Before the renaming, Abram had already been called by God and had walked in faith. In Genesis 12:1–2, God said,
“Get out of your country, from your family and from your father’s house, to a land that I will show you. I will make you a great nation…”
Abram obeyed, journeying to Canaan. But it was in Genesis 17 that the covenant took its full form and the names were changed. Genesis 17:5 says,
“No longer shall your name be called Abram, but your name shall be Abraham; for I have made you a father of many nations.”
The renaming came as a sign of covenant. Abram means “exalted father.” Abraham means “father of a multitude.” The shift reflected a deeper calling and a fulfilled promise, as God had now established His everlasting covenant with him.
Why Sarai Became Sarah
Similarly, Sarai was renamed. Genesis 17:15–16 records,
“Then God said to Abraham, ‘As for Sarai your wife, you shall not call her name Sarai, but Sarah shall be her name. And I will bless her and also give you a son by her.’”
Sarai means “my princess,” possibly reflecting a personal or family-based status. Sarah means “princess” in a broader, nobler sense, a matriarch of nations and kings. Her new name affirmed her role in God’s divine plan.
The Significance of the “H”
Many scholars and Hebrew linguists note that the added “H” (the Hebrew letter “hei”) in both names holds spiritual significance. The “hei” represents breath, spirit, and divine revelation. It appears twice in the name of God, YHWH. In adding the “hei,” God was symbolically placing a portion of His name into theirs.
This change marked a spiritual transformation. Abraham and Sarah were no longer just participants in history, they were vessels of promise and faith. The breath of God, His Spirit, was upon them, changing their identity to reflect their divine mission.
Fulfillment in Isaac
Immediately after these name changes, God reaffirmed His promise to give them a son—Isaac. Genesis 17:19 says,
“Then God said: ‘No, Sarah your wife shall bear you a son, and you shall call his name Isaac; I will establish My covenant with him.’”
The renaming, then, coincides with the miracle of life, the impossible becoming possible through faith. It marks the turning point from waiting to receiving, from promise to fulfillment.
My Final Thoughts
God changes names when He changes purpose. Abram and Sarai received new names not just to reflect a future, but to carry the presence of God within their calling. The insertion of “hei” symbolizes the breath of God, the Spirit indwelling and empowering them to walk in covenant faith. Through Abraham and Sarah, nations would rise, and through their lineage, the Christ would come. Their new names spoke not only of destiny, but of divine intimacy and empowerment.
