Who
Called by God out of Haran with the promise “All the families of the earth will be blessed through you” (Genesis 12:1–3), Abram became Abraham, the father of many nations, by the covenant of circumcision (Genesis 17:5). “He believed in the LORD, who credited it to him for righteousness” (Genesis 15:6), and he did not withhold his only son Isaac when God asked for him on Mount Moriah (Genesis 22). Paul calls him the father of all who believe (Romans 4:11), and the Roman Canon names him “our father in faith”. Matthew begins the genealogy with him: “Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham” (Matthew 1:1).
Key verses
- Genesis 11:26
Terah lived seventy years, and became the father of Abram, Nahor, and Haran.
- Genesis 11:29
Abram and Nahor married wives. The name of Abram’s wife was Sarai, and the name of Nahor’s wife was Milcah, the daughter of Haran, who was also the father of Iscah.
- Genesis 12:1
Now the LORD 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 15:6
He believed in the LORD, who credited it to him for righteousness.
- Genesis 22:2
He said, “Now take your son, your only son, Isaac, whom you love, and go into the land of Moriah. Offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains which I will tell you of.”
- Genesis 25:1
Abraham took another wife, and her name was Keturah.
- 1 Chronicles 1:27
Abram (also called Abraham).
- 1 Chronicles 1:28
The sons of Abraham: Isaac and Ishmael.
- Matthew 1:2
Abraham became the father of Isaac. Isaac became the father of Jacob. Jacob became the father of Judah and his brothers.
- Luke 3:34
the son of Jacob, the son of Isaac, the son of Abraham, the son of Terah, the son of Nahor,
- Romans 4:11
He received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness of the faith which he had while he was in uncircumcision, that he might be the father of all those who believe, though they might be in uncircumcision, that righteousness might also be accounted to them.
- Hebrews 11:8
By faith Abraham, when he was called, obeyed to go out to the place which he was to receive for an inheritance. He went out, not knowing where he went.
Where the Bible names him
Named 286 times in 35 books.
- ✓ In the deuterocanon, which the verse index does not cover: found in the text and checked by hand.
Verse index: TIPNR, STEPBible.org (Tyndale House), CC BY 4.0.
Family
Discussed by
Comments on the verses that name him (8 of 112).
- Augustine of Hippo on Matthew 1:2Catena Aurea on Matthew
Matthew, by beginning with Christ’s genealogy, shews that he has undertaken to relate Christ’s birth according to the flesh. But Luke, as rather describing Him as a Priest for the atonement of sin, gives Christ’s…
- Ambrose of Milan on Matthew 1:2Catena Aurea on Matthew
For Abraham was the first who deserved the witness of faith; “He believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.” It behoved therefore that he should be set forth as the first in the line of descent, who…
- John Chrysostom on Matthew 1:2Catena Aurea on Matthew
Matthew then, desiring to preserve in memory the lineage of the Lord’s humanity through the succession of His parents, begins with Abraham, saying, “Abraham begat Isaac.” Why does he not mention Ismael, his…
- Glossa Ordinaria on Matthew 1:2Catena Aurea on Matthew
Yet he names all the brethren of Judah with him in the lineage. Ismael and Esau had not remained in the worship of the true God; but the brethren of Judah were reckoned in God’s people.
- John Chrysostom on Matthew 1:2 (2)Catena Aurea on Matthew
Or, he names all the twelve Patriarchs that he may lower that pride which is drawn from a line of noble ancestry. For many of these were born of maidservants, and yet were Patriarchs and heads of tribes.
- Glossa Ordinaria on Matthew 1:2 (2)Catena Aurea on Matthew
But Judah is the only one mentioned by name, and that because the Lord was descended from him only. But in each of the Patriarchs we must note not their history only, but the allegorical and moral meaning to be drawn…
- Pseudo-Chrysostom on Matthew 1:2Catena Aurea on Matthew
Isaac is interpreted, ‘laughter,’ but the laughter of the saints is not the foolish convulsion of the lips, but the rational joy of the heart, which was the mystery of Christ. For as he was granted to his parents in…
- Remigius of Auxerre on Matthew 1:2Catena Aurea on Matthew
Jacob is interpreted, ‘supplanter,’ and it is said of Christ, “Thou hast cast down beneath Me them that rose up against Me.” [Ps 18:43]