Genesis 22:12

King James Version:

(The Lord speaking is red text)

And he said, Lay not thine hand upon the lad, neither do thou any thing unto him: for now I know that thou fearest God, seeing thou hast not withheld thy son, thine only [son] from me.

Complete Jewish Bible:

He said, "Don't lay your hand on the boy! Don't do anything to him! For now I know that you are a man who fears God, because you have not withheld your son, your only son, from me."

Berean Standard Bible:

“Do not lay a hand on the boy or do anything to him,” said the angel, “for now I know that you fear God, since you have not withheld your only son from me.”

American Standard Version:

And he said, Lay not thy hand upon the lad, neither do thou anything unto him; for now I know that thou fearest God, seeing thou hast not withheld thy son, thine only son, from me.

KJV with Strong’s Numbers:

And he said^{H559}, Lay^{H7971} not thine hand^{H3027} upon^{H413} the lad^{H5288}, neither do thou^{H6213} any thing^{H3972} unto him: for now^{H6258} I know^{H3045} that thou fearest^{H3373} God^{H430}, seeing thou hast not^{H3808} withheld^{H2820} thy son^{H1121}, thine only^{H3173} son from me.

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Commentary for Genesis 22:12

Genesis 22:12 is part of the narrative known as the Binding of Isaac or the Akedah in Jewish tradition. The historical context of this verse is set within the patriarchal narratives of the Book of Genesis, which are believed to have been written down during the period of the Israelite monarchy, though they reflect much older oral traditions.

The themes present in this verse include:

1. **Divine Testing**: God tests Abraham's faith by commanding him to sacrifice his son Isaac. This theme explores the limits of faith and obedience to the divine will.

2. **Faith and Obedience**: Abraham demonstrates his unwavering faith in God by his readiness to follow the command, which is then halted by God's intervention. This act of faith is central to the narrative and is a defining moment for Abraham's character.

3. **The Sparing of Isaac**: At the last moment, God provides a ram as a substitute sacrifice, sparing Isaac's life. This underscores the theme of divine mercy and provision, as well as the rejection of human sacrifice, which was practiced by some neighboring cultures.

4. **Covenantal Relationship**: The verse reflects the covenantal relationship between God and Abraham. God's acknowledgment that Abraham fears Him and has not withheld his son reaffirms the special bond between them and sets the stage for the fulfillment of God's promises to Abraham.

5. **Moral and Ethical Development**: The narrative serves as a transition from the acceptance of human sacrifice to its rejection, reflecting the moral and ethical development within the religious practices of the Israelites.

6. **Theology of Substitutionary Sacrifice**: The ram caught in the thicket serves as a substitute for Isaac, prefiguring the concept of substitutionary atonement that is central to later Jewish and Christian theology.

7. **Father-Son Relationship**: The verse also highlights the complex relationship between Abraham and Isaac, emphasizing the emotional and spiritual struggle inherent in the command and its resolution.

In summary, Genesis 22:12 encapsulates a pivotal moment in the narrative of Abraham, emphasizing themes of faith, divine testing, obedience, mercy, covenant, moral development, and substitutionary sacrifice, all within the context of the evolving religious practices and beliefs of the ancient Israelites.

*This commentary is produced by Microsoft/WizardLM-2-8x22B AI model

Strong's Numbers and Definitions:

Note: H = Hebrew (OT), G = Greek (NT)

1. 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.
   
2. Strong's Number: H7971
   There are 790 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: שָׁלַח
   Transliteration: shâlach
   Pronunciation: shaw-lakh'
   Description: a primitive root; to send away, for, or out (in a great variety of applications); [idiom] any wise, appoint, bring (on the way), cast (away, out), conduct, [idiom] earnestly, forsake, give (up), grow long, lay, leave, let depart (down, go, loose), push away, put (away, forth, in, out), reach forth, send (away, forth, out), set, shoot (forth, out), sow, spread, stretch forth (out).
   
3. Strong's Number: H3027
   There are 1447 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: יָד
   Transliteration: yâd
   Pronunciation: yawd
   Description: a primitive word; in distinction from כַּף, the closed one); used (as noun, adverb, etc.) in a great variety of applications, both literally and figuratively, both proximate and remote (as follows); a hand (the open one (indicating power, means, direction, etc.),; ([phrase] be) able, [idiom] about, [phrase] armholes, at, axletree, because of, beside, border, [idiom] bounty, [phrase] broad, (broken-) handed, [idiom] by, charge, coast, [phrase] consecrate, [phrase] creditor, custody, debt, dominion, [idiom] enough, [phrase] fellowship, force, [idiom] from, hand(-staves, -y work), [idiom] he, himself, [idiom] in, labour, [phrase] large, ledge, (left-) handed, means, [idiom] mine, ministry, near, [idiom] of, [idiom] order, ordinance, [idiom] our, parts, pain, power, [idiom] presumptuously, service, side, sore, state, stay, draw with strength, stroke, [phrase] swear, terror, [idiom] thee, [idiom] by them, [idiom] themselves, [idiom] thine own, [idiom] thou, through, [idiom] throwing, [phrase] thumb, times, [idiom] to, [idiom] under, [idiom] us, [idiom] wait on, (way-) side, where, [phrase] wide, [idiom] with (him, me, you), work, [phrase] yield, [idiom] yourselves.
   
4. Strong's Number: H413
   There are 185 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: אֵל
   Transliteration: ʼêl
   Pronunciation: ale
   Description: (but only used in the shortened constructive form אֶל ); a primitive particle; properly, denoting motion towards, but occasionally used of a quiescent position, i.e.; near, with or among; often in general, to; about, according to, after, against, among, as for, at, because(-fore, -side), both...and, by, concerning, for, from, [idiom] hath, in(-to), near, (out) of, over, through, to(-ward), under, unto, upon, whether, with(-in).
   
5. Strong's Number: H5288
   There are 221 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: נַעַר
   Transliteration: naʻar
   Pronunciation: nah'-ar
   Description: from נָעַר; (concretely) a boy (as active), from the age of infancy to adolescence; by implication, a servant; also (by interch. of sex), a girl (of similar latitude in age); babe, boy, child, damsel (from the margin), lad, servant, young (man).
   
6. Strong's Number: H6213
   There are 2286 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: עָשָׂה
   Transliteration: ʻâsâh
   Pronunciation: aw-saw'
   Description: a primitive root; to do or make, in the broadest sense and widest application; accomplish, advance, appoint, apt, be at, become, bear, bestow, bring forth, bruise, be busy, [idiom] certainly, have the charge of, commit, deal (with), deck, [phrase] displease, do, (ready) dress(-ed), (put in) execute(-ion), exercise, fashion, [phrase] feast, (fight-) ing man, [phrase] finish, fit, fly, follow, fulfill, furnish, gather, get, go about, govern, grant, great, [phrase] hinder, hold (a feast), [idiom] indeed, [phrase] be industrious, [phrase] journey, keep, labour, maintain, make, be meet, observe, be occupied, offer, [phrase] officer, pare, bring (come) to pass, perform, pracise, prepare, procure, provide, put, requite, [idiom] sacrifice, serve, set, shew, [idiom] sin, spend, [idiom] surely, take, [idiom] thoroughly, trim, [idiom] very, [phrase] vex, be (warr-) ior, work(-man), yield, use.
   
7. Strong's Number: H3972
   There are 32 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: מְאוּמָה
   Transliteration: mᵉʼûwmâh
   Pronunciation: meh-oo'-maw
   Description: apparently a form of מאוּם; properly, a speck or point, i.e. (by implication) something; with negative, nothing; fault, [phrase] no(-ught), ought, somewhat, any (no-)thing.
   
8. Strong's Number: H6258
   There are 9 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: עַתָּה
   Transliteration: ʻattâh
   Pronunciation: at-taw'
   Description: from עֵת; at this time, whether adverb, conjunction or expletive; henceforth, now, straightway, this time, whereas.
   
9. Strong's Number: H3045
   There are 873 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: יָדַע
   Transliteration: yâdaʻ
   Pronunciation: yaw-dah'
   Description: a primitive root; to know (properly, to ascertain by seeing); used in a great variety of senses, figuratively, literally, euphemistically and inferentially (including observation, care, recognition; and causatively, instruction, designation, punishment, etc.); acknowledge, acquaintance(-ted with), advise, answer, appoint, assuredly, be aware, (un-) awares, can(-not), certainly, comprehend, consider, [idiom] could they, cunning, declare, be diligent, (can, cause to) discern, discover, endued with, familiar friend, famous, feel, can have, be (ig-) norant, instruct, kinsfolk, kinsman, (cause to let, make) know, (come to give, have, take) knowledge, have (knowledge), (be, make, make to be, make self) known, [phrase] be learned, [phrase] lie by man, mark, perceive, privy to, [idiom] prognosticator, regard, have respect, skilful, shew, can (man of) skill, be sure, of a surety, teach, (can) tell, understand, have (understanding), [idiom] will be, wist, wit, wot.
   
10. Strong's Number: H3373
    There are 63 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: יָרֵא
    Transliteration: yârêʼ
    Pronunciation: yaw-ray'
    Description: from יָרֵא; fearing; morally, reverent; afraid, fear (-ful).
    
11. 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.
    
12. Strong's Number: H3808
    There are 73 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: לֹא
    Transliteration: lôʼ
    Pronunciation: lo
    Description: or לוֹא; or לֹה; (Deuteronomy 3:11), a primitive particle; not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often used with other particles; [idiom] before, [phrase] or else, ere, [phrase] except, ig(-norant), much, less, nay, neither, never, no((-ne), -r, (-thing)), ([idiom] as though...,(can-), for) not (out of), of nought, otherwise, out of, [phrase] surely, [phrase] as truly as, [phrase] of a truth, [phrase] verily, for want, [phrase] whether, without.
    
13. Strong's Number: H2820
    There are 28 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: חָשַׂךְ
    Transliteration: châsak
    Pronunciation: khaw-sak'
    Description: a primitive root; also interchangeable with חָשַׁךְ; to restrain or (reflex.) refrain; by implication, to refuse, spare, preserve; to observe; assuage, [idiom] darken, forbear, hinder, hold back, keep (back), punish, refrain, reserve, spare, withhold.
    
14. Strong's Number: H1121
    There are 3654 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: בֵּן
    Transliteration: bên
    Pronunciation: bane
    Description: from בָּנָה; a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative relationship, including grandson, subject, nation, quality or condition, etc., (like father or brother), etc.); [phrase] afflicted, age, (Ahoh-) (Ammon-) (Hachmon-) (Lev-) ite, (anoint-) ed one, appointed to, ([phrase]) arrow, (Assyr-) (Babylon-) (Egypt-) (Grec-) ian, one born, bough, branch, breed, [phrase] (young) bullock, [phrase] (young) calf, [idiom] came up in, child, colt, [idiom] common, [idiom] corn, daughter, [idiom] of first, [phrase] firstborn, foal, [phrase] very fruitful, [phrase] postage, [idiom] in, [phrase] kid, [phrase] lamb, ([phrase]) man, meet, [phrase] mighty, [phrase] nephew, old, ([phrase]) people, [phrase] rebel, [phrase] robber, [idiom] servant born, [idiom] soldier, son, [phrase] spark, [phrase] steward, [phrase] stranger, [idiom] surely, them of, [phrase] tumultuous one, [phrase] valiant(-est), whelp, worthy, young (one), youth.
    
15. Strong's Number: H3173
    There are 12 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: יָחִיד
    Transliteration: yâchîyd
    Pronunciation: yaw-kheed'
    Description: from יָחַד; properly, united, i.e. sole; by implication, beloved; also lonely; (feminine) the life (as not to be replaced); darling, desolate, only (child, son), solitary.