What nationality was Abraham from the bible?

Answer 1

There are two ways to answer this question; one based upon the names of countries and the other based on family stock.

Based on country nationality, Abraham was born in Babylonia.

Based on his family origins, Abraham and his ancestors were Hebrews (descendants of Eber). The Hebrews were one of the sub-groups among the Semites (descendants of Shem, son of Noah).

See Genesis ch.10-11.

Answer 2

In those days, people were not divided into nationalities as much as we are today; they were divided chiefly by ethnicity and ancestry.

Abraham was a Western Semite of Hebrew ancestry (Genesis ch.11), from the northern Fertile Crescent. Moses, a descendant of Abraham, was Israelite through both parents (Exodus ch.6). Like every other Israelite in his generation, he was born in Egypt.

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Answer 3

Abraham (18th century BCE) was born in Ur, a city in southern Babylonia (Iraq). His Semitic ancestors lived in the northern Fertile Crescent. Later, Abraham lived most of his life in the Middle Eastern country of Israel (Canaan).

Abraham is called a Hebrew (Genesis ch.14) because "Hebrews" (Ivrim) means descendants of Eber (Ever). Ever was a Semite and an ancestor of Abraham (Genesis ch.10-11), and the early Hebrews were Abraham's uncles and cousins for several generations back. They were Western Semites and lived in northern Mesopotamia.In 1934-39, excavations were conducted at ancient Mari on the Euphrates River. They found that ancient towns were named after the ancestors of Abraham:
The city of Nahor was found near the city of Harran which exists to this day. Equally clear signs of early Hebrew residence appear in the names of other towns nearby: Serug (Assyrian Sarugi), Terah (Til Turakhi, "Mound of Terah"), and Peleg (Paliga, on the Euphrates near the mouth of the Habur). All these names are found in Genesis ch.11.

In Ur, Abraham first repudiated idolatry. (See: Abraham's biography.) He then sojourned in Harran (Syria) for several years, and then lived in Canaan (Israel). It was in Canaan that Abraham made a covenant with God (Genesis ch.15), and raised a family to be the center of carrying on his traditions (Genesis 18:19).

Answer 4

Abraham's original home was Ur, a city East of Babylon. He was Babylonian. He was originally named Abram. God changed his name to Abraham when he made the covenant with him.

Answer 5

Abraham lived in Haran, and he is the father of the Jewish people.