Knowra Abraham Abraham Abraham is a patriarch in Jewish, Christian, and Islamic traditions, renowned for his covenant with God and his role as an ancestor of several peoples.
Abrahamic covenant : A biblical covenant in which God promises Abraham descendants, land, and blessing, with circumcision as its sign. This promise defines Abraham’s distinctive relationship with God.
Call of Abraham : The biblical episode in which God tells Abraham to leave his homeland for a land God will show him. This departure begins Abraham’s journey and covenant story.
Ibrahim : The Islamic form of Abraham’s name and the Qur’anic prophet associated with pure monotheism and submission to God. Islamic accounts emphasize aspects of Abraham’s life that differ from biblical narratives.
Pauline theology of faith : Paul’s teaching that people are justified through faith, articulated especially in Romans and Galatians. Paul uses Abraham to argue that faith, not circumcision, defines belonging to God’s people.
Land of Israel : A historical and religious name for the land associated with the Israelites and Jewish people. The promise of land to Abraham became central to Israelite identity and later traditions.
Book of Genesis : The first book of the Hebrew Bible and Christian Old Testament, narrating creation, ancestors, and Israel’s origins. Its chapters 11–25 provide the principal biblical narratives about Abraham.
Binding of Isaac : The biblical account in which Abraham prepares to sacrifice Isaac before an angel stops him. The episode tests Abraham’s obedience and becomes a lasting interpretive focus.
Akedah : The Jewish name for the binding of Isaac, a foundational episode in Jewish liturgy and interpretation. Jewish readings make this test central to Abraham’s legacy and Israel’s memory.
Circumcision in Judaism : The Jewish covenantal practice of circumcision, grounded in the biblical command given to Abraham. The practice marks the covenant whose meaning Paul later debates.
Circumcision : The surgical removal of the foreskin, practiced for religious, cultural, and medical reasons. Genesis presents it as the bodily sign of Abraham’s covenant.
Show all 29