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Names and Covenants: Abraham and Sarah

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Names and Covenants: Abraham and Sarah
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Old Testament Cultural Insights

Avram Shannon

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Contents

An Ancient Concept of Heredity
Angels
Authorship
Babylon
Beth-el
The Book of Leviticus
Camels
Categories of Animals
Cherubim
Child Sacrifice in the Old Testament
Circumcision
Deferential Speech
Esau and Edom
Firmament
Giants
Glory of the Lord
Gopher Wood
Hebrew
Hospitality
Introduction to Genesis
The Mark and Curse of Cain
Matzebot
Meaning of the Name Isaac
Melchizedek
Moab
Moses 1
Names and Covenants: Abraham and Sarah
Names of God
Polygamy
Pottage
Satan
Shekel
Shinar
Slavery
Sons of God
Soul
Symbolic Meaning of the Name Adam
Symbolic Meaning of the Name Eve
Symbolic Meaning of the Name Noah
Tree of Life
Tribe of Asher
Tribe of Benjamin
Tribe of Dan
Tribe of Gad
Tribe of Issachar
Tribe of Naphtali
Twelve Tribes of Israel
Urim and Thummim
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Contents

An Ancient Concept of Heredity
Angels
Authorship
Babylon
Beth-el
The Book of Leviticus
1 2 … 8 Next »

Avram Shannon, “Names and Covenants: Abraham and Sarah,” in Old Testament Cultural Insights, ed. Taylor Halverson (Springville, UT: Book of Mormon Central, 2022).

As part of their covenant with Jehovah, Abram and Sarai had their names changed. The name Abram in Hebrew means something like “exalted father,” from ab “father” and ram “to be high or raised up.” In the book of Abraham, the theme of fatherhood appears all through the first few verses, with the word “father” (or “fathers”) appearing ten times in the first five verses. These are likely symbolic puns on Abram’s name.

The scriptures continue to connect themes of fathers and fatherhood in the Abrahamic covenant. When Abraham’s name changed from Abram to Abraham, ab remained in his name, continuing the connection to the idea of fatherhood. The book of Genesis explains the name change as representing Abraham’s status as a “father of many nations” (Hebrew ab hamon goyim) (Genesis 17:5). Even though this explanation seems to be something of a folk etymology (because the name Abraham does not come from ab hamon goyim) and there is some evidence that Abraham and Abram are forms of the same name, the giving of this name symbolized the covenant relationship between the Lord and Abraham. Indeed, the name is the lesson: it represents the covenantal promise from God that Abraham will be a father of multitudes.

At the same time that Abram’s name was changed to Abraham, Sarai’s name was changed to Sarah. We do not have a reason for the change to Sarah’s name. They both appear to come from a Semitic root meaning “princess.” Even more than Abram and Abraham, Sarah and Sarai appear to be forms of the same name. With that observation, however, it is worth noting that there was a still a symbolic element to receiving a new name as part of the new covenant identity. Abraham and Sarah’s new names were symbols of both their covenant blessings and their covenant responsibilities to serve the Lord and to bless His children.

Related Verses

Genesis 12:1

Genesis 17:4–7, 15–16

Isaiah 51:1–2

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