RAV KOOK ON Lech Lecha Part 3: Father of Many Nations

Notarikon in the Torah Abbreviations and acronyms are common in rabbinic writings, but they are rare in the text of the Torah itself. Nonetheless, the Sages observed that a few acronyms — notarikon in Aramaic — may be found in the Torah. The first and clearest example is the new name that God gave to Abraham: “No longer shall you be called ‘Abram.’ Your name will be ‘Abraham,’ for I have made you the father of many nations.” (Gen. 17:5) God changed Abram’s name to Abraham, explaining that this new name indicates his new identity and mission. The name Avraham is short for “av hamon goyim,” ‘the father of many nations.’ The Talmud (Shabbat 105a), however, was not satisfied with this interpretation of the name. While the Torah explains “Avraham” to be a syllabic abbreviation of the words av hamon, the Sages converted it into a full-blown acronym. They wrote that each of the six Hebrew letters of av hamon (אב המון) indicates a different aspect of Abraham’s standing and influence in the world. • Aleph — I have made you a father (Av) to the nations; • Bet — I have made you chosen (Bachur) among the nations; • Hei — I have made you beloved (Haviv) among the nations; • Mem — I have you a king (Melech) for the nations; • Vav — I have made you exemplary (Vatik) among the nations; • Nun — I have made you faithful (Ne'eman) among the nations. Of all the names in the Torah, why is Abraham’s name an abbreviation? Why did the Sages further expand this abbreviation, letter by letter?