Genesis Chapter 22 — The Testing of Abraham
God tests Abraham's faith by commanding him to offer his son Isaac as a sacrifice, ultimately providing a ram instead and reaffirming His covenant.
1After these things, God tested Abraham, and said to him, “Abraham!”
2He said, “Now take your son, your only son, Isaac, whom you love, and go into the land of Moriah. Offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains which I will tell you of.”
3Abraham rose early in the morning, and saddled his donkey; and took two of his young men with him, and Isaac his son. He split the wood for the burnt offering, and rose up, and went to the place of which God had told him.
4On the third day Abraham lifted up his eyes, and saw the place far off.
5Abraham said to his young men, “Stay here with the donkey. The boy and I will go over there. We will worship, and come back to you.”
6Abraham took the wood of the burnt offering and laid it on Isaac his son. He took in his hand the fire and the knife. They both went together.
7Isaac spoke to Abraham his father, and said, “My father?”
8Abraham said, “God will provide himself the lamb for a burnt offering, my son.” So they both went together.
9They came to the place which God had told him of. Abraham built the altar there, and laid the wood in order, bound Isaac his son, and laid him on the altar, on the wood.
10Abraham stretched out his hand, and took the knife to kill his son.
11The LORD’s angel called to him out of the sky, and said, “Abraham, Abraham!”
12He said, “Don’t lay your hand on the boy or do anything to him. For now I know that you fear God, since you have not withheld your son, your only son, from me.”
13Abraham lifted up his eyes, and looked, and saw that behind him was a ram caught in the thicket by his horns. Abraham went and took the ram, and offered him up for a burnt offering instead of his son.
14Abraham called the name of that place “The LORD Will Provide”.*or, the LORD Jireh, or, the LORD Seeing As it is said to this day, “On the LORD’s mountain, it will be provided.”
15The LORD’s angel called to Abraham a second time out of the sky,
16and said, “ ‘I have sworn by myself,’ says the LORD, ‘because you have done this thing, and have not withheld your son, your only son,
17that I will bless you greatly, and I will multiply your offspring greatly like the stars of the heavens, and like the sand which is on the seashore. Your offspring will possess the gate of his enemies.
18All the nations of the earth will be blessed by your offspring, because you have obeyed my voice.’ ”
19So Abraham returned to his young men, and they rose up and went together to Beersheba. Abraham lived at Beersheba.
20After these things, Abraham was told, “Behold, Milcah, she also has borne children to your brother Nahor:
21Uz his firstborn, Buz his brother, Kemuel the father of Aram,
22Chesed, Hazo, Pildash, Jidlaph, and Bethuel.”
23Bethuel became the father of Rebekah. These eight Milcah bore to Nahor, Abraham’s brother.
24His concubine, whose name was Reumah, also bore Tebah, Gaham, Tahash, and Maacah.
WEB Translation
Notable Verses
Genesis 22:8
“Abraham said, “God will provide himself the lamb for a burnt offering, my son.” So they both went together.”
This verse demonstrates Abraham's trust in God's provision even in a moment of extreme trial.
Genesis 22:12
“He said, “Don’t lay your hand on the boy or do anything to him. For now I know that you fear God, since you have not withheld your son, your only son, from me.””
This identifies the purpose of the test as a measure of Abraham's devotion and fear of God.
Genesis 22:14
“Abraham called the name of that place “The LORD Will Provide”.”
This name, often translated as Jehovah Jireh, became a significant title for God, commemorating His intervention.
Chapter Summary
In Genesis Chapter 22, God tests Abraham by commanding him to take his beloved son Isaac to the land of Moriah and offer him as a burnt offering. Abraham obeys, rising early and traveling for three days to the location God indicated. When Isaac asks about the lamb for the sacrifice, Abraham responds that God will provide it. Just as Abraham prepares to kill his son on the altar, the angel of the Lord stops him, acknowledging Abraham's profound fear of God and faithfulness. A ram caught in a nearby thicket is offered in Isaac's place. Consequently, God reaffirms the covenant with Abraham, promising to multiply his descendants like the stars and the sand, and declaring that all nations will be blessed through his offspring. The chapter concludes with a brief genealogy of Abraham’s brother Nahor, noting the birth of Rebekah.
Frequently Asked Questions
According to the text, God tested Abraham to see if he truly feared God. By being willing to sacrifice his only son, Isaac, Abraham demonstrated that his loyalty to God was greater than any earthly attachment.
The event took place in the land of Moriah, on a mountain that God pointed out to Abraham. Abraham later named this location 'The Lord Will Provide' to honor God's intervention.
The angel of the Lord spoke to Abraham a second time to reaffirm the divine covenant. God promised to bless Abraham greatly and multiply his descendants like the stars of the heavens and the sand on the seashore.
The chapter ends with a genealogy of Abraham's brother, Nahor. Rebekah is identified as the daughter of Bethuel, who was one of the eight children born to Nahor and Milcah.
Study Note
The place name 'Moriah' appears only here and in 2 Chronicles 3:1, where it is identified as the site where Solomon built the Temple.
Related Chapters
Genesis 12
The original call of Abraham and the start of the covenant promises that are reaffirmed here.
Genesis 24
The search for a wife for Isaac among the family of Bethuel, who is first mentioned at the end of chapter 22.
Hebrews 11
A New Testament reflection on the significance of Abraham's faith during the events of this chapter.
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