Genesis 22:11

KJV

¶ And the angel of the LORD called unto him out of heaven, and said, Abraham, Abraham: and he said, Here [am] I.

KJV (with Strong's)

And the angel {H4397} of the LORD {H3068} called {H7121} unto him out of heaven {H8064}, and said {H559}, Abraham {H85}, Abraham {H85}: and he said {H559}, Here am I.

Complete Jewish Bible

But the angel of ADONAI called to him out of heaven: "Avraham? Avraham!"He answered, "Here I am."

Berean Standard Bible

Just then the angel of the LORD called out to him from heaven, “Abraham, Abraham!” “Here I am,” he replied.

American Standard Version

And the angel of Jehovah called unto him out of heaven, and said, Abraham, Abraham: and he said, Here am I.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Genesis 22:11 marks the dramatic climax of Abraham's ultimate test of faith, as the Angel of the LORD intervenes from heaven, halting Abraham's hand just as he was poised to sacrifice his son Isaac. This pivotal moment not only demonstrates God's divine mercy and active involvement in human affairs but also confirms Abraham's unwavering obedience, solidifying his legacy of profound trust in God's promises and provision.

### CONTEXT
Genesis 22:11 captures the precise moment of divine intervention in one of the Bible's most profound accounts of faith and obedience: the testing of Abraham regarding his son Isaac. Following God's seemingly impossible command to sacrifice his only son of promise, Abraham had journeyed for three days to Mount Moriah, built an altar, bound Isaac, and was poised to obey God's instruction, knife in hand. This verse captures the critical juncture where God's plan for Abraham's test of faith reaches its intended resolution, preventing the sacrifice while confirming Abraham's absolute devotion.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
The verse opens with the dramatic intervention: "And the angel of the LORD called unto him out of heaven." This divine voice, emanating from the heavens, pierces the silence of Abraham's agonizing obedience. The double calling, "Abraham, Abraham," is a significant Hebrew idiom that emphasizes urgency, intimacy, and the gravity of the divine address, ensuring Abraham's full attention at this critical juncture. It signals a moment of profound importance, demanding an immediate and focused response.

Abraham's reply, "Here [am] I," is a testament to his complete submission and readiness to obey God's call, even in the most agonizing circumstances. This mirrors his earlier obedience to God's initial call to leave his homeland, demonstrating a consistent posture of availability and trust before God. His unwavering "Here am I" signifies not just his physical presence, but his spiritual readiness to fulfill whatever God commanded, even up to the point of sacrificing his beloved son.

* **The Identity of "the Angel of the LORD":** The phrase "the angel of the LORD" (Hebrew: *Malak Yahweh*) is highly significant in Old Testament theology. This figure is often understood not merely as a created angelic being, but as a Christophany—a pre-incarnate appearance of Jesus Christ. The way "the angel of the LORD" speaks with divine authority, often using "I" statements that are attributable only to God (as seen in subsequent verses where the Angel swears by Himself and reiterates covenant promises), strongly suggests a direct manifestation of God Himself. This implies that God was personally present and directly intervening in this critical moment.

The purpose of this severe test was not for God to learn about Abraham's faith, for God already knows all things. Rather, the test was designed for Abraham (and for all who would read his story) to fully comprehend the depth of his own faith and God's faithfulness. It was a demonstration of absolute trust, setting the stage for God's subsequent covenant promises and provision, which would culminate in the naming of the place as "The LORD Will Provide" ([Jehovah-jireh](/genesis/22-14 "Read about God's provision and the naming of Jehovah-jireh in Genesis 22:14")).

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
* **Divine Intervention and God's Mercy:** This verse powerfully demonstrates God's active involvement in human affairs and His ultimate mercy. He intervened not to prevent Abraham's obedience, but because Abraham had already proven his faithfulness, showing that God's tests are not meant for destruction but for demonstration of faith.
* **Abraham's Unwavering Obedience:** Abraham's immediate and unqualified response, "Here am I," highlights his complete submission and readiness to obey God's call, even in the most agonizing circumstances, solidifying his status as the father of faith.
* **The Purpose of the Test:** The test was designed to refine Abraham's faith, revealing its genuineness and deepening his reliance on God. It was a public demonstration of absolute trust, confirming God's faithfulness and setting the stage for renewed covenant promises.
* **Christophany and God's Personal Presence:** The identification of "the Angel of the LORD" as a pre-incarnate appearance of Jesus Christ underscores God's personal and direct involvement in the most critical moments of redemptive history, emphasizing His intimate relationship with His people.

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
For believers today, Genesis 22:11 offers profound reassurance and instruction. It teaches that even in our deepest trials, God is intimately aware of our struggles and our faithful obedience, often providing a timely intervention when our faith is truly tested, just as He did for Abraham. God's tests are designed not to break us, but to refine our faith, reveal our hearts, and deepen our reliance on Him, proving the genuineness of our trust. Abraham's immediate "Here am I" serves as a powerful model for our own response to God's call, speaking to a heart ready to listen and obey, even when the path is unclear or difficult. This willingness to respond is key to experiencing God's provision and blessing, akin to how God provided a ram as a substitute for Isaac and subsequently renewed His covenant promises to Abraham, demonstrating His unwavering faithfulness.

### FAQ
**Who was "the Angel of the LORD" who called out to Abraham?**

Answer: The phrase "the Angel of the LORD" (Hebrew: *Malak Yahweh*) is often understood in Old Testament theology not merely as a created angel, but as a Christophany—a pre-incarnate appearance of Jesus Christ. This figure often speaks with divine authority, using "I" statements that are attributable only to God, suggesting a direct manifestation of God Himself.

**Why did God allow Abraham to go so far in the sacrifice before intervening?**

Answer: God allowed Abraham to proceed to the very last moment to fully test and demonstrate the depth of Abraham's faith and obedience. The test was not for God to learn about Abraham, but for Abraham (and for all who would read his story) to fully comprehend his own absolute trust in God and to reveal God's faithfulness in providing a way out, ultimately confirming His covenant promises.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
The dramatic intervention in Genesis 22:11 and the broader narrative of Abraham's offering of Isaac serve as a profound foreshadowing of Christ's ultimate sacrifice. Isaac, Abraham's "only son" whom he loved, carried the wood for his own sacrifice, mirroring Christ who carried His own cross. Abraham's willingness to offer his son, and God's provision of a substitute ram, powerfully prefigure God the Father's ultimate sacrifice of His own "only begotten Son," Jesus Christ, as the perfect and final substitute for humanity's sins. Just as Isaac was "as good as dead" to Abraham and received back, so Christ was truly sacrificed and resurrected, fulfilling the typology of God's provision and demonstrating His boundless love and redemptive plan for all humanity.

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

Genesis 16:9

And the angel of the LORD said unto her, Return to thy mistress, and submit thyself under her hands.

Genesis 16:10

¶ And the angel of the LORD said unto her, I will multiply thy seed exceedingly, that it shall not be numbered for multitude.

Exodus 3:4

And when the LORD saw that he turned aside to see, God called unto him out of the midst of the bush, and said, Moses, Moses. And he said, Here [am] I.

Genesis 21:17

And God heard the voice of the lad; and the angel of God called to Hagar out of heaven, and said unto her, What aileth thee, Hagar? fear not; for God hath heard the voice of the lad where he [is].

Acts 26:14

And when we were all fallen to the earth, I heard a voice speaking unto me, and saying in the Hebrew tongue, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? [it is] hard for thee to kick against the pricks.

Acts 9:4

And he fell to the earth, and heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me?

Genesis 16:7

¶ And the angel of the LORD found her by a fountain of water in the wilderness, by the fountain in the way to Shur.