Genesis 22:10

10 And he held forth his hand, and took the sword to sacrifice his son. (And he stretched forth his hand, and took the knife to sacrifice his son.)

Genesis 22:10 Meaning and Commentary

Genesis 22:10

And Abraham stretched forth his hand
All things being ready for execution, the altar built, the wood laid on it, the sacrifice bound and laid on that, nothing remained but to cut the throat of the sacrifice; and in order to that, the instrument for it laying by him, he put forth his hand, one would think in a trembling manner, for it is enough to make one tremble to think of it:

and took the knife to slay his son;
with a full intention to do it, which was carrying his obedience to the divine will to the last extremity, and shows he was sincere in it, and really designed to complete it; and this was taken by the Lord as if it was actually done. He had his knife in his hand, and was near the throat of his son, and just ready to give the fatal thrust; in another moment, as it were, it would have been all over; but in the nick of time God appeared and prevented it, as follows:

Genesis 22:10 In-Context

8 Abraham said, My son, God shall purvey to him the beast of burnt sacrifice. Therefore they went together, (And Abraham said, My son, God himself shall provide the beast for the burnt sacrifice. And so they went together,)

9 and came to the place which God had showed to him; in which place Abraham builded an altar, and dressed [the] wood above; and when he had bound (al)together Isaac, his son (and when he had bound up his son Isaac), he laid Isaac on the altar, upon the heap of wood.

10 And he held forth his hand, and took the sword to sacrifice his son. (And he stretched forth his hand, and took the knife to sacrifice his son.)

11 And lo! the angel of the Lord cried from heaven, and said, Abraham! Abraham! Which answered, I am present (I am here).

12 And the angel said to him, Hold thou not forth thine hand on the child, neither do thou anything (of harm) to him; now I know that thou dreadest God, and sparedest not thine one begotten son for me. (And the angel said to him, Do not thou raise thy hand against the boy, nor do thou any harm to him; for now I know that thou fearest God, for thou hast not withheld thy only son from me.)