translation_id: net-engnet

book_id: GEN

label: NET study note

text: Your name will be Abraham . The renaming of Abram was a sign of confirmation to the patriarch. Every time the name was used it would be a reminder of God’s promise. “Abram” means “exalted father,” probably referring to Abram’s father Terah. The name looks to the past; Abram came from noble lineage. The name “Abraham” is a dialectical variant of the name Abram. But its significance is in the wordplay with אַב־הֲמוֹן (’ av-hamon , “the father of a multitude,” which sounds like אַבְרָהָם , ’ avraham , “Abraham”). The new name would be a reminder of God’s intention to make Abraham the father of a multitude. For a general discussion of renaming, see O. Eissfeldt, “Renaming in the Old Testament,” Words and Meanings , 70-83.


text: For a discussion of male circumcision as the sign of the covenant in this passage see M. V. Fox, “The Sign of the Covenant: Circumcision in the Light of the Priestly ‘ ot Etiologies,” RB 81 (1974): 557-96.


text: Sarah . The name change seems to be a dialectical variation, both spellings meaning “princess” or “queen.” Like the name Abram, the name Sarai symbolized the past. The new name Sarah, like the name Abraham, would be a reminder of what God intended to do for Sarah in the future.


text: Laughed . The Hebrew verb used here provides the basis for the naming of Isaac: “And he laughed” is וַיִּצְחָק ( vayyitskhaq ); the name “Isaac” is יִצְחָק ( yitskhaq ), “he laughs.” Abraham’s (and Sarah’s, see 18:12 ) laughter signals disbelief, but when the boy is born, the laughter signals surprise and joy.


text: It is important to note that even though Abraham staggers at the announcement of the birth of a son, finding it almost too incredible, he nonetheless calls his wife Sarah, the new name given to remind him of the promise of God (v. 15 ).


text: The Hebrew verb translated “I have heard you” forms a wordplay with the name Ishmael , which means “God hears.” See the note on the name “Ishmael” in 16:11 .