Abraham in the Bible
Meaning: father of a great multitude
Exact Match
And thy name shall no more be called Abram, and thy name shall be Abraham, for the father of a multitude of nations have I given thee.
And God will say to Abraham, Thou shalt watch my covenant., thou, and thy seed after thee to their generations.
God said to Abraham, “As for your wife Sarai, do not call her Sarai, for Sarah
Abraham fell facedown. Then he laughed
So Abraham said to God, “If only Ishmael were acceptable to You!”
When He finished talking with him, God withdrew
Then Abraham took his son Ishmael and all the slaves born in his house or purchased with his money—every male among the members of Abraham’s household—and he circumcised the flesh of their foreskin on that very day, just as God had said to him.
Abraham was 99 years old when the flesh of his foreskin was circumcised,
On that same day Abraham and his son Ishmael were circumcised.
Then the Lord appeared to Abraham at the oaks of Mamre
Abraham looked up and saw three men standing across from him. When he saw them he ran from the entrance of the tent to meet them and bowed low to the ground.
So Abraham hurried into the tent and said to Sarah, “Quick! Knead three measures
Meanwhile, Abraham ran to the herd and got a tender, choice calf. He gave it to a young man, who hurried to prepare it.
Then Abraham took curds
Abraham and Sarah were old and getting on in years.
and Abraham and Sarah are aged, entering into days -- the way of women hath ceased to be to Sarah;
But the Lord asked Abraham, “Why did Sarah laugh, saying, ‘Can I really have a baby when I’m old?’
And Jehovah saith unto Abraham, 'Why is this? Sarah hath laughed, saying, Is it true really -- I bear -- and I am aged? Is any thing too wonderful for Jehovah? at the appointed time I return unto thee, about the time of life, and Sarah hath a son.'
The men got up from there and looked out over Sodom, and Abraham was walking with them to see them off.
Then the Lord said, “Should I hide what I am about to do from Abraham?
Abraham is to become a great and powerful nation, and all the nations of the earth will be blessed through him.
For I have chosen
The men turned from there and went toward Sodom
Abraham stepped forward and said, “Will You really sweep away the righteous with the wicked?
Then Abraham answered, “Since I have ventured to speak to the Lord—even though I am dust and ashes—
Abraham spoke to Him yet again and said, “Suppose [only] forty are found there.” And He said, “I will not do it for the sake of the forty [who are righteous].”
Then Abraham said [to Him], “Oh, may the Lord not be angry, and I will speak; suppose thirty [righteous people] are found there?” And He said, “I will not do it if I find thirty there.”
Abraham said, "Since I have undertaken to speak to the Lord, what if only twenty are found there?" He replied, "I will not destroy it for the sake of the twenty."
Finally Abraham said, "May the Lord not be angry so that I may speak just once more. What if ten are found there?" He replied, "I will not destroy it for the sake of the ten."
When the Lord had finished speaking with Abraham, He departed, and Abraham returned to his place.
Early in the morning Abraham went to the place where he had stood before the Lord.
So it was, when God destroyed the cities of the plain, He remembered Abraham and brought Lot out of the middle of the upheaval when He demolished the cities where Lot had lived.
From there Abraham traveled to the region of the Negev and settled between Kadesh and Shur. While he lived in Gerar,
Abraham said about his wife Sarah, “She is my sister.”
Did Abraham not say to me, 'She is my sister'? And she herself said, 'He is my brother.' I have done this with a clear conscience and with innocent hands!"
Then Abimelech called Abraham in and said to him, “What have you done to us? How did I sin against you that you have brought such enormous guilt on me and on my kingdom? You have done things to me that should never be done.”
Abimelech also said to Abraham, “What did you intend when you did this thing?”
Abraham replied, “I thought, ‘There is absolutely no fear of God in this place.
Then Abimelech took sheep and cattle and male and female slaves, gave them to Abraham, and returned his wife Sarah to him.
Then Abraham prayed to God,
for the Lord had completely closed all the wombs in Abimelech’s household on account of Sarah, Abraham’s wife.
Sarah became pregnant and bore a son to Abraham in his old age, at the appointed time God had told him.
Abraham named his son who was born to him—the one Sarah bore to him—Isaac.
When his son Isaac was eight days old, Abraham circumcised him, as God had commanded him.
Abraham was 100 years old when his son Isaac was born to him.
She also said, “Who would have told Abraham that Sarah would nurse children? Yet I have borne a son for him
The child grew and was weaned, and Abraham held a great feast on the day Isaac was weaned.
But Sarah saw the son mocking
So she said to Abraham, “Drive out this slave with her son, for the son of this slave will not be a coheir with my son Isaac!”
Now this was a very difficult thing for
But God said to Abraham, “Do not be concerned
Early in the morning Abraham got up, took bread and a waterskin, put them on Hagar’s shoulders, and sent her and the boy away.
At that time Abimelech, accompanied by Phicol the commander of his army,
And Abraham said, “I swear it.”
But Abraham complained to Abimelech because of the water well that Abimelech’s servants had seized.
Abraham took sheep and cattle
Abraham separated seven ewe lambs from the flock.
And Abimelech said to Abraham, “Why have you separated these seven ewe lambs?”
Abraham planted a tamarisk tree in Beer-sheba, and there he called on the name of Yahweh, the Everlasting God.
And Abraham lived as a foreigner in the land of the Philistines for many days.
After these things God tested Abraham
“Here I am,” he answered.
So Abraham got up early in the morning,
On the third day
Then Abraham said to his young men, “Stay here with the donkey. The boy and I will go over there to worship; then we’ll come back to you.”
Abraham took the wood for the burnt offering and laid it on his son Isaac.
Then Isaac spoke to his father Abraham and said, “My father.”
And he replied, “Here I am, my son.”
Isaac said, “The fire and the wood are here, but where is the lamb for the burnt offering?”
Abraham answered, “God Himself will provide
When they arrived at the place that God had told him about, Abraham built the altar there and arranged the wood. He bound his son Isaac
Then Abraham reached out and took the knife to slaughter his son.
But the Angel of the Lord called to him from heaven and said, “Abraham, Abraham!”
He replied, “Here I am.”
Abraham looked up and saw a ram
And Abraham named that place The Lord Will Provide,
Then the Angel of the Lord called to Abraham a second time from heaven
Abraham went back to his young men, and they got up and went together to Beer-sheba. And Abraham settled in Beer-sheba.
Now after these things Abraham was told, “Milcah also has borne sons to your brother Nahor:
And Bethuel fathered Rebekah.
Sarah died in Kiriath-arba (that is, Hebron
Then Abraham got up from beside his dead wife and spoke to the Hittites:
The Hittites replied to Abraham,
Then Abraham rose and bowed down to the Hittites, the people of the land.
Ephron was sitting among the Hittites. So in the presence
Abraham bowed down to the people of the land
And Abraham said to Ephron, in the hearing of the people of the land, If only you will give ear to me, I will give you the price of the field; take it, and let me put my dead to rest there.
Ephron answered Abraham and said to him,
Abraham agreed with Ephron, and Abraham weighed out to Ephron the silver that he had agreed to in the presence
So Abraham secured Ephron's field in Machpelah, next to Mamre, including the field, the cave that was in it, and all the trees that were in the field and all around its border,
Abraham’s possession in the presence of all the Hittites who came to the gate of his city.
After this, Abraham buried his wife Sarah in the cave of the field at Machpelah near Mamre (that is, Hebron) in the land of Canaan.
The field with its cave passed from the Hittites to Abraham
Abraham was now old, getting on in years,
Abraham said to his servant, the elder of his household who managed all he owned, “Place your hand under my thigh,
Abraham answered him, “Make sure that you don’t take my son back there.
So the servant placed his hand under his master Abraham’s thigh and swore an oath to him concerning this matter.
Then the servant took ten of his master’s camels, and set out, taking some of his master’s good things with him; so he got up and journeyed to
“Lord, God of my master Abraham,” he prayed, “give me success today,
Now, may the girl to whom I say, Let down your vessel and give me a drink, and who says in answer, Here is a drink for you and let me give water to your camels: may she be the one marked out by you for your servant Isaac: so may I be certain that you have been good to my master Abraham.
Before he had finished speaking, there was Rebekah—daughter of Bethuel son of Milcah,
Abraham's servant ran to meet her and said, "Please give me a sip of water from your jug."
and said, “Praise the Lord, the God of my master Abraham, who has not withheld His kindness and faithfulness from my master.
So Abraham's servant went to the house and unloaded the camels. Straw and feed were given to the camels, and water was provided so that he and the men who were with him could wash their feet.
Extract Match Search Results...
Search Results by Versions
- ACV (228)
- AM (244)
- ANDERSON (65)
- ASV (230)
- AUV (85)
- BBE (225)
- COMMON (71)
- DARBY (229)
- DIAGLOTT (1)
- EMB (226)
- GODBEY (69)
- GOODSPEED (71)
- HAWEIS (69)
- HCSB (232)
- ISV (241)
- JULIASMITH (227)
- KJ2000 (230)
- KJV (230)
- LEB (227)
- MACE (72)
- MKJV (230)
- MNT (73)
- MOFFATT (71)
- MSTC (225)
- NASB (230)
- NET (247)
- NHEB (230)
- NOYES (64)
- SAWYER (69)
- TCV (79)
- WBS (230)
- WEB (230)
- WESLEY (69)
- WILLIAMS (71)
- WNT (73)
- WORRELL (69)
- WORSLEY (67)
- YLT (229)
Search Results by Book
Thematic Bible
Abidah » Descendant » Abraham
Abraham » Piety of
Abraham » God's covenant with
So then, all those who have faith [in Jesus] receive a blessing along with Abraham, a man of faith. For all who seek to be right with God by trying to meet all the requirements of the law of Moses are under a curse [from God], because it is written [Deut. 27:26], "Every person is cursed [i.e., cut off from God] who does not continue to obey all of the requirements written in the law of Moses." Now it is evident that no person can be made right with God by [obeying all the requirements of] the law of Moses for [Hab. 2:4 says], "The righteous person will obtain life by [his] faith [in God]." Now the law of Moses is not based on one's faith, for [Lev. 18:5 says], "The person who obeys the requirements of the law of Moses will obtain life by doing so." Christ bought us back from the curse [caused by our not obeying all the requirements] of the law of Moses; He became a curse for us [by dying on the cross], for it is written [Deut. 21:23], "Every one who hangs on a tree [i.e., a cross] is cursed [i.e., cut off from God]." [This happened] so that the blessing [promised] to Abraham might be received by the Gentiles through [the person and work of] Christ, so that we might receive the promised [gift of the] Holy Spirit through [our] faith [in Jesus]. Brothers, I will use an illustration from the way people deal with each other: Even though an agreement is made between people, once it is finally settled, no one can cancel it or include additional provisions to it. Now [specific] promises were made to Abraham and to his seed [i.e., descendants]. [God] did not say "seeds" [plural] as though He were referring to many persons but "seed" [singular] showing that He meant one [descendant]; [Gen. 13:15 says] "And to your seed," referring to Christ. Here is what I am saying: The Agreement originally made by God [with Abraham], with its attending promises, was not canceled when the law of Moses was given some four hundred and thirty years later. For if the inheritance [of never ending life] can be obtained by [obeying the requirements of] the law of Moses, it would not come from the promise [of God]; but God provided [this inheritance] for Abraham according to [His] promise.
Now this woman, Hagar, is similar to Mount Sinai, in Arabia, and represents the present [earthly] Jerusalem [i.e., Israel], consisting of children in bondage [to the law of Moses]. But the heavenly Jerusalem [Heb. 12:22] consists of free people, and is the mother of us [Christians]. For it is written [Isa. 40:1], "[Woman] you should be happy that you have not had children. Cry over your inability to experience the pain of childbirth. For the deserted woman has had more children than the one with a husband." Now, brothers, you [Christians] are children of the promise [made to Abraham. See 3:29] just like Isaac, [Abraham's son] was. But, just as it was then --- the son born in the ordinary way [i.e., Ishmael] persecuting the one born according to the Holy Spirit's [leading, i.e., Isaac] --- so it is now [i.e., Jews urging compliance with the requirements of the law of Moses persecuting those who refuse to return to dependance on that law for salvation. See 3:1-3]. What does the Scripture say about this matter? [It says, Gen. 21:10-12], "Get rid of the slave woman [Hagar], with her son [Ishmael]; for the son of the slave woman [Ishmael] will not inherit [what God promised to Abraham and his descendants], along with the son of the free woman [i.e., Isaac]." Therefore, brothers, we [Christians] are not the [spiritual] children of the slave woman [Hagar] but of the free woman [Sarah].
Abraham » Faith of
Now wages are not considered a gift if the person has to work for them, but [rather] an obligation [of his employer]. But to the person who believes in God, who makes ungodly people right with Himself apart from doing good deeds, that person's faith is considered by God [as the basis] for being righteous. Even King David also spoke of the blessing experienced by the person who was considered righteous by God apart from doing good deeds. He said [Psa. 32:1ff], "Those people whose ungodly deeds are forgiven [by God] and whose sins are covered over, are [truly] blessed. That person whose sin will not be held against him by the Lord is [truly] blessed." Is this blessing experienced by the circumcised ones [i.e., the Jews only] or by the uncircumcised ones [i.e., the Gentiles] also? We are saying, "Abraham's faith was credited to him for righteousness." [But] when was he given credit [i.e., for being righteous]? Was it after he was circumcised, or before? It was before he was circumcised, not afterward. He received the sign of circumcision as a seal [confirming] that he had been [considered] righteous because of the faith he had before being circumcised. Thus, he became the [spiritual] father of all people who believe [in God], even though they have not been circumcised, so that they could be considered righteous [by their faith]. And he also became the father of circumcised people [i.e., the Jews], who are not only circumcised, but who also follow the [same] example of faith [in God] which our forefather Abraham had before he was circumcised. For it was not through [obedience to] law [See 3:31] that the promise to Abraham or his descendants of inheriting [the best of] the world [was made], but through their being considered righteous because of faith [in God]. For if [only] those who are obedient to the law deserve an inheritance, [then their] faith [in God] is for nothing, and God's promise is nullified. For the law brings [God's] wrath [i.e., because of man's failure to obey it perfectly], but where there is no law, there is no [responsibility for] sin. For this reason, the promise [i.e., of being made right with God] comes through faith [in God], according to His unearned favor, so that it may be [given] with certainty to all of Abraham's descendants. The promise is given not only to those [who live] under the law [i.e., the Jews], but also to [all] those [who live] by faith, like Abraham. Abraham is the [spiritual] father of all of us [believers], just as it is written [Gen. 17:5], "I [i.e., God] have made you [i.e., Abraham] forefather of many nations." He received this promise in the presence of God, in whom he believed, and who gives life [back] to dead people and who refers to things [promised] as though they were [already] fulfilled. Abraham hoped for what he believed [God had promised], even when there seemed little hope [of it happening], so this made him forefather of many nations, according to the words spoken to him [Gen. 15:5], "Your descendants will be many." Abraham's faith did not become weak [even though] he was about one hundred years old and considered his body almost dead and Sarah's womb incapable of conceiving a child. Yet he looked for the promise of God [to be fulfilled] and did not waver, doubting [that it would happen], but his faith strengthened him. He honored God and was fully convinced that what He had promised, He was able to carry out. So therefore, God considered him righteous [i.e., because of such faith].
So then, all those who have faith [in Jesus] receive a blessing along with Abraham, a man of faith.
[So], you see, it is by deeds that a person is made right with God, and not by faith alone.
Abraham » Divine call of
Abraham » How regarded by his descendants
Therefore, if the Son sets you free [from sin], you will be truly free. I know that you people are [all] descendants of Abraham; yet you are trying to kill me because you will not allow my message to affect you. I am telling [you] about what I have seen in my Father's presence; but you [should] do what you have heard from your father." They answered Him, "Our forefather was Abraham." Jesus replied to them, "If you were Abraham's descendants, you would do the [kinds of] deeds that Abraham did. But instead, you are trying to kill me, a man who has [only] told you the truth, which I heard from God. Abraham did not do this [kind of thing].
Abraham » Children of
Abraham » Trial of his faith in the offering of isaac
Abraham » Canaan given to
Abraham » Friend of God
Abraham » In paradise
But Abraham said [to him], 'Son, remember how you enjoyed good things when you were alive [on earth] and how Lazarus had to put up with bad things? But now here [i.e., in the unseen place of departed spirits] he is being comforted and you are in agony. And besides all this, there is a huge chasm situated between us and you so that those who wanted to go from here to there [where you are] cannot do it. And no one can cross over from there to us [over here].' Then the rich man said, 'I beg you therefore, forefather [Abraham], that you would send Lazarus to my father's house, where I have five brothers. Then he could warn them so that they will not [have to] come to this [terrible] place of torment also.' But Abraham said, 'They have [the writings of] Moses and the prophets; let them pay attention to them.' Then the rich man said, 'No, forefather Abraham, but if someone goes to them from the dead, [then] they will repent [i.e., change their hearts and lives].' And Abraham replied, 'If they will not listen to Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded [even] if someone rises from the dead [i.e., to come back and warn them].'"
Abraham » Age of, at different periods
Abraham » Angels appear to
Abraham » Lives in ur, but removes to haran
Abraham » Wealth of
Abraham » Sends hagar and ishmael away
Now this woman, Hagar, is similar to Mount Sinai, in Arabia, and represents the present [earthly] Jerusalem [i.e., Israel], consisting of children in bondage [to the law of Moses]. But the heavenly Jerusalem [Heb. 12:22] consists of free people, and is the mother of us [Christians]. For it is written [Isa. 40:1], "[Woman] you should be happy that you have not had children. Cry over your inability to experience the pain of childbirth. For the deserted woman has had more children than the one with a husband." Now, brothers, you [Christians] are children of the promise [made to Abraham. See 3:29] just like Isaac, [Abraham's son] was. But, just as it was then --- the son born in the ordinary way [i.e., Ishmael] persecuting the one born according to the Holy Spirit's [leading, i.e., Isaac] --- so it is now [i.e., Jews urging compliance with the requirements of the law of Moses persecuting those who refuse to return to dependance on that law for salvation. See 3:1-3]. What does the Scripture say about this matter? [It says, Gen. 21:10-12], "Get rid of the slave woman [Hagar], with her son [Ishmael]; for the son of the slave woman [Ishmael] will not inherit [what God promised to Abraham and his descendants], along with the son of the free woman [i.e., Isaac]."
Abraham » Is blessed by melchizedek
Now consider how great this man was, to whom the patriarch Abraham gave a tenth of what he had taken [in battle]. For indeed, the descendants of Levi, who are appointed to the priesthood, are commanded by the law of Moses to collect a tenth [of the income] of the Israelites, who are their brothers, even though these brothers are [also] descendants of Abraham. But Melchizedek, whose ancestry is not traced from the Levites, has collected a tenth [of the spoils] from Abraham, and blessed him who had received promises [from God]. Without question [then], the lesser [of these two persons] is blessed by the greater one. And in the one case, men here [on earth, that is, the Levites] who die, collect a tenth [from the rest of the Israelites], but there [i.e., in the case of Melchizedek] it is collected by someone about whom it is declared [by Scripture] that he continues to live. And, so to speak, Levi, who collected a tenth [from the Israelites], paid a tenth through Abraham, for when Melchizedek met him, he was still in Abraham's body [i.e., Levi had not yet been born as a descendant of Abraham].
Abraham » Isaac born to
Now this woman, Hagar, is similar to Mount Sinai, in Arabia, and represents the present [earthly] Jerusalem [i.e., Israel], consisting of children in bondage [to the law of Moses]. But the heavenly Jerusalem [Heb. 12:22] consists of free people, and is the mother of us [Christians]. For it is written [Isa. 40:1], "[Woman] you should be happy that you have not had children. Cry over your inability to experience the pain of childbirth. For the deserted woman has had more children than the one with a husband." Now, brothers, you [Christians] are children of the promise [made to Abraham. See 3:29] just like Isaac, [Abraham's son] was. But, just as it was then --- the son born in the ordinary way [i.e., Ishmael] persecuting the one born according to the Holy Spirit's [leading, i.e., Isaac] --- so it is now [i.e., Jews urging compliance with the requirements of the law of Moses persecuting those who refuse to return to dependance on that law for salvation. See 3:1-3]. What does the Scripture say about this matter? [It says, Gen. 21:10-12], "Get rid of the slave woman [Hagar], with her son [Ishmael]; for the son of the slave woman [Ishmael] will not inherit [what God promised to Abraham and his descendants], along with the son of the free woman [i.e., Isaac]."
Abraham » Deferring to lot, chooses hebron
Abraham » Defeats chedorlaomer
Abraham » Independence of, in character
Abraham » Sojourns in egypt
Abraham » Unselfishness of
Abraham » Circumcision of
Abraham » And canaan
Abraham » death
Abraham » Called the father of the faithful, characteristics of » Mighty in prayer
Abraham » Called abraham
Abraham » Lives in gerar
Abraham » Called the father of the faithful, characteristics of » Incorruptibility-refused to receive gifts for service rendered
Abraham » Called the father of the faithful, characteristics of » Wonderful in faith-was willing to offer up his only son, isaac
Abraham » Called the father of the faithful, characteristics of » Benevolence-gave tithes to melchizedek, the priest
Abraham » Called the father of the faithful, characteristics of » Courage-defeated the robber kings
Abraham » Called the father of the faithful, characteristics of » Unselfishness-gave lot the first choice of the land
Abraham » Called the father of the faithful, characteristics of » Obedience-left home and friends at the call of God
Abraham » His questions about the destruction of the righteous and wicked in sodom
Abraham » Witnesses the destruction of sodom
Abraham » Son of terah
Abraham » He purchases a place for her burial, and buries her in a cave
Abraham » Ishmael born to
Abraham » Sarah, his wife, dies
Abraham » Testament of
Abraham » Ancestors of, idolatrous
Abraham » Marries sarah
Abraham » Lives in bethel
Abraham » Marries keturah
Abraham » A prophet
Abraham » Lives in gerar; deceives abimelech concerning sarah, his wife
Abraham » Provides a wife for isaac
Altar » Built by » Abraham
Blessing » Temporal blessings, prayer for » Abraham
Boldness » Instances of, in prayer » Abraham
holy Boldness » Exemplified » Abraham
the Canaanites » Abraham » Was promised , for inheritance
the Canaanites » Abraham » Had his faith tried by dwelling amongst
the Canaanites » Abraham » Called to dwell amongst
Circumcision » Instances of » Abraham
Communion » Instances of » Abraham
Communion with God » Exemplified » Abraham
Concubinage » Laws concerning » Practiced by » Abraham
Covenant » Instances of » Abraham
And that is not all, but Rebecca also conceived children by one man, our forefather Isaac. (OMITTED TEXT) For even before the twins were born, and therefore had not done anything good or bad, Rebecca was told [Gen. 25:23], "The older one [i.e., Esau] will serve the younger one [i.e., Jacob]." This was so that God's purpose of choosing and calling [whomever He wanted to] might prevail, instead of [it depending on] what a person did. Just as it is written [Mal. 1:2-3], "I [i.e., God] loved Jacob, but hated Esau."
The Covenant » Made with » Abraham
by living holy and righteous lives before Him all of our days.
the Death of saints » Exemplified » Abraham
Decision » Instances of » Abraham
Early rising » Exemplified » Abraham
Eldaah » Descendant » Abraham
Faith » Example of victorious » Abraham
Faith » Instances of faith in Christ » Abraham
Families » Good--exemplified » Abraham
Family » Good--exemplified » Abraham
Godly Fear » Exemplified » Abraham
Glorifying God » Exemplified » Abraham
God's Call » Examples of Leadership » Abraham
Hebrew » Applied to » Abraham
Heroic faith » Abraham
Holy land » Promised to » Abraham
Hope » Exemplified » Abraham
Hope » Messianic » Abraham
the Human nature of Christ » Was of the seed of » Abraham
Humility » Exemplified » Abraham
Importunity » Importunity, examples of » Abraham
Incest » Instances of » Abraham
intercession » Additional instances of » Abraham » In behalf of sodom
intercession » Additional instances of » Abraham » In behalf of abimelech
Jews, the » Promises respecting made to » Abraham
Justification before God » Exemplified » Abraham
Leaders » Names of persons spoken of as » Abraham
Master » Good master, instances of » Abraham
Masters' » Good--exemplified » Abraham
Meekness » Instances of » Abraham
Messianic hope » Abraham
Mountain » Mount moriah » Abraham » Offers » isaac
Obedience » Instances of » Abraham
And God had spoken about this [beforehand] by saying that Abraham's descendants would live in a foreign country and that they would [eventually] be ill-treated as slaves for four hundred years. And God said, 'I will judge the nation [i.e., Egypt] that enslaves them and [then] after my people are liberated, they will serve me in this place [i.e., Palestine].' And God gave Abraham the Agreement which required circumcision [as an identifying mark] so when Abraham fathered Isaac he circumcised him when he was eight days old. Then Isaac had a son, Jacob; and Jacob had [as sons] the twelve patriarchs [i.e., ruling fathers of families].
By [having] faith, Sarah herself received the ability to have children, even though she was [sterile, being] past the age of child-bearing, since she considered God faithful to His promise. [Note: Some translations consider "Abraham" to be the subject of this highly controversial verse. See Lightfoot, pages 222-225]. Therefore, from one man [Abraham], who was as good as dead [i.e., because of having a sterile wife], were born descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and as countless as the [grains of] sand on the seashore. These people [all] continued to have faith until they died, [even though] they had not obtained [all] the things God had promised, but had [only] seen them and welcomed them from a distance. And they had confessed to being strangers and aliens on earth. For those who say such things make it obvious that they are looking for a country of their own [i.e. heaven]. And indeed, if they had remembered [with longing] the country they had left, they would have had the opportunity to return to it. But instead, they longed for a better country, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore, God is not ashamed to be called their God, for He has prepared a city for them. By [having] faith, when Abraham was tested [by God], he offered Isaac [as a sacrifice]. [Even though] he had received the promises [of having many descendants], he was ready to offer his only conceived [and eventually born] son,