Genesis 22:2

King James Version:

(The Lord speaking is red text)

And he said, Take now thy son, thine only [son] Isaac, whom thou lovest, and get thee into the land of Moriah; and offer him there for a burnt offering upon one of the mountains which I will tell thee of.

Complete Jewish Bible:

He said, "Take your son, your only son, whom you love, Yitz'chak; and go to the land of Moriyah. There you are to offer him as a burnt offering on a mountain that I will point out to you."

Berean Standard Bible:

“Take your son,” God said, “your only son Isaac, whom you love, and go to the land of Moriah. Offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains, which I will show you.”

American Standard Version:

And he said, Take now thy son, thine only son, whom thou lovest, even Isaac, and get thee into the land of Moriah; and offer him there for a burnt-offering upon one of the mountains which I will tell thee of.

KJV with Strong’s Numbers:

And he said{H559}, Take now{H3947} thy son{H1121}, thine only{H3173} son Isaac{H3327}, whom thou lovest{H157}, and get thee{H3212} into the land{H776} of Moriah{H4179}; and offer him{H5927} there for a burnt offering{H5930} upon one{H259} of the mountains{H2022} which I will tell{H559} thee of.

Cross-References (KJV):

John 3:16

  • For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

Romans 8:32

  • He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?

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],

1 John 4:9

  • In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him.

1 John 4:10

  • Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son [to be] the propitiation for our sins.

Genesis 22:16

  • And said, By myself have I sworn, saith the LORD, for because thou hast done this thing, and hast not withheld thy son, thine only [son]:

Genesis 17:19

  • And God said, Sarah thy wife shall bear thee a son indeed; and thou shalt call his name Isaac: and I will establish my covenant with him for an everlasting covenant, [and] with his seed after him.

Explore This Verse Across Other Resources:


Commentary for Genesis 22:2

Genesis 22:2 is part of the narrative known as the Binding of Isaac or the Akedah in Jewish tradition. This verse is set within the broader context of the patriarchal narratives of the Book of Genesis, which detail the lives and experiences of the early Hebrew patriarchs.

**Themes:**
1. **Divine Testing:** The verse reflects a central theme of God testing Abraham's faith and obedience. Abraham is asked to make the ultimate sacrifice, which challenges his loyalty to God.
2. **Faith and Trust:** Abraham's unwavering faith in God's promises is highlighted, as he trusts that God will fulfill his covenant despite the command to sacrifice his son.
3. **The Problem of Suffering:** The narrative raises questions about the nature of suffering and the reasons behind divine commands that seem to conflict with ethical norms.
4. **Substitutionary Sacrifice:** The event prefigures the concept of substitutionary sacrifice, as an angel stops Abraham and provides a ram as a substitute for Isaac, pointing towards future redemptive themes in the Bible.
5. **Covenantal Relationship:** The passage underscores the covenantal relationship between God and Abraham, emphasizing God's promises of descendants and land.

**Historical Context:**
The verse is set in the context of ancient Near Eastern practices of child sacrifice, which were not uncommon among certain cultures in the region. The narrative serves to distinguish the God of Abraham from other deities by ultimately rejecting the practice of human sacrifice.

Genesis 22:2 is also significant in the religious history of the region that would later be associated with Jerusalem and the Temple Mount, as the land of Moriah is traditionally linked to these sites. This connection would have been meaningful to the later Israelite audience, reinforcing the significance of the Temple and its sacrificial system.

In summary, Genesis 22:2 is a pivotal verse in the Bible that explores profound themes of faith, divine testing, and the complex relationship between God and humanity, while also reflecting the historical context of ancient Near Eastern religious practices and the early formation of Israelite religious identity.

*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: H3947
    There are 909 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: לָקַח
    Transliteration: lâqach
    Pronunciation: law-kakh'
    Description: a primitive root; to take (in the widest variety of applications); accept, bring, buy, carry away, drawn, fetch, get, infold, [idiom] many, mingle, place, receive(-ing), reserve, seize, send for, take (away, -ing, up), use, win.
  3. 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.
  4. 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.
  5. Strong's Number: H3327
    There are 101 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: יִצְחָק
    Transliteration: Yitschâq
    Pronunciation: yits-khawk'
    Description: from צָחַק; laughter (i.e. mochery); Jitschak (or Isaac), son of Abraham; Isaac. Compare יִשְׂחָק.
  6. Strong's Number: H157
    There are 257 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: אָהַב
    Transliteration: ʼâhab
    Pronunciation: aw-hab'
    Description: or אָהֵב ; a primitive root; to have affection for (sexually or otherwise); (be-) love(-d, -ly, -r), like, friend.
  7. Strong's Number: H3212
    There are 938 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: יָלַךְ
    Transliteration: yâlak
    Pronunciation: yaw-lak'
    Description: a primitive root (compare הָלַךְ); to walk (literally or figuratively); causatively, to carry (in various senses); [idiom] again, away, bear, bring, carry (away), come (away), depart, flow, [phrase] follow(-ing), get (away, hence, him), (cause to, made) go (away, -ing, -ne, one's way, out), grow, lead (forth), let down, march, prosper, [phrase] pursue, cause to run, spread, take away (-journey), vanish, (cause to) walk(-ing), wax, [idiom] be weak.
  8. Strong's Number: H776
    There are 2739 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: אֶרֶץ
    Transliteration: ʼerets
    Pronunciation: eh'-rets
    Description: from an unused root probably meaning to be firm; the earth (at large, or partitively a land); [idiom] common, country, earth, field, ground, land, [idiom] natins, way, [phrase] wilderness, world.
  9. Strong's Number: H4179
    There are 2 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: מוֹרִיָּה
    Transliteration: Môwrîyâh
    Pronunciation: mo-ree-yaw'
    Description: or מֹרִיָּה; from רָאָה and יָהּ; seen of Jah; Morijah, a hill in Palestine; Moriah.
  10. Strong's Number: H5927
    There are 817 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: עָלָה
    Transliteration: ʻâlâh
    Pronunciation: aw-law'
    Description: a primitive root; to ascend, intransitively (be high) or actively (mount); used in a great variety of senses, primary and secondary, literal and figurative; arise (up), (cause to) ascend up, at once, break (the day) (up), bring (up), (cause to) burn, carry up, cast up, [phrase] shew, climb (up), (cause to, make to) come (up), cut off, dawn, depart, exalt, excel, fall, fetch up, get up, (make to) go (away, up); grow (over) increase, lay, leap, levy, lift (self) up, light, (make) up, [idiom] mention, mount up, offer, make to pay, [phrase] perfect, prefer, put (on), raise, recover, restore, (make to) rise (up), scale, set (up), shoot forth (up), (begin to) spring (up), stir up, take away (up), work.
  11. Strong's Number: H5930
    There are 262 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: עֹלָה
    Transliteration: ʻôlâh
    Pronunciation: o-law'
    Description: or עוֹלָה; feminine active participle of עָלָה; a step or (collectively, stairs, as ascending); usually a holocaust (as going up in smoke); ascent, burnt offering (sacrifice), go up to. See also עֶוֶל.
  12. Strong's Number: H259
    There are 801 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: אֶחָד
    Transliteration: ʼechâd
    Pronunciation: ekh-awd'
    Description: a numeral from אָחַד; properly, united, i.e. one; or (as an ordinal) first; a, alike, alone, altogether, and, any(-thing), apiece, a certain, (dai-) ly, each (one), [phrase] eleven, every, few, first, [phrase] highway, a man, once, one, only, other, some, together,
  13. Strong's Number: H2022
    There are 485 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: הַר
    Transliteration: har
    Pronunciation: har
    Description: a shortened form of הָרָר; a mountain or range of hills (sometimes used figuratively); hill (country), mount(-ain), [idiom] promotion.