Genesis 17:5

So I am changing your name from Abram to Abraham.” (That name Abram means father that people respect, and that name Abraham means father of lots of people.) And God said, “Yes, I will make you the father of lots of nations.

Plain English Version

In The King James Version

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.

In Context

4“I promise that I will do this for you. I will give you a big family. Lots of people will be born into your family, so that you will be the father of lots of nations.

6I will give you a real big family later on, and they will split up into lots of nations. And some of your people will be the big bosses of those nations.

Read all of Genesis 17

Cross References

Genesis 32:28Then the man said, “Now I’m giving you a new name. Your name will not be Jacob any more. You tried to fight with God and with people, and you won. So I’m giving you the name Israel.” That name Israel means fight with God.

Matthew 1:21She will have a baby boy, and you will name him Jesus. (That name Jesus means God saves.) You see, he will save his people, so that God will not punish them for the bad things they do.”

Matthew Henry on Genesis 17:5-7

4 As for me, behold, my covenant is with thee, and thou shalt be a father of many nations. 5 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. 6 And I will make thee exceeding fruitful, and I will make nations of thee, and kings shall come out of thee. The promise here is introduced with solemnity: " As for me, " says the great God, "behold, behold and admire it, behold and be assured of it, my covenant is with thee;" as before ( v. 2 ),… Read the whole commentary →

This Verse In Other Editions

Study Genesis 17:5