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Abraham

The founding patriarch of Israel, called by God from Ur to Canaan and promised descendants as numerous as the stars. Father of Isaac by Sarah.

Also known as: Abram

Lived: c. 2000 BC – c. 1825 BC

Belonged to: Genealogy of Jesus, Israelites (Hebrews), Patriarchs

What we know — and how we know it

Bible — stated in scripture (with verse) · 2 Archaeology — physical evidence · 1 Scholarly — supported scholarly belief · 1

Origin & birthplace

BibleCalled by God from Ur of the Chaldeans to journey to Canaan.

Genesis 11:31; 12:1

↳ Ur

Utilisateur:Djampa - User:Djampa — CC BY-SA 4.0 (via Wikimedia Commons) ArchaeologyGenesis records that Abraham bought the cave of Machpelah at Hebron as a family burying-place — the first land the patriarch owned in Canaan. The site is marked today by a massive stone enclosure raised by Herod the Great in the 1st century BC — the oldest such structure still in use — venerated as the Tomb of the Patriarchs ever since.

Cave of the Patriarchs (Machpelah), Hebron — massive Herodian enclosure wall (1st c. BC), ashlar masonry comparable to Herod's Temple Mount platform; architectural study by L.-H. Vincent, E. J. H. Mackay & F.-M. Abel, Hébron: Le Haram el-Khalil, sépulture des patriarches (Paris: Leroux, 1923); textual attribution cf. Genesis 23

↳ Hebron

Family & lineage

BibleFather of Ishmael by Hagar and of Isaac by Sarah; the father of many nations.

Genesis 21:2–3; 17:5

↳ Isaac · Ishmael

Death & legacy

ScholarlyAbraham is placed in the patriarchal age (c. 2000–1800 BC); the customs and names in Genesis fit the 2nd millennium BC, though his historicity is debated.

Ancient Near Eastern parallels

Where in scripture

Genesis Exodus Leviticus Numbers Deuteronomy Joshua 1 Kings 2 Kings 1 Chronicles 2 Chronicles Nehemiah Psalms Isaiah Jeremiah Ezekiel Micah Matthew Mark Luke

Terah lived seventy years, and became the father of Abram, Nahor, and Haran.
Genesis 11:26

Now Yahweh said to Abram, “Leave your country, and your relatives, and your father’s house, and go to the land that I will show you.
Genesis 12:1 — The call of Abram

Your name will no more be called Abram, but your name will be Abraham; for I have made you the father of a multitude of nations.
Genesis 17:5 — Renamed Abraham

Abraham got up early in the morning to the place where he had stood before Yahweh.
Genesis 19:27

When God destroyed the cities of the plain, God remembered Abraham, and sent Lot out of the middle of the overthrow, when he overthrew the cities in which Lot lived.
Genesis 19:29

and give you the blessing of Abraham, to you, and to your offspring with you, that you may inherit the land where you travel, which God gave to Abraham.”
Genesis 28:4

Unless the God of my father, the God of Abraham, and the fear of Isaac, had been with me, surely now you would have sent me away empty. God has seen my affliction and the labor of my hands, and rebuked you last night.”
Genesis 31:42

The God of Abraham, and the God of Nahor, the God of their father, judge between us.” Then Jacob swore by the fear of his father, Isaac.
Genesis 31:53

Scripture quotations are from the World English Bible, a public-domain translation.

Genesis 11:26 Genesis 12:1 Genesis 17:5 Genesis 19:27 Genesis 19:29 Genesis 28:4 Genesis 31:42 Genesis 31:53 Genesis 32:9 Genesis 35:12 Genesis 35:27 Genesis 48:15 Genesis 48:16 Genesis 49:30 Genesis 49:31 Genesis 50:13 Genesis 50:24 Exodus 2:24 Exodus 3:6 Exodus 4:5 Exodus 6:3 Exodus 6:8 Exodus 32:13 Exodus 33:1 …and 38 more mentions

Family

In their own words — 30 recorded sayings

“Now when he came near to Egypt, he said to Sarai, his wife, Truly, you are a fair woman and beautiful to the eye; And I am certain that when the men of Egypt see you, they will say, This is his wife: and they will put me to death and keep you. Say, then, that you are my sister, and so it will be well with me because of you, and my life will be kept safe on your account.” — Genesis 12:11-13

“Then Abram said to Lot, Let there be no argument between me and you, and between my herdmen and your herdmen, for we are brothers. Is not all the land before you? then let us go our separate ways: if you go to the left, I will go to the right; or if you take the right, I will go to the left.” — Genesis 13:8-9

“But Abram said to the king of Sodom, I have taken an oath to the Lord, the Most High God, maker of heaven and earth, That I will not take so much as a thread or the cord of a shoe of yours; so that you may not say, I have given wealth to Abram: Give me nothing but the food which the fighting-men who went with me have had; but let Aner and Eshcol and Mamre have their part of the goods.” — Genesis 14:22-24

“And Abram said, What will you give me? for I have no child and this Eliezer of Damascus will have all my wealth after me. And Abram said, You have given me no child, and a servant in my house will get the heritage.” — Genesis 15:2-3

“And he said, O Lord God, how may I be certain that it will be mine?” — Genesis 15:8

“And Abram said, The woman is in your power; do with her whatever seems good to you. And Sarai was cruel to her, so that she went running away from her.” — Genesis 16:6

“Then Abraham went down on his face, and laughing, said in his heart, May a man a hundred years old have a child? will Sarah, at ninety years old, give birth? And Abraham said to God, If only Ishmael's life might be your care!” — Genesis 17:17-18

“And said, My Lord, if now I have grace in your eyes, do not go away from your servant: Let me get water for washing your feet, and take your rest under the tree: And let me get a bit of bread to keep up your strength, and after that you may go on your way: for this is why you have come to your servant. And they said, Let it be so.” — Genesis 18:3-5

…and 22 more recorded sayings.

Speaker attribution: Clear Bible MACULA (CC BY 4.0). Wording: Bible in Basic English (public domain).