ABRAHAM

Biblical PN

1.

Hebrew prophet and patriarch (1 Nephi 6:4; 15:18; 17:40; 19:10; 22:9; 2 Nephi 8:2 = Isaiah 51:2; 27:33 = Isaiah 29:22; 29:14; Jacob 4:5; Mosiah 7:19; 23:23; Alma 5:24; 7:25; 13:15 (x2); 29:11; 36:2; Helaman 3:30; 8:16, 17, 18 (x2), 19; 3 Nephi 4:30; 20:27; 27:33; Mormon 5:20; 9:11;Ether 13:11)

Etymology

The Biblical PN ABRAHAM is mentioned 27 times in the Book of Mormon with reference to the biblical figure, but never as an individual character in the Book of Mormon. No fully satisfying etymology for the biblical name has been proposed. Köhler-Baumgartner (s.v.) cites the Ar. ruham, "multitude," with which may be compared the passage in Genesis 17:5, "Neither shall thy name any more be called Abram, but thy name shall be Abraham, for a father of many nations (Heb. ab hamon goyim) have I made thee." Still, there is no Hebrew word with the root consonants RHM* that has the meaning "multitude." Köhler-Baumgartner compares the Akkadian PN Abam-ramabut many would prefer a name of Hebrew origin.

Regardless of its etymology, Joseph Smith in translating the Book of Mormon would probably have used the King James spelling.

Variants

Deseret Alphabet: 𐐁𐐒𐐡𐐈𐐐𐐈𐐣 (eɪbræhæm)

Notes

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