From Abram to Abraham
Our story now continues through the masterful Biblical renditions of one of the greatest visual artists in history, Rembrandt van Rijn.
G-d changes Abram’s name to Abraham
Genesis 17:1-5
When Abram was ninety-nine years old the L-RD appeared to Abram and said to him, “I am El Shaddai. Walk in my ways and be blameless. I will establish My covenant between Me and you, and I will make you exceedingly numerous. ” Abram threw himself on his face; and G-d spoke to him further, “As for me, this is My covenant with you: You shall be the father of a multitude of nations. And you shall no longer be called Abram, but your name shall be Abraham, for I make you the father of a multitude of nations.
G-d Making His Covenant with Abraham drawing by Rembrandt
The Frick Collection, New York
Rembrandt van Rijn
Overview
In the Bible
When Abram was ninety-nine years old the L-RD appeared to Abram and said to him, “I am El Shaddai. Walk in my ways and be blameless. I will establish My covenant between Me and you, and I will make you exceedingly numerous.”
Abram threw himself on his face; and G-d spoke to him further, “As for me, this is My covenant with you: You shall be the father of a multitude of nations. And you shall no longer be called Abram, but your name shall be Abraham, for I make you the father of a multitude of nations."
"וַיְהִ֣י אַבְרָ֔ם בֶּן-תִּשְׁעִ֥ים שָׁנָ֖ה וְתֵ֣שַׁע שָׁנִ֑ים וַיֵּרָ֨א ה' אֶל-אַבְרָ֗ם וַיֹּ֤אמֶר אֵלָיו֙ אֲנִי-אֵ֣ל שַׁדַּ֔י הִתְהַלֵּ֥ךְ לְפָנַ֖י וֶֽהְיֵ֥ה תָמִֽים: וְאֶתְּנָ֥ה בְרִיתִ֖י בֵּינִ֣י וּבֵינֶ֑ךָ וְאַרְבֶּ֥ה אֽוֹתְךָ֖ בִּמְאֹ֥ד מְאֹֽד: וַיִּפֹּ֥ל אַבְרָ֖ם עַל-פָּנָ֑יו וַיְדַבֵּ֥ר אִתּ֛וֹ אֱלֹקים לֵאמֹֽר: אֲנִ֕י הִנֵּ֥ה בְרִיתִ֖י אִתָּ֑ךְ וְהָיִ֕יתָ לְאַ֖ב הֲמ֥וֹן גּוֹיִֽם: וְלֹֽא-יִקָּרֵ֥א ע֛וֹד אֶת-שִׁמְךָ֖ אַבְרָ֑ם וְהָיָ֤ה שִׁמְךָ֙ אַבְרָהָ֔ם כִּ֛י אַב-הֲמ֥וֹן גּוֹיִ֖ם נְתַתִּֽיךָ"
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