Genesis 17:2

God, on His part, promises to make Abraham the ancestor of many nations, and to give Canaan to his descendants.

4, 5. The patriarch's name in Babylonia had been Abram, meaning, perhaps, 'exalted father,' or, according to others, 'Ram (the lofty one) is father'; cp. Hiram, 'Earn is brother.' Under the form Abu-Ramu it appears to be a recognised proper name in the Assyrian inscriptions. On entering into a new relationship with God by covenant, of which the sign was circumcision, the patriarch received a new name, 'Abraham.' This is probably a variation on 'Abram,' but its meaning is unknown, the popular explanation 'father of multitude' being considered untenable. In commemoration of this event Jewish children receive their name when admitted to the covenant by circumcision (Luke 1:59), as do Christian children when baptised into the Church of Christ. The 'many nations' of Genesis 17:4 and Genesis 17:6 included not only Israelites but also Ishmaelites, Edomites (through Esau), Midianites (by Keturah), Arabs (by Hagar).