Introduction
Abraham, originally named Abram, is the central patriarchal figure of Genesis 12-25, called by God to leave his homeland and family for a land he would be shown, and made the recipient of a covenant promising him numerous descendants, the land of Canaan, and that through him "all the families of the earth shall be blessed".
This article follows the biblical account in Genesis. Where later Jewish, Christian or Islamic tradition adds detail not found in the text itself, the article identifies it as such.
Family
- Father: Terah
- Wives: Sarah, Hagar, Keturah
- Sons: Isaac, Ishmael, Zimran, Jokshan, Medan, Midian, Ishbak, Shuah
- Siblings: Sarah, Nahor, Haran
The call and the covenant
God called Abram, then seventy-five years old and living in Haran, to leave his country, kindred and father's house for a land God would show him, promising to make him a great nation and to bless him. Abram travelled to Canaan with his wife Sarai and nephew Lot. God later formalised this promise in a covenant, changing Abram's name to Abraham ("father of a multitude") and Sarai's to Sarah, and instituting circumcision as its sign.
Sarah, Hagar and two sons
Because Sarah remained childless into old age, she gave her servant Hagar to Abraham as a surrogate, and Hagar bore Ishmael. Later, after a divine promise and visit by three visitors, Sarah herself, well past ordinary childbearing age, bore Isaac, the son through whom the covenant promise would specifically continue, leading to Hagar and Ishmael's eventual departure from the household.
The binding of Isaac
In one of Genesis's most discussed episodes, God tested Abraham by commanding him to sacrifice Isaac as a burnt offering. Abraham proceeded to the point of raising the knife before an angel stopped him, providing a ram caught in a thicket as a substitute, and God reaffirmed the covenant promise in response to Abraham's demonstrated obedience.
Later life
After Sarah's death, which Genesis records at length along with Abraham's purchase of the cave of Machpelah as a burial site, Abraham arranged Isaac's marriage to Rebekah and later married Keturah, by whom he had several more sons. Genesis records his death at age 175, buried by Isaac and Ishmael together at Machpelah.