Why did God change Abram's name to Abraham and Sarai's to Sarah?

Question

What do "Abram" and "Abraham" mean in ancient Hebrew / Aramaic?

Judith, honey, it's in the Bible. Read Genesis, why don't you?

Answer 1

this is what Rashi says

5. And your name shall no longer be called Abram, but your name shall be Abraham, for I have made you the father of a multitude of nations.
the father of a multitude of nations אַב הֲמוֹן is an acrostic of his name [i.e., - אב ר הם]. (Gen. Rabbah 46:7). The “resh” that was in it [his name] originally, denoting that he was the father only of Aram, which was his native place, whereas now [he became] the father of the whole world (Ber. 13a): nevertheless the “resh” that was there originally was not moved from its place. For even the “yud” in Sarai’s name complained to the Shechinah until it was added to Joshua, as it is said: (Num. 13:16):“and Moses called Hosea [הוֹשֵׁעַ] the son of Nun, Joshua [יְהוֹשֻׁעַ].” - [from Gen. Rabbah 47:1]

Answer 2

God changed their names to signify the making of the new covenant that He made with Abraham.

Abram means "High exalted Father"
Abraham means "Father of a multitude"

And since God said that He would make Abrahams offspring as numerous as the sand... I think the 2nd name fits.

Answer 3

I think it was to put god's name into their's.
In Hebrew, the "ha" that was added means the name of the lord, since you can not say or write the actual name.

Answer 4

The H represents God and the i from Sarai goes to Joshua, from just shua. (It makes more sense in hebrew

Answer 5

Meaning of "Abraham": father of a multitude. / Meaning of "Abram": Exalted father

Answer 6

i dont know but he changed saul, to paul, saul was a persecutor of christians, paul was a repented person who turned into a disciple of God

Answer 7

God didn't, people did. I can't believe you think God had anything to do with people's names.