The name change from ai/”>Abram to Abraham is recorded in Genesis 17:5, where God said:
“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 name Abram means “exalted father,” while Abraham means “father of a multitude.” This change was not merely symbolic; it confirmed God’s covenant promise that Abraham would be the ancestor of many nations, even though at the time he had no children by Sarah.
This event occurred when Abraham was ninety-nine years old, at the same time God reaffirmed His covenant and introduced the sign of circumcision (Genesis 17:9–14). The name change represented a new identity and destiny rooted in God’s purpose. It was a declaration that what seemed impossible from a human perspective would be fulfilled by divine power.
Romans 4:17 reflects this truth:
“As it is written, ‘I have made you a father of many nations’—in the presence of Him whom he believed—God, who gives life to the dead and calls those things which do not exist as though they did.”
By changing Abram’s name to Abraham, God reminded him (and all future generations) that His promises are certain because they rest on His faithfulness, not human ability. It also illustrates how God transforms those He calls, giving them a new identity aligned with His plan.
