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

Thematic Bible














And therefore it is of faith, that it might be by grace, that so the promise might be sure to all the seed; not to that only which is of the law, but also to that which is of 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 Him whom he believed, even God, who giveth life to the dead, and calleth the things that are not as if they were: who against hope believed, with hope, that he should be the father of many nations, according to that which was said unto him, "So shall thy seed be."

Show 3 more verses


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




according to the oath which He sware to Abraham our father,

For the promise made to Abraham, or to his seed, that he should be heir of the world, was not by the law, but by the righteousness of faith:

Now Jesus Christ was a minister of the circumcision for the manifestation of the truth of God, to confirm the promises made to the fathers:

For when God made the promise to Abraham, because He could swear by no greater, He sware by Himself, saying, "Verily blessing I will bless thee, and multiplying I will multiply thee."

As Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness: so ye know that they who believe, are the children of Abraham. And the scripture foreseeing that God would justify the gentiles through faith, preached the gospel to Abraham long ago, saying, "In thee shall all nations be blessed." read more.
So then they that believe, are blessed with believing Abraham. For as many as are of the works of the law, are under the curse; for it is written, Cursed be every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law, to do them. And that by the law no one is justified before God is evident; for it is written "The just shall live by faith:" now the law is not of faith, but saith, "The man that doth them, shall live in them." Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, having been made a curse for us: for it is written, "Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree:" that the blessing of Abraham might come on the gentiles by Christ Jesus; that we through faith might receive the promise of the Spirit. Brethren, (I speak after the manner of men,) no one cancelleth or addeth to a covenant which hath been ratified, though it be but the covenant of a man. Now the promises were made to Abraham, and to his seed. He doth not say, "and to seeds," as of many; but as of one, "and to thy seed," which is Christ. This then I say, that the law, which was given four hundred and thirty years after, cannot disannul the covenant, which was so long before confirmed by God unto Christ, to make void the promise. For if the inheritance be from the law, it is no more from the promise: whereas God gave it to Abraham by promise.

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

where it is written, that Abraham had two sons, one by a servant, and one by a free-woman? But he who was of the servant, was born according to the course of nature; whereas the son of the free-woman was by virtue of the promise. Which things are figurative; for these persons are emblems of the two covenants, the one from mount Sinai, bringing forth children unto bondage, which is Hagar: for this name Hagar, read more.
a rock, is expressive of mount Sinai in Arabia, and answereth to the present Jerusalem, which is in bondage with her children. But the Jerusalem above is represented by the free-woman, which is the mother of us all. For it is written, Rejoice thou barren, that for a while didst not bear, break forth and cry aloud for joy, thou that didst not travail with child; for many more are the children of the desolate than of her that hath an husband." Now we, brethren, like Isaac, are children of the promise. But as then he that was born after the flesh, persecuted him who was born after the Spirit, even so it is now. But what saith the scripture? "Cast out the servant and her son: for the son of the servant shall not inherit with the son of the free-woman." Now we, my brethren, are not children of the servant, but of the free-woman.



What shall we say then that Abraham our father obtained according to the flesh? for if Abraham were justified by works, he hath something to boast of; but this he hath not before God: for what saith the scripture? "Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him for righteousness." read more.
Now to him that worketh the reward is not reckoned as a favor, but as a debt: but to him that worketh not, but believeth on Him who justifieth the ungodly, his faith is accounted for righteousness. As David also describeth the blessedness of the man to whom: God imputeth righteousness without works, saying, "Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven, and whose sins are covered: blessed is the man to whom the Lord imputeth not sin." Now is this blessedness upon the circumcised only, or upon the uncircumcised also? for we say that faith was accounted to Abraham for righteousness. How then was it accounted to him? when he was in circumcision, or in uncircumcision? Not in circumcision, but in uncircumcision. And he received the sign of circumcision as a seal of the righteousness of the faith which he had in uncircumcision: that he might be the father of all that believe though not circumcised, that righteousness may be imputed to them also: and the father of circumcision to those, who not only are of the circumcision, but also walk in the steps of that faith of our father Abraham, which he had in uncircumcision. For the promise made to Abraham, or to his seed, that he should be heir of the world, was not by the law, but by the righteousness of faith: for if they only that are of the law be heirs, faith is made useless, and the promise is become of no effect. Now the law worketh wrath; for where there is no law, there is no transgression. And therefore it is of faith, that it might be by grace, that so the promise might be sure to all the seed; not to that only which is of the law, but also to that which is of 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 Him whom he believed, even God, who giveth life to the dead, and calleth the things that are not as if they were: who against hope believed, with hope, that he should be the father of many nations, according to that which was said unto him, "So shall thy seed be." And not being weak in faith, he considered not his own body now dead, being about an hundred years old; nor the deadness of Sarah's womb. He hesitated not at the promise of God through unbelief: but was strong in faith, giving glory to God, and being fully persuaded, that what was promised He was able to perform: and therefore it was imputed to him for righteousness.

As Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness: so ye know that they who believe, are the children of Abraham. And the scripture foreseeing that God would justify the gentiles through faith, preached the gospel to Abraham long ago, saying, "In thee shall all nations be blessed." read more.
So then they that believe, are blessed with believing Abraham.

By faith Abraham when called to go out to a place which he was afterwards to receive for an inheritance obeyed: and went out, though he knew not whither he was going. By faith he sojourned in the land promised him, as in a foreign country, dwelling in tents, as did Isaac and Jacob the heirs with him of the same promise. For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose maker and founder is God.

By faith Abraham, when he was tried, offered up Isaac: and he who had received the promises, offered up his only son; of whom it was told him, that in Isaac shall thy seed be called: concluding that God was able to raise him even from the dead; from whence indeed he had in a manner received him.

consider, Was not our father Abraham justified by works, when he offered his son Isaac upon the altar? Thou seest that faith co-operated with his works, and that by his works his faith was perfected. And the scripture was fulfilled, which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him for righteousness; and he was called the friend of God. read more.
Ye see then that a man is justified by works, 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 Charran, and said to him, Depart from thy native country and from thy kindred, and come into the country which I shall shew thee.

By faith Abraham when called to go out to a place which he was afterwards to receive for an inheritance obeyed: and went out, though he knew not whither he was going.


"We have Abraham for our father:" for I tell you, that God is able of these stones to raise up children to Abraham.

And might not this woman, a daughter of Abraham, whom Satan hath bound these eighteen years, be loosed from this bond on the sabbath-day?

and there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth, when ye see Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, and all the prophets in the kingdom of God, and you yourselves shut out.

Then said Jesus, This day is salvation come to this house, for as much as he also is a son of Abraham.

They answered Him, We are the seed of Abraham, and never were slaves to any one, how then dost thou say, Ye shall be made free? Jesus answered them, Verily, verily I say unto you, whosoever maketh a practice of sin, is the servant of sin. Now the servant does not continue always in the family: but the Son abideth always. read more.
If therefore the Son make you free, ye shall be free indeed. I know that ye are the seed of Abraham, but ye seek to kill me, because my word hath no place in you. I speak that which I have seen with my Father, and ye do what ye have seen with your father. They answered Him, Abraham is our father, Jesus replied, If ye were the children of Abraham, ye would do the works of Abraham: but now ye seek to kill me, who have told you the truth which I have heard from God: Abraham did not thus.








By faith Abraham, when he was tried, offered up Isaac: and he who had received the promises, offered up his only son;

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









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


and there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth, when ye see Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, and all the prophets in the kingdom of God, and you yourselves shut out.

but I tell you, that many shall come from the east and from the west, and shall sit down with Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, in the kingdom of heaven;

and was carried by angels to Abraham's bosom: the rich man also died, and was buried. And in hell he lifted up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham from afar, and Lazarus in his bosom. And he cried out and said, Father Abraham, have pity on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame. read more.
And Abraham said, Son, remember that thou receivedst thy good things in thy life-time, and likewise Lazarus his evils: but now he is comforted, and thou art tormented. And besides, there is a great gulf fixed between us and you; so that they, who would pass from hence to you, cannot; nor can they pass to us, who would come from thence. Then he said, Therefore I intreat thee, Father, that thou wouldst send him to my father's house: for I have five brethren; that he may testify to them my misery, least they also come into this place of torment. Abraham answered him, They have Moses and the prophets, let them hear them: and he said, Nay, father Abraham, but if one went to them from the dead, they will repent. And he replied, If they hearken not to Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded though one should rise from the dead.














Then he came out of the land of the Chaldeans, and dwelt in Charran: and from thence, after his father died, He removed him into this land in which ye now dwell:







where it is written, that Abraham had two sons, one by a servant, and one by a free-woman? But he who was of the servant, was born according to the course of nature; whereas the son of the free-woman was by virtue of the promise. Which things are figurative; for these persons are emblems of the two covenants, the one from mount Sinai, bringing forth children unto bondage, which is Hagar: for this name Hagar, read more.
a rock, is expressive of mount Sinai in Arabia, and answereth to the present Jerusalem, which is in bondage with her children. But the Jerusalem above is represented by the free-woman, which is the mother of us all. For it is written, Rejoice thou barren, that for a while didst not bear, break forth and cry aloud for joy, thou that didst not travail with child; for many more are the children of the desolate than of her that hath an husband." Now we, brethren, like Isaac, are children of the promise. But as then he that was born after the flesh, persecuted him who was born after the Spirit, even so it is now. But what saith the scripture? "Cast out the servant and her son: for the son of the servant shall not inherit with the son of the free-woman."



For this Melchisedec, 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 divided the tenth of all his spoils; being in the first place, by interpretation of his name, king of righteousness, and moreover king of Salem, which is king of peace; without father, without mother, without genealogy, having neither beginning of days recorded, nor end of life, but resembling the Son of God, remaineth a priest continually. read more.
Now consider how great a man this was, to whom even the patriarch Abraham gave the tenth of the spoils. And those indeed of the sons of Levi, who receive the priesthood, have a commandment according to the law to take tithes of the people, that is, of their brethren, though they came out of the loins of Abraham: but he, whose pedigree is not reckoned among them, took tithes of Abraham, and blessed him that had the promises. Now without all contradiction the inferior is blessed by the superior: besides, here men that die receive tithes; but there he of whom it is testified that he liveth. And (as one may say) even Levi, who receiveth tithes, paid tithes in Abraham: for he was yet in the loins of his father, when Melchisedec met him.



where it is written, that Abraham had two sons, one by a servant, and one by a free-woman? But he who was of the servant, was born according to the course of nature; whereas the son of the free-woman was by virtue of the promise. Which things are figurative; for these persons are emblems of the two covenants, the one from mount Sinai, bringing forth children unto bondage, which is Hagar: for this name Hagar, read more.
a rock, is expressive of mount Sinai in Arabia, and answereth to the present Jerusalem, which is in bondage with her children. But the Jerusalem above is represented by the free-woman, which is the mother of us all. For it is written, Rejoice thou barren, that for a while didst not bear, break forth and cry aloud for joy, thou that didst not travail with child; for many more are the children of the desolate than of her that hath an husband." Now we, brethren, like Isaac, are children of the promise. But as then he that was born after the flesh, persecuted him who was born after the Spirit, even so it is now. But what saith the scripture? "Cast out the servant and her son: for the son of the servant shall not inherit with the son of the free-woman."






For this Melchisedec, king of Salem, priest of the most high God, who met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings,














Then he came out of the land of the Chaldeans, and dwelt in Charran: and from thence, after his father died, He removed him into this land in which ye now dwell:















By faith Abraham, when he was tried, offered up Isaac: and he who had received the promises, offered up his only son;










































































Nor because they are the seed of Abraham, are they all children of promise: but "in Isaac shall thy seed be called." That is, not the children of the flesh are the children of God, but the children of the promise are accounted for the seed. For this is the word of the promise, "According to this time will I come, and Sarah shall have a son:" read more.
and not to her only; but Rebecca also being with child by our father Isaac, (when the children were not yet born, nor had done either good or evil, that the purpose of God according to his choice might abide, not on account of works, but of Him that calleth,) it was said to her, the elder shall serve the younger: as it is written, "I loved Jacob and I hated Esau."




Now ye are the children of the prophets, and of the covenant, which God made with our fathers, saying to Abraham, "And in thy seed shall all the families of the earth be blessed:"



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

Now the promises were made to Abraham, and to his seed. He doth not say, "and to seeds," as of many; but as of one, "and to thy seed," which is Christ.




By faith Abraham, when he was tried, offered up Isaac: and he who had received the promises, offered up his only son; of whom it was told him, that in Isaac shall thy seed be called: concluding that God was able to raise him even from the dead; from whence indeed he had in a manner received him.

By faith Abraham when called to go out to a place which he was afterwards to receive for an inheritance obeyed: and went out, though he knew not whither he was going.









Your father Abraham longed to see my day: and he saw it, and was glad.








He hesitated not at the promise of God through unbelief: but was strong in faith, giving glory to God,













who against hope believed, with hope, that he should be the father of many nations, according to that which was said unto him, "So shall thy seed be."


Your father Abraham longed to see my day: and he saw it, and was glad.


Now the promises were made to Abraham, and to his seed. He doth not say, "and to seeds," as of many; but as of one, "and to thy seed," which is Christ.


For indeed He taketh not hold of angels to save them, but of the seed of Abraham.



























Your father Abraham longed to see my day: and he saw it, and was glad.




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






and said to him, Depart from thy native country and from thy kindred, and come into the country which I shall shew thee. Then he came out of the land of the Chaldeans, and dwelt in Charran: and from thence, after his father died, He removed him into this land in which ye now dwell: though He gave him no inheritance in it, no not the breadth of a foot; but He promised to give it to him for a possession, even to his seed after him; though he had then no child." read more.
And God spake thus unto him, "that his seed should sojourn in a strange country, and they shall in slave and abuse them four hundred years:" and God said, "I will judge the nation, to which they shall be in slavery; and afterwards they shall come out, and shall worship me in this place." And He gave him the covenant of circumcision: and he begat Isaac, and circumcised him on the eighth day; and Isaac Jacob, and Jacob the twelve patriarchs.

By faith Abraham when called to go out to a place which he was afterwards to receive for an inheritance obeyed: and went out, though he knew not whither he was going. By faith he sojourned in the land promised him, as in a foreign country, dwelling in tents, as did Isaac and Jacob the heirs with him of the same promise. For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose maker and founder is God. read more.
By faith also Sarah received strength to conceive seed, and brought forth a son when she was past age, because she accounted Him faithful who had promised. So that there descended even from one, and him in a manner dead, a posterity like the stars of heaven for multitude, and as the sand on the sea shore, innumerable. These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but seen them from afar, and been persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and sojourners on the earth. Now they that say such things shew plainly that they are seeking their own country: and if they had been mindful of that from which they came, they might have had opportunity to have returned. But they desire a better, that is, an heavenly one; wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God; for He hath prepared for them a city. By faith Abraham, when he was tried, offered up Isaac: and he who had received the promises, offered up his only son;





By faith Abraham, when he was tried, offered up Isaac: and he who had received the promises, offered up his only son; of whom it was told him, that in Isaac shall thy seed be called: concluding that God was able to raise him even from the dead; from whence indeed he had in a manner received him.







And thus waiting patiently he obtained the promise.


























Now is this blessedness upon the circumcised only, or upon the uncircumcised also? for we say that faith was accounted to Abraham for righteousness.

and therefore it was imputed to him for righteousness.















from whom the whole family in heaven and on earth is named,








References