Abraham in the Bible

Meaning: father of a great multitude

Exact Match

And thy name shall no more be called Abram, but thy name shall be Abraham; for a father of a multitude of nations have I made thee.

Verse ConceptsAbraham, Calling And LifeTypes Of ChristChanged NamesGod Renaming People

And God said to Abraham, And as for thee, thou shalt keep my covenant, thou and thy seed after thee in their generations.

Verse ConceptsAbraham, Testing And Victory

And Abraham took Ishmael his son, and all who were born in his house, and all who were bought with his money every male among the people of Abraham's house and circumcised the flesh of their foreskin on that same day, as God had said to him.

Verse ConceptsForeskinsAt The Same TimeGroups Of Slaves

And Abraham was ninety-nine years old when he was circumcised in the flesh of his foreskin.

Now the Lord appeared to Abraham by the terebinth trees of Mamre [in Hebron], while he was sitting at the tent door in the heat of the day.

Verse ConceptsHeatNoonRevelation, In OtSittingTentsAbraham, Testing And VictoryOaksHot WeatherGod Appearing

he glanced up and saw three men standing there, not far from him. As soon as he noticed them, Abraham ran from the tent entrance to greet them and bowed low to the ground.

Verse ConceptsAngel of the LordBowingSalutationsThree MenIndividuals RunningTrinity

Then Abraham took curds and milk, and the calf that he had prepared, and set them before the men. He served them as they ate under the tree.

Verse ConceptsButterMilkDairyCompanionshipPeople EatingRich Food

and Abraham and Sarah are aged, entering into days -- the way of women hath ceased to be to Sarah;

Verse ConceptsHumourPeople Wearing OutSoliloquyThe Promise Of A BabysexHaving A Babysarah

And Jehovah said to Abraham, Why is this, that Sarah laughs, saying, Shall I indeed bear, when I am become old?

Verse ConceptsWhy Do Others Do This?The Promise Of A Babysarah

And Jehovah saith unto Abraham, 'Why is this? Sarah hath laughed, saying, Is it true really -- I bear -- and I am aged? Is any thing too wonderful for Jehovah? at the appointed time I return unto thee, about the time of life, and Sarah hath a son.'

Verse ConceptsAll Things Being PossibleGod, Power OfGod's OmnipotencePower, Of GodArriving On TimePossibilities For GodEasy For GodPossible For GodThe Time Appointedimpossible

And the men turned thence, and went towards Sodom; and Abraham remained yet standing before Jehovah.

Abraham spoke to Him yet again and said, “Suppose [only] forty are found there.” And He said, “I will not do it for the sake of the forty [who are righteous].”

Verse ConceptsFortiesNumbers Of Righteous People

Then Abraham said [to Him], “Oh, may the Lord not be angry, and I will speak; suppose thirty [righteous people] are found there?” And He said, “I will not do it if I find thirty there.”

Verse ConceptsThirtyLet Not God Be AngryNumbers Of Righteous PeopleSpeaking To God

"Look," Abraham said, "I've presumed to speak to my LORD" so what if 20 are found there?" "For the sake of those 20," the LORD responded, "I won't destroy it."

Verse ConceptsTwentyNumbers Of Righteous PeopleSpeaking To God

Finally, Abraham inquired, "I hope my LORD will not be angry if I speak only once more. What if ten are found there?" He replied, "For the sake of those ten I won't destroy it."

Verse ConceptsGod, Patience OfTen PeopleLet Not God Be AngryNumbers Of Righteous PeopleSpeaking To GodWorth

And it came to pass when God destroyed the cities of the plain, that God remembered Abraham, and sent Lot out of the midst of the overthrow, when he overthrew the cities in which Lot dwelt.

Verse ConceptsMemoriesRememberingAbraham, Testing And VictoryAbraham, Calling And LifeDivine RemembranceDestruction Of CitiesGod Remembering His PeopleBringing People Out Of Other Places

And Abraham departed thence towards the south country, and dwelt between Kadesh and Shur, and sojourned at Gerar.

Verse ConceptsAbraham, Testing And VictorySojourningParticular Journeys

Did Abraham not say to me, 'She is my sister'? And she herself said, 'He is my brother.' I have done this with a clear conscience and with innocent hands!"

Verse ConceptsMisrepresentationPlea Of Innocence

And Abimelech called Abraham and said to him, What hast thou done to us? And in what have I sinned against thee, that thou hast brought on me, and on my kingdom, a great sin? Thou hast done to me deeds that ought not to be done.

Verse ConceptsWhat Do You Do?Kings SummoningWe Have SinnedWhat Sin?

And Abraham said, Because I said, Surely the fear of God is not in this place, and they will kill me for my wife's sake.

Verse ConceptsFailureNo Fear Of GodWhy People Did Things

And Abraham called the name of his son who was born to him, whom Sarah bore to him, Isaac.

Verse ConceptsPeople Naming Peoplesarah

And she said to Abraham, Cast out this handmaid and her son; for the son of this handmaid shall not inherit with my son with Isaac.

Verse ConceptsInheritance, MaterialFamilyQuarrelsOld Testament People As Typessarah

And the thing was very grievous in Abraham's sight because of his son.

And God said to Abraham, Let it not be grievous in thy sight because of the lad and because of thy handmaid: in all that Sarah hath said to thee hearken to her voice, for in Isaac shall a seed be called to thee.

Verse ConceptsAbrahamProphecies Concerning ChristPay Attention To People!sarah

And Abraham rose up early in the morning, and took bread, and a flask of water, and gave it to Hagar, putting it on her shoulder and the child, and sent her away. And she departed, and wandered about in the wilderness of Beer-sheba.

Verse ConceptsShouldersBottle, UsesDeserts, SpecificThe HomelessWater ContainersWanderersThose Who Rose EarlyCarrying Other LoadsExamples Of Love For Children

And Abraham reproved Abimelech because of a well of water that Abimelech's servants had violently taken away.

Verse ConceptsServants, BadWellsDishonesty, Examples Of

And Abimelech said to Abraham, What mean these seven ewe-lambs, these which thou hast set by themselves?

Verse ConceptsSeparating AnimalsWhat Is This?

And Abraham rose early in the morning, and saddled his ass, and took two of his young men with him, and Isaac his son; and he clave the wood for the burnt-offering, and rose up and went to the place that God had told him of.

Verse ConceptsAbrahamDonkeysMorningAnimals, Types OfRising EarlySplitting WoodFirewoodThose Who Rose EarlyPreparing To TravelSaddling DonkeysTwo Other Men

And Abraham said to his young men, Abide ye here with the ass; and I and the lad will go yonder and worship, and come again to you.

Verse ConceptsBowing Before God

And Abraham took the wood of the burnt-offering, and laid it on Isaac his son; and he took the fire in his hand, and the knife, and they went both of them together.

Verse ConceptsAbrahamKnifesGoing TogetherBurning SacrificesFirewoodCarrying Other Loads

And Isaac spoke to Abraham his father, and said, My father! And he said, Here am I, my son. And he said, Behold the fire and the wood; but where is the sheep for a burnt-offering?

Verse ConceptsFireLambsBurning SacrificesFirewoodBehold Me!Sheep And GoatsWhere Are Things?

And they came to the place of which God had told him. And Abraham built the altar there, and piled the wood; and he bound Isaac his son, and laid him on the altar upon the wood.

Verse ConceptsAltarsAbrahamBindingPutting In OrderBuilding AltarsFirewoodTying Up

And Abraham lifted up his eyes, and looked, and behold, behind was a ram caught in the thicket by its horns; and Abraham went and took the ram, and offered it up for a burnt-offering instead of his son.

Verse ConceptsAbrahamHornsRamsSubstitutionNames Of GodHorns Of AnimalsVicarious Substitution

And Abraham returned to his young men, and they rose up and went together to Beer-sheba. And Abraham dwelt at Beer-sheba.

And it came to pass after these things, that it was told Abraham, saying, Behold, Milcah, she also has borne sons to thy brother Nahor:

Verse ConceptsAbraham, Testing And Victory

(And Bethuel begot Rebecca.) These eight Milcah bore to Nahor, Abraham's brother.

Verse ConceptsEight People

And Sarah died in Kirjath-Arba: that is Hebron, in the land of Canaan. And Abraham came to mourn for Sarah, and to weep for her.

Verse ConceptsGriefLossSorrowWeepingMourning The Death Of OthersDeath

And Abraham rose up, and bowed down to the people of the land, to the sons of Heth,

Verse ConceptsSalutations

And Ephron was dwelling among the sons of Heth. And Ephron the Hittite answered Abraham, in the ears of the sons of Heth, even of all that went in at the gate of his city, saying,

Verse ConceptsempiresCitiesBusiness At The GatewayIn Men's Presence

And Abraham said to Ephron, in the hearing of the people of the land, If only you will give ear to me, I will give you the price of the field; take it, and let me put my dead to rest there.

Verse ConceptsThe Cave Of MachpelahIn Men's Presence

And Abraham hearkened to Ephron; and Abraham weighed to Ephron the money that he had named in the ears of the sons of Heth four hundred shekels of silver, current with the merchant.

Verse ConceptsAgreement, Making AgreementsMerchantsTradeWeighingIn Men's PresenceAgreeing With One Anotherhumor

Thus was the field of Ephron wherein the double cave is before Mamre - even the field and the cave that is therein, and all the trees of the field which grow in all the borders round about - made sure unto Abraham for a possession,

Verse ConceptsCaves For Burying

were assured to Abraham for a possession before the eyes of the sons of Heth, before all who went in at the gate of his city.

Verse ConceptsBusiness At The GatewayIn Men's Presence

And after this, Abraham buried Sarah his wife in the cave of the field at Machpelah, opposite to Mamre: that is Hebron, in the land of Canaan.

Verse ConceptsTombsCaves For BuryingThe Cave Of MachpelahBurying placessarah

And Abraham said to his servant, the eldest of his house, who ruled over all that he had, Put thy hand, I pray thee, under my thigh,

Verse ConceptsThighsinvesting

And the servant put his hand under the thigh of Abraham his master, and swore unto him concerning that matter.

Verse ConceptsServants, GoodThighsSwearing Oaths

Then the servant took ten of his master’s camels, and set out, taking some of his master’s good things with him; so he got up and journeyed to Mesopotamia [between the Tigris and the Euphrates Rivers], to the city of Nahor [the home of Abraham’s brother].

Verse ConceptsDeparturesTen AnimalsGiving Good Things

And he said, Jehovah, God of my master Abraham, meet me, I pray thee, with thy blessing this day, and deal kindly with my master Abraham.

Verse ConceptsGod Of The FathersGrace, In OtAdventureSuccess Through GodguidanceHaving A Good Day

Now, may the girl to whom I say, Let down your vessel and give me a drink, and who says in answer, Here is a drink for you and let me give water to your camels: may she be the one marked out by you for your servant Isaac: so may I be certain that you have been good to my master Abraham.

Verse ConceptsDrinksWater ContainersRequesting FoodMan Providing WaterSeeking A SignGod Appointing OthersGiving In Marriage

And it came to pass before he had ended speaking, that behold, Rebecca came out, who was born to Bethuel, son of Milcah the wife of Nahor, Abraham's brother; and she had her pitcher upon her shoulder.

Verse ConceptsShouldersequipping, physicalWater ContainersWhile Still SpeakingCarrying Other Loads

Then Abraham's servant ran to meet her and asked her, "Please, let me have a sip of water from your jug."

Verse ConceptsWater ContainersIndividuals RunningRequesting FoodMan Providing Water

and said, Blessed be Jehovah, God of my master Abraham, who has not withdrawn his loving-kindness and his faithfulness from my master; I being in the way, Jehovah has led me to the house of my master's brethren.

Verse ConceptsJourneyKindnessGod Has GuidedBless The Lord!God Showed His Lovingkindness

So Abraham's servant went to the house and unloaded the camels. Straw and feed were given to the camels, and water was provided so that he and the men who were with him could wash their feet.

Verse ConceptsBathing, For CleansingGuestsMangersStrawWaterFeet WashingThings StrippedEntering HousesFeeding AnimalsMan Providing WaterClean FeetCare Of Feet

Thematic Bible














therefore the inheritance is of faith, that it might be meerly of favour, to the end the promise might be assured to all his posterity, not to that part only who have the law, but to that also who have the faith of Abraham, the father of us all, as it is written, " I have made thee a father of many nations," then existing in the sight of God, whom he believed, who gives life to the dead, and calls forth things that are not, as if they were: he it was who against hope believed in hope, that he should become the father of many nations, according to what was told him, "so shall thy posterity be:"

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it was then, that those words of scripture were accomplished, "Abraham believed God, and he was regarded for it as a man of virtue, and was the favourite of God."




the oath which he made to our father Abraham, to grant us this favour,

Besides, the promise that he should possess the world, was not made to Abraham, or to his posterity in consideration of the law, but with regard to the righteousness by faith.

for I tell you, that Jesus Christ was a minister to the Jews, to manifest the veracity of God in fulfilling the promises made to the fathers:

For when God gave his promise to Abraham, because he could swear by no greater, he sware by himself, saying, "surely I will heap blessings upon thee, and will give thee a numerous posterity."

As Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness: so hence ye know, that it is they who believe who are the children of Abraham. and the scripture insinuating, that God would justify the Gentiles thro' faith, gave Abraham an intimation of the gospel in these words, " in thee shall all nations be blessed." read more.
so that it is they who believe, who are blessed with Abraham, who did believe. but they that rest themselves upon the works of the law, are obnoxious to the curse: for it is written, " cursed is every one, who continueth not in all things, which are written in the book of the law, to do them:" but that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God, is evident: for, " the just shall live by faith." now the law does not justify by FAITH, but says, "he that DOES these things shall live by them." Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us. (for it is written, " cursed is every one, that hangeth upon a tree.") that the blessing promised to Abraham might come on the Gentiles thro' Jesus Christ; that we by believing might receive the spirit that was promised. Brethren, I speak according to the practice of men; contracts between men, when once ratified, cannot be disannulled or altered afterwards by any man. now to Abraham and his offspring were the promises made. he does not say, "to offsprings," as if he spoke of many; but as speaking of one, "and to thy offspring," which means Christ. this therefore I say, that the law, which was not till four hundred and thirty years after, cannot disannul the promise, that was ratified before by God, so as to set the promise afoot. now if the right to the inheritance be from the law, it is no longer founded upon the promise; altho' God made a donation of it to Abraham by promise.

and if you belong to Christ, you are Abraham's offspring, and his heirs by virtue of the promise.

for it is there written, Abraham had two sons, the one by a bond-maid, the other by a free-woman. he, who was of the bond-woman, was born according to the ordinary course of nature; but he, who was of the free-woman, was born by virtue of the promise. these things have an allegorical meaning: the two women signify the two covenants, the one from mount Sinai, which is represented by Agar, whose children were born in a state of servitude. read more.
this Agar answers to the Jerusalem now in being, for she is in servitude with her children: but the heavenly Jerusalem is represented by the free-woman, who is the mother of us all. for it is written, "rejoice thou barren, that bearest not; break out into loud acclamations, thou that hast not the travels of childbirth, for more are the children of the desolate, than of her that hath an husband." Now we, my brethren, as Isaac was, are the children of the promise. but as then, he that was born in the ordinary course of nature, persecuted him, who was born by an extraordinary power; even so it is now. but what saith the scripture? "cast out the bond-woman and her son; for the son of the bond-woman shall not share the inheritance with the son of the free-woman." so then, my brethren, we are not children of the bond-woman, but of the free-woman, by virtue of that freedom which Christ has procur'd for us.



How then can we assert, "that Abraham our father obtained this from circumcision?" for if Abraham was justified by works, he had matter of pretension, whereas he had no such claim from God. for what saith the scripture? "Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him for righteousness." read more.
the reward is not counted as a favour to him that has done good actions, but as a debt: whereas he that trusts in God to be made righteous, tho' he has not done such actions, shall find his faith accounted as righteousness. even as David also speaks of the happiness of the man whom God accounted righteous independently of his works, " happy are they whose iniquities are forgiven, and whose sins are covered. happy is the man to whom the Lord will not account sin." Is this happiness then for the circumcised only, or for the uncircumcised also? for we say that faith was accounted to Abraham for righteousness. how was it then accounted? whilst he was circumcised, or uncircumcised? he was not then circumcised, but uncircumcised: and he received the sign of circumcision, as a seal of the justification by that faith, which the uncircumcised have: that he might be the father of all those who believe, tho' they are uncircumcised, that it might be accounted to them also for righteousness: and the father of the circumcised, that is of those who are not barely circumcised, but who imitate that faith which our father Abraham had, being yet uncircumcised. Besides, the promise that he should possess the world, was not made to Abraham, or to his posterity in consideration of the law, but with regard to the righteousness by faith. for if they only who are of the law have right of possession, faith is made useless, and the promise becomes of no effect. because the effect of the law is punishment: for if there had been no law, there could have been no transgression. therefore the inheritance is of faith, that it might be meerly of favour, to the end the promise might be assured to all his posterity, not to that part only who have the law, but to that also who have the faith of Abraham, the father of us all, as it is written, " I have made thee a father of many nations," then existing in the sight of God, whom he believed, who gives life to the dead, and calls forth things that are not, as if they were: he it was who against hope believed in hope, that he should become the father of many nations, according to what was told him, "so shall thy posterity be:" far from being weak in faith, unconcern'd at his own bodily decay, being then about an hundred years old, and at Sarah's incapacity of child-bearing, he was not incredulously diffident of the divine promise; but was strong in faith, and did honour to God, by the full persuasion he had, that what he had promised, he was able also to perform. and therefore it was accounted to him for righteousness.

As Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness: so hence ye know, that it is they who believe who are the children of Abraham. and the scripture insinuating, that God would justify the Gentiles thro' faith, gave Abraham an intimation of the gospel in these words, " in thee shall all nations be blessed." read more.
so that it is they who believe, who are blessed with Abraham, who did believe.

'Twas by faith that he who was named Abraham, showed his obedience in travelling to a foreign country, which he was afterwards to inherit; and began his journey without knowing where he was going. 'twas by faith that he sojourned in a land that was promised, as in a strange country, dwelling in tents with Isaac and Jacob, who were equally entitled to the same promise. for he had in view the city, whose foundations are sure, the architect and founder being God.

'Twas by faith that Abraham, when put to the trial, offered up Isaac: HE offered up his darling son, to whose posterity the promises were to be made good: of whom it was said, "only the descendants of Isaac shall be counted your posterity:" concluding that God was able to raise him up, even from the grave; from whence, in a figurative sense, be may be said to have been recover'd.

was not our father Abraham treated as just, in consequence of his actions, when he had attempted to sacrifice his son upon the altar? don't you see his actions and his faith conspir'd, and that his faith had its perfect effect in his conduct? it was then, that those words of scripture were accomplished, "Abraham believed God, and he was regarded for it as a man of virtue, and was the favourite of God." read more.
you see then, that a man is accounted just for his actions, and not for his bare faith.






Stephen answer'd, my brethren, and you my fathers, lend your attention. The God of glory appeared unto our father Abraham, when he was in Mesopotamia, before he dwelt in Charran, and said to him, quit your country, and your kindred, to go to the land which I shall shew thee.

'Twas by faith that he who was named Abraham, showed his obedience in travelling to a foreign country, which he was afterwards to inherit; and began his journey without knowing where he was going.


and don't pretend to say within your selves, We have Abraham for our father: for I tell you, that God is able out of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham:

and must not this daughter of Abraham, whom satan has held bound these eighteen years, be disengag'd from this bond, on a sabbath-day?

there will 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.

then said Jesus, speaking of him, this day is salvation come to this family, since he is now become a true son of Abraham.

they answered him, we are Abraham's offspring, and were never slaves to any man: why then do you say, "ye shall be made free?" Jesus answered them, I declare unto you, whosoever committeth sin, is a slave to sin. a slave has no right to be in the house for life: but the son is settled there. read more.
if the son therefore shall make you free, you will be free indeed. I know you are Abraham's offspring; but ye seek to kill me, because my doctrine doth not penetrate into you. what I have learnt from my father, that I tell: and what you have learnt from your father, that you do. they answered him, Abraham is our father. if you were Abraham's children, said Jesus, you would act like Abraham. but now ye seek to kill me, the man who has told you the truth, such as I have learnt it of God: Abraham did not act thus.








'Twas by faith that Abraham, when put to the trial, offered up Isaac: HE offered up his darling son, to whose posterity the promises were to be made good:

was not our father Abraham treated as just, in consequence of his actions, when he had attempted to sacrifice his son upon the altar?









it was then, that those words of scripture were accomplished, "Abraham believed God, and he was regarded for it as a man of virtue, and was the favourite of God."


there will 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 I declare unto you, that many shall come from the east and from the west, and shall sit at table with Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob in the heavenly kingdom.

at length the beggar died: and was conveyed by the angels to Abraham's bower. the rich man died too, and was buried. and being in the infernal regions of torments, he lift up his eyes, and saw Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bower. and he cry'd out, saying, father Abraham, take pity on me, and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water to cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame. read more.
but Abraham said, son, remember you had your enjoyments, when you were alive, and Lazarus his misfortunes: but now he has his consolation, and you your torments. besides this, there is an unalterable chasm between us and you, so that the passage from one place to the other is impracticable to those who should attempt it. upon which he said, father, I beg it of you, that you would send him to my father's family, where I have five brothers, to give them warning, lest they also come into this place of torment. but Abraham replied, they have Moses and the prophets, let them mind them. no, father Abraham, said he, they will not: but if any of the dead went to them, they will certainly repent. Abraham replied, if they disregard Moses and the prophets, they will not believe any one, though he rose from the dead.














thereupon he went out of Chaldea, and dwelt in Charran: from thence, after his father's death, he removed him to this very country where you now dwell.







for it is there written, Abraham had two sons, the one by a bond-maid, the other by a free-woman. he, who was of the bond-woman, was born according to the ordinary course of nature; but he, who was of the free-woman, was born by virtue of the promise. these things have an allegorical meaning: the two women signify the two covenants, the one from mount Sinai, which is represented by Agar, whose children were born in a state of servitude. read more.
this Agar answers to the Jerusalem now in being, for she is in servitude with her children: but the heavenly Jerusalem is represented by the free-woman, who is the mother of us all. for it is written, "rejoice thou barren, that bearest not; break out into loud acclamations, thou that hast not the travels of childbirth, for more are the children of the desolate, than of her that hath an husband." Now we, my brethren, as Isaac was, are the children of the promise. but as then, he that was born in the ordinary course of nature, persecuted him, who was born by an extraordinary power; even so it is now. but what saith the scripture? "cast out the bond-woman and her son; for the son of the bond-woman shall not share the inheritance with the son of the free-woman."



For this Melchisedec was both king of Salem, and a priest of the most high God; 'twas he who met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings, and blessed him: to whom also Abraham gave a tenth part of the whole booty: first, being by the signification of his name king of justice, and in fact king of Salem, which is, king of peace; without father, without mother, without genealogy; his days have no beginning, and his life no end; but like the son of God, he was a perpetual priest. read more.
Now consider the dignity of this person, to whom even the patriarch Abraham gave the tenth of the spoils. 'tis true they of the race of Levi, who assume the office of the priesthood, have a right by law to take tithes of the people, that is, of their brethren, though they all issued from Abraham: but he who was not of their pedigree, received tithes from Abraham, and blessed him to whom the promises were made. now 'tis past dispute, he that is blessed is inferior to him that blesses: besides here they that receive tithes are men who die: but there 'twas he of whom it is testified that he liveth. and even Levi who received tithes, pay'd tithes, if I may so say, in the person of Abraham. for he was even then in the loins of his father, when Melchisedec met him.



for it is there written, Abraham had two sons, the one by a bond-maid, the other by a free-woman. he, who was of the bond-woman, was born according to the ordinary course of nature; but he, who was of the free-woman, was born by virtue of the promise. these things have an allegorical meaning: the two women signify the two covenants, the one from mount Sinai, which is represented by Agar, whose children were born in a state of servitude. read more.
this Agar answers to the Jerusalem now in being, for she is in servitude with her children: but the heavenly Jerusalem is represented by the free-woman, who is the mother of us all. for it is written, "rejoice thou barren, that bearest not; break out into loud acclamations, thou that hast not the travels of childbirth, for more are the children of the desolate, than of her that hath an husband." Now we, my brethren, as Isaac was, are the children of the promise. but as then, he that was born in the ordinary course of nature, persecuted him, who was born by an extraordinary power; even so it is now. but what saith the scripture? "cast out the bond-woman and her son; for the son of the bond-woman shall not share the inheritance with the son of the free-woman."






For this Melchisedec was both king of Salem, and a priest of the most high God; 'twas he who met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings, and blessed him:














thereupon he went out of Chaldea, and dwelt in Charran: from thence, after his father's death, he removed him to this very country where you now dwell.















'Twas by faith that Abraham, when put to the trial, offered up Isaac: HE offered up his darling son, to whose posterity the promises were to be made good:










































































neither are they who are the race of Abraham, all children: but 'tis said, "in Isaac shall thy posterity be called." that is, the children by natural descent are not thereby the children of God: but the children of the promise are alone considered as his posterity. for the words of the promise run thus, "at this time I will come, and Sara shall have a son." read more.
this appears too from the case of Rebecca, who conceived twins by our father Isaac. for before they were born, and had done neither good or evil, that the distinction which God had purposed to make might appear to be, not in consideration of their actions, but of his own free call, it was said to her, "the elder shall serve the younger." as it is written, "Jacob have I loved, but Esau I have discarded."




ye are the children of the prophets, and of the covenant which God made with our fathers, when he said to Abraham, "all the families of the earth shall be blessed in your posterity."



to show regard to our forefathers, in performing his holy covenant, the oath which he made to our father Abraham, to grant us this favour, that we should be delivered from the power of our enemies, and serve him with security, read more.
in the sincere practice of holiness and justice, all our days.

now to Abraham and his offspring were the promises made. he does not say, "to offsprings," as if he spoke of many; but as speaking of one, "and to thy offspring," which means Christ.




'Twas by faith that Abraham, when put to the trial, offered up Isaac: HE offered up his darling son, to whose posterity the promises were to be made good: of whom it was said, "only the descendants of Isaac shall be counted your posterity:" concluding that God was able to raise him up, even from the grave; from whence, in a figurative sense, be may be said to have been recover'd.

'Twas by faith that he who was named Abraham, showed his obedience in travelling to a foreign country, which he was afterwards to inherit; and began his journey without knowing where he was going.









your father Abraham long'd to see my day: and he saw it, and was glad.








he was not incredulously diffident of the divine promise; but was strong in faith, and did honour to God,













he it was who against hope believed in hope, that he should become the father of many nations, according to what was told him, "so shall thy posterity be:"


your father Abraham long'd to see my day: and he saw it, and was glad.


now to Abraham and his offspring were the promises made. he does not say, "to offsprings," as if he spoke of many; but as speaking of one, "and to thy offspring," which means Christ.


for he is not the deliverer of angels; but the deliverer of Abraham's posterity.



























your father Abraham long'd to see my day: and he saw it, and was glad.




was not our father Abraham treated as just, in consequence of his actions, when he had attempted to sacrifice his son upon the altar?






and said to him, quit your country, and your kindred, to go to the land which I shall shew thee. thereupon he went out of Chaldea, and dwelt in Charran: from thence, after his father's death, he removed him to this very country where you now dwell. he gave him no inheritance in it, not even a foot of land: yet he promised to give it to him for a possession, and to his posterity after him, tho' he had then no child. read more.
God declar'd likewise, "that his posterity should sojourn in a strange land, where they should be enslaved and abused four hundred years. and the nation to whom they shall be in bondage, will I judge, said God: and after that shall they come forth, and serve me in this place." at length he gave him the covenant of circumcision: accordingly Abraham circumcised his son Isaac eight days after he was born, Isaac was father of Jacob, who was father of the twelve patriarchs.

'Twas by faith that he who was named Abraham, showed his obedience in travelling to a foreign country, which he was afterwards to inherit; and began his journey without knowing where he was going. 'twas by faith that he sojourned in a land that was promised, as in a strange country, dwelling in tents with Isaac and Jacob, who were equally entitled to the same promise. for he had in view the city, whose foundations are sure, the architect and founder being God. read more.
'Twas likewise through faith that Sara, though barren, received the power of becoming pregnant, and was delivered of a child when she was past age, because she judged him faithful who had promised. so that even a single person whose vigour was gone, gave rise to a posterity as numerous as the stars of the sky, or the sands on the sea-shore, which cannot be numbred. These all died in faith, without receiving what was promised, having only a distant view of what they eagerly expected, professing to live as strangers and pilgrims in the land. for they. that make such a declaration, show plainly that they seek some other country. and truly, if that had been in their view, they might have had an opportunity of returning to the place from whence they came. they desired therefore a better, that is, an heavenly country: so that God is very justly stiled their God: for he had appointed a city for them. 'Twas by faith that Abraham, when put to the trial, offered up Isaac: HE offered up his darling son, to whose posterity the promises were to be made good:





'Twas by faith that Abraham, when put to the trial, offered up Isaac: HE offered up his darling son, to whose posterity the promises were to be made good: of whom it was said, "only the descendants of Isaac shall be counted your posterity:" concluding that God was able to raise him up, even from the grave; from whence, in a figurative sense, be may be said to have been recover'd.







and after he had patiently waited, he obtained what was promised.


























Is this happiness then for the circumcised only, or for the uncircumcised also? for we say that faith was accounted to Abraham for righteousness.

and therefore it was accounted to him for righteousness.















from whom the whole family in heaven and earth are denominated his children:








References