Bible Timeline · Traditional count about 2067 BC
Abram Becomes Abraham: The Covenant of Circumcision
When Abram was 99, God appeared to him as God Almighty and renewed His covenant. He changed Abram's name to Abraham, father of many nations, and Sarai's name to Sarah. Circumcision became the sign of the covenant.
Read it in the Bible: Genesis 17:1-27 Romans 4:9-12 Deuteronomy 30:6 Colossians 2:11-12 Acts 15:1-29
In Genesis 17, when Abram was 99 years old, God appeared to him and renewed His covenant promise. God changed his name from Abram, meaning "exalted father," to Abraham, "father of many nations." He changed Sarai's name to Sarah and promised that she would have a son within a year. God also gave circumcision as the sign of the covenant. By the traditional count this happened about 2067 BC, thirteen years after Ishmael was born.
What Happened in Genesis 17?
Thirteen years had passed since Ishmael's birth, and God had been quiet in the story. Abram was 99, and Sarai was 89. Then God showed up.
When Abram was ninety-nine years old, Yahweh appeared to him and said, “I am God Almighty. Walk before Me and be blameless. Genesis 17:1
God Almighty is El Shaddai in Hebrew. It is the first time God uses this name for Himself. It was the perfect name for the moment. A 99 year old man and an 89 year old woman were about to have a baby, which is going to take a God who is Almighty.
Why Did God Change Abram's Name to Abraham?
No longer will you be called Abram, but your name will be Abraham, for I have made you a father of many nations. Genesis 17:5
Abram means "exalted father." Abraham sounds like the Hebrew words for "father of a multitude." Think about how that felt. He was 99 with only one son, and now every time someone said his name, they were saying "father of a multitude." It was a daily sermon in one word. Notice the verb too: "I have made you." God spoke as if it was already done.
In the Bible, a new name often marks a new identity. Later Jacob becomes Israel, and Jesus renames Simon as Peter. God names people by what He is going to make of them.
Why Was Sarai's Name Changed to Sarah?
Then God said to Abraham, “As for Sarai your wife, do not call her Sarai, for her name is to be Sarah. Genesis 17:15
Both names mean something like "princess." Sarah is the standard form, and God said that kings of peoples would come from her. Sarah was not just a side character. God made the promise to her by name. The son of promise would come through her, not through anyone else.
When Abraham heard this, he fell on his face and laughed, in Genesis 17:17, wondering how a man of 100 and a woman of 90 could have a child. So God told him to name the boy Isaac, which means "he laughs." God has a sense of humor, and He let Abraham's laugh become his son's name.
What Is the Covenant of Circumcision?
This is My covenant with you and your descendants after you, which you are to keep: Every male among you must be circumcised. You are to circumcise the flesh of your foreskin, and this will be a sign of the covenant between Me and you. Genesis 17:10 to 11
Circumcision was the physical sign that a man and his family belonged to God's covenant people. Baby boys were to be circumcised on the eighth day, a practice Jewish families still keep today. Every male in Abraham's household was included, even servants born outside the family.
Abraham obeyed that same day. He was circumcised at 99, and Ishmael was circumcised at 13, in Genesis 17:24 to 26. Talk about a hard day at the office. Many other ancient peoples also practiced circumcision, including Egyptians. What made Abraham's different was its meaning. It was a sign of a relationship with the one true God.
What Did God Promise About Isaac and Ishmael?
Abraham loved Ishmael and asked God to bless him. God said yes to that, and promised Ishmael twelve princes and a great nation in Genesis 17:20. But He also made clear that the covenant would continue through Isaac, the son Sarah would have "at this time next year."
What Does the New Testament Say About Circumcision?
Paul makes a big point about timing. Abraham was counted righteous by faith in Genesis 15, years before he was circumcised in Genesis 17.
And he received the sign of circumcision as a seal of the righteousness that he had by faith while he was still uncircumcised. So then, he is the father of all who believe but are not circumcised, in order that righteousness might be credited to them. Romans 4:11
So circumcision did not make Abraham right with God. It was a seal of a faith he already had. That is why the early church decided in Acts 15 that non Jewish believers did not have to be circumcised to follow Jesus. The Old Testament already pointed to a deeper meaning. Deuteronomy 30:6 says God will circumcise His people's hearts, so they love Him with all their heart.
Christians differ on how circumcision relates to baptism. Many churches that baptize infants, like Catholics, Lutherans, Presbyterians and Anglicans, see baptism as the new covenant sign that takes the place of circumcision, citing Colossians 2:11 to 12. Baptist and many other churches see baptism as a sign of personal faith, given to those old enough to believe. Both sides agree the sign points to God's work in the heart.
Why Abraham's New Name Matters for You Today
God called Abraham the father of many nations before he could see it. He does the same with His people today. Scripture calls believers forgiven, children of God and new creations, even on days when we don't feel it. God names you by what He has done and will do in Christ. And just as Abraham's sign was meant to point to the heart, God is not after outward marks. He wants a heart that trusts Him. Through Jesus, the son of Abraham, the blessing has reached the many nations God promised.
Get Nate's Highlighting Guide Free
Free. No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.Something went wrong. Please try again, or email [email protected].
Questions People Ask
What does the name Abraham mean?
Abram means exalted father, and Abraham sounds like the Hebrew for father of a multitude. God explained the new name in Genesis 17:5, saying He had made him a father of many nations.
How old was Abraham when his name was changed?
Genesis 17:1 says Abram was 99 years old. By the traditional count that is about 2067 BC, one year before Isaac was born.
Why did God choose circumcision as the sign of the covenant?
Genesis 17 makes circumcision the sign that a family belonged to God's covenant people. Romans 4:11 says it was a seal of the faith Abraham already had. The Old Testament also speaks of God circumcising the heart, in Deuteronomy 30:6, showing the deeper meaning.
Do Christians need to be circumcised?
No. The Council of Jerusalem in Acts 15 decided that non Jewish believers did not need to be circumcised to be saved. Paul teaches that faith in Christ, not an outward sign, makes a person right with God.