Abraham in the Bible

Meaning: father of a great multitude

Exact Match

You are doing the works of your father. They said to him, We are true sons of Abraham; we have one Father, who is God.

Verse ConceptsImitating Wicked PeopleAvoid Immorality

Thematic Bible














Therefore the inheritance was made to depend on faith, that it might be a matter of grace; that the promise might be sure to all the offspring, not to that only which is under the Law, but to that also which hath the faith of Abraham, who is the father of us all (as it is written, "I have made thee a father of many nations") in the sight of that God whom he believed, who giveth life to the dead, and calleth the things that are not, as though they were. For he had confident hope in that which was past hope, that he should become a father of many nations, according to that which was spoken, "Thus shall thy offspring be;"

Show 3 more verses


And the scripture was fulfilled, which saith, "Abraham believed God, and it was reckoned to him for righteousness;" and he was called the friend of God.




the oath which he swore to Abraham our father,

For not through the Law was the promise made to Abraham or his offspring that he should be the heir of the world, but through the righteousness of faith.

For I say that Christ became a minister to the circumcised for the sake of Gods truth, in order to make sure the promises given to the fathers;

For when God made a promise to Abraham, since he could swear by no greater, he swore by himself, saying, "Surely blessing I will bless thee, and multiplying I will multiply thee."

Even as Abraham "believed God, and it was accounted to him as righteousness." Know then that they who have faith, these are the sons of Abraham. Moreover the Scripture, foreseeing that God was to accept the gentiles as righteous by faith, proclaimed beforehand the glad tidings to Abraham, saying, "In thee shall all nations be blessed." read more.
So then they who have faith are blessed with believing Abraham. For as many as rely on the works of the Law are under a curse; for it is written, "Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the Law, to do them." But further, that through the observance of the Law no one is accepted as righteous with God is evident; for "the righteous shall live by faith." And the Law hath nothing to do with faith; but [its language is], "He that hath done them shall live in them." Christ redeemed us from the curse of the Law, having become a curse for us; for it is written, "Cursed is every one that is hanged on a beam of wood," to the end that in Christ Jesus the blessing promised to Abraham might come to the gentiles, that we through faith might receive the Spirit which was promised. Brethren, I speak according to what is practised among men; no one sets aside even a human covenant, or makes additions to it, after it has been ratified. But the promises were made to Abraham and "to his offspring." He doth not say, "and to offsprings," as speaking of many, but, as speaking of one, "and to thy offspring," which is Christ. And what I mean is this; that a covenant that was before ratified by God, the Law, which came four hundred and thirty years after, cannot annul, so as to make void the promise; for if the inheritance cometh from the Law, it ceaseth to be the consequence of the promise; but to Abraham God gave it by promise.

and if ye belong to Christ, then are ye Abrahams offspring, heirs according to the promise.

For it is written, that Abraham had two sons; the one by the bondwoman, the other by the freewoman. But the one by the bondwoman was born after the flesh; while the one by the freewoman was through the promise. Which things are written allegorically; for these women are two covenants; the one from Mount Sinai, who beareth children into bondage, which is Hagar; read more.
for the word Hagar is Mount Sinai in Arabia; and she corresponds to the Jerusalem now existing, for she is in bondage with her children; but the Jerusalem that is above is free, and she is our mother. For it is written: "Rejoice, thou barren that bearest not; break forth and cry, thou that travailest not; for many are the children of the desolate one, rather than of her who hath the husband." But ye, brethren, as Isaac was, are children of a promise. But as at that time he that was born after the flesh persecuted him that was born through the Spirit, so it is now. But what saith the scripture? "Cast out the bondwoman and her son; for the son of the bondwoman shall not be heir with the son of the freewoman." So then, brethren, we are not children of a bondwoman, but of the freewoman.



What advantage then shall we say that Abraham our father had as to the flesh? For if Abraham was accepted as righteous through works, he hath ground of boasting. But he hath no ground of boasting before God. For what saith the scripture? "Abraham had faith in God, and it was accounted unto him as righteousness." read more.
Now to him that performeth works, the reward is not accounted a matter of grace, but of debt; but to him who without performing works hath faith in him who accepteth as righteous one that hath been ungodly, his faith is accounted as righteousness; as David also speaketh of the blessedness of the man whom God accepteth as righteous without works: "Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven, and whose sins are covered. Blessed is the man whom the Lord shall not charge with sin." Doth this blessedness belong to the circumcised alone, or to the uncircumcised also? For we are saying that Abrahams faith was accounted as righteousness. How then was it so accounted? After his circumcision, or while he was uncircumcised? Not after he was circumcised, but while he was uncircumcised. And he received the outward sign of circumcision as a seal of the righteousness of the faith which he had while he was uncircumcised; that he might be the father of all the uncircumcised who have faith, so that righteousness might be put to their account also; and that he might be the father of the circumcised, who are not circumcised merely, but who tread in the steps of that faith which our father Abraham had while yet uncircumcised. For not through the Law was the promise made to Abraham or his offspring that he should be the heir of the world, but through the righteousness of faith. For if they that are of the Law are heirs, then faith becometh a vain thing, and the promise is made of no effect. For the Law is the cause of wrath; for where there is no law there is no transgression. Therefore the inheritance was made to depend on faith, that it might be a matter of grace; that the promise might be sure to all the offspring, not to that only which is under the Law, but to that also which hath the faith of Abraham, who is the father of us all (as it is written, "I have made thee a father of many nations") in the sight of that God whom he believed, who giveth life to the dead, and calleth the things that are not, as though they were. For he had confident hope in that which was past hope, that he should become a father of many nations, according to that which was spoken, "Thus shall thy offspring be;" and not being weak in faith, he regarded not his own body which had become dead, he being about a hundred years old, nor the deadness of Sarahs womb; nor did he waver in respect to the promise of God through unbelief, but was strong in faith, giving glory to God; being fully convinced, that what he hath promised, he is able also to perform. And therefore it was accounted to him for righteousness.

Even as Abraham "believed God, and it was accounted to him as righteousness." Know then that they who have faith, these are the sons of Abraham. Moreover the Scripture, foreseeing that God was to accept the gentiles as righteous by faith, proclaimed beforehand the glad tidings to Abraham, saying, "In thee shall all nations be blessed." read more.
So then they who have faith are blessed with believing Abraham.

By faith Abraham, when called, obeyed to go forth to a place which he was afterward to receive for an inheritance, and went forth, not knowing whither he was going. By faith he sojourned in the land of the promise, as in a foreign country, dwelling in tents with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise; for he was looking for the city which hath foundations, whose maker and builder is God.

By faith Abraham, when tried, offered up Isaac, and he who had received the promises was offering up his onlybegotten son, he to whom it was said, "From Isaac shall thine offspring be reckoned;" accounting that God is able even to raise from the dead; whence also he did figuratively receive him back.

Was not Abraham our father accepted as righteous through works, when he offered Isaac his son upon the altar? Thou seest that faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect. And the scripture was fulfilled, which saith, "Abraham believed God, and it was reckoned to him for righteousness;" and he was called the friend of God. read more.
Ye see that by works a man is accounted as righteous, and not by faith only.






And he said, Brethren and fathers, hearken. The God of glory appeared to our father Abraham, when he was in Mesopotamia, before he dwelt in Haran, and said to him, "Go forth from thy country and thy kindred, and come into the land which I will show thee."

By faith Abraham, when called, obeyed to go forth to a place which he was afterward to receive for an inheritance, and went forth, not knowing whither he was going.


and think not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham for our father; for I say to you, that God is able out of these stones to raise up children to Abraham.

And ought not this woman, a daughter of Abraham, whom Satan hath bound, lo! for eighteen years, to be loosed from this bond on the sabbathday?

There will be wailing and gnashing of teeth there, when ye see Abraham and Isaac and Jacob and all the prophets in the kingdom of God, and yourselves thrust out.

And Jesus said to him, This day hath salvation come to this house, inasmuch as he also is a son of Abraham;

They answered him, We are Abrahams offspring, and have never been in bondage to any one; how sayest, thou, Ye will be made free? Jesus answered them, Truly, truly do I say to you, Every one that committeth sin is a bondservant of sin. And the bondservant abideth not in the house for ever; the son abideth for ever. read more.
If therefore the Son make you free, ye will be free indeed. I know that ye are Abrahams offspring; but ye seek to kill me, because my word is not received within you. I speak what I have seen with the Father; and ye accordingly do what ye have seen with your father. They answered and said to him, Abraham is our father. Jesus saith to them, If ye were Abrahams children, ye would do the works of Abraham. But now ye seek to kill me, a man that hath spoken to you the truth, which I heard from God; this did not Abraham.








By faith Abraham, when tried, offered up Isaac, and he who had received the promises was offering up his onlybegotten son,

Was not Abraham our father accepted as righteous through works, when he offered Isaac his son upon the altar?









And the scripture was fulfilled, which saith, "Abraham believed God, and it was reckoned to him for righteousness;" and he was called the friend of God.


There will be wailing and gnashing of teeth there, when ye see Abraham and Isaac and Jacob and all the prophets in the kingdom of God, and yourselves thrust out.

And I say to you, that many will come from the east and the west, and recline at table with Abraham and Isaac and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven.

And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels to the bosom of Abraham. The rich man also died and was buried. And in the underworld he lifted up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom. And he called and said, Father Abraham, have pity on me, and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame. read more.
But Abraham said, Son, remember that thou didst receive thy good things in thy lifetime, and Lazarus in like manner his evil things; but now he is comforted here, and thou art tormented. And besides all this, between us and you there is placed a great gulf, so that those who wish to cross from hence to you may not be able, and that those on that side cannot cross over to us. Then he said, I pray thee then, father, to send him to my fathers house; for I have five brothers; that he may give earnest warning to them, that they too may not come into this place of torment. But Abraham saith, They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them. But he said, Nay, father Abraham; but if one should go to them from the dead, they would repent. But he said to him, If they hear not Moses and the prophets, they will not be persuaded, though one should rise from the dead.














Then came he out of the land of the Chaldaeans, and dwelt in Haran; and from thence, after his father was dead, he caused him to remove into this land wherein ye now dwell;







For it is written, that Abraham had two sons; the one by the bondwoman, the other by the freewoman. But the one by the bondwoman was born after the flesh; while the one by the freewoman was through the promise. Which things are written allegorically; for these women are two covenants; the one from Mount Sinai, who beareth children into bondage, which is Hagar; read more.
for the word Hagar is Mount Sinai in Arabia; and she corresponds to the Jerusalem now existing, for she is in bondage with her children; but the Jerusalem that is above is free, and she is our mother. For it is written: "Rejoice, thou barren that bearest not; break forth and cry, thou that travailest not; for many are the children of the desolate one, rather than of her who hath the husband." But ye, brethren, as Isaac was, are children of a promise. But as at that time he that was born after the flesh persecuted him that was born through the Spirit, so it is now. But what saith the scripture? "Cast out the bondwoman and her son; for the son of the bondwoman shall not be heir with the son of the freewoman."



For this Melchizedek, king of Salem, priest of the most high God, who met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings, and blessed him, to whom also Abraham apportioned a tenth part of all, who by interpretation is first King of righteousness, and then also was King of Salem, which is, King of peace, without father, without mother, without record of descent, having neither beginning of days, nor end of life, but likened to the Son of God, remaineth a priest for ever. read more.
Consider now how great this man was, to whom even Abraham the patriarch gave a tenth of the spoils. And those indeed of the sons of Levi who receive the office of the priesthood have a command to take tithes of the people by the Law, that is, of their brethren, though they have come out of the loins of Abraham; but he whose descent is not reckoned from them took tithes of Abraham, and blessed him who had the promises. And beyond all contradiction the less is blessed by the greater. And here indeed men that die receive tithes; but there he of whom it is testified that he liveth. And so to speak, Levi also, who receiveth tithes, paid tithes in Abraham; for he was yet in the loins of his father when Melchizedek met him.



For it is written, that Abraham had two sons; the one by the bondwoman, the other by the freewoman. But the one by the bondwoman was born after the flesh; while the one by the freewoman was through the promise. Which things are written allegorically; for these women are two covenants; the one from Mount Sinai, who beareth children into bondage, which is Hagar; read more.
for the word Hagar is Mount Sinai in Arabia; and she corresponds to the Jerusalem now existing, for she is in bondage with her children; but the Jerusalem that is above is free, and she is our mother. For it is written: "Rejoice, thou barren that bearest not; break forth and cry, thou that travailest not; for many are the children of the desolate one, rather than of her who hath the husband." But ye, brethren, as Isaac was, are children of a promise. But as at that time he that was born after the flesh persecuted him that was born through the Spirit, so it is now. But what saith the scripture? "Cast out the bondwoman and her son; for the son of the bondwoman shall not be heir with the son of the freewoman."






For this Melchizedek, king of Salem, priest of the most high God, who met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings, and blessed him,














Then came he out of the land of the Chaldaeans, and dwelt in Haran; and from thence, after his father was dead, he caused him to remove into this land wherein ye now dwell;















By faith Abraham, when tried, offered up Isaac, and he who had received the promises was offering up his onlybegotten son,










































































nor because they are descendants of Abraham are they all children; but, "Thy offspring shall be reckoned from Isaac." That is, not the children by natural descent are children of God, but the children to whom the promise is made are accounted as the offspring. For the word of promise is this: "At this time I will come, and Sarah shall have a son." read more.
And not only so, but also when Rebecca had conceived by one man, our father Isaac, before the children were born, or had done any thing good or evil, to the end that Gods purpose according to election might stand, not depending on works, but on the will of him that calleth, it was said to her, "The elder shall serve the younger:" as it is written, "Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated."




Ye are the sons of the prophets, and of the covenant which God made with our fathers, saying to Abraham, "And in thy posterity shall all the families of the earth be blessed."



to accomplish his mercy toward our fathers, and to remember his holy covenant, the oath which he swore to Abraham our father, to grant to us, that being delivered from the hand of our enemies, we might worship him without fear, read more.
in holiness and righteousness before him, all our days.

But the promises were made to Abraham and "to his offspring." He doth not say, "and to offsprings," as speaking of many, but, as speaking of one, "and to thy offspring," which is Christ.




By faith Abraham, when tried, offered up Isaac, and he who had received the promises was offering up his onlybegotten son, he to whom it was said, "From Isaac shall thine offspring be reckoned;" accounting that God is able even to raise from the dead; whence also he did figuratively receive him back.

By faith Abraham, when called, obeyed to go forth to a place which he was afterward to receive for an inheritance, and went forth, not knowing whither he was going.









Your father Abraham exulted that he might see my day; and he saw it, and was glad.








nor did he waver in respect to the promise of God through unbelief, but was strong in faith, giving glory to God;













For he had confident hope in that which was past hope, that he should become a father of many nations, according to that which was spoken, "Thus shall thy offspring be;"


Your father Abraham exulted that he might see my day; and he saw it, and was glad.


But the promises were made to Abraham and "to his offspring." He doth not say, "and to offsprings," as speaking of many, but, as speaking of one, "and to thy offspring," which is Christ.


For surely he doth not help angels, but he helpeth the offspring of Abraham.



























Your father Abraham exulted that he might see my day; and he saw it, and was glad.




Was not Abraham our father accepted as righteous through works, when he offered Isaac his son upon the altar?






and said to him, "Go forth from thy country and thy kindred, and come into the land which I will show thee." Then came he out of the land of the Chaldaeans, and dwelt in Haran; and from thence, after his father was dead, he caused him to remove into this land wherein ye now dwell; and he gave him no inheritance in it, no, not so much as to set his foot on; and he promised to give it to him for a possession, and to his posterity after him, when as yet he had no child. read more.
And God spoke in this manner: "That his posterity should sojourn in a foreign land, and that they would bring them into bondage, and illtreat them four hundred years; and the nation to which they shall be in bondage will I judge," said God; "and after that they shall come forth, and shall worship me in this place." And he gave him the covenant of circumcision; and so he begat Isaac, and circumcised him on the eighth day; and Isaac begat Jacob, and Jacob the twelve patriarchs.

By faith Abraham, when called, obeyed to go forth to a place which he was afterward to receive for an inheritance, and went forth, not knowing whither he was going. By faith he sojourned in the land of the promise, as in a foreign country, dwelling in tents with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise; for he was looking for the city which hath foundations, whose maker and builder is God. read more.
Through faith Sarah herself also received power to conceive, even when she was past age, because she accounted him faithful who had promised. Wherefore there sprang even from one, and him become as dead, a race like the stars of heaven in multitude, and like the sand by the seashore which cannot be numbered. These all died in faith, not having received the promised blessings, but having seen them from afar, and greeted them, and having professed that they were strangers and sojourners on the earth. For they who say such things show plainly that they are seeking a country. And if indeed they had been mindful of that from which they came out, they would have had opportunity to return; but now they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly. Wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God; for he prepared for them a city. By faith Abraham, when tried, offered up Isaac, and he who had received the promises was offering up his onlybegotten son,





By faith Abraham, when tried, offered up Isaac, and he who had received the promises was offering up his onlybegotten son, he to whom it was said, "From Isaac shall thine offspring be reckoned;" accounting that God is able even to raise from the dead; whence also he did figuratively receive him back.







And so, having endured with patience, he obtained the promised blessing.


























Doth this blessedness belong to the circumcised alone, or to the uncircumcised also? For we are saying that Abrahams faith was accounted as righteousness.

And therefore it was accounted to him for righteousness.















from whom every family in heaven and on earth receiveth its name,








References