The Sacrifice of Isaac

22 After these things God tested Abraham(A) and said to him, “Abraham!”

“Here I am,” he answered.

“Take your son,” he said, “your only son Isaac, whom you love,(B) go to the land of Moriah,(C) and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains I will tell you about.”

So Abraham got up early in the morning,(D) saddled his donkey, and took with him two of his young men and his son Isaac. He split wood for a burnt offering and set out to go to the place God had told him about. On the third day(E) Abraham looked up and saw the place in the distance. Then Abraham said to his young men, “Stay here with the donkey. The boy and I will go over there to worship; then we’ll come back to you.” Abraham took the wood for the burnt offering and laid it on his son Isaac.(F) In his hand he took the fire and the knife,(G) and the two of them walked on together.

Then Isaac spoke to his father Abraham and said, “My father.”

And he replied, “Here I am, my son.”

Isaac said, “The fire and the wood are here, but where is the lamb for the burnt offering?”

Abraham answered, “God himself will provide[a](H) the lamb for the burnt offering, my son.” Then the two of them walked on together.

When they arrived at the place that God had told him about, Abraham built the altar there and arranged the wood. He bound his son Isaac[b] and placed him on the altar(I) on top of the wood. 10 Then Abraham reached out and took the knife to slaughter his son.

11 But the angel of the Lord called to him from heaven and said, “Abraham, Abraham!”

He replied, “Here I am.”

12 Then he said, “Do not lay a hand on the boy or do anything to him. For now I know that you fear God, since you have not withheld your only son from me.”(J) 13 Abraham looked up and saw a ram[c] caught in the thicket by its horns. So Abraham went and took the ram and offered it as a burnt offering in place of his son. 14 And Abraham named that place The Lord Will Provide,[d] so today it is said, “It will be provided[e] on the Lord’s mountain.”

15 Then the angel of the Lord called to Abraham a second time from heaven 16 and said, “By myself I have sworn,”(K) this is the Lord’s declaration: “Because you have done this thing and have not withheld your only son, 17 I will indeed bless you(L) and make your offspring as numerous as the stars of the sky(M) and the sand on the seashore.(N) Your offspring will possess the city gates of their[f] enemies.(O) 18 And all the nations of the earth will be blessed[g] by your offspring(P) because you have obeyed my command.”

19 Abraham went back to his young men, and they got up and went together to Beer-sheba. And Abraham settled in Beer-sheba.

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Footnotes

  1. 22:8 Lit see
  2. 22:9 Or Isaac hand and foot
  3. 22:13 Some Hb mss, Sam, LXX, Syr, Tg; other Hb mss read saw behind him a ram
  4. 22:14 = Yahweh-yireh
  5. 22:14 Or “He will be seen
  6. 22:17 Lit his
  7. 22:18 Or will consider themselves blessed, or will find blessing

The Sacrifice of Isaac

22 After these things (A)God tested Abraham and said to him, “Abraham!” And he said, “Here I am.” He said, “Take your son, your only son Isaac, whom you love, and go to (B)the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains of which I shall tell you.” So Abraham rose early in the morning, saddled his donkey, and took two of his young men with him, and his son Isaac. And he cut the wood for the burnt offering and arose and went to the place of which God had told him. On the third day Abraham lifted up his eyes and saw the place from afar. Then Abraham said to his young men, “Stay here with the donkey; I and the boy[a] will go over there and worship and come again to you.” And Abraham took the wood of the burnt offering and (C)laid it on Isaac his son. And he took in his hand the fire and the knife. So they went both of them together. And Isaac said to his father Abraham, “My father!” And he said, “Here I am, my son.” He said, “Behold, the fire and the wood, but where is the lamb for a burnt offering?” Abraham said, (D)“God will provide for himself the lamb for a burnt offering, my son.” So they went both of them together.

When they came to the place of which God had told him, Abraham built the altar there and laid the wood in order and bound Isaac his son and (E)laid him on the altar, on top of the wood. 10 Then Abraham reached out his hand and took the knife to slaughter his son. 11 But the angel of the Lord called to him from heaven and said, “Abraham, Abraham!” And he said, “Here I am.” 12 He said, (F)“Do not lay your hand on the boy or do anything to him, for (G)now I know that you fear God, seeing you have not withheld your son, your only son, from me.” 13 And Abraham lifted up his eyes and looked, and behold, behind him was a ram, caught in a thicket by his horns. And Abraham went and took the ram and offered it up as a burnt offering instead of his son. 14 So Abraham called the name of that place, (H)“The Lord will provide”;[b] as it is said to this day, “On the mount of the Lord it shall be provided.”[c]

15 And the angel of the Lord called to Abraham a second time from heaven 16 and said, (I)“By myself I have sworn, declares the Lord, because you have done this and have not withheld your son, your only son, 17 I will surely bless you, and I will surely multiply your offspring (J)as the stars of heaven and (K)as the sand that is on the seashore. And your offspring shall possess (L)the gate of his[d] enemies, 18 and (M)in your offspring shall all the nations of the earth be blessed, (N)because you have obeyed my voice.” 19 So Abraham returned to his young men, and they arose and went together to (O)Beersheba. And Abraham lived at (P)Beersheba.

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Footnotes

  1. Genesis 22:5 Or young man; also verse 12
  2. Genesis 22:14 Or will see
  3. Genesis 22:14 Or he will be seen
  4. Genesis 22:17 Or their