King James Version:
(The Lord speaking is red text)
¶ And it came to pass after these things, that God did tempt Abraham, and said unto him, Abraham: and he said, Behold, [here] I [am].
Complete Jewish Bible:
After these things, God tested Avraham. He said to him, "Avraham!" and he answered, "Here I am."
Berean Standard Bible:
Some time later God tested Abraham and said to him, “Abraham!” “Here I am,” he answered.
American Standard Version:
And it came to pass after these things, that God did prove Abraham, and said unto him, Abraham; and he said, Here am I.
KJV with Strong’s Numbers:
And it came to pass after{H310} these things{H1697}, that God{H430} did tempt{H5254} Abraham{H85}, and said{H559} unto him, Abraham{H85}: and he said{H559}, Behold, here I am.
Cross-References (KJV):
Hebrews 11:17
- By faith Abraham, when he was tried, offered up Isaac: and he that had received the promises offered up his only begotten [son],
Deuteronomy 8:2
- And thou shalt remember all the way which the LORD thy God led thee these forty years in the wilderness, to humble thee, [and] to prove thee, to know what [was] in thine heart, whether thou wouldest keep his commandments, or no.
1 Peter 1:7
- That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ:
James 2:21
- Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar?
James 1:12
- Blessed [is] the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him.
James 1:14
- But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed.
1 Corinthians 10:13
- There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God [is] faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear [it].
Explore This Verse Across Other Resources:
Commentary for Genesis 22:1
Genesis 22:1 introduces one of the most challenging and profound narratives in the Bible, known as the "Binding of Isaac" or the "Akedah." This verse sets the stage for a pivotal event in the life of Abraham, the patriarch of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam.
**Themes:**
1. **Divine Testing:** The verse explicitly states that God "tempted" or "tested" Abraham. The concept of divine testing is a central theme, exploring the nature of faith, obedience, and trust in God, even in the face of seemingly contradictory commands.
2. **Obedience and Faith:** Abraham's immediate response, "Here I am," reflects his readiness to listen and obey God's will, highlighting his unwavering faith and commitment to God, which is a model for believers.
3. **The Nature of Sacrifice:** This event prefigures the concept of substitutionary sacrifice, where an innocent party takes the place of the guilty, foreshadowing the sacrificial death of Jesus Christ in Christian theology.
4. **Covenant and Promise:** The narrative occurs after God has established a covenant with Abraham, promising him descendants as numerous as the stars. The test examines Abraham's trust in God's promises despite the apparent jeopardy of those promises.
**Historical Context:**
Genesis 22:1 is set in the context of the Patriarchal narratives, which describe the lives of the founding figures of the Israelite people. Abraham is depicted as living in the land of Canaan, which God has promised to his descendants. The historical context is ancient Near Eastern, with cultural practices including ancestor worship and child sacrifice, which may have been familiar to the original audience.
The verse reflects the broader Ancient Near Eastern practice of deities testing individuals, but with a unique twist: the God of Abraham is testing not for the sake of cruelty or caprice but to deepen the relationship with His faithful servant.
This narrative would have served to reinforce the distinctiveness of Israel's God, who does not desire human sacrifice (as later expressed in texts like Jeremiah 32:35) but rather tests the heart and faith of His followers. It also would have underscored the importance of obedience to God's commandments and the belief in God's ability to provide and fulfill promises, even when circumstances seem to contradict those promises.
*This commentary is produced by Microsoft/WizardLM-2-8x22B AI model
Strong's Numbers and Definitions:
Note: H = Hebrew (OT), G = Greek (NT)
- Strong's Number: H310
There are 766 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: אַחַר
Transliteration: ʼachar
Pronunciation: akh-ar'
Description: from אָחַר; properly, the hind part; generally used as an adverb or conjunction, after (in various senses); after (that, -ward), again, at, away from, back (from, -side), behind, beside, by, follow (after, -ing), forasmuch, from, hereafter, hinder end, [phrase] out (over) live, [phrase] persecute, posterity, pursuing, remnant, seeing, since, thence(-forth), when, with. - Strong's Number: H1697
There are 1290 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: דָּבָר
Transliteration: dâbâr
Pronunciation: daw-baw'
Description: from דָבַר; a word; by implication, a matter (as spoken of) or thing; adverbially, a cause; act, advice, affair, answer, [idiom] any such (thing), because of, book, business, care, case, cause, certain rate, [phrase] chronicles, commandment, [idiom] commune(-ication), [phrase] concern(-ing), [phrase] confer, counsel, [phrase] dearth, decree, deed, [idiom] disease, due, duty, effect, [phrase] eloquent, errand, (evil favoured-) ness, [phrase] glory, [phrase] harm, hurt, [phrase] iniquity, [phrase] judgment, language, [phrase] lying, manner, matter, message, (no) thing, oracle, [idiom] ought, [idiom] parts, [phrase] pertaining, [phrase] please, portion, [phrase] power, promise, provision, purpose, question, rate, reason, report, request, [idiom] (as hast) said, sake, saying, sentence, [phrase] sign, [phrase] so, some (uncleanness), somewhat to say, [phrase] song, speech, [idiom] spoken, talk, task, [phrase] that, [idiom] there done, thing (concerning), thought, [phrase] thus, tidings, what(-soever), [phrase] wherewith, which, word, work. - Strong's Number: H430
There are 2334 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: אֱלֹהִים
Transliteration: ʼĕlôhîym
Pronunciation: el-o-heem'
Description: plural of אֱלוֹהַּ; gods in the ordinary sense; but specifically used (in the plural thus, especially with the article) of the supreme God; occasionally applied by way of deference to magistrates; and sometimes as a superlative; angels, [idiom] exceeding, God (gods) (-dess, -ly), [idiom] (very) great, judges, [idiom] mighty. - Strong's Number: H5254
There are 34 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: נָסָה
Transliteration: nâçâh
Pronunciation: naw-saw'
Description: a primitive root; to test; by implication, to attempt; adventure, assay, prove, tempt, try. - Strong's Number: H85
There are 1159 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: אַבְרָהָם
Transliteration: ʼAbrâhâm
Pronunciation: ab-raw-hawm'
Description: contracted from אָב and an unused root (probably meaning to be populous); father of a multitude; Abraham, the later name of Abram; Abraham. - Strong's Number: H559
There are 4434 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: אָמַר
Transliteration: ʼâmar
Pronunciation: aw-mar'
Description: a primitive root; to say (used with great latitude); answer, appoint, avouch, bid, boast self, call, certify, challenge, charge, [phrase] (at the, give) command(-ment), commune, consider, declare, demand, [idiom] desire, determine, [idiom] expressly, [idiom] indeed, [idiom] intend, name, [idiom] plainly, promise, publish, report, require, say, speak (against, of), [idiom] still, [idiom] suppose, talk, tell, term, [idiom] that is, [idiom] think, use (speech), utter, [idiom] verily, [idiom] yet.