Genesis 22

Genesis 22:1

after these things

This phrase refers to the events in chapter 21.

God tested Abraham

God tested Abraham's faithfulness"

Here I am

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

Genesis 22:2

your only son

"your only son whom I have promised"

the land of Moriah

"the land called Moriah"

Genesis 22:3

saddled his donkey

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

young men

"servants"

Genesis 22:4

On the third day

"After traveling for three days"

saw the place afar off

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

Genesis 22:5

We will worship

The word "we" refers only to Abraham and Isaac, but not to the young men.

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

"Abraham himself carried"

the fire

"something for starting a fire"

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?"

my son

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

Genesis 22:8

God himself

Here "himself" emphasizes that it is God who will provide the lamb.

will provide

"will give us"

Genesis 22:9

he bound

"he tied up"

on the altar, on top of the wood

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

Genesis 22:11

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."

from heaven

This refers to the place where God lives.

Genesis 22:12

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

"Do not hurt the boy in any way"

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.

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"

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

"was a ram whose horns were stuck in the bushes" or "was a ram stuck in the bushes"

Genesis 22:14

to this day

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

it will be provided

"he will provide"

Genesis 22:15

a second time

"again"

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"

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

"beyond what you can count"

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

"will completely triumph over their enemies"

Genesis 22:18

all the nations of the earth will be blessed

"I, the Lord, will bless all the people living everywhere"

nations of the earth

Here "nations" stands for the people of the nations.

you have obeyed my voice

"you have obeyed what I said" or "you have obeyed me"

Genesis 22:19

Abraham returned

"Abraham and his son went back"

they departed

"they left that place"

he lived at Beersheba

"Abraham and his people stayed in Beersheba"

Genesis 22:20

Abraham was told

"someone told Abraham"

Milkah has borne children, as well

"Milkah has also borne children"

Milkah

This is the name of a woman.

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.

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.

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.

also bore

"also gave birth to"

Tebah, Gaham, Tahash, and Maakah

These are all names of men.