Hebrews 11:17

KJV

By faith Abraham, when he was tried, offered up Isaac: and he that had received the promises offered up his only begotten [son],

KJV (with Strong's)

By faith {G4102} Abraham {G11}, when he was tried {G3985}, offered up {G4374} Isaac {G2464}: and {G2532} he that had received {G324} the promises {G1860} offered up {G4374} his only begotten {G3439} son,

Complete Jewish Bible

By trusting, Avraham, when he was put to the test, offered up Yitz’chak as a sacrifice. Yes, he offered up his only son, he who had received the promises,

Berean Standard Bible

By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac on the altar. He who had received the promises was ready to offer his one and only son,

American Standard Version

By faith Abraham, being tried, offered up Isaac: yea, he that had gladly received the promises was offering up his only begotten son;

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Hebrews 11:17 presents Abraham as a supreme exemplar of faith, highlighting his profound obedience when God tested him by commanding the sacrifice of Isaac, his "only begotten son." This act of faith was extraordinary because Isaac was the son through whom God's covenant promises of a vast lineage and blessing to all nations were to be fulfilled, making Abraham's willingness to offer him a testament to his absolute trust in God's character and ability to even raise the dead.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse is a pivotal moment within the "Hall of Faith" in [Hebrews 11](/hebrews/11 "Hebrews 11 - The Hall of Faith"), a chapter dedicated to showcasing heroes of faith from Old Testament history. Following examples like Abel, Enoch, Noah, and Abraham's initial call and sojourning, this passage on Isaac's offering represents the pinnacle of Abraham's faith journey. It demonstrates faith not merely as belief, but as active, obedient trust, even in the face of seemingly contradictory divine commands. The subsequent verse, [Hebrews 11:19](/hebrews/11-19 "Hebrews 11:19 - Abraham's Expectation of Resurrection"), further clarifies Abraham's reasoning, emphasizing his conviction that God was able to raise Isaac from the dead, thereby fulfilling His promises.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** Abraham lived in the early patriarchal period, where covenant relationships and the concept of an heir were paramount. The command to sacrifice Isaac, as recorded in [Genesis 22](/genesis/22 "Genesis 22 - The Testing of Abraham"), would have been profoundly shocking. While surrounding pagan cultures sometimes practiced child sacrifice, the God of Israel explicitly forbade it (e.g., [Leviticus 18:21](/leviticus/18-21 "Leviticus 18:21 - Prohibition of Child Sacrifice")). This context underscores the unique nature of God's test: it was not a demand for human sacrifice, but a test of ultimate devotion, ultimately demonstrating God's abhorrence of such practices by providing a substitute. The location, Mount Moriah, is traditionally associated with the future site of the Temple in Jerusalem, adding prophetic significance.
* **Key Themes:** The primary theme is **faith** as active obedience and radical trust in God's character and power, even when His commands appear to contradict His promises. This passage also explores the theme of **testing**, revealing that God's trials are designed to refine and demonstrate faith, not to destroy it. The concept of **promise** is central, as Isaac was the son of promise, and Abraham's willingness to "offer up" the very vessel of God's future covenant fulfillment highlights his unwavering belief in God's faithfulness. Furthermore, the implicit theme of **resurrection** (explicit in [Hebrews 11:19](/hebrews/11-19 "Hebrews 11:19 - Abraham's Expectation of Resurrection")) underscores the divine power Abraham believed in, a power capable of overcoming death to ensure the fulfillment of His word.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS

#### Key Word Analysis
* **faith (Greek, _pístis_):** This word signifies not merely intellectual assent, but a deep moral conviction and reliance upon the truthfulness of God. In Abraham's case, it was an active trust that compelled him to obey, even when the command seemed illogical or contradictory to God's prior assurances. His faith was an "assurance" of things hoped for and a "conviction" of things not seen ([Hebrews 11:1](/hebrews/11-1 "Hebrews 11:1 - Definition of Faith")).
* **tried (Greek, _peirázō_):** This term denotes a test or scrutiny, designed to prove the quality or character of something. It implies a disciplinary process, not an enticement to sin (which would be a different nuance of the word). God's "trying" of Abraham was a crucible intended to reveal and strengthen the patriarch's unwavering devotion and trust.
* **only begotten (Greek, _monogenḗs_):** This word, derived from "monos" (only) and "ginomai" (to be born, become), means "sole" or "unique in kind." While Abraham had another son, Ishmael, Isaac was unique because he was the singular son of promise, miraculously born to Sarah in her old age, and through whom the covenant lineage would continue. His "only begotten" status emphasizes his unparalleled importance in God's redemptive plan for Abraham's descendants.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"By faith Abraham":** This opening phrase establishes the foundational principle for Abraham's action. His obedience was not a blind act but stemmed from a deep, active trust in God's character and power, demonstrating the very essence of the faith described throughout [Hebrews 11](/hebrews/11 "Hebrews 11 - The Hall of Faith").
* **"when he was tried, offered up Isaac":** This clause describes the specific test God put Abraham through and Abraham's immediate, obedient response. The "trial" (peirázō) was designed to prove the quality of Abraham's faith, and his "offering up" (prosphérō) signifies a presentation or tender to God, highlighting his willingness to surrender his most precious possession.
* **"and he that had received the promises":** This parenthetical phrase underscores the profound paradox of Abraham's action. He was the one to whom God had given incredible promises of a vast lineage through Isaac, yet he was now commanded to sacrifice the very son through whom those promises were to be fulfilled. This highlights the apparent contradiction that Abraham's faith had to overcome.
* **"offered up his only begotten [son]":** This final phrase emphasizes the immense cost and unique significance of Isaac. Isaac was not merely "a son," but the "only begotten" in the sense of being unique and irreplaceable as the child of promise. Offering him was tantamount to offering the future of God's covenant, making Abraham's faith all the more remarkable.

#### Literary Devices
The passage employs several powerful literary devices. **Irony** is evident in God's command to sacrifice Isaac, the "son of promise," through whom God had vowed to multiply Abraham's descendants. This creates a profound tension that only faith in God's ultimate power and faithfulness could resolve. **Symbolism** is also prominent; Isaac himself becomes a symbol of the promised seed, and his near-sacrifice symbolizes the ultimate cost of obedience and trust in God. Furthermore, the entire narrative serves as a profound **foreshadowing** or **typology**, pointing forward to God the Father's ultimate sacrifice of His own unique Son, Jesus Christ, for the redemption of humanity, a connection explicitly drawn in Christian theology.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Abraham's willingness to offer Isaac stands as a profound theological statement on the nature of true faith and the sovereignty of God. It teaches that genuine faith is not merely intellectual assent but active, obedient trust that is willing to surrender even the most precious gifts, believing that God is faithful to His promises and capable of fulfilling them, even through seemingly impossible means like resurrection. This event also highlights God's testing as a means of revealing and refining faith, demonstrating that His ultimate purpose is always redemptive and for the good of His people, never to genuinely demand human sacrifice. The narrative underscores the absolute supremacy of God's will and the call for unreserved devotion from His covenant people.

* [Genesis 22:1-14](/genesis/22-1-14 "Abraham's Obedience and the Sacrifice of Isaac")
* [James 2:21-23](/james/2-21-23 "Faith and Works in Abraham")
* [Romans 4:18-22](/romans/4-18-22 "Abraham's Faith Credited as Righteousness")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Abraham's trial on Mount Moriah serves as a timeless challenge to the depth and sincerity of our own faith. It compels us to consider what "Isaacs" we might be clinging to—whether they are cherished dreams, comfortable routines, personal ambitions, or even beloved relationships—that God might call us to lay down or surrender. True faith, like Abraham's, is not passive belief but an active, obedient trust that is willing to follow God's commands even when they seem illogical, painful, or contradictory to our expectations of how God should work. This passage reminds us that God's tests are not designed to break us, but to refine our trust, deepen our reliance on His character, and ultimately demonstrate His faithfulness. Our response to such trials reveals the true object of our ultimate devotion.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How does Abraham's willingness to offer Isaac challenge my understanding of what it means to truly trust and obey God?**
* **What "Isaacs" in my life—whether possessions, relationships, or aspirations—might God be calling me to surrender or hold with an open hand?**
* **How can I cultivate a faith that believes God is capable of fulfilling His promises, even when His commands seem to contradict those very promises?**

### FAQ
**Was Isaac Abraham's only son?**

Answer: No, Isaac was not Abraham's only son, as Abraham also had Ishmael through Hagar before Isaac's birth ([Genesis 16:15](/genesis/16-15 "Genesis 16:15 - Birth of Ishmael")). However, Isaac was uniquely significant because he was the "son of promise," born miraculously to Abraham and Sarah in their old age, through whom God's covenant promises of a vast lineage and blessing to all nations were to be fulfilled ([Genesis 17:19](/genesis/17-19 "Genesis 17:19 - God's Covenant with Isaac")). The Greek word translated "only begotten" (monogenēs) emphasizes Isaac's unique status as the sole heir of the covenant, rather than implying he was Abraham's only child.

**Why did God test Abraham in such a seemingly cruel way?**

Answer: God's test of Abraham was not cruel but purposed to reveal and strengthen Abraham's faith, not to gain information God didn't already possess. It was a test of ultimate devotion and obedience, demonstrating that Abraham loved God more than anything, even his beloved son of promise ([Genesis 22:12](/genesis/22-12 "Genesis 22:12 - Abraham's Obedience Confirmed")). The test also served to highlight God's abhorrence of child sacrifice, as He ultimately provided a substitute ram, preventing Isaac's death and establishing a powerful precedent for substitutionary atonement. It was a demonstration of Abraham's faith to himself, to others, and to God, making him the "father of all who believe" ([Romans 4:11](/romans/4-11 "Romans 4:11 - Abraham, Father of Believers")).

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
The narrative of Abraham offering Isaac is one of the most profound Old Testament types foreshadowing the ultimate sacrifice of Jesus Christ. Just as Abraham was willing to offer his "only begotten son" of promise, God the Father, in His infinite love, did not spare His own [only begotten Son](/john/3-16 "John 3:16 - God's Love for the World"), Jesus Christ, but "delivered him up for us all" ([Romans 8:32](/romans/8-32 "Romans 8:32 - God Did Not Spare His Own Son")). Isaac carried the wood for his own sacrifice, much like Jesus carried His cross to Calvary ([John 19:17](/john/19-17 "John 19:17 - Jesus Carries His Cross")). Furthermore, Abraham's faith that God could raise Isaac from the dead ([Hebrews 11:19](/hebrews/11-19 "Hebrews 11:19 - Abraham's Expectation of Resurrection")) finds its ultimate fulfillment in the glorious resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, proving God's power over death and securing the promises of eternal life for all who believe ([1 Corinthians 15:3-4](/1_corinthians/15-3-4 "1 Corinthians 15:3-4 - The Gospel of Christ's Death and Resurrection")). This pivotal event in Abraham's life thus points powerfully to the sacrificial love of God the Father and the redemptive work of Jesus, the true Lamb of God.

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

James 2:21

Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar?

James 2:24

Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only.

Genesis 22:1

¶ 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].

Genesis 22:12

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.

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]:

Revelation 3:10

Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth.

1 Peter 1:6

¶ Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations: