Genesis 22:1-9

Abraham Tested

1 Some time later God tested Abraham. He said to him, “Abraham!” “Here I am,” he replied.
2 Then God said, “Take your son, your only son, whom you love—Isaac—and go to the region of Moriah. Sacrifice him there as a burnt offering on a mountain I will show you.”
3 Early the next morning Abraham got up and loaded his donkey. He took with him two of his servants and his son Isaac. When he had cut enough wood for the burnt offering, he set out for the place God had told him about.
4 On the third day Abraham looked up and saw the place in the distance.
5 He said to his servants, “Stay here with the donkey while I and the boy go over there. We will worship and then we will come back to you.”
6 Abraham took the wood for the burnt offering and placed it on his son Isaac, and he himself carried the fire and the knife. As the two of them went on together,
7 Isaac spoke up and said to his father Abraham, “Father?” “Yes, my son?” Abraham replied. “The fire and wood are here,” Isaac said, “but where is the lamb for the burnt offering?”
8 Abraham answered, “God himself will provide the lamb for the burnt offering, my son.” And the two of them went on together.
9 When they reached the place God had told him about, Abraham built an altar there and arranged the wood on it. He bound his son Isaac and laid him on the altar, on top of the wood.

Genesis 22:1-9 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO GENESIS 22

In this chapter we have an account of an order given by God to Abraham to sacrifice his son, Ge 22:1,2; of his readiness to obey the will of God, he immediately preparing everything for that purpose, Ge 22:3-10, of the order being reversed, and another sacrifice substituted in its room, which occasioned the giving a new name to the place where it was done, Ge 22:11-14; upon which the promise of special blessings, of a numerous offspring, and of the seed in whom all nations should be blessed, is renewed, Ge 22:15-18; after this Abraham returns to Beersheba, where he is informed of the increase of his brother Nahor's family, Ge 22:19-24.

Cross References 17

  • 1. Exodus 15:25; Exodus 16:4; Exodus 20:20; Deuteronomy 8:2,16; Deuteronomy 13:3; Judges 2:22; Judges 3:1; 2 Chronicles 32:31; Psalms 66:10; Hebrews 11:17; James 1:12-13
  • 2. ver 11; Genesis 31:11; Genesis 46:2; 1Sa 3:4,6,8; Isaiah 6:8
  • 3. ver 12,16; John 3:16; Hebrews 11:17; 1 John 4:9
  • 4. 2 Chronicles 3:1
  • 5. S Genesis 8:20
  • 6. ver 9
  • 7. Joshua 8:10
  • 8. Exodus 24:14
  • 9. John 19:17
  • 10. ver 10; Judges 19:29
  • 11. Exodus 29:38-42; Leviticus 1:10; Revelation 13:8
  • 12. ver 14
  • 13. ver 13; S John 1:29
  • 14. ver 2
  • 15. S Genesis 4:26; S Genesis 8:20
  • 16. Leviticus 1:7; 1 Kings 18:33
  • 17. Hebrews 11:17-19; James 2:21
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