No, father Abraham, but if one goes to them from the dead, they will repent.’Luke 19:9Jesus said to him, “Today, salvation has come to this house, because he also is a son of Abraham.Luke 20:37But that the dead are raised, even Moses showed at the bush, when he called the Lord ‘The God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.’
JohnChapter 8: 9 mentions9 mentions
ActsChapter 3: 2 mentionsChapter 7: 4 mentionsChapter 13: 1 mention7 mentions
RomansChapter 4: 7 mentionsChapter 9: 1 mentionChapter 11: 1 mention9 mentions
2 CorinthiansChapter 11: 1 mention1 mention
GalatiansChapter 3: 8 mentionsChapter 4: 1 mention9 mentions
HebrewsChapter 2: 1 mentionChapter 6: 1 mentionChapter 7: 6 mentionsChapter 11: 2 mentions10 mentions
JamesChapter 2: 2 mentions2 mentions
1 PeterChapter 3: 1 mention1 mention

What the dictionary says

Father of a multitude, son of Terah, named (Gen. 11:27) before his older brothers Nahor and Haran, because he was the heir of the promises.

Easton's Bible Dictionary (1897)
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Sources