Leviathan · Character
Abraham
The patriarch who believed God speaking directly to him, the first link in Hobbes's chain of faith running from revelation down to the civil sovereign.
supporting
First appearance: part i of man
As a supporting figure in Leviathan, Abraham is not background color—the story leans on what they do once the chapter opens.
Mentioned as a founder of divine politics, through whom the laws of the kingdom of God were derived.
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Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and Moses believed God himself; later Christians, Hobbes argues, believe only the pastors and sovereigns who recommend the Scriptures to them. That distinction lets Hobbes locate the authority to…
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The fuller portrait of Abraham sits in Reading Lens — open the free preview to keep reading with notes on the page.
See Abraham in part i of manCharacter Web
17 connectionsA slice of how Abraham sits in the book — open the reader for the full interactive map.
Relationship types
- Family
- Other
Character groups
- Historical and theological exemplars
- Patriarchs and rulers of Egypt
- Protagonist
- Biblical and religious leaders
+12 more in the full Character Web
Open in readerNarrative arc
Story tension across the book — this chapter sits in Exposition.
- Setup
- Escalation
- Breaking point
- Aftermath
- Closing
This is the story's dramatic climax because it reveals the sovereign's right to punish is not a gift from subj…
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Follow the arc while readingRelationships
- Jesus Christ
family · positive
Abraham is the patriarchal ancestor of Jesus Christ, with Christ being the promised seed… How this plays out →
Relationship notes
How these ties play out is in the reading companion — open the free preview.
See Abraham in part i of manIn the story
Abraham appears across 4 companion beats. Open any chapter in the free preview to see the notes beside the text.
- XII: Of Religion
- Of the Signification in Scripture of Kingdom of God, of Holy, Sacred, and Sacrament
- XL: Of the Rights of the Kingdom of God, in Abraham, Moses, the High Priests, and the Kings of Judah
- XLIII: Of What Is Necessary for a Man’s Reception Into the Kingdom of Heaven
Chapter companion notes
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See Abraham in part i of man