Abram becomes Abraham; covenant of circumcision
When Abram was 99, God renamed him Abraham, renamed Sarai Sarah, gave circumcision as the covenant sign, and promised a son within a year.
Your name will no more be called Abram, but your name will be Abraham; for I have made you the father of a multitude of nations.
Genesis 17:5 (World English Bible)
Abram means “exalted father”; Abraham means “father of a multitude.” God promised kings and nations from him and an everlasting covenant with his offspring.
Abraham laughed at the idea of a son at 100 with Sarah at 90, so God said the boy would be named Isaac (“he laughs”). That same day Abraham, Ishmael, then 13, and every male in his household were circumcised.
Places
Dating notes
Abraham was 99 and Ishmael 13 (Genesis 17:24–25), which fixes the year at 1897 BC.