In this article we will explain what is the Biblical meaning of the name Abraham. When we are going to choose a qualifier, we must take into account the symbolism that it has. This will not affect the spiritual part or the relationship with God, but it can have repercussions in the social.
Abraham was a great man in ancient times and was part of one of the greatest promises offered by God. This character had a good behavior and a correct conduct in the eyes of the creator. Especially since his faith was impeccable. Let’s delve into the topic.
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Biblical meaning of the name Abraham
Avraham means “father of a crowd”, being “raham” an Arabic word, perhaps common in Hebrew in ancient times. Another interpretation of Abram is that he is equivalent to Abi-aram, father of Aram or Syria. Some commentators place the accent on the insertion of the letter “h”, as a representative of the name Yahveh or Yehveh.
Story of Abraham and his name
This week’s question is, “Why does God in Genesis 17:5 change Abram’s name to Abraham?” To answer this question well, a bit of context is first needed. As recounted by Moses in Genesis 12, God calls Abram to leave his family’s land and travel to the land of Canaan, a land that God promises will be given to him and his offspring forever. But there’s a problem. Abram has no children and is very old.
This means that you cannot fulfill God’s promise. If he does not have a son, his descendants will not be from his family line, but from another. In this anxiety and worry, God greets Abram with other promises, a promise that echoes throughout the rest of Scripture as the beginning of faith and the beginning of God’s people.
God promises that despite Abram’s advanced age, he will father a son to be his rightful heir, a miracle in itself. After God revealed this to Abram, Moses records this:
“He took it outside and said, ‘Now look up to the heavens and count the stars, if you can count them.’ And he said to him: ‘So shall your offspring be.’ So he believed in the Lord; and he was counted to him for righteousness ”. (Genesis 15:5-6 NASB).
Why did God change Abram’s name to Abraham?
In chapter 17, God gives Abram the covenant of circumcision, as an outward sign of this promise. But God does something strange here: change Abram’s name Abraham. Why? The answer lies in the biblical meaning of the name Abraham.
In the original Hebrew language of the Torah, which is made up of the first five books of our Old Testament, the name Abram literally means “exalted father” Abraham, however, contains another unused root word, roughly meaning “multitude.”
Abraham translated literally, then, means “father of a multitude”. Most modern Bibles that contain footnotes will note this literal meaning of the Hebrew in the margin.
Take note of this: Abraham’s name change is a sign from God. By changing his name, the Lord not only confirmed that he would fully fulfill the promise he made to Abraham. From the flesh of this man came a multitude, the Jewish people.
The blessing through Abraham’s offspring
Avraham is not only the father of a single ethnic nation, is the “spiritual father of a multitude”. And this faithful multitude, made up of both Jews and Gentiles, is too great to count (Revelation 7:9). Through him, all the nations of the world are blessed (Gen 22:18).
But this blessing could not be possible if it were not for the one who came from the lineage of Abraham, who would be the blessed one, the one who is called the Christ. And this chosen one has many names. The long prophesied, the Lion of Judah and the Lamb without blemish, who will crush the head of the serpent and be light to the nations.
From the line of Abraham came this. He is the true covenant seed of Abraham. (Galatians 3:16). In Jesus, the earth, paradise itself, is secured. And in Him, the multitude from every tribe, nation, and language becomes one family.
Because all who believe in their hearts and confess with their mouths that Jesus Christ is Lord and Savior will be forgiven and adopted into this eternal family of God. (John 1:12) And by this faith, they are made heirs according to the promise given to Abraham, the “father of multitudes”to inherit the world forever. (Genesis 12:7; 13:4; Romans 4:13ff; Galatians 3:26, 29; Psalm 37:11; Matthew 5:5; Revelation 21:7).
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4 Things You Might Not Remember About Abraham In The Bible
God did not choose to carry out His plan through Abraham because he was special, talented, or even just. In fact, God did not choose anyone in the Bible for those reasons; He doesn’t choose anyone today like that either. God chooses who he wants because he can. It is God who makes people specialit is our Lord who bestows talents and only He who can transform sinners into righteous believers.
However, God does not choose just anyone either. By this I mean that He would not choose a lazy or irresponsible person, unless he had a purpose with it. YAHWEH knew that Abraham would struggle with the call before him, but he was also clear that Abraham’s struggle would produce great growth and faith.
In Genesis 12the LORD spoke to Abram (as he was then called):
“Leave your country, your town, and your father’s house, and go to the land that I will show you. I will make of you a great nation and I will bless you; I will make your name great and you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse, and all the peoples of the earth will be blessed by you.”
What follows next in the Biblical narrative is the story of abraham’s journey to follow God and live a life of faith. But so that you have an idea of what this man’s life was like, here are 4 things that you may not remember about his story:
1. Abraham was an old man when God called him to undertake this journey
I was 75 years old when God called him to leave home, 86 when his first son Ishmael was born through Hagar, 99 when he was circumcised, and 100 when his son Isaac was born through his wife Sarah. Genesis 12-21.
2. Sarah (Abraham’s wife) laughed at God but he always had faith
Sarah laughed when God told her that they would have a son in their old age (Genesis 17:17; 18:10-12). His laughter at God’s plan showed his disbelief that He could do what he was promising. However, our Lord said to Abraham: “I will return with you at the appointed time next year and Sarah will have a son”, and so it happened. Genesis 18: 13-15.
3. Abraham Lied About His Wife Being His Sister Not Once But Twice
Fearing for his life, Abraham lied and asked his wife to lie, telling Pharaoh and the Egyptians, and later King Abimelech, that his wife was his sister. Sarah agreed with the lie, identifying Abraham as her brother on all occasions (Genesis 12: 11-13; 20:1-2, 5).
Although Abraham knew that he was wrong to fear for his life and claim his wife as his sister, he still tried to excuse himself by saying:
“Besides, she really is my sister, my father’s daughter though not my mother’s; and she became my wife.
Following Abraham’s example, his son Isaac did exactly the same later in life and lied about his wife, Rebecca, being his sister (Genesis 26:7).
4. Abraham trusted God when many of us would not have.
God told Abraham:
“Take your son, your only son, Isaac, whom you love, and go to the region of Moriah. Sacrifice it there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains I will tell you about.” Genesis 22:2.
How many of us would have jumped at the chance to obey that order? Abraham was now over a hundred years old, he waited a long time for God’s promise to be fulfilled in his only son through his wife Sarah, and now, after the Lord promised to make a great nation through his son, what is he asking her to kill him?
I think I could have said something like, hey God, I think you have the wrong servant. I waited for this just like you told me, remember? But God’s point to Abraham was that even the good things he had been given, the things he expected, must come second.
The most extraordinary thing is that just like in the beginning when God called him for the first time, Abraham got up and went out. He obeyed God, willing to carry out the sacrifice until the angel of the LORD stopped him. God knew from the beginning that he would stop Abraham, because there is only one Son whose sacrifice can sin and fulfill the greatest promise.
Abraham’s journey was long and challenging.; he worked hard and experienced both pain and blessings. Most of the time, he couldn’t see the road ahead, but he held fast to the promise in his heart. God would continue to fulfill that promise more than a thousand years after Abraham’s death.
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final thoughts
Now, after knowing the biblical meaning of the name Abraham and the behavior of this character, you can be sure that it is the best qualifier for your newborn. Always remember that the name gives a certain distinctive touch to whoever wears it, however, God is the only one who can really work someone’s personality.