Abraham in the Bible
Meaning: father of a great multitude
Exact Match
The book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham.
Abraham became the father of Isaac, and Isaac became the father of Jacob, and Jacob became the father of Judah and his brothers,
Therefore all the generations from Abraham to David [are] fourteen generations, and from David to the deportation to Babylon [are] fourteen generations, and from the deportation to Babylon to the Christ [are] fourteen generations.
And do not think to say to yourselves, 'We have Abraham [as] father.' For I say to you that God is able to raise up children for Abraham from these stones!
But I say to you that many will come from east and west and {be seated at the banquet} with Abraham and Isaac and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven.
But touching the resurrection of the dead, have ye not read that which was spoken to you by God, saying, I am the God of Abraham and the God of Isaac,
I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob? God is not the God of the dead but of the living.
But as to the dead coming back to life; have you not seen in the book of Moses, about the burning thorn-tree, how God said to him, I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob?
His help he has given to Israel, his servant, so that he might keep in mind his mercy to Abraham and his seed for ever,
just as he spoke to our fathers, to Abraham and to his descendants {forever}."
The oath which he made to Abraham, our father,
Make clear by your acts that your hearts have been changed; and do not say to yourselves, We have Abraham for our father: for I say to you that God is able from these stones to make children of Abraham.
The son of Jacob, the son of Isaac, the son of Abraham, the son of Terah, the son of Nahor,
And ought not this woman, being a daughter of Abraham, whom Satan hath bound, lo, these eighteen years, be loosed from this bond on the sabbath day?
There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth, when ye shall see Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, and all the prophets, in the kingdom of God, and you yourselves thrust out.
And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham's bosom: the rich man also died, and was buried;
And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom.
And he cried and 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; for I am tormented in this flame.
But Abraham said, Son, remember that thou in thy lifetime receivedst thy good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things: but now he is comforted, and thou art tormented.
Then the rich man said, 'I beg you therefore, forefather [Abraham], that you would send Lazarus to my father's house,
Abraham saith unto him, They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them.
And he said, Nay, father Abraham: but if one went unto them from the dead, they will repent.
Abraham replied, if they disregard Moses and the prophets, they will not believe any one, though he rose from the dead.
"It happened in a similar way in the days of Lot [i.e., Abraham's nephew]. People were eating and drinking and buying and selling and planting and building.
And Jesus said unto him, This day is salvation come to this house, forsomuch as he also is a son of Abraham.
But that the dead are raised, even Moses showed, in the place concerning the Bush, when he calleth the Lord the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.
They answered unto him, We are Abraham's seed, and have never yet been in bondage to any man: how sayest thou, Ye shall be made free?
If therefore the Son shall make you free, ye will be free indeed. I know that ye are Abraham's offspring:
I know that ye are Abraham's seed: yet ye seek to kill me, because my word hath not free course in you.
They answered and said unto him, Our father is Abraham. Jesus saith unto them, If ye were Abraham's children, ye would do the works of Abraham.
But now ye seek to kill me, a man that hath told you the truth, which I heard from God: this did not Abraham.
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.
The Jews said unto him, Now we know that thou hast a demon. Abraham died, and the prophets; and thou sayest, If a man keep my word, he shall never taste of death.
Art thou greater than our father Abraham, who died? and the prophets died: whom makest thou thyself?
Your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day; and he saw it, and was glad.
The Jews therefore said unto him, Thou art not yet fifty years old, and hast thou seen Abraham?
Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was born, I am.
The God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, the God of our fathers,
You are the sons of the prophets and of the covenant that God made with your ancestors, saying to Abraham, And all the families of the earth will be blessed through your offspring.
“Brothers and fathers,” he said, “listen: The God of glory appeared to our father Abraham when he was in Mesopotamia, before he settled in Haran,
"The glorious God appeared to our ancestor Abraham while he was in Mesopotamia before he settled in Haran. God told him, "Leave your country and your relatives and go to the land I'll show you.'
On this, Abraham left the country of the Chaldaeans and settled in Haran; and from there, after his father's death, God caused him to migrate into this very country, in which you are now living.
He did not give any of it to him for an inheritance, not even a foot of ground, yet God promised to give it to him as his possession, and to his descendants after him, even though Abraham as yet had no child.
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 he gave him the covenant of circumcision: and so Abraham begat Isaac, and circumcised him the eighth day; and Isaac begat Jacob; and Jacob begat the twelve patriarchs.
were carried back to Shechem, and were placed in the tomb that Abraham had bought for a sum of silver from the sons of Hamor in Shechem.
“As the time was drawing near to fulfill the promise that God had made to Abraham, the people flourished and multiplied in Egypt
I am the God of your fathers—the God of Abraham, of Isaac, and of Jacob.
Men and brethren, children of the stock of Abraham, and whosoever among you feareth God, to you is the word of this salvation sent.
since indeed it is one [and the same] God who will justify the circumcised by faith [which began with Abraham] and the uncircumcised through [their newly acquired] faith.
What then shall we say - as touching Abraham our forefather?
For, if Abraham by works was declared righteous, he hath whereof to boast; - nevertheless, not towards God, -
For what doth the Scripture say? And Abraham believed in God, and it was reckoned unto him as righteousness.
This happiness, then, is it for the circumcision, or for the uncircumcision? for we say - His faith was reckoned unto Abraham as righteousness:
And father of circumcision - unto them who are not of circumcision only, but who also walk in the steps of the faith, while yet uncircumcised, of our father Abraham.
For, not through means of law, doth the promise belong unto Abraham or unto his seed, - that he should be heir of thee world; but, through a righteousness by faith.
For this cause, it is by faith, in order that it may be by way of favour, so that the promise is firm unto all the seed, - not unto that by the law only, but unto that also which is such by the faith of Abraham; who is father of us all, -
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.
Which Abraham, contrary to hope, believed in hope: that he should be the father of many nations, according to that which was spoken, "So shall thy seed be."
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.
So indeed it was credited to Abraham as righteousness.
Now it was credited to him was not written for Abraham alone,
Neither, because they are seed of Abraham, are all children, - but, In Isaac, shall there be called unto thee a seed.
That is, it is not Abraham's natural descendants who are God's children, but those who are made children by the promise are counted his true descendants.
I say, then - Hath God cast off his people? Far be it! For, I also, am an Israelite, - of the seed of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin:
Now if the first-fruits of the dough Abraham and the Patriarchs are holy, so also is the whole mass their descendants. And if the root of a tree Abraham is holy, so also are the branches his descendants.
Are they Hebrews? So am I. Are they descendants of Israel? So am I. Are they descendants of Abraham? So am I.
Even as Abraham believed God and it was counted to him for righteousness?
Notice then that the true sons of Abraham are children of faith.
And the Scripture, anticipating God's justification of the Gentiles by faith, announced the gospel to Abraham beforehand in the words, In thee shall all the Gentiles be blessed.
So then they who are children of faith are blessed with Abraham the faithful;
to the end that in Christ Jesus the blessing of Abraham might come upon the Gentiles, so that through faith we might receive the promised Spirit.
Now it was to Abraham that the promises were spoken, and to his offspring. God did not say, "offsprings" as if speaking of many, but "and to your offspring," as of one; and this is 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 comes from law, it no longer comes from a promise; but God did give it as a free gift to Abraham by a promise.
Now the mediator or go-between [in a transaction] is not [needed] for just one party; whereas God is only one [and was the only One giving the promise to Abraham, but the Law was a contract between two, God and Israel; its validity depended on both].
And if you belong to Christ, then you are the descendants of Abraham, heirs according to the promise.
For it is written that Abraham had two sons, one by the slave woman and one by the free woman;
Now, brothers, you [Christians] are children of the promise [made to Abraham. See 3:29] just like Isaac, [Abraham's son] was.
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]."
for we are the genuine sons of Abraham, who worship God in the spiritual manner, and value no other dependance than that on Jesus Christ, without confiding in any external advantages:
For of course it is not angels but descendants of Abraham that He is to help.
For God who promised to Abraham, since he had none greater to swear by, swore by himself,
And so by patiently waiting, Abraham obtained the promise.
Since God wanted to show conclusively to those who would inherit the promise [i.e., Abraham and all of his spiritual descendants], how unchangeable His purpose was, He confirmed it with an oath.
For this Melchizedek, king of Salem, priest of God Most High, having met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings, also blessed him.
To whom also Abraham divided a tenth of all. Being actually translated, first, king of righteousness, and then also, king of Salem, which is king of peace,
And notice how great this man was, to whom also the patriarch Abraham gave a tenth out of the best spoils.
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.
But the man who did not descend from them has received tithes from Abraham, and has blessed the man having the promises.
And, so to speak, Levi also, the man who receives tithes, has paid tithes through Abraham,
for Levi was yet in the loins of his father, when Melchizedek met Abraham.
By faith Abraham, when he was called, obeyed to go out unto a place which he was to receive for an inheritance; and he went out, not knowing whither he went.
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.
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.
By faith Abraham, being tried, offered up Isaac: yea, he that had gladly received the promises was offering up his only begotten'son ;
Abraham was certain that God could raise the dead, and figuratively speaking, he did get Isaac back in this way.
But, idle boaster, are you willing to be taught how it is that faith apart from obedience is worthless? Take the case of Abraham our forefather.
Was not Abraham our father justified by works, in that he offered up Isaac his son upon the altar?
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Thematic Bible
Abidah » Descendant » Abraham
Abraham » Piety of
Abraham » God's covenant with
So the men of faith are blessed as partners with trusting Abraham. For those who depend on what the law commands are under a curse, for the Scripture says, "Cursed be everyone who does not continue in all the commands that are written in the book of the law, to do them." Now it is evident that through the law no man is brought into right standing with God, for "The man in right standing with God will live by faith," and the law has nothing to do with faith, but it says, "It is the man who does these things that will live by doing them." Christ ransomed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us -- for the Scripture says, "Cursed be everyone who is hanged on a tree" -- that the blessing promised to Abraham might through Jesus Christ come to the heathen, so that through faith we might receive the promised Spirit. Brothers, I am going to use a human illustration: Even a human contract, once it has been ratified, no one can annul or change. Now the promises were made to Abraham and his descendant. It does not say, "and to your descendants," in the plural, but in the singular, "and to your descendant," that is, Christ. I mean this: The law which was given four hundred and thirty years later could not annul the contract which had already been ratified by God, so as to cancel the promise. For if our inheritance depends on the law, it can no longer depend on the promise. But it was by promise that God so graciously bestowed it upon Abraham.
that is, Hagar (and Hagar means Mount Sinai, in Arabia) and corresponds to the present Jerusalem, for Jerusalem is in slavery with her children. But the Jerusalem that is above is free, and she is our mother. For the Scripture says: "Rejoice, you childless woman, who never bore a child; break forth into shouting, you who feel no birth pangs; for the desolate woman has many children, even more than the married one." Now we, brothers, like Isaac, are children born to fulfill the promise. But just as then the child born in the ordinary course of nature persecuted the one born by the power of the Spirit, so it is today. But what does the Scripture say? "Drive off the slave girl and her son, for the slave girl's son shall never share the inheritance with the son of the free woman." So, brothers, we are children, not of a slave girl but of a free woman.
Abraham » Faith of
Now when a workman gets his pay, it is not considered from the point of view of a favor but of an obligation; but the man who does no work, but simply puts his faith in Him who brings the ungodly into right standing with Himself, has his faith credited to him as right standing. So David, too, describes the happiness of the man to whom God credits right standing with Himself, without the things he does having anything to do with it: "Happy are they whose transgressions have been forgiven, whose sins were covered up; Happy the man whose sin the Lord does not charge against him!" Now does this happiness come to the Jews alone, or to the heathen peoples too? For we say, "Abraham's faith was credited to him as right standing." Under what circumstances was it credited to him as right standing? Was it after he was circumcised, or before? Not after but before he was circumcised. Afterward he received the mark of circumcision as God's seal of his right standing with Him on condition of faith which he had before he was circumcised, that he might be the forefather of all who have faith while still uncircumcised, that they might have their faith credited to them as right standing with God; and the forefather of those Jews who not only belong to the circumcision but also follow in the footsteps of our forefather Abraham in the faith he had before he was circumcised. For the promise made to Abraham and his descendants, that he should own the world, was not conditioned on the law, but on the right standing he had with God through faith. For if the law party is to possess the world, then faith has been nullified and the promise has been made null and void. For the law results in wrath alone, but where there is no law, there can be no violation of it. So it is conditioned on faith, that it might be in accordance with God's unmerited favor, so that the promise might be in force for all the descendants of Abraham, not only for those who belong to the law party but also for those who belong to the faith group of Abraham. He is the father of us all, as the Scripture says, "I have made you the father of many nations." That is, the promise is in force in the sight of God in whom he put his faith, the God who can bring the dead to life and can call to Himself the things that do not exist as though they did. Abraham, building on hope in spite of hopeless circumstances, had faith, and so he actually became the father of many nations, just as it had been told him, "So numberless shall your descendants be." Because he never weakened in faith, he calmly contemplated his own vital powers as worn out (for he was about one hundred years old) and the inability of Sarah to bear a child, and yet he never staggered in doubt at the promise of God but grew powerful in faith, because he gave the glory to God in full assurance that He was able to do what He had promised. Therefore, his faith was credited to him as right standing with God.
So the men of faith are blessed as partners with trusting Abraham.
You see that a man is shown to be upright by his good deeds, and not merely by his faith.
Abraham » Divine call of
Abraham » How regarded by his descendants
So if the Son sets you free, you will be really free. I know that you are Abraham's descendants, and yet you are trying to kill me, because there is no room in you for my teaching. I am telling you what I have seen in my Father's presence, and you are practicing what you have learned from your father." They answered Him, "Our father is Abraham." Jesus said to them, "If you are Abraham's children, you must be practicing what Abraham did. But right now you are trying to kill me, a man who has told you the truth that He has learned from God. Abraham never did that.
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, 'My child, remember that you received in full your blessings in your lifetime, and Lazarus his hardships in his, but now he is continuously comforted here, while you are continuously tortured there. Besides all this, between you and us there stands fixed a great chasm, so that those who want to cross from this side to you cannot, nor can they cross from your side to us.' Then he said, 'For this reason, I beg you, father, to send him to my father's house (for I have five brothers) to warn them, that they too may not come to this place of torture.' But Abraham said, 'They have Moses and the prophets; let them listen to them.' But he pleaded, 'No, father Abraham, but if someone went to them from the dead, they would repent.' Then he answered, 'If they do not listen to Moses and the prophets, they will not be convinced, even if someone rises from the dead.'"
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
that is, Hagar (and Hagar means Mount Sinai, in Arabia) and corresponds to the present Jerusalem, for Jerusalem is in slavery with her children. But the Jerusalem that is above is free, and she is our mother. For the Scripture says: "Rejoice, you childless woman, who never bore a child; break forth into shouting, you who feel no birth pangs; for the desolate woman has many children, even more than the married one." Now we, brothers, like Isaac, are children born to fulfill the promise. But just as then the child born in the ordinary course of nature persecuted the one born by the power of the Spirit, so it is today. But what does the Scripture say? "Drive off the slave girl and her son, for the slave girl's son shall never share the inheritance with the son of the free woman."
Abraham » Is blessed by melchizedek
Now see how great this man must have been that even the patriarch Abraham gave him a tenth of his spoils. And those of the descendants of Levi who accept the priesthood are authorized by the law to collect a tenth from the people; that is, from their own brothers, though they have sprung from Abraham. But in this case, the man whose ancestry is not traced from them collected a tenth from Abraham, and put his blessing on the man who had the promises from God. Now beyond any contradiction, it is always the inferior that is blessed by the superior. In the one case, mortal men collect the tenth, in the other, one who, as the witness states, lives on. And I might almost say, Levi too, who now collects the tenth, through Abraham paid the tenth, for he was a vital part of his forefather though yet unborn, when Melchizedek met him.
Abraham » Isaac born to
that is, Hagar (and Hagar means Mount Sinai, in Arabia) and corresponds to the present Jerusalem, for Jerusalem is in slavery with her children. But the Jerusalem that is above is free, and she is our mother. For the Scripture says: "Rejoice, you childless woman, who never bore a child; break forth into shouting, you who feel no birth pangs; for the desolate woman has many children, even more than the married one." Now we, brothers, like Isaac, are children born to fulfill the promise. But just as then the child born in the ordinary course of nature persecuted the one born by the power of the Spirit, so it is today. But what does the Scripture say? "Drive off the slave girl and her son, for the slave girl's son shall never share the inheritance with the son of the free woman."
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
Not only that but this too: There was Rebecca who was impregnated by our forefather Isaac. For even before the twin sons were born, and though they had done nothing either good or bad, that God's purpose in accordance with His choice might continue to stand, conditioned not on men's actions but on God's calling them, she was told, "The elder will be a slave to the younger." As the Scripture says, "Jacob I have loved, but Esau I have hated."
The Covenant » Made with » Abraham
in holiness and uprightness In His own presence all 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 » Sacrifice
Obedience » Instances of » Abraham
This is what God promised: 'His descendants will be strangers living in a foreign land, and its people will enslave and oppress them for four hundred years.' But God further promised: 'I will pass sentence on the nation that enslaves them, and after that they will leave that country and worship me on this very spot.' And with Abraham He made the sacred compact of circumcision, and he became the father of Isaac and circumcised him on the eighth day, and Isaac became the father of Jacob, and Jacob of the twelve patriarchs.
By faith Sarah received strength to become pregnant, and actually gave birth to a child, although she was past the time of life for it, because she thought that He who made her the promise was to be trusted. And so there sprang from one man, and that dead as to any prospects for offspring, a people as numberless as the stars in the sky and as the sands beside the seashore. These people all died victoriously as a result of their faith, although they did not receive the blessings promised; that is, because they really saw them in the far-off future and welcomed them, and so professed to be only foreigners and strangers here on earth. For people who make such a profession as this show that they are in search of a country of their own. And if they had been cherishing the memory of the country they had left, they would have had an opportunity to go back. But in reality they were aspiring for a better country, I mean, a heavenly one. This is why God is not ashamed to be called their God, for He has prepared a city for them. By faith Abraham, when he was put to the test, offered Isaac as a sacrifice; that is, he who had received the promise was starting to offer as a sacrifice his only son,