Genesis 17:5 kjv

Neither shall thy name any more be called Abram, but thy name shall be Abraham; for a father of many nations have I made thee.

Genesis 17:5 nkjv

No longer shall your name be called Abram, but your name shall be Abraham; for I have made you a father of many nations.

Genesis 17:5 niv

No longer will you be called Abram; your name will be Abraham, for I have made you a father of many nations.

Genesis 17:5 esv

No longer shall your name be called Abram, but your name shall be Abraham, for I have made you the father of a multitude of nations.

Genesis 17:5 nlt

What's more, I am changing your name. It will no longer be Abram. Instead, you will be called Abraham, for you will be the father of many nations.

Genesis 17 verses

Genesis 17 5 Meaning

Genesis 17:5 marks a pivotal moment in the life of Abram, signifying a divine covenantal transformation. God unilaterally changes Abram's name from "Exalted Father" (Abram) to "Father of a Multitude" (Abraham). This new name is not merely a change in appellation but a declaration of his new identity, destiny, and role within God's redemptive plan. It signifies God's absolute sovereignty and unwavering promise to fulfill His purpose through Abraham, making him the progenitor of not just a numerous physical lineage but also a vast spiritual family drawn from all peoples. The verse highlights God's power to declare what is not yet as though it were, setting the stage for the miraculous birth of Isaac and the expansive fulfillment of the covenant.

Genesis 17 5 Context

Genesis chapter 17 establishes the covenant of circumcision as an eternal sign between God and Abraham's descendants. Abram is ninety-nine years old, and Sarai is eighty-nine. This chapter reinforces and expands upon the earlier, unconditional promises given to Abram in Genesis 12 and 15, adding specific covenant stipulations and a physical sign. The name change for both Abram and Sarai (to Abraham and Sarah) is central to this reaffirmation, publicly declaring their new identities in light of God's magnificent plan. Before this, Abram believed God (Gen 15:6), but the full scope and miraculous nature of the promise, especially regarding his wife's barrenness and the magnitude of his future progeny, are brought to the forefront. The change from "Abram," meaning "exalted father" or "my father is exalted" (a common West Semitic name, possibly referring to a tribal head), to "Abraham," interpreted here as "father of a multitude," redefines his very existence, directly linking it to God's purpose for global blessing through him. This refutes the idea of a god limited to a single nation or family, instead presenting the God of Israel as sovereign over all peoples and actively working to include them through the lineage of faith.

Genesis 17 5 Word analysis

• No longer: Lo (לֹא), "no," "not." This strong negation indicates an absolute cessation of his former identity, emphasizing the finality and decisiveness of God's act. It highlights a divine intervention that resets his primary descriptor.
• will you be called: Yiqarei (יִקָּרֵא), passive form of qara (קָרָא), "to call," "to name." This is a divine passive, implying God is the agent who ensures this naming/identity takes place. It's not a suggestion but a decree.
• Abram: Avram (אַבְרָם), meaning "exalted father" or "my father is exalted." This was his birth name, reflective of his initial status. It limited his scope to possibly a tribal or patriarchal leader, while the new name expands his identity universally.
• your name: Shimkha (שִׁמְךָ), from shem (שֵׁם), "name." In ancient Near Eastern thought, a name was deeply connected to one's character, identity, and destiny. A name change by a deity signifies a profound shift in one's being and purpose, ordained by that deity.
• will be: Vihya (וְהָיָה), from hayah (הָיָה), "to be," "to become." Denotes a future state of being that is certain to occur, a divine declaration of destiny.
• Abraham: Avraham (אַבְרָהָם). The Hebrew root for "multitude" is hamon (הָמוֹן). The "ra-" sound could be a wordplay on "rav" (רַב), "many" or "great," or even related to the hamon meaning a noisy multitude. Thus, "father of a multitude" or "father of many." This change includes the addition of the Hebrew letter heh (ה), which often signifies breath or divine intervention in a name (as also in Sarai to Sarah). Some interpretations suggest heh (which is also part of the Tetragrammaton, YHWH) indicates a divine impartation.
• for: Ki (כִּי), "because," "for," "indeed." Introduces the reason and justification for the name change, tying it directly to God's promise.
• I have made you: Netahtiykha (נְתַתִּיךָ), from natan (נָתַן), "to give," "to place," "to make," "to appoint." This is God's direct, active, sovereign declaration and appointment. It is in the perfect tense, meaning God considers it already done, despite its future realization, emphasizing divine certainty.
• a father of many nations: Av-hamon goyim (אַב־הֲמוֹן גּוֹיִם).
  • Av (אַב): "Father." Reinforces the paternal role.
  • Hamon (הֲמוֹן): "Multitude," "abundance," "crowd." This word is key to understanding the etymology given for Abraham's new name. It implies an immense, perhaps even tumultuous, number.
  • Goyim (גּוֹיִם): "Nations," "peoples," "gentiles." Crucially, this refers not just to his biological descendants (like Israel) but explicitly expands to encompass many nations, pointing to the inclusion of diverse peoples beyond physical Israel, fulfilled in the spiritual seed through Christ (Gal 3:29). This universal scope is foundational to understanding God's ultimate redemptive plan for humanity.

Genesis 17 5 Bonus section

The Hebrew letter heh (ה) that is inserted into Abram's name (and Sarai's name to Sarah) carries significance. The heh can represent the divine breath or Spirit, often being associated with God's creative power and presence. Its inclusion transforms the names, indicating a divine impartation or presence, empowering the recipients to fulfill their new, divinely ordained destiny. It's a subtle yet powerful link to God's active involvement in establishing their new identity and fertility, without which the promise of "father of many nations" would be humanly impossible.

Genesis 17 5 Commentary

Genesis 17:5 encapsulates a profound theological truth about God's initiative, transformational power, and covenant faithfulness. The name change from Abram to Abraham is not a mere symbolic gesture but a declaration of a divinely decreed reality, a radical re-envisioning of a childless, elderly man's future. God's declaration, "I have made you," underscores His sovereign agency, making the future a present reality in His divine counsel. The expansion from a singular "exalted father" to a "father of a multitude of nations" foreshadows the global scope of God's blessing through Abraham, breaking free from purely ethnic or nationalistic boundaries. This promise points forward to the vast family of faith, inclusive of believers from every tongue, tribe, and nation, who are children of Abraham by faith (Rom 4:16; Gal 3:7). It reminds us that God's plans are grander than our present circumstances and that He can reshape our identity and destiny to align with His eternal purposes, demonstrating His power to call into existence things that do not exist (Rom 4:17). The example of Abraham’s name change shows that divine identity re-assignment is part of God's redemptive work.