Who was Abraham in the Bible?

What does the Bible say about Abraham?

Abraham, initially named Abram, was a central figure in the early history of the Israelites. He was born in Ur of the Chaldeans and was the son of Terah (Gen.11.26-31). God called Abram to leave his country and family and go to a land that He would show him, promising to make him a great nation and to bless all peoples through him (Gen.12.1-3). Abram obeyed God and journeyed to Canaan with his wife Sarai and his nephew Lot (Gen.12.4-5). God reaffirmed His covenant with Abram, promising him numerous descendants and the land of Canaan (Gen.13.14-17; 15.1-21). God changed Abram's name to Abraham, meaning "father of many," and Sarai's name to Sarah (Gen.17.1-16). Despite their advanced age, Abraham and Sarah miraculously bore a son, Isaac, through whom God's covenant would be established (Gen.18.1-15; 21.1-7). Abraham demonstrated his faith and obedience when God tested him by asking him to sacrifice Isaac (Gen.22.1-19). God provided a ram as a substitute, reaffirming His promise to Abraham (Gen.22.15-18). Abraham's faith was credited to him as righteousness (Gen.15.6; Rom.4.3; Gal.3.6; Jam 2.23). He became known as the father of the faithful and the friend of God (Isa.41.8; 2Ch.20.7; Jam 2.23). God's covenant with Abraham, which included the promise of land, descendants, and blessing, was passed down to his son Isaac and grandson Israel (or 'Jacob') (Gen.26.1-5; 28.10-15). The life and faith of Abraham are significant in both the Old and New Testaments. He is recognized as the ancestor of the Israelites (Exo.2.24; 3.6, 15-16; 4.5) and is mentioned in connection with God's faithfulness and His promises (Exo.6.8; 32.13; 33.1; Lev.26.42). In the New Testament, Abraham is upheld as an example of faith (Rom.4.1-3, 9, 12, 16; Gal.3.6-9, 14, 29; Heb.11.8-19) and is identified as the spiritual father of all believers (Rom.4.11-12, 16-17; Gal.3.7, 29). Jesus Christ is identified as the ultimate fulfillment of God's promises to Abraham (Mat.1.1; Gal.3.16). Through faith in Christ, believers from all nations become part of Abraham's spiritual lineage and heirs to the promises made to him (Gal.3.7-9, 14, 26-29).

Where does Abraham appear in the Bible?

Abraham is referenced in 220 verses across 27 books. Every passage below is about this one, not just every verse the word turns up in.

• 1 Chronicles 1:27
• 1 Chronicles 1:28
• 1 Chronicles 1:32
• 1 Chronicles 1:34
• 1 Chronicles 16:16
• 1 Chronicles 29:18
• 1 Kings 18:36
• 1 Peter 3:6
• 2 Chronicles 20:7
• 2 Chronicles 30:6
• 2 Corinthians 11:22
• 2 Kings 13:23
• Acts 3:13
• Acts 3:25
• Acts 7:2
• Acts 7:16
• Acts 7:17
• Acts 7:32
• Acts 13:26
• Deuteronomy 1:8
• Deuteronomy 6:10
• Deuteronomy 9:5
• Deuteronomy 9:27
• Deuteronomy 29:13

What else appears in these passages?

These turn up in the same passages as Abraham.