Genesis 22

Genesis 22 General Notes

Special concepts in this chapter
Sacrificing his son

Although Isaac was not Abraham's only son, he was the son who was to inherit Abraham's promised blessings. It is possible this parallels God's actual sacrifice of his son, Jesus, for the sins of man. (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tw?section=kt#inherit and /WA-Catalog/en_tw?section=kt#promise and /WA-Catalog/en_tw?section=kt#sin)

Covenant affirmation

After important events, it is common for Scripture to affirm the tenets of a covenant. This serves as a reminder of the covenant and affirms it. (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tw?section=kt#covenant)

Other possible translation difficulties in this chapter
God tests Abraham

Extra care should be taken when translating "testing." It is best to avoid using the same word used for "tempting" even though they overlap in meaning. This is because Scripture also says God does not tempt anyone. (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tw?section=kt#test and /WA-Catalog/en_tw?section=kt#tempt and James 2:13)

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Genesis 22:1

It came about

This phrase is used here to mark the beginning of a new part of the story. If your language has a way for doing this, you could consider using it here. (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#writing-newevent)

after these things

This phrase refers to the events in chapter 21.

God tested Abraham

It is implied that God tests Abraham to learn if Abraham will be faithful to him. The full meaning of this statement can be made explicit. Alternate translation: God tested Abraham's faithfulness" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-explicit)

Here I am

"Yes, I am listening" or "Yes, what is it?"

Genesis 22:2

your only son

It is implied that God knows that Abraham has another son, Ishmael. This emphasizes that Isaac is the son that God promised to give Abraham. The full meaning of this statement can be made explicit. Alternate translation: "your only son whom I have promised" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-explicit)

whom you love

This emphasizes Abraham's love for his son, Isaac.

the land of Moriah

"the land called Moriah" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#translate-names)

Genesis 22:3

saddled his donkey

"loaded his donkey" or "put on his donkey what he needed for the journey"

young men

"servants"

set out on his journey

"started his journey" or "started traveling"

Genesis 22:4

On the third day

The word "third" is the ordinal number for three. Alternate translation: "After traveling for three days" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#translate-ordinal)

saw the place afar off

"saw far away the place that God had spoken of"

Genesis 22:5

young men

"servants"

We will worship

The word "we" refers only to Abraham and Isaac, but not to the young men. (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-exclusive)

come again to you

"return to you"

Genesis 22:6

put it on Isaac his son

"had Isaac, his son, carry it"

He took in his own hand

Here "his own hand" emphasizes that Abraham himself carried these things. Alternate translation: "Abraham himself carried" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-synecdoche)

the fire

Here "fire" stands for a pan containing burning coals or a torch or lamp. Alternate translation: "something for starting a fire" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-synecdoche)

they went both of them together

"they left together" or "the two of them went together"

Genesis 22:7

My father

This is a loving way for a son to speak to his father.

Here I am

"Yes, I am listening" or "Yes, what is it?" See how you translated this in Genesis 22:1.

my son

This is a loving way for a father to speak to his son.

the fire

Here "fire" stands for a pan containing burning coals or a torch or lamp. See how you translated this in Genesis 22:6. (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-synecdoche)

the lamb for the burnt offering

"the lamb that you will give as a burnt offering"

Genesis 22:8

God himself

Here "himself" emphasizes that it is God who will provide the lamb. (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-rpronouns)

will provide

"will give us"

Genesis 22:9

When they came to the place

"When Abraham and Isaac arrived at the place"

he bound

"he tied up"

on the altar, on top of the wood

"on top of the wood that was on the altar"

Genesis 22:10

reached out with his hand and took up the knife

"picked up the knife"

Genesis 22:11

the angel of Yahweh

Possible meanings are 1) Yahweh made himself look like an angel or 2) this was one of Yahweh's angels or 3) this was a special messenger from God (some scholars think it was Jesus). Since the phrase is not well understood, it is best to simply translate it as "the angel of Yahweh" using the normal word that you use for "angel." See the note about this phrase in Genesis 16:7.

from heaven

This refers to the place where God lives.

Here I am

"Yes, I am listening" or "Yes, what is it?" See how you translated this in Genesis 22:1.

Genesis 22:12

Do not lay your hand upon the young man, nor do anything to harm him

The phrase "Do not lay your hand upon" is a way of saying "do not harm." God said basically the same thing twice to emphasize that Abraham should not hurt Isaac. Alternate translation: "Do not hurt the boy in any way" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-idiom and /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-parallelism)

now I know ... from me

The words "I" and "me" refer to Yahweh. When translating what is in the quote, do it as the angel of Yahweh did and use the words "I" and "me" when referring to Yahweh.

you fear God

This refers to deeply respecting God and showing that respect by obeying him.

seeing that

"because I see that"

you have not withheld your son ... from me

"you have not held back your son ... from me." or "you were willing to offer your son ... to me"

your son, your only son

It is implied that God knows that Abraham has another son, Ishmael. This emphasizes that Isaac is the son that God promised to give Abraham. See how you translated a similar phrase in Genesis 22:2. (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-explicit)

Genesis 22:13

behold

The word "behold" here alerts us to pay attention to the surprising information that follows.

was a ram caught in the bushes by his horns

This can be stated in active form. Alternate translation: "was a ram whose horns were stuck in the bushes" or "was a ram stuck in the bushes" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-activepassive)

went and took the ram

"Abraham went over to the ram and took it"

Genesis 22:14

will provide ... will be provided

Use the same word for "provide" as you used in Genesis 22:8.

to this day

"even now." This means even to the time that the author was writing this book.

it will be provided

This can be stated in active form. Alternate translation: "he will provide" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-activepassive)

Genesis 22:15

The angel of Yahweh

Possible meanings are 1) Yahweh made himself look like an angel or 2) this was one of Yahweh's angels or 3) this was a special messenger from God (some scholars think it was Jesus). Since the phrase is not well understood, it is best to simply translate it as "The angel of Yahweh" using the normal word that you use for "angel." See the note about this phrase in Genesis 16:7.

a second time

The word "second" is the ordinal number for two. Alternate translation: "again" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#translate-ordinal)

from heaven

Here the word "heaven" refers to the place where God lives.

Genesis 22:16

said—this is Yahweh's declaration

"spoke this message from Yahweh" or "declared these words of Yahweh." This is a formal way of saying that the words that follow come directly from Yahweh.

by myself I have sworn

"I have promised and I am my witness." To swear means to use the name of something or someone as the basis or power on which the oath is made. There is nothing more powerful for Yahweh to swear by than himself.

you have done this thing

"you obeyed me"

have not withheld your son

"have not kept back your son" or "were willing to offer your son to me"

your son, your only son

It is implied that God knows that Abraham has another son, Ishmael. This emphasizes that Isaac is the son that God promised to give Abraham. See how you translated a similar phrase in Genesis 22:2. (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-explicit)

Genesis 22:17

surely bless

"certainly bless"

I will greatly multiply your descendants

"I will cause your descendants to increase again and again" or "I will cause your descendants to be very many"

as the stars of the heavens, and as the sand which is upon the seashore

God compared Abraham's descendants to the stars and the sand. Just as people cannot count the huge number of stars or the grains of sand, so there would be so many of Abraham's descendants that people would not be able to count them. Alternate translation: "beyond what you can count" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-simile)

as the stars of the heavens

Here the word "heavens" refers to everything we see above the earth, including the sun, moon, and stars.

will possess the gate of their enemies

Here "gate" represents the whole city. To "possess the gate of their enemies" means destroying their enemies. Alternate translation: "will completely triumph over their enemies" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-synecdoche and /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-metonymy)

Genesis 22:18

General Information:

The angel of Yahweh continues speaking to Abraham.

all the nations of the earth will be blessed

This can be stated in active form. Alternate translation: "I, the Lord, will bless all the people living everywhere" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-activepassive)

nations of the earth

Here "nations" stands for the people of the nations. (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-metonymy)

you have obeyed my voice

Here "voice" stands for what God said. Alternate translation: "you have obeyed what I said" or "you have obeyed me" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-metonymy)

Genesis 22:19

Abraham returned

Only Abraham was named because he was the father, but it was implied that his son went with him. The full meaning of this statement can be made explicit. Alternate translation: "Abraham and his son went back" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-explicit)

young men

"servants"

they departed

"they left that place"

he lived at Beersheba

Only Abraham was mentioned because he was the leader of his family and servants, but it was implied that they were with him. The full meaning of this statement can be made explicit. Alternate translation: "Abraham and his people stayed in Beersheba" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-explicit)

Genesis 22:20

It came about after these things

"After these events." The phrase "these things" refers to the events of Genesis 22:1-19. (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#writing-newevent)

Abraham was told

This can be stated in active form. Alternate translation: "someone told Abraham" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-activepassive)

Milkah has borne children, as well

"Milkah has also borne children"

Milkah

This is the name of a woman. (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#translate-names)

Genesis 22:21

They were Uz his firstborn, Buz his brother

"The name of his firstborn was Uz, and the names of the rest of his children were Buz his brother"

Uz ... Buz ... Kemuel ... Aram

These are all names of men. Translate this so that it is clear that all of these except Aram are the sons of Nahor and Milkah. (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#translate-names)

Genesis 22:22

Kesed, Hazo, Pildash, Jidlaph, and Bethuel

These are all names of men. Translate this so that it is clear that all of these are the sons of Nahor and Milkah. (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#translate-names)

Genesis 22:23

Bethuel became the father of Rebekah

"Later Bethel became the father of Rebekah"

These were the eight children that Milkah bore to Nahor, Abraham's brother

"These were the eight children of Milkah and Nahor, Abraham's brother." This refers to the children that were listed in Genesis 22:21-22.

Genesis 22:24

His concubine

"Nahor's concubine"

Reumah

This is the name of a woman. (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#translate-names)

also bore

"also gave birth to"

Tebah, Gaham, Tahash, and Maakah

These are all names of men. (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#translate-names)