Genesis 22:3-10

3 So Abraham rose early in the morning and saddled his donkey, and took two of his young men with him and Isaac his son; and he split wood for the burnt offering, and arose and went to the place of which God had told him.

4 On the third day Abraham raised his eyes and saw the place from a distance.

5 Abraham said to his young men, "Stay here with the donkey, and I and the lad will go over * there *; and we will worship and return to you."

6 Abraham took the wood of the burnt offering and ¹laid it on Isaac his son, and he took in his hand the fire and the knife. So the two of them walked on together.

7 Isaac spoke to Abraham his father and said, "My father!" And he said, "Here I am, my son." And he said, "Behold, the fire and the wood, but where is the ²lamb for the burnt offering?"

8 Abraham said, "God will provide for Himself the lamb for the burnt offering, my son." So the two of them walked on together.

9 Then they came to ³the place of which God had told him; and Abraham built ⁴the altar there and arranged the wood, and bound his son Isaac and ⁵laid him on the altar, on top of the wood.

10 Abraham stretched out his hand and took the knife to slay his son.

Genesis 22:3-10 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

• 1. John 19:17
• 2. Exodus 29:38-42; John 1:29, 36; Revelation 13:8
• 3. Genesis 22:2
• 4. Genesis 12:7, 8; Genesis 13:18
• 5. Hebrews 11:17-19; James 2:21

Footnotes

• [a] Lit "see"