Topical Encyclopedia
Introduction:Abram, later known as Abraham, is a central figure in the Bible, revered as the patriarch of the Israelites, Ishmaelites, Edomites, and Midianites. His account is primarily found in the Book of Genesis, where he is depicted as a man of great faith and obedience to God. Abram's life and covenant with God are foundational to the Abrahamic religions: Judaism, Christianity, and Islam.
Name and Meaning:The name "Abram" means "exalted father" in Hebrew. God later changes his name to "Abraham," meaning "father of many nations" (
Genesis 17:5).
Family Background:Abram was the son of Terah and was born in Ur of the Chaldeans. He had two brothers, Nahor and Haran. Haran was the father of Lot, who plays a significant role in Abram's account. Abram's wife was Sarai, later named Sarah by God.
Call and Journey:Abram's journey begins with a divine call from God to leave his homeland and go to a land that God would show him.
Genesis 12:1-3 records this call: "Then the LORD said to Abram, 'Leave your country, your kindred, and your father’s household, and go to the land I will show you. I will make you into a great nation, and I will bless you; I will make your name great, so that you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you and curse those who curse you; and all the families of the earth will be blessed through you.'"
Covenant with God:God establishes a covenant with Abram, promising him numerous descendants and the land of Canaan. This covenant is marked by several key events, including the promise of a son, Isaac, and the rite of circumcision as a sign of the covenant (
Genesis 17:10-11).
Key Events in Abram's Life:1.
Journey to Canaan: Abram obeys God's call and travels to Canaan with Sarai, Lot, and their possessions. Upon arrival, God appears to Abram and promises the land to his offspring (
Genesis 12:7).
2.
Famine and Egypt: A famine forces Abram to go to Egypt, where he presents Sarai as his sister to protect himself. This leads to complications with Pharaoh, who eventually sends them away (
Genesis 12:10-20).
3.
Separation from Lot: As Abram's and Lot's herds grow, their herdsmen quarrel. Abram allows Lot to choose his land first, and Lot settles in the Jordan Valley near Sodom, while Abram remains in Canaan (
Genesis 13:8-12).
4.
Rescue of Lot: When Lot is captured during a regional conflict, Abram leads a successful rescue mission, demonstrating his leadership and military prowess (
Genesis 14:14-16).
5.
Covenant of the Pieces: God reaffirms His covenant with Abram through a vision, promising him numerous descendants and the land from the river of Egypt to the Euphrates (
Genesis 15:18).
6.
Birth of Ishmael: Sarai, barren and desperate for an heir, gives her maidservant Hagar to Abram. Hagar bears Ishmael, but this leads to tension and conflict within the household (
Genesis 16:15-16).
7.
Promise of Isaac: God promises Abram a son through Sarai, renaming them Abraham and Sarah. Despite their old age, God assures them that Sarah will bear a son, Isaac (
Genesis 17:19).
8.
Intercession for Sodom: Abraham intercedes with God on behalf of Sodom, where Lot resides, demonstrating his compassion and sense of justice (
Genesis 18:23-33).
9.
Birth of Isaac: Sarah gives birth to Isaac, fulfilling God's promise. This event marks a significant moment in the fulfillment of God's covenant with Abraham (
Genesis 21:1-3).
10.
Binding of Isaac: In a test of faith, God commands Abraham to sacrifice Isaac. Abraham obeys, but God intervenes, providing a ram as a substitute (
Genesis 22:12-13).
Legacy:Abram's faith and obedience to God set a precedent for future generations. He is often cited as a model of faith in the New Testament, particularly in
Romans 4 and
Hebrews 11. His life and covenant with God are pivotal in the narrative of the Bible, establishing the foundation for the nation of Israel and the coming of the Messiah.
Strong's Hebrew
87.Abram -- "exalted father," the original name of Abraham... 86, 87.
Abram. 88 . "exalted father," the original name of Abraham.
Transliteration:
Abram Phonetic Spelling: (ab-rawm') Short Definition:
Abram.
...Library
Abram's Horror of Great Darkness.
... SERMON V.Abram's Horror of great Darkness.... "And when the sun was going down, a deep
sleep fell uponAbram; and lo, an horror of great darkness fell upon him."....
Justification by Faith --Illustrated byAbram's Righteousness
... Justification by Faith"Illustrated byAbram's Righteousness. A Sermon (No.844).
Delivered on Lord's-Day Morning, December 6th, 1868, by. CH SPURGEON,....
Waiting Faith Rewarded and Strengthened by New Revelations
... 'And whenAbram was ninety years old and nine, the Lord appeared toAbram, and said
unto him, I am the Almighty God; walk before Me, and be thou perfect....
The Importance of a Choice
... GENESIS THE IMPORTANCE OF A CHOICE. 'AndAbram went up out of Egypt, he, and his
wife, and all that he had, and Lot with him, into the south....
Chapter xvii
... Aside from this, to have all these promises featured as parts of the covenant seals
everything for the faith ofAbram which is now under necessity of hoping...
Abraham's Four Surrenders
... In the twelfth chapter of Genesis, the first four verses, we read: "Now the Lord
had said untoAbram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and...
Abraham --The Father of the Faithful.
...Abram had tried to do right, though there was no Bible in the world then, and no
one better than himself to help him but God, and one day He calledAbram, and...
Consecration to God --Illustrated by Abraham's Circumcision
... "And whenAbram was ninety years old and nine, the Lord appeared toAbram, and said
unto him, I am the Almighty God; walk before me, and be thou perfect....
God's Covenant withAbram
... GENESIS GOD'S COVENANT WITHABRAM. 'And He brought... And when the fowls came
down upon the carcases,Abram drove them away. And when the...
The Word that Scatters Fear
... 'Fear not,Abram: I am thy shield, and thy exceeding great reward.' GENESIS
XV.1. I.Abram was now apparently about eighty-five years old....
Thesaurus
Abram's (8 Occurrences)... Multi-Version Concordance
Abram's (8 Occurrences). Genesis 11:29
Abram and
Nahor took wives. The name of
Abram's wife was Sarai, and
...Sar'ai (12 Occurrences)
... Genesis 11:29 AndAbram and Nahor took them wives: the name ofAbram's wife was
Sarai; and the name of Nahor's wife, Milcah, the daughter of Haran, the father...
Sarai (13 Occurrences)
... When the migration to Haran occurs, Sarai is named along withAbram and Lot as
accompanying Terah.... Her movements were determined by her beingAbram's wife....
Dwelt (307 Occurrences)
... Genesis 11:31 And Terah tookAbram his son, and Lot the son of Haran his son's son,
and Sarai his daughter in law, his sonAbram's wife; and they went forth...
Abram (48 Occurrences)
... Standard Bible Encyclopedia.ABRAM. a'-bram.... Multi-Version ConcordanceAbram (48
Occurrences). Genesis 11:27 Now this is the history of the generations of Terah....
Iscah (1 Occurrence)
... Tradition identifies her with Sarai,Abram's wife; but without sufficient reason.
Multi-Version Concordance... Genesis 11:29Abram and Nahor took wives....
Egyptian (35 Occurrences)
... Genesis 16:1 Now Sarai,Abram's wife, bore him no children. She had a handmaid,
an Egyptian, whose name was Hagar. (WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)....
Maidservant (73 Occurrences)
... Genesis 16:1 And SaraiAbram's wife did not bear him children.... Genesis 16:2 And Sarai
said toAbram, Behold now, Jehovah has shut me up, that I do not bear....
Sarah (38 Occurrences)
... When the migration to Haran occurs, Sarai is named along withAbram and Lot as
accompanying Terah.... Her movements were determined by her beingAbram's wife....
Libraries
... Up to the time ofAbram's migration from Haran, the history of Biblical libraries
and the history of Babylonian and Sumerian libraries are one....
Resources
Why did God punish Pharaoh for Abram's lie (Genesis 12:17)? | GotQuestions.orgWho was Hagar in the Bible? | GotQuestions.orgWhat does the Bible say about sexual assault? | GotQuestions.orgBible Concordance •
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