Abraham in Sumerian Texts: A philological and historical analysis of the name “Za-ab-ra-am” in the texts of Ur III (2100 BC)

Abstract

This study examines the occurrence of the name “Za-ab-ra-am” in Sumerian administrative documents from the Ur III period (ca. 2100–2000 BCE), preserved in Puzriš-Dagan, Girsu, and Nuzi (Gasur), in order to assess its potential correspondence to the biblical patriarch Abraham. Adopting a philological and historical-comparative approach, the research integrates academic transliterations, paleographic reconstructions, and lexical analysis of Sumerian, with particular focus on the genitive particle za. Beyond linguistic considerations, the study investigates the administrative contexts of the tablets, including patterns of property registration, trade, and taxation. Methodology also includes onomastic comparison with patriarchal names found in the Hebrew tradition (Ishmael, Jacob, Israel) and attested in contemporary sources, as well as the integration of logistical data on the mobility and provisioning of nomadic caravans in Mesopotamia. Findings indicate that the recurrence of “Za-ab-ra-am” in regions and periods consistent with the biblical narrative—combined with documented Sumerian administrative practices—offers significant evidence in support of the historicity of the patriarchs, challenging scholarly positions that deny their historical existence.