Genesis 17:5

Abram The shorter form is here used for the last time. Except in Genesis, it only occurs in 1 Chronicles 1:27; Nehemiah 9:7.

thy name shall be Abraham The change from "Abram" to "Abraham" is associated with the covenant promise that the patriarch shall be "the father of a multitude of nations" ("ab hamôn gôyyîm). As in many other instances, we have here a resemblance through assonance, and not a real derivation of a proper name. There is no such word as rahammeaning "a multitude." "Abraham" and "Abram" have, until recently, been regarded as forms of the same name, "Abiram," which meant "exalted father," or "the father is Ram," i.e. "the exalted one." But the longer name has been found in several Babylonian monuments belonging to the reign of Ammi-zaduga, who was tenth in the dynasty founded by Hammurabi. According to the distinguished Assyriologist, Ungnad, the Babylonian pronunciation was Abaram, and the meaning "He loves the father."

a multitude of nations The promise of the covenant in P contemplates not only the nation of Israel (as J, Genesis 12:2; Genesis 18:18, and E, Genesis 46:3), but also the kindred nations of Edom and Ishmael.