Genesis 22:13 kjv
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.
Genesis 22:13 nkjv
Then Abraham lifted his eyes and looked, and there behind him was a ram caught in a thicket by its horns. So Abraham went and took the ram, and offered it up for a burnt offering instead of his son.
Genesis 22:13 niv
Abraham looked up and there in a thicket he saw a ram caught by its horns. He went over and took the ram and sacrificed it as a burnt offering instead of his son.
Genesis 22:13 esv
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.
Genesis 22:13 nlt
Then Abraham looked up and saw a ram caught by its horns in a thicket. So he took the ram and sacrificed it as a burnt offering in place of his son.
Genesis 22 13 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Gen 22:8 | Abraham said, "God will provide for himself the lamb for a burnt offering..." | Foreshadows divine provision. |
| Gen 22:14 | So Abraham called the name of that place The Lord Will Provide... | God's nature as Provider, YHWH-Jireh. |
| Exo 12:7 | ...take some of the blood and put it on the two doorposts... | Passover lamb's substitutionary sacrifice. |
| Lev 16:7-10 | ...cast lots over the two goats... one for the LORD and the other for Azazel. | Atonement Day's substitution (scapegoat). |
| Isa 53:4-6 | Surely he has borne our griefs... he was pierced for our transgressions... | Prophecy of the Suffering Servant as substitution. |
| Rom 5:8 | ...God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. | Christ's death as substitutionary sacrifice. |
| 2 Cor 5:21 | For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become... | Christ becoming sin for us, ultimate substitution. |
| Gal 3:13 | Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us... | Christ's redemption through substitution. |
| Phil 4:19 | And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches... | God's ultimate provision for His people. |
| Heb 9:11-14 | ...Christ appeared as a high priest... through his own blood, thus securing eternal... | Christ's superior, one-time sacrifice. |
| Heb 9:28 | so Christ, having been offered once to bear the sins of many... | Christ's singular atoning work. |
| Heb 10:4 | For it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins. | Old Covenant sacrifices as foreshadowings. |
| Jn 1:29 | The next day he saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, "Behold, the Lamb of God... | Jesus as the ultimate sacrificial Lamb. |
| 1 Pet 1:18-19 | ...you were ransomed... with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb... | Christ's blood as costly redemption. |
| 1 Pet 2:24 | He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin... | Christ bearing sins, substitutionary atonement. |
| Mk 10:45 | For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life... | Jesus giving life as a ransom/sacrifice. |
| Gen 8:20-21 | Then Noah built an altar to the Lord and took some of every clean animal... | Early burnt offering accepted by God. |
| Job 1:5 | ...Job would rise early in the morning and offer burnt offerings... | Sacrifice for sin as a pattern. |
| Gen 3:21 | And the Lord God made for Adam and for his wife garments of skins... | First covering, requiring animal death. |
| Mic 6:7 | Will the Lord be pleased with thousands of rams... or with my firstborn... | Contrasts human sacrifice with true worship. |
| Deut 12:31 | You shall not worship the Lord your God in that way, for every abominable thing... | Prohibits child sacrifice like pagan nations. |
| Rom 8:32 | He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all... | God's ultimate provision and love in giving Christ. |
| Isa 43:20 | The wild beasts will honor me... for I provide water in the wilderness... | God providing for His creation. |
Genesis 22 verses
Genesis 22 13 Meaning
Genesis 22:13 describes Abraham’s immediate discovery of a divinely provided ram, ensnared in a thicket by its horns, right after God intervened to prevent him from sacrificing Isaac. Abraham took this ram and offered it as a burnt offering in place of his son. This act of substitution served as God's gracious provision, demonstrating His faithful deliverance and confirming the principle of sacrificial atonement.
Genesis 22 13 Context
Genesis 22:13 is a pivotal moment in the Akedah, "the binding of Isaac," (Gen 22:1-19). This narrative, often seen as Abraham's supreme test of faith, began with God’s command for Abraham to sacrifice his only son, Isaac, on Mount Moriah. Up to this point (Gen 22:9-10), Abraham had obediently prepared the altar and laid Isaac upon it, ready to slay him. The immediate preceding verse (Gen 22:12) records the Angel of the Lord’s intervention, halting Abraham just before he plunged the knife. This sets the stage for God's merciful provision in verse 13. Historically, the practice of child sacrifice was tragically prevalent among surrounding Canaanite cultures, making YHWH's explicit prohibition of it, even in such an extreme test, a profound polemic against such detestable practices, highlighting the holiness and benevolent nature of the God of Israel who values human life.
Genesis 22 13 Word analysis
- Then Abraham lifted his eyes and looked, and behold: This phrase emphasizes Abraham's state of anticipation and readiness. The repeated verb forms for "see" (wayyar’, from רָאָה, "to see") underscore the sudden, clear vision. "Behold" (wəhinnēh, וְהִנֵּה) draws immediate attention to the remarkable sight, indicating divine intervention.
- behind him (אַחַר, ’aḥar): Suggests the ram was not in Abraham's direct line of sight initially or was revealed only at the precise moment of divine timing. It implies God's hidden but perfect provision, always ready, awaiting Abraham's full obedience.
- was a ram (אַיִל, ’ayil): Refers to a male sheep, a mature and strong animal suitable for sacrifice, often representing a leader or strength in Hebrew culture. Rams were common sacrificial animals in ancient Near Eastern rituals and later in the Mosaic Law.
- caught (אָחֻז, ’āḥuz): A passive participle from אָחַז (’aḥaz), meaning "seized," "held fast," or "stuck." This highlights that the ram was supernaturally positioned and restrained for Abraham’s use, underscoring its divine origin and intended purpose.
- in the thicket (בַּסְּבַךְ, bassəvaḵ): A dense bush or undergrowth, implying a secluded spot where the ram was providentially snared. The difficulty for the ram to free itself ensures its availability for the sacrifice.
- by his horns (בְּקַרְנָיו, bəqarnāyw): The horns are symbolic of strength and power. The ram being caught specifically by its horns suggests a precise and inescapable hold, further emphasizing the divine setup. It ensured the ram was immobile and ready.
- So Abraham went and took the ram and offered it up as a burnt offering (וַיַּעֲלֵהוּ לְעֹלָה, wayyaʿalehu ləʿōlāh): Abraham's swift action demonstrates his continued obedience and understanding of God's provision. A "burnt offering" (עֹלָה, ’ōlāh) was a whole offering entirely consumed by fire, signifying complete devotion and atonement, where the worshiper’s dedication and substitution for sin were central themes.
- instead of his son (תַּחַת בְּנֹו, taḥat bənōw): This phrase is central to the verse's theological meaning. "Instead of" signifies direct substitution. The ram's sacrifice explicitly takes Isaac's place, establishing a profound theological principle of vicarious atonement that foreshadows future divine redemptive acts.
Genesis 22 13 Bonus section
The incident in Genesis 22 is often referred to as the "Akedah" (or "Aqedah"), meaning "the binding," emphasizing Isaac’s willing submission and Abraham’s readiness to obey. Rabbinic tradition often highlights Isaac’s active participation, portraying him as a figure who willingly lays down his life, paralleling the later Lamb of God. This account sets a clear theological boundary against pagan practices of child sacrifice, which were abhorrently common in cultures surrounding ancient Israel. It powerfully asserts that the God of Abraham values human life supremely. The placement of the ram "behind him" suggests not merely a random discovery, but God’s intricate and prepared plan for deliverance, revealed only when faith had reached its peak. The narrative reinforces that God tests not to destroy, but to reveal character, solidify trust, and provide a deeper experience of His nature as provider and faithful covenant-keeper. The theme of a unique "only son" offered for sacrifice resonates strongly with New Testament references to God the Father "giving His only Son" for humanity (e.g., Jn 3:16).
Genesis 22 13 Commentary
Genesis 22:13 beautifully captures the essence of God's divine provision and the principle of substitutionary sacrifice. After an intense and ultimately successful test of faith, Abraham, prepared to obey God’s call to the uttermost, found his son's life spared by God's own timely intervention. The appearance of the ram, perfectly positioned and ensnared, was a tangible manifestation of "YHWH-Yireh"—the Lord will provide. This act established a foundational understanding for ancient Israel: God does not desire human sacrifice but rather faith, obedience, and, where necessary, provides an acceptable substitute for sin or atonement. The willing ram taking Isaac's place serves as a powerful foreshadowing, culminating in the ultimate substitutionary sacrifice of Jesus Christ, the Lamb of God, who gave His life "instead of" humanity, fulfilling God's perfect provision for redemption.