Abram — Abraham's Transgression

The Midrash of Philo 5:1

Curated by Arthur·Told by Maggid·March 24, 2026

What is the meaning of, "Thy name shall not be called Abram, but Abraham shall thy name be?" (Genesis 17:5).

Themes

Creation Patriarchs Abraham Sin Divine Justice

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Vayikra RabbahElazar — Abraham at the Dawn of CreationRabbi Elazar, in Vayikra Rabbah 35, offers a powerful comparison. He says, "The way of the world is that a king issues a decree; if he wishes to fulfill it, he The Midrash of PhiloFaith of AbrahamThe Midrash of Philo turns to Faith of Abraham. That's the question the Midrash of Philo – a collection of interpretations and expansions of biblical stories at Book of JubileesStory of AbrahamThe Book of Jubilees, a text not found in the canonical Tanakh, but considered sacred in some Jewish traditions. It retells much of Genesis and Exodus, but with Legends of the JewsAbraham Meets a Woman Searching for Her Lost ChildThat feeling, that fleeting nature of time, echoes in a powerful story about Abraham from Ginzberg's Legends of the Jews. Abraham, not yet the patriarch we know Legends of the JewsEphron Charged Abraham Four Hundred Silver ShekelsLegends of the Jews turns to Ephron Charged Abraham Four Hundred Silver Shekels. So, Sarah has passed, and Abraham needs a burial place. He approaches the Child Heikhalot RabbatiGod Cherishes Israel's Breath More Than All CreationIt's a powerful, intimate glimpse into the relationship between us and the Divine. The text imagines God saying, "For I have no pleasure in all My world which I