Meaning of “Abraham”
Abraham — 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. Till the age of seventy, Abram sojourned among his kindred in his native country of Chaldea. He then, with his father and his family and household, quitted the city of Ur, in which he had hitherto dwelt, and went some 300 miles north to Haran, where he abode fifteen years. The cause of his migration was a call from God (Acts 7:2-4). There is no mention of this first call in the Old Testament; it is implied, however, in Gen. 12. While they tarried at Haran, Terah died at the age of 205 years. Abram now received a second and more definite call, accompanied by a promise from God (Gen. 12:1,2); whereupon he took his departure, taking his nephew Lot with him, "not knowing whither he went" (Heb. 11:8). He trusted implicitly to the guidance of Him who had called him. Abram now, with a large household of probably a thousand souls, entered on a migratory life, and dwelt in tents. Passing along the valley of the Jabbok, in the land of Canaan, he formed his first encampment at Sichem (Gen. 12:6), in the vale or oak-grove of Moreh, between Ebal on the north and Gerizim on the south. Here he received the great promise, "I will make of thee a great nation," etc. (Gen. 12:2,3,7). This promise comprehended not only temporal but also spiritual blessings. It implied that he was the chosen ancestor of the great Deliverer whose coming had been long ago predicted (Gen. 3:15). Soon after this, for some reason not mentioned, he removed his tent to the mountain district between Bethel, then called Luz, and Ai, towns about two miles apart, where he built an altar to "Jehovah." He again moved into the southern tract of Palestine, called by the Hebrews the Negeb; and was at length, on account of a famine, compelled to go down into Egypt. This took place in the time of the Hyksos, a Semitic race which now held the Egyptians in bondage. Here occurred that case of deception on the part of Abram which exposed him to the rebuke of Pharaoh (Gen. 12:18). Sarai was restored to him; and Pharaoh loaded him with presents, recommending him to withdraw from the country. He returned to Canaan richer than when he left it, "in cattle, in silver, and in gold" (Gen. 12:8; 13:2. Comp. Ps. 105:13, 14). The whole party then moved northward, and returned to their previous station near Bethel. Here disputes arose between Lot's shepherds and those of Abram about water and pasturage. Abram generously gave Lot his choice of the pasture-ground. (Comp. 1 Cor. 6:7.) He chose the well-watered plain in which Sodom was situated, and removed thither; and thus the uncle and nephew were separated. Immediately after this Abram was cheered by a repetition of the promises already made to him, and then removed to the plain or "oak-grove" of Mamre, which is in Hebron. He finally settled here, pitching his tent under a famous oak or terebinth tree, called "the oak of Mamre" (Gen. 13:18). This was his third resting-place in the land. Some fourteen years before this, while Abram was still in Chaldea, Palestine had been invaded by Chedorlaomer, King of Elam, who brought under tribute to him the five cities in the plain to which Lot had removed. This tribute was felt by the inhabitants of these cities to be a heavy burden, and after twelve years they revolted. This brought upon them the vengeance of Chedorlaomer, who had in league with him four other kings. He ravaged the whole country, plundering the towns, and carrying the inhabitants away as slaves. Among those thus treated was Lot. Hearing of the disaster that had fallen on his nephew, Abram immediately gathered from his own household a band of 318 armed men, and being joined by the Amoritish chiefs Mamre, Aner, and Eshcol, he pursued after Chedorlaomer, and overtook him near the springs of the Jordan. They attacked and routed his army, and pursued it over the range of Anti-Libanus as far as to Hobah, near Damascus, and then returned, bringing back all the spoils that had been carried away. Returning by way of Salem, i.e., Jerusalem, the king of that place, Melchizedek, came forth to meet them with refreshments. To him Abram presented a tenth of the spoils, in recognition of his character as a priest of the most high God (Gen. 14:18-20). In a recently-discovered tablet, dated in the reign of the grandfather of Amraphel (Gen. 14:1), one of the witnesses is called "the Amorite, the son of Abiramu," or Abram. Having returned to his home at Mamre, the promises already made to him by God were repeated and enlarged (Gen. 13:14). "The word of the Lord" (an expression occurring here for the first time) "came to him" (15:1). He now understood better the future that lay before the nation that was to spring from him. Sarai, now seventy-five years old, in her impatience, persuaded Abram to take Hagar, her Egyptian maid, as a concubine, intending that whatever child might be born should be reckoned as her own. Ishmael was accordingly thus brought up, and was regarded as the heir of these promises (Gen. 16). When Ishmael was thirteen years old, God again revealed yet more explicitly and fully his gracious purpose; and in token of the sure fulfilment of that purpose the patriarch's name was now changed from Abram to Abraham (Gen. 17:4,5), and the rite of circumcision was instituted as a sign of the covenant. It was then announced that the heir to these covenant promises would be the son of Sarai, though she was now ninety years old; and it was directed that his name should be Isaac. At the same time, in commemoration of the promises, Sarai's name was changed to Sarah. On that memorable day of God's thus revealing his design, Abraham and his son Ishmael and all the males of his house were circumcised (Gen. 17). Three months after this, as Abraham sat in his tent door, he saw three men approaching. They accepted his proffered hospitality, and, seated under an oak-tree, partook of the fare which Abraham and Sarah provided. One of the three visitants was none other than the Lord, and the other two were angels in the guise of men. The Lord renewed on this occasion his promise of a son by Sarah, who was rebuked for her unbelief. Abraham accompanied the three as they proceeded on their journey. The two angels went on toward Sodom; while the Lord tarried behind and talked with Abraham, making known to him the destruction that was about to fall on that guilty city. The patriarch interceded earnestly in behalf of the doomed city. But as not even ten righteous persons were found in it, for whose sake the city would have been spared, the threatened destruction fell upon it; and early next morning Abraham saw the smoke of the fire that consumed it as the "smoke of a furnace" (Gen. 19:1-28). After fifteen years' residence at Mamre, Abraham moved southward, and pitched his tent among the Philistines, near to Gerar. Here occurred that sad instance of prevarication on his part in his relation to Abimelech the King (Gen. 20). (See ABIMELECH »T0000040.) Soon after this event, the patriarch left the vicinity of Gerar, and moved down the fertile valley about 25 miles to Beer-sheba. It was probably here that Isaac was born, Abraham being now an hundred years old. A feeling of jealousy now arose between Sarah and Hagar, whose son, Ishmael, was no longer to be regarded as Abraham's heir. Sarah insisted that both Hagar and her son should be sent away. This was done, although it was a hard trial to Abraham (Gen. 21:12). (See HAGAR »T0001583; ISHMAEL »T0001903.) At this point there is a blank in the patriarch's history of perhaps twenty-five years. These years of peace and happiness were spent at Beer-sheba. The next time we see him his faith is put to a severe test by the command that suddenly came to him to go and offer up Isaac, the heir of all the promises, as a sacrifice on one of the mountains of Moriah. His faith stood the test (Heb. 11:17-19) Abraham's bosom — (Luke 16:22,23) refers to the custom of reclining on couches at table, which was prevalent among the Jews, an arrangement which brought the head of one person almost into the bosom of the one who sat or reclined above him. To "be in Abraham's bosom" thus meant to enjoy happiness and rest (Matt. 8:11; Luke 16:23) at the banquet in Paradise. (See BANQUET »T0000434; MEALS »T0002451.)
2 results from Easton's Bible Dictionary You may wish to look at these similar words...
Abarim Abiram Abraham Abraham's bosom Abram Abronah Apron
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Bible Search for “Abraham”
Genesis Chapter 17 Verse 26 — In the selfsame day was Abraham circumcised, and Ishmael his son. Genesis Chapter 17 Verse 24 — And Abraham was ninety years old and nine, when he was circumcised in the flesh of his foreskin. Genesis Chapter 17 Verse 23 — And Abraham took Ishmael his son, and all that were born in his house, and all that were bought with his money, every male among the men of Abraham's house; and circumcised the flesh of their foreskin in the selfsame day, as God had said unto him. Genesis Chapter 17 Verse 22 — And he left off talking with him, and God went up from Abraham. Genesis Chapter 17 Verse 18 — And Abraham said unto God, O that Ishmael might live before thee! Genesis Chapter 17 Verse 17 — Then Abraham fell upon his face, and laughed, and said in his heart, Shall a child be born unto him that is an hundred years old? and shall Sarah, that is ninety years old, bear? Genesis Chapter 17 Verse 15 — And God said unto Abraham, As for Sarai thy wife, thou shalt not call her name Sarai, but Sarah shall her name be. Genesis Chapter 17 Verse 9 — And God said unto Abraham, Thou shalt keep my covenant therefore, thou, and thy seed after thee in their generations. Genesis Chapter 17 Verse 5 — 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 Chapter 18 Verse 33 — And the LORD went his way, as soon as he had left communing with Abraham: and Abraham returned unto his place. Genesis Chapter 18 Verse 27 — And Abraham answered and said, Behold now, I have taken upon me to speak unto the LORD, which am but dust and ashes: Genesis Chapter 18 Verse 23 — And Abraham drew near, and said, Wilt thou also destroy the righteous with the wicked? Genesis Chapter 18 Verse 22 — And the men turned their faces from thence, and went toward Sodom: but Abraham stood yet before the LORD. Genesis Chapter 18 Verse 19 — For I know him, that he will command his children and his household after him, and they shall keep the way of the LORD, to do justice and judgment; that the LORD may bring upon Abraham that which he hath spoken of him. Genesis Chapter 18 Verse 18 — Seeing that Abraham shall surely become a great and mighty nation, and all the nations of the earth shall be blessed in him? Genesis Chapter 18 Verse 17 — And the LORD said, Shall I hide from Abraham that thing which I do; Genesis Chapter 18 Verse 16 — And the men rose up from thence, and looked toward Sodom: and Abraham went with them to bring them on the way. Genesis Chapter 18 Verse 13 — And the LORD said unto Abraham, Wherefore did Sarah laugh, saying, Shall I of a surety bear a child, which am old? Genesis Chapter 18 Verse 11 — Now Abraham and Sarah were old and well stricken in age; and it ceased to be with Sarah after the manner of women. Genesis Chapter 18 Verse 7 — And Abraham ran unto the herd, and fetched a calf tender and good, and gave it unto a young man; and he hasted to dress it. Genesis Chapter 18 Verse 6 — And Abraham hastened into the tent unto Sarah, and said, Make ready quickly three measures of fine meal, knead it, and make cakes upon the hearth. Genesis Chapter 19 Verse 29 — And it came to pass, when God destroyed the cities of the plain, that God remembered Abraham, and sent Lot out of the midst of the overthrow, when he overthrew the cities in the which Lot dwelt. Genesis Chapter 19 Verse 27 — And Abraham gat up early in the morning to the place where he stood before the LORD: Genesis Chapter 20 Verse 18 — For the LORD had fast closed up all the wombs of the house of Abimelech, because of Sarah Abraham's wife. Genesis Chapter 20 Verse 17 — So Abraham prayed unto God: and God healed Abimelech, and his wife, and his maidservants; and they bare children. Genesis Chapter 20 Verse 14 — And Abimelech took sheep, and oxen, and menservants, and womenservants, and gave them unto Abraham, and restored him Sarah his wife. Genesis Chapter 20 Verse 11 — And Abraham said, Because I thought, Surely the fear of God is not in this place; and they will slay me for my wife's sake. Genesis Chapter 20 Verse 10 — And Abimelech said unto Abraham, What sawest thou, that thou hast done this thing? Genesis Chapter 20 Verse 9 — Then Abimelech called Abraham, and said unto him, What hast thou done unto us? and what have I offended thee, that thou hast brought on me and on my kingdom a great sin? thou hast done deeds unto me that ought not to be done. Genesis Chapter 20 Verse 2 — And Abraham said of Sarah his wife, She is my sister: and Abimelech king of Gerar sent, and took Sarah. Genesis Chapter 20 Verse 1 — And Abraham journeyed from thence toward the south country, and dwelled between Kadesh and Shur, and sojourned in Gerar. Genesis Chapter 21 Verse 34 — And Abraham sojourned in the Philistines' land many days. Genesis Chapter 21 Verse 33 — And Abraham planted a grove in Beersheba, and called there on the name of the LORD, the everlasting God. Genesis Chapter 21 Verse 29 — And Abimelech said unto Abraham, What mean these seven ewe lambs which thou hast set by themselves? Genesis Chapter 21 Verse 28 — And Abraham set seven ewe lambs of the flock by themselves. Genesis Chapter 21 Verse 27 — And Abraham took sheep and oxen, and gave them unto Abimelech; and both of them made a covenant. Genesis Chapter 21 Verse 25 — And Abraham reproved Abimelech because of a well of water, which Abimelech's servants had violently taken away. Genesis Chapter 21 Verse 24 — And Abraham said, I will swear. Genesis Chapter 21 Verse 22 — And it came to pass at that time, that Abimelech and Phichol the chief captain of his host spake unto Abraham, saying, God is with thee in all that thou doest: Genesis Chapter 21 Verse 14 — And Abraham rose up early in the morning, and took bread, and a bottle of water, and gave it unto Hagar, putting it on her shoulder, and the child, and sent her away: and she departed, and wandered in the wilderness of Beersheba. Genesis Chapter 21 Verse 12 — And God said unto Abraham, Let it not be grievous in thy sight because of the lad, and because of thy bondwoman; in all that Sarah hath said unto thee, hearken unto her voice; for in Isaac shall thy seed be called. Genesis Chapter 21 Verse 11 — And the thing was very grievous in Abraham's sight because of his son. Genesis Chapter 21 Verse 10 — Wherefore she said unto Abraham, Cast out this bondwoman and her son: for the son of this bondwoman shall not be heir with my son, even with Isaac. Genesis Chapter 21 Verse 9 — And Sarah saw the son of Hagar the Egyptian, which she had born unto Abraham, mocking. Genesis Chapter 21 Verse 8 — And the child grew, and was weaned: and Abraham made a great feast the same day that Isaac was weaned. Genesis Chapter 21 Verse 7 — And she said, Who would have said unto Abraham, that Sarah should have given children suck? for I have born him a son in his old age. Genesis Chapter 21 Verse 5 — And Abraham was an hundred years old, when his son Isaac was born unto him. Genesis Chapter 21 Verse 4 — And Abraham circumcised his son Isaac being eight days old, as God had commanded him. Genesis Chapter 21 Verse 3 — And Abraham called the name of his son that was born unto him, whom Sarah bare to him, Isaac. Genesis Chapter 21 Verse 2 — For Sarah conceived, and bare Abraham a son in his old age, at the set time of which God had spoken to him.
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