No longer shall your name be Abram, but your name shall be Abraham: this clause may sometimes be rendered “They won’t call you Abram any more; they will call you Abraham” or “Abram won’t be your name any longer; it will be Abraham.” Note that both Revised Standard Version and Good News Translation have footnotes to explain the popular meaning attached to the new name. Translators may wish to do the same.

For I have made you the father of a multitude of nations gives a reason or explanation for the name change. The change of Abram’s name marks a significant turn in his life. He will soon have a son from Sarai, whose name will also be changed in verse 15. In the Middle East, as in many areas of the world, the change of a person’s name signals a crucial change in the person’s life. For example, a leader taking over the direction of his people may receive a throne name, or such events as the death of an important ancestor or victory over a defeated enemy may be occasions for a change in a person’s name. Name changing is common in some areas when a person becomes a convert to a new religion.

Multitude of nations: multitude renders a word whose unmarked meaning refers to “unrest,” “tumult,” or “noise.” It is used of military troops or groups of people. Used with nations or peoples it refers, as in this verse, to the abundance or large number of them.

The fact that God is the one who makes or orders the change of name for Abram is not stated directly in the Hebrew; but in some languages it will be necessary to make this clear. For instance, in one translation this verse begins: “I am going to change that name of yours. They can’t call you Abram any more. I turn that name and call you Abraham, because….”

Quoted with permission from Reyburn, William D. and Fry, Euan McG. A Handbook on Genesis. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 1997. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .