Genesis 17:5

Genesis 17:5

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

a. 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.

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

c. YLT: and thy name is no more called Abram, but thy name hath been Abraham, for father of a multitude of nations have I made thee;

d. Amplified Bible: Nor shall your name any longer be Abram [high, exalted father]; but your name shall be Abraham [father of a multitude], for I have made you the father of many nations.

e. Septuagint: And thy name shall no more be called Abram, but thy name shall be Abraam, for I have made thee a father of many nations.

f. Stone Edition Torah/Writings/Prophets: Your name shall no longer be called Abram, but your name shall be Abraham, for I have made you the father of a multitude of nations;

1. “Neither shall thy name anymore be called Abram…”

a. neither shall thy name [8034 * shem] [Strong: a primitive word (perhaps rather from 7760 through the idea of definite and conspicuous position; Compare 8064

); an appellation, as a mark or memorial of individuality; by implication honor, authority, character:--+ base, (in-)fame(-ous), named(-d), renown, report.] [Brown-Driver-Briggs: name, name, reputation, fame, glory, the Name (as designation of God), memorial, monument.]

b. called [7121 * qura’] [Strong: a primitive root (rather identical with 7122 through the idea of accosting a person met); to call out to (i.e. properly, address by name, but used in a wide variety of applications):--bewray (self), that are bidden, call (for, forth, self, upon), cry (unto), (be) famous, guest, invite, mention, (give) name, preach, (make) proclaim(- ation), pronounce, publish, read, renowned, say.]

c. Abram [87 * ‘Abram] [Strong: high father; Abram, the original name of Abraham:--Abram.] [Brown-Driver-Briggs: exhalted father.]

2. “…but thy name shall be Abraham; for a father of many nations have I made thee.”

a. but thy name [8034 * shem] [Strong: a primitive word (perhaps rather from 7760 through the idea of definite and conspicuous position; Compare 8064

); an appellation, as a mark or memorial of individuality; by implication honor, authority, character:--+ base, (in-)fame(-ous), named(-d), renown, report.] [Brown-Driver-Briggs: name, name, reputation, fame, glory, the Name (as designation of God), memorial, monument.]

b. Abraham [85 * ‘Abraham] [Strong: contracted from 1 and an unused root (probably meaning to be populous); father of a multitude; Abraham, the later name of Abram:--Abraham.] [Brown-Driver-Briggs: Abraham = "father of a multitude" or "chief of multitude", friend of God and founder of Hebrew nation via God's elective covenant.]

c. a father [1 * ‘ab] [Strong: a primitive word; father, in a literal and immediate, or figurative and remote application):--chief, (fore-)father(-less), X patrimony, principal. Compare names in "Abi-".] [Brown-Driver-Briggs: father of an individual, of God as father of his people

head or founder of a household, group, family, or clan, ancestor, grandfather, forefathers — of person, of people, originator or patron of a class, profession, or art, of producer, generator (fig.), of benevolence and protection (fig.), term of respect and honour, ruler or chief (spec.)]

d. of many [1995 * hamown] [Strong: from 1993; a noise, tumult, crowd; also disquietude, wealth:--abundance, company, many, multitude, multiply, noise, riches, rumbling, sounding, store, tumult.]

e. nations [1471 * gowy] [Strong: apparently from the same root as 1465 (in the sense of massing); a foreign nation; hence, a Gentile; also (figuratively) a troop of animals, or a flight of locusts:--Gentile, heathen, nation, people.]

f. have I made thee [5414 * nathan] [Strong: a primitive root; to give, used with greatest latitude of application (put, make, etc.):--add, apply, appoint, ascribe, assign, X avenge, X be ((healed)), bestow, bring (forth, hither), cast, cause, charge, come, commit, consider, count, + cry, deliver (up), direct, distribute, do, X doubtless, X without fail, fasten, frame, X get, give (forth, over, up), grant, hang (up), X have, X indeed, lay (unto charge, up), (give) leave, lend, let (out), + lie, lift up, make, + O that, occupy, offer, ordain, pay, perform, place, pour, print, X pull , put (forth), recompense, render, requite, restore, send (out), set (forth), shew, shoot forth (up), + sing, + slander, strike, (sub-)mit, suffer, X surely, X take, thrust, trade, turn, utter, + weep, + willingly, + withdraw, + would (to) God, yield.]

1). This passage cannot be studied accurately unless certain verses of Romans 4 are also included. Although it is not mentioned in the Genesis passage, faith was powerfully at work in the spirit world, God’s faith and Abrahams’s faith. The picture we have up to this point: El Shaddai (God Almighty) appears to Abram when he’s 99 years old. There has been a 13 year gap since the last time God spoke with Abram. His household [my belief] has been filled with strife between his wife Sarai and Hagar, because of the disaster of Ishmael being born. His faith is dead as well as his body, i.e., he’s impotent (As Romans 4 is studied the Greek definitions will I believe bear this out).

2). Romans 4:17 (As it is written, I have made thee a father of many nations,) before him whom he believed, even God, who quickeneth the dead, and calleth those things which be not as though they were,

a). When God was changing Abram’s name to Abraham, He was, “calling those things which be not as though they were”. In the natural physical world Abram was not “a father of many nations”. He became the father of many nations because God called what did not exist at the time, into existence.

b). The text in Romans 4:17 also says the God “quickeneth the dead”. The first thing that I believe was quickened or made alive was Abraham’s faith. There is at least a 13 year or more gap in the Biblical record of God communicating to Abraham, between Genesis 15 and Genesis 17. We know during that time from the record in Genesis 16, there was bitter enmity between Sarai and Hagar. During that time of enmity and lack of God speaking to Abram, I believe Abram’s faith died. When God changed Abram’s name to Abraham his faith was made alive again.

c). In this verse we see God’s faith at work. Changing Abram’s name to Abraham and calling those things which aren’t as though they were.

3). Romans 4:18 Who against hope believed in hope, that he might become the father of many nations; according to that which was spoken, So shall thy seed be.

a). Here we see Abraham’s faith as it was being quickened or made alive. Abraham was linking what God was speaking to him in Genesis 17 with what God had spoken to him 14 years previous in Genesis 15.

4). Romans 4:19 And being not weak in faith, he considered not his own body now dead, when he was about an hundred years old, neither yet the deadness of Sara’s womb:

a). weak [770 * astheneo] [Strong:  to be feeble (in any sense):--be diseased, impotent folk (man), (be) sick, (be, be made) weak.]

b). considered [2657 * katanoeo] [Strong: to observe fully:--behold, consider, discover, perceive.]

c). dead [3499 * nekroo] [Zodhiates: deadened, means dead, powerless, impotent, referring to the body (Romans 4:19; Hebrews 11:12).] [Thayer: to make dead, to put to death, slay, worn out, of an impotent old man, to deprive of power, destroy the strength of.] [Strong: to deaden, i.e. (figuratively) to subdue:--be dead, mortify.]

(1) Abraham did not take into account that his body was dead because he was not being weak in faith. In Romans 4:17, the phrase, “quickeneth the dead”, and in Romans 4:19, the phrase, “considered not his own body now dead”, I believe refers to his being impotent. Thayer’s and Zodiates use the term “impotent” in their definitions, Vine’s, Bullinger, and Strong’s do not. Abraham received a quickening in his physical body that enabled him to father children again]

(2) This is a classic example of 2 Corinthians 5:7, “(For we walk by faith, not by sight:)”. 2 Corinthians 4:18 While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.

d). He also did not consider that Sarah’s womb was dead. The quickening of the dead referred to in Romans 4:17 is speaking of Abraham’s body and Sarah’s womb.

(1) Genesis 11:30 But Sarai was barren; she had no child.

(2) Genesis 18:11 Now Abraham and Sarah were old and well stricken in age; and it ceased to be with Sarah after the manner of women.

5). Romans 4:20 He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God.

a). staggered (1252 * diakrino) In Romans 4:20 it means to be in strife with one’s self, to doubt, waver.]

b). It is translated “doubt” in other New Testament verses.

(1) Matthew 21:21 Jesus answered and said unto them, Verily I say unto you, If ye have faith, and doubt not, ye shall not only do this which is done to the fig tree, but also if ye shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; it shall be done.

(2) Mark 11:23  For verily I say unto you, That whosoever shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he saith.

(3) Acts 10:20 Arise therefore, and get thee down, and go with them, doubting nothing: for I have sent them.

(4) Acts 11:12 And the Spirit bade me go with them, nothing doubting. Moreover these six brethren accompanied me, and we entered into the man’s house:

c). strong [1743 * endunamoo; en-in; dunamoo-to strengthen] [Strong: to empower:--enable, (increase in) strength(-en), be (make) strong.to make strong, vigorous.]

d). giving [1325 * didomi] [Strong: a prolonged form of a primary verb (which is used as an alternative in most of the tenses); to give (used in a very wide application, properly, or by implication, literally or figuratively; greatly modified by the connection):--adventure, bestow, bring forth, commit, deliver (up), give, grant, hinder, make, minister, number, offer, have power, put, receive, set, shew, smite (+ with the hand), strike (+ with the palm of the hand), suffer, take, utter, yield.]

e). glory [1391 * doxa] [Strong: glory (as very apparent), in a wide application (literal or figurative, objective or subjective):--dignity, glory(-ious), honour, praise, worship.]

f). God [2316 * theos] Strong: a deity, especially (with 3588) the supreme Divinity; figuratively, a magistrate; by Hebraism, very:--X exceeding, God, god(-ly, -ward).]

g). Concerning the phrase “giving glory to God” I want to look at a couple of Scriptures.

(1) Matthew 9:8 But when the multitudes saw it, they marvelled, and glorified God, which had given such power unto men.

(2) Luke 13:13 And he laid his hands on her: and immediately she was made straight, and glorified God.

(3) The big difference between the examples given from the gospels and Abraham, is in Matthew and Luke, they did it after the miracle, and Abraham did it before there was any change in the natural circumstances.

h). The text says Abraham “was strong in faith”; Vincent’s Word Studies In The New Testament, says it literally means, “was strengthened”. The Amplified says it best:  “but he grew strong and was empowered by faith as he gave praise and glory to God”.  Abraham was lit up by a rhema word from Almighty God, but the Bible says he continued to gain strength by giving glory to God. He kept saying what God said. For one thing he officially changed his name to Abraham. For about 98 years he was known as Abram, but after this day in his life he changed his name to Abraham. In all his legal dealings with Abimelech or whoever, he was known as Abraham. He also gave glory to God for making him a Father of many nations.

5). Romans 4:21 And being fully persuaded that, what he had promised, he was able also to perform.

a). fully persuaded [4135 * plerophoreo; pleres-full; phoreo-to fill] [Strong: to carry out fully (in evidence), i.e. completely assure (or convince), entirely accomplish:--most surely believe, fully know (persuade), make full proof of.]

b). promised [1861 * epaggelo; epi-intensive; anaggello-to tell, declare] [Strong:  to announce upon (reflexively), i.e. (by implication) to engage to do something, to assert something respecting oneself:--profess, (make) promise.]

c). able [1815 * dunatos] [Strong: powerful or capable (literally or figuratively); neuter possible:--able, could, (that is) mighty (man), possible, power, strong.]

d). perform [4160 * poieo] [Strong: apparently a prolonged form of an obsolete primary; to make or do (in a very wide application, more or less direct):--abide, + agree, appoint, X avenge, + band together, be, bear, + bewray, bring (forth), cast out, cause, commit, + content, continue, deal, + without any delay, (would) do(-ing), execute, exercise, fulfil, gain, give, have, hold, X journeying, keep, + lay wait, + lighten the ship, make, X mean, + none of these things move me, observe, ordain, perform, provide, + have purged, purpose, put, + raising up, X secure, shew, X shoot out, spend, take, tarry, + transgress the law, work, yield.] [Zodhiates: equivalent to persuade fully, gove full assurance.]

(1) As Abraham gave glory to God, his faith continued to grow, until he was fully persuaded that God was able to do what he said.he received a quickening in his physical body that enabled him to father children again.