Abraham in the Bible

Meaning: father of a great multitude

Exact Match

Now indeed those of the sons of Levi who receive the priesthood have commandment to collect tithes from the people according to the law, that is, of their brothers, although having come out of the loins of Abraham.

Verse ConceptsTithesBringing In The Tithe

for Levi was yet in the loins of his father, when Melchizedek met Abraham.

Verse ConceptsAncestorsBodygrandfathers

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].

Verse ConceptsGod, Faithfulness OfBarren WomendisabilitiesOffspringWeakness, SpiritualExploits Of FaithGod's Promise To AbrahamThe Promise Of A BabyPromises respectingHer Strengthfaith and strengthGod's FaithfulnessStrength And FaithWomen's Strengthsarahchildbearing

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.

Verse ConceptsAn Innumerable NumberStarsSeashoresOnly One PersonSand And Gravel

But the truth is that they were longing for a better country, that is, a heavenly one. For that reason God is not ashamed [of them or] to be called their God [even to be surnamed their God—the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob]; for He has prepared a city for them.

Verse ConceptsBeing A PilgrimCityNames For HeavenHeaven,  Redeemed CommunityNot AshamedThirstZion, As A SymbolWhat Heaven Will Be LikeSaints, As PilgrimsCity Of GodA Place PreparedTaken To HeavenHe Is Our GodCitizensMoving To A New Place

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For this cause it is of faith, that it may be according to grace; to the end that the promise may be sure to all the seed; not to that only which is of the law, but to that also which is of the faith of Abraham, who is the father of us all (as it has been written, "A father of many nations have I made you"), before God Whom he believed, Who maketh alive the dead, and calleth the things that are not, as though they were; who, past hope, believed against hope, to the end that he might become the father of many nations, according to that which had been spoken, "So shall your seed be."

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and the Scripture was fulfilled which says, "And Abraham believed God, and it was reckoned to him for righteousness"; and he was called "God's Friend."




the oath which He swore to Abraham, our father;

For, not through law, was the promise to Abraham, or to his seed, that he should be heir of the world, but it was through the righteousness of faith.

For I say that Christ hath become a minister of the circumcision, in behalf of God's truth, that He might confirm the promises made to the fathers;

For God, when making a promise to Abraham, since He had no one greater by whom to swear, swore by Himself, saying, "Surely, blessing, I will bless you; and multiplying, I will multiply you."

Even as Abraham believed God, and it was reckoned to him for righteousness. Know, then, that those who are of faith, the same are sons of Abraham. And the Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the gentiles through faith, proclaimed beforehand the Gospel to Abraham, saying, "In you shall all the nations be blessed." read more.
So that those who are of faith are blessed with the faithful Abraham. For as many as are of works of law are under a curse; for it has been written, "Cursed is every one who continues not in all the things written in the book of the law, to do them." Now that by law no one is justified with God, is evident; because "The righteous one shall live by faith." Now the law is not of faith; but "He who did them shall live in them." Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us; because it has been written, "Cursed is every one who is hung upon a tree"; that to the gentiles the blessing of Abraham might come in Jesus Christ, that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith. Brethren, I am speaking after the manner of man: even a man's confirmed covenant no one sets aside, or adds thereto. Now to Abraham were the promises spoken, and to his Seed. He saith not, "And to seeds," as of many; but as of One, "and to your Seed"; which is Christ. But this I say: A covenant previously confirmed by God, the law, which came into existence four hundred and thirty years later, does not invalidate, that it should make the promise of no effect. For, if the inheritance is of the law, it is no longer of promise; but God has freely given it to Abraham through promise.

And, if ye are Christ's, ye are, consequently, Abraham's seed, and heirs according to promise.

For it has been written that Abraham had two sons, one by the bond-woman, and one by the free-woman. But the one by the bond-woman has been born after the flesh; and the one by the free-woman, through promise. Which things are an allegory; for these women are two covenants; one, indeed, from mount Sinai, bringing forth into servitude, which is Hagar read more.
(for the word Hagar is mount Sinai in Arabia), and corresponds to the present Jerusalem; for she is in bondage with her children. But the Jerusalem which is above is free, which, indeed, is our mother; for it has been written, "Rejoice, O barren, that bear not! Break forth and cry, you that travail not! because many are the children of the desolate, rather than of her who has the husband." But ye, brethren, after the manner of Isaac, are children of promise. But, just as then, the one born after the flesh kept persecuting him born after the Spirit, so also is it now. But what says the Scripture? "Cast out the bond-woman and her son; for the son of the bond-woman shall in nowise inherit with the son of the free-woman." Wherefore, brethren, we are not children of a bond-woman, but of the free-woman.



What, then, shall we say that Abraham, our forefather, has found according to the flesh? For, if Abraham was justified by works, he has ground of boasting, but not toward God. For what does the Scripture say? "And Abraham believed God, and it was reckoned to him for righteousness." read more.
Now to him that works the reward is not reckoned as of grace, but as of debt; but to him that works not, but believes on Him Who justifieth the ungodly, his faith is reckoned for righteousness. Even as David also speaks of the blessedness of the man to whom God reckoneth righteousness, apart from works, "Happy are those whose iniquities were forgiven, and whose sins were covered. Happy is the man to whom the Lord will not reckon sin." Does this happiness, therefore, come upon the circumcision, or upon the uncircumcision also? For we say, "Faith was reckoned to Abraham for righteousness." How, then, was it reckoned? When he was in circumcision, or in uncircumcision? Not in circumcision, but in uncircumcision. And he received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness of the faith which he had while in uncircumcision; that he might be father of all who believe while in uncircumcision, that the righteousness might be reckoned to them; and father of circumcision to those who not only are of the circumcision, but who also walk in the steps of the faith of our father Abraham, which he had in uncircumcision. For, not through law, was the promise to Abraham, or to his seed, that he should be heir of the world, but it was through the righteousness of faith. For, if those who are of the law are heirs, faith has been made void, and the promise has been brought to nought; for the law works wrath; but where there is no law, there is no transgression. For this cause it is of faith, that it may be according to grace; to the end that the promise may be sure to all the seed; not to that only which is of the law, but to that also which is of the faith of Abraham, who is the father of us all (as it has been written, "A father of many nations have I made you"), before God Whom he believed, Who maketh alive the dead, and calleth the things that are not, as though they were; who, past hope, believed against hope, to the end that he might become the father of many nations, according to that which had been spoken, "So shall your seed be." And, being not weakened in faith, he attentively considered his own body already dead (he being about a hundred years old), and the deadness of Sarah's womb; but, in view of the promise of God, he wavered not through unbelief, but was made strong in faith, giving glory to God, and being fully assured that what He had promised, He was able also to perform. Wherefore also it was reckoned to him for righteousness.

Even as Abraham believed God, and it was reckoned to him for righteousness. Know, then, that those who are of faith, the same are sons of Abraham. And the Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the gentiles through faith, proclaimed beforehand the Gospel to Abraham, saying, "In you shall all the nations be blessed." read more.
So that those who are of faith are blessed with the faithful Abraham.

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

By faith Abraham, when tried, has offered up Isaac; yea, he who gladly received the promises was offering up his only begotten son, to whom it was said, "In Isaac shall your seed be called;" accounting that God is able to raise even from the dead; whence he did also, as in a figure, receive him back.

Was not Abraham, our father, justified by works, when he offered up Isaac his son on the altar? You see that faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith perfected; and the Scripture was fulfilled which says, "And Abraham believed God, and it was reckoned to him for righteousness"; and he was called "God's Friend." read more.
Ye see that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only.






But he said, "Brethren and fathers, the God of glory appeared to our father Abraham, while he was in Mesopotamia, before he dwelt in Haran, and said to him, 'Go forth from your country, and from your kindred, and came into the land which I will show you,'

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


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

And was it not right that this woman, being a daughter of Abraham, whom Satan bound, lo, eighteen years, should have been loosed from this bond on the day of the sabbath?"

There will be the weeping and the gnashing of teeth, when ye shall see Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, and all the prophets, in the Kingdom of God, and yourselves thrust forth without.

And Jesus said to him, "To-day salvation came to this house, inasmuch as he also is a son of Abraham;

They answered Him, "We are Abraham's seed, and to no one have we at any time been in bondage; how sayest Thou, 'Ye shall be made free?' Jesus answered them, "Verily, verily, I say to you, every one who commits sin is a slave of sin. And the slave abides not in the house forever; the son abides forever. read more.
If, therefore, the Son shall make you free, ye will be free indeed. I know that ye are Abraham's seed; but ye are seeking to kill Me, because My word has no place in you. I speak the things which I have seen with My Father; and ye, therefore, do the things which ye heard from your father. They answered and said to Him, "Our father is Abraham." Jesus saith to them, "If ye are children of Abraham, ye are doing the works of Abraham. But now ye are seeking to kill Me, a Man Who hath told you the truth, which I heard from My Father: this Abraham did not.








By faith Abraham, when tried, has offered up Isaac; yea, he who gladly received the promises was offering up his only begotten son,

Was not Abraham, our father, justified by works, when he offered up Isaac his son on the altar?









and the Scripture was fulfilled which says, "And Abraham believed God, and it was reckoned to him for righteousness"; and he was called "God's Friend."


There will be the weeping and the gnashing of teeth, when ye shall see Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, and all the prophets, in the Kingdom of God, and yourselves thrust forth without.

And I say to you that many will come from the east and the west, and will sit down with Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, in the Kingdom of Heaven;

And it came to pass that the poor man died, and that he was carried away by the angels into Abraham's bosom. And the rich man also died, and was buried; and in Hades, lifting up his eyes, being in torments, he sees Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom. And, crying, he said, 'Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; because I am in anguish in this flame!' read more.
But Abraham said, 'Child, remember that, in your lifetime, you received in full your good things, and Lazarus, likewise, evil things; but now here he is comforted, and you are in anguish. And, in all these things, between us and you a great chasm has been fixed; so that those wishing to cross from hence to you cannot; nor do they pass from thence to us.' And he said, 'I pray you, therefore, father, that you would send him to my father's house; for I have five brothers; that he may testify to them, lest they also come into this place of torment.' But Abraham says, 'They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them.' But he said, 'Nay, father Abraham; but, if one go to them from the dead, they will repent.' But he said to him, 'If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, if one rose from the dead.'"














Then, having come forth out of the land of the Chaldaeans, he dwelt in Haran; and, from thence, after his father died, He removed him into this land, in which ye now dwell;







For it has been written that Abraham had two sons, one by the bond-woman, and one by the free-woman. But the one by the bond-woman has been born after the flesh; and the one by the free-woman, through promise. Which things are an allegory; for these women are two covenants; one, indeed, from mount Sinai, bringing forth into servitude, which is Hagar read more.
(for the word Hagar is mount Sinai in Arabia), and corresponds to the present Jerusalem; for she is in bondage with her children. But the Jerusalem which is above is free, which, indeed, is our mother; for it has been written, "Rejoice, O barren, that bear not! Break forth and cry, you that travail not! because many are the children of the desolate, rather than of her who has the husband." But ye, brethren, after the manner of Isaac, are children of promise. But, just as then, the one born after the flesh kept persecuting him born after the Spirit, so also is it now. But what says the Scripture? "Cast out the bond-woman and her son; for the son of the bond-woman shall in nowise inherit with the son of the free-woman."



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 of all (first, indeed, interpreted as "King of Righteousness," and then also "King of Salem"??hich is king of peace; without father, without mother, without genealogy, having neither beginning of days nor end of life, but made like to the Son of God), abides a priest continually. read more.
Now consider how great this man was, to whom Abraham the patriarch gave a tenth of the chief spoils. And those, indeed, from among the sons of Levi, who receive the priesthood, have a commandment to take tithes of the people according to the law, that is, of their brethren, (though having come out of the loins of Abraham); but he whose genealogy is not reckoned from them has taken tithes of Abraham, and has blessed him who had the promises. And, without any dispute, the less is blessed by the better. And here, indeed, men who die receive tithes; but there, one received them who receives witness that he lives. And, so to speak, through Abraham even Levi, who takes tithes, has paid tithes; for he was yet in the loins of his father, when Melchizedek met him.



For it has been written that Abraham had two sons, one by the bond-woman, and one by the free-woman. But the one by the bond-woman has been born after the flesh; and the one by the free-woman, through promise. Which things are an allegory; for these women are two covenants; one, indeed, from mount Sinai, bringing forth into servitude, which is Hagar read more.
(for the word Hagar is mount Sinai in Arabia), and corresponds to the present Jerusalem; for she is in bondage with her children. But the Jerusalem which is above is free, which, indeed, is our mother; for it has been written, "Rejoice, O barren, that bear not! Break forth and cry, you that travail not! because many are the children of the desolate, rather than of her who has the husband." But ye, brethren, after the manner of Isaac, are children of promise. But, just as then, the one born after the flesh kept persecuting him born after the Spirit, so also is it now. But what says the Scripture? "Cast out the bond-woman and her son; for the son of the bond-woman shall in nowise inherit with the son of the free-woman."






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, having come forth out of the land of the Chaldaeans, he dwelt in Haran; and, from thence, after his father died, He removed him into this land, in which ye now dwell;















By faith Abraham, when tried, has offered up Isaac; yea, he who gladly received the promises was offering up his only begotten son,










































































neither, because they are Abraham's seed, are they all children; but, "In Isaac shall your seed be called." That is, the children of the flesh are not the children of God; but the children of the promise are reckoned for a seed. For the word of the promise is this: "At this season I will come, and Sarah shall have a son." read more.
And not only so; but Rebecca also having conceived by one, even by our father Isaac (for, the children being not yet born, nor having done anything good or evil, that the purpose of God according to election might stand, not of works, but of Him Who calleth), it was said to her, "The elder shall serve the younger." Even as it has been written, "Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated."




Ye are the sons of the prophets, and of the covenant which God made with your fathers, saying to Abraham, 'And in your Seed shall all the families of the earth be blessed.'



to show mercy towards our fathers, and to remember His holy covenant; the oath which He swore to Abraham, our father; to grant to us that we, being delivered out of the hand of our enemies, might serve Him without fear, read more.
in holiness and righteousness before Him all our days.

Now to Abraham were the promises spoken, and to his Seed. He saith not, "And to seeds," as of many; but as of One, "and to your Seed"; which is Christ.




By faith Abraham, when tried, has offered up Isaac; yea, he who gladly received the promises was offering up his only begotten son, to whom it was said, "In Isaac shall your seed be called;" accounting that God is able to raise even from the dead; whence he did also, as in a figure, receive him back.

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









Abraham, your father, rejoiced to see My day; and he saw it, and was glad."








but, in view of the promise of God, he wavered not through unbelief, but was made strong in faith, giving glory to God,













who, past hope, believed against hope, to the end that he might become the father of many nations, according to that which had been spoken, "So shall your seed be."


Abraham, your father, rejoiced to see My day; and he saw it, and was glad."


Now to Abraham were the promises spoken, and to his Seed. He saith not, "And to seeds," as of many; but as of One, "and to your Seed"; which is Christ.


For surely He doth not succor angels, but He succoreth Abraham's seed.



























Abraham, your father, rejoiced to see My day; and he saw it, and was glad."




Was not Abraham, our father, justified by works, when he offered up Isaac his son on the altar?






and said to him, 'Go forth from your country, and from your kindred, and came into the land which I will show you,' Then, having come forth out of the land of the Chaldaeans, he dwelt in Haran; and, from thence, after his father died, He removed him into this land, in which ye now dwell; and He gave him no inheritance in it, not even a foot-breadth; and He promised to give it to him for a possession, and to his Seed after him, when he had no child. read more.
And God spake thus; that his seed would be a sojourner in a foreign land; and they would bring it into servitude, and ill-use it four hundred years. 'And the nation to which they shall be in bondage will I judge,' said God; 'and, after these things, shall they come forth, and they shall serve Me in this place.' And He gave him a covenant of circumcision; and so he begat Isaac, and circumcised him on the eighth day; and Isaac, Jacob; and Jacob, the twelve patriarchs.

By faith Abraham, when called, obeyed to go forth into the place which he was about to receive for an inheritance; and he went forth, not knowing whither he was going. By faith he sojourned in the land of promise, as a foreign land, dwelling in tents with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise; for he was waiting for the city which has the foundations, whose architect and builder is God. read more.
By faith Sarah herself also received power to conceive seed, even when past the age of child-bearing, since she accounted Him faithful, Who promised. Wherefore also there sprang from one, and one impotent as to these things, as many as the stars of heaven in multitude, and as the sand, which is by the sea-shore, innumerable. These all died according to faith, not having obtained the promises, but having seen them from afar, and having greeted them, and having confessed that they were strangers and sojourners on the earth. For those who say such things make it manifest that they are seeking their paternal home. And, if, indeed, they had been mindful of that country from which they went out, they would have had opportunity to return. But now they long for a better country, that is, a heavenly one; wherefore, God is not ashamed of them, to be called their God; for He prepared for them a city. By faith Abraham, when tried, has offered up Isaac; yea, he who gladly received the promises was offering up his only begotten son,





By faith Abraham, when tried, has offered up Isaac; yea, he who gladly received the promises was offering up his only begotten son, to whom it was said, "In Isaac shall your seed be called;" accounting that God is able to raise even from the dead; whence he did also, as in a figure, receive him back.







And thus, having patiently endured, he obtained the promise.


























Does this happiness, therefore, come upon the circumcision, or upon the uncircumcision also? For we say, "Faith was reckoned to Abraham for righteousness."

Wherefore also it was reckoned to him for righteousness.















from Whom every family in Heaven and on earth is named,








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