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Genesis 22:13

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And Abraham lifted up his eyes, and looked, and behold behind [him] a ram caught in a thicket by his horns: and Abraham went and took the ram, and offered him up for a burnt offering in the stead of his son.

And Abraham {H85} lifted up {H5375} his eyes {H5869}, and looked {H7200}, and behold behind {H310} him a ram {H352} caught {H270} in a thicket {H5442} by his horns {H7161}: and Abraham {H85} went {H3212} and took {H3947} the ram {H352}, and offered him up {H5927} for a burnt offering {H5930} in the stead {H8478} of his son {H1121}.

Avraham raised his eyes and looked, and there behind him was a ram caught in the bushes by its horns. Avraham went and took the ram and offered it up as a burnt offering in place of his son.

Then Abraham looked up and saw behind him a ram in a thicket, caught by its horns. So he went and took the ram and offered it as a burnt offering in place of his son.

And Abraham lifted up his eyes, and looked, and, behold, behind him a ram caught in the thicket by his horns: and Abraham went and took the ram, and offered him up for a burnt-offering in the stead of his son.

Commentary

Context

Genesis 22:13 marks the climactic moment in the dramatic narrative of Abraham's ultimate test of faith. Having been commanded by God to offer his beloved son, Isaac, as a burnt offering on Mount Moriah, Abraham demonstrated incredible obedience. He had already built the altar, bound Isaac, and raised the knife, fully prepared to carry out God's command. This verse describes the divine intervention that halted Abraham and provided an alternative sacrifice, revealing God's faithfulness and provision at the very last moment.

Key Themes

  • Divine Provision: The most striking theme is God's timely and miraculous provision. Just as Abraham was about to make the ultimate sacrifice, God provided a substitute, a ram, caught by its horns. This act underscores God's ability to supply what is needed, even in seemingly impossible situations. It is from this event that Abraham named the place "Jehovah-Jireh," meaning "The LORD Will Provide" (Genesis 22:14).
  • Substitutionary Sacrifice: The phrase "offered him up for a burnt offering in the stead of his son" is profoundly significant. The ram served as a direct substitute for Isaac, dying so Isaac could live. This event is a powerful foreshadowing of the ultimate substitutionary sacrifice of Jesus Christ, the Lamb of God, who died in the place of humanity to atone for sin (John 1:29).
  • Abraham's Obedience and Faith: While the verse focuses on God's provision, it is the direct consequence of Abraham's unwavering faith and obedience. His willingness to sacrifice his son, believing that God could even raise him from the dead (Hebrews 11:17-19), validated his covenant relationship with God and demonstrated the depth of his trust.

Linguistic Insights

The detail "caught in a thicket by his horns" is a vivid description. The Hebrew word for "thicket" (סְבַךְ - sevach) suggests a dense, intertwined bush, emphasizing that the ram was truly ensnared, not merely wandering. This specific detail highlights the miraculous nature of its appearance and the precision of God's provision. The ram was not just available, but positioned exactly where it could be found and used as the intended sacrifice.

Practical Application

This verse offers timeless lessons for believers today:

  • Trust in God's Provision: When facing seemingly insurmountable challenges or difficult commands from God, remember that God sees your need and will provide. He often waits until the last moment to demonstrate His faithfulness most powerfully.
  • Understanding Sacrifice: The ram's sacrifice helps us grasp the concept of substitution, which finds its ultimate fulfillment in Christ. It deepens our appreciation for the immense cost of our redemption and the love of God who provided His own Son as the perfect sacrifice.
  • The Reward of Obedience: Abraham's obedience, even when it was painful and perplexing, led to a profound demonstration of God's character. Our willingness to obey God's commands, even when we don't understand the full picture, opens the door for His miraculous intervention and blessing in our lives.
Note: If the commentary doesn’t appear instantly, please allow 2–5 seconds for it to load. It is generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash (May 20, 2025) 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 — the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • 1 Corinthians 10:13 (5 votes)

    There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God [is] faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear [it].

  • 2 Corinthians 1:9 (4 votes)

    But we had the sentence of death in ourselves, that we should not trust in ourselves, but in God which raiseth the dead:

  • 2 Corinthians 1:10 (4 votes)

    Who delivered us from so great a death, and doth deliver: in whom we trust that he will yet deliver [us];

  • Psalms 40:6 (3 votes)

    ¶ Sacrifice and offering thou didst not desire; mine ears hast thou opened: burnt offering and sin offering hast thou not required.

  • Psalms 40:8 (3 votes)

    I delight to do thy will, O my God: yea, thy law [is] within my heart.

  • 1 Corinthians 5:7 (3 votes)

    ¶ Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened. For even Christ our passover is sacrificed for us:

  • 1 Corinthians 5:8 (3 votes)

    Therefore let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, neither with the leaven of malice and wickedness; but with the unleavened [bread] of sincerity and truth.