Genesis 22:2

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.

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.

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."

โ€œTake your son,โ€ God said, โ€œyour 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.โ€

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.

Commentary

Genesis 22:2 (KJV)

"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."

Commentary

This verse records one of the most dramatic and challenging commands in the Bible, initiating the test of Abraham's faith often referred to as the binding (or *Aqedah* in Hebrew) of Isaac.

Historical and Cultural Context: Abraham had a covenant relationship with God, based on faith and promise. God had promised him countless descendants through Isaac. While animal sacrifice was a known practice in the ancient world for worship and atonement, the command to sacrifice one's own child, especially the promised heir, was extraordinary and deeply challenging. The location, "the land of Moriah," is significant as it is traditionally associated with the site where Solomon's Temple was later built in Jerusalem (2 Chronicles 3:1).

Key Themes and Messages:

  • The Test of Faith: This is the ultimate test of Abraham's trust and obedience. It forces him to choose between God's command and God's promise (which seemed contradictory at this moment).
  • Obedience: Abraham's willingness to obey, even in the face of an incomprehensible command, highlights the nature of true devotion.
  • The Preciousness of the Sacrifice: God specifically emphasizes the value of what Abraham is asked to give: "thy son, thine only [son] Isaac, whom thou lovest." This highlights the magnitude of Abraham's potential sacrifice and, by comparison, the magnitude of God's eventual sacrifice of His own Son (John 3:16).

Linguistic Insights: The phrase "thine only [son] Isaac" is notable. The Hebrew word is *yachiyd* (ื™ึธื—ึดื™ื“), which can mean "only" or "unique/beloved." While Ishmael was also Abraham's son, Isaac was the unique son of the promise, making him "only" in that specific, covenantal sense. The KJV adds "[son]" for clarity.

Cross-references: The New Testament reflects on Abraham's faith in this moment, understanding that he believed God could even raise Isaac from the dead (Hebrews 11:17-19). This event is also seen by many as a powerful foreshadowing of God offering His "only begotten Son" as a sacrifice.

Practical Application: This passage challenges believers to consider the depth of their own faith and willingness to obey God, even when His commands are difficult or seem counter-intuitive to our plans or desires. It reminds us that true faith trusts in God's character and promises, even when the circumstances are perplexing.

Note: If the commentary doesnโ€™t appear instantly, please allow 2โ€“5 seconds for it to load. It is generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash using a prompt focused on Biblical fidelity over bias. While the insights have been consistently reliable, we encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit.

Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated โ€” the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • John 3:16 (34 votes)

    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 (26 votes)

    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 (11 votes)

    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 (7 votes)

    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 (7 votes)

    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 (4 votes)

    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 (3 votes)

    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.