Genesis 22:3 kjv

And Abraham rose up early in the morning, and saddled his ass, and took two of his young men with him, and Isaac his son, and clave the wood for the burnt offering, and rose up, and went unto the place of which God had told him.

Genesis 22:3 nkjv

So Abraham rose early in the morning and saddled his donkey, and took two of his young men with him, and Isaac his son; and he split the wood for the burnt offering, and arose and went to the place of which God had told him.

Genesis 22:3 niv

Early the next morning Abraham got up and loaded his donkey. He took with him two of his servants and his son Isaac. When he had cut enough wood for the burnt offering, he set out for the place God had told him about.

Genesis 22:3 esv

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.

Genesis 22:3 nlt

The next morning Abraham got up early. He saddled his donkey and took two of his servants with him, along with his son, Isaac. Then he chopped wood for a fire for a burnt offering and set out for the place God had told him about.

Genesis 22 verses

Genesis 22 3 Meaning

Genesis 22:3 describes Abraham's immediate, resolute, and physical response to God's terrifying command to sacrifice Isaac. It highlights his prompt obedience and diligent preparation for the divinely appointed, difficult task, demonstrating profound faith without hesitation or complaint.

Genesis 22 3 Context

Genesis 22:3 occurs directly after God’s unprecedented and shocking command to Abraham in verse 2 to sacrifice his son, Isaac, as a burnt offering on a designated mountain in the region of Moriah. This command followed a period of apparent peace, including Abraham's covenant with Abimelech (Gen 21:22-34), making the sudden, drastic demand a severe test of Abraham’s faith. Verse 3 immediately details Abraham’s unwavering, prompt response, illustrating his resolve and trust despite the emotional and moral weight of the task. Historically, child sacrifice was a detestable practice among the Canaanites, against which the true God's character and later Israelite law (e.g., Lev 18:21, Deut 12:31) stood in stark contrast, making Abraham's immediate willingness to obey, even without fully understanding God's ultimate purpose, a profound testament to his singular devotion.

Genesis 22 3 Word analysis

• So: Implies an immediate, direct consequence or response to God's preceding command. It shows no delay or deliberation in action.
• Abraham: The covenant patriarch, known for his faith (Rom 4:3; Gal 3:6). His action here solidifies his reputation as a model of obedience.
• rose early (Hebrew: vayashkem - וַיַּשְׁכֵּם): This is a crucial detail. It means "to do something diligently" or "to do something promptly in the morning." It signifies urgency, resolution, and readiness, not procrastination or reluctance. This contrasts with moments where people "rose early" to do evil or rebellious acts (Num 14:40, Judg 6:28), emphasizing Abraham's righteous intent.
• in the morning: Emphasizes the very start of the day, indicating that Abraham allowed no time to dwell on the terrible implications or to reconsider. It signifies decisive, immediate action. Morning often symbolizes new beginnings or a time for serious, divinely-appointed tasks.
• saddled his donkey: A practical and humbling act. This was Abraham’s personal, hands-on involvement in preparing for the journey. It indicates readiness for travel and forethought, preparing all necessary provisions.
• and took two of his young men with him: Provided practical assistance for the journey (setting up camp, carrying supplies) and could serve as witnesses to aspects of the journey, though not to the final, secluded act of sacrifice. Their inclusion hints at a typical patriarchal expedition.
• and Isaac his son: The central figure of the test. His inclusion explicitly confirms Abraham understood the command fully and brought the specific, intended offering. This underlines the profound weight of Abraham’s obedience.
• and he split the wood (Hebrew: vayavqa - וַיְבַקַּע): Another direct, laborious, and hands-on act of preparation. Splitting wood requires effort and forethought. This shows careful planning for the entire ritual, underscoring Abraham's thoroughness and dedication to carrying out the instruction precisely.
• for the burnt offering: Clearly defines the purpose of the wood and confirms Abraham’s full comprehension of God's command in verse 2. It speaks to the ancient Near Eastern context of sacrifices for worship and propitiation. While human sacrifice was abhorrent to God and later forbidden in Israelite law (Deut 12:31), Abraham prepares according to the given command, demonstrating utter faith that God’s instructions are always righteous.
• and arose: Signifies physical movement, standing up after preparation, indicating the start of the journey itself.
• and went to the place: Emphasizes directed movement towards a specific destination, not wandering aimlessly.
• of which God had told him: Reinforces that the entire action is under divine guidance and specific instruction. Abraham did not choose the destination; God did, emphasizing divine sovereignty and Abraham's humble submission. The specificity of "the place" becomes important as the narrative unfolds (Gen 22:4).

Words-group analysis:

• So Abraham rose early in the morning: Highlights the profound promptness and decisiveness of Abraham's obedience, a direct consequence of God's command without any interjection of doubt or complaint. It portrays a deep, unquestioning faith.
• saddled his donkey, and took two of his young men with him, and Isaac his son: Details the practical preparations and the key personnel involved in this monumental journey, showing that Abraham was thoroughly equipping himself for the difficult task. The inclusion of Isaac underscores the immense sacrifice being prepared.
• and he split the wood for the burnt offering: Shows Abraham's complete commitment and detailed adherence to God's command, undertaking manual labor necessary for the sacrifice. This act prefigures the reality of the impending offering, solidifying his understanding of the divine demand.
• and arose and went to the place of which God had told him: Depicts the purposeful and guided nature of Abraham's journey. It highlights his trust in divine direction, even to an unknown and challenging destination, emphasizing that his actions were entirely God-directed.

Genesis 22 3 Bonus section

The seemingly ordinary domestic activities depicted in this verse (saddling a donkey, splitting wood) are juxtaposed with the extraordinary divine command. This contrast heightens the tension and underscores Abraham's immense, silent faith. His routine actions become acts of profound worship and obedience, performed without any explicit biblical commentary on his inner turmoil, emphasizing his unshakeable trust in God's character and promise, despite the apparent contradiction. The specific mention of "the place" highlights God's sovereignty and specific intention for the site of the test, later understood by Jewish tradition as Mount Moriah in Jerusalem, signifying its immense theological importance. The promptness ("rose early") sets a high standard for spiritual readiness and a lack of procrastination in response to divine calling.

Genesis 22 3 Commentary

Genesis 22:3 vividly portrays Abraham's immediate, quiet, and profound obedience to God's most harrowing test. There is no trace of argument, delay, or outward struggle in his actions, only resolute promptness. By rising "early in the morning," Abraham signals an unreserved commitment, prioritizing God's command above his deepest paternal instincts and worldly concerns. His detailed, physical preparations—saddling the donkey, bringing assistants, splitting the wood, and taking Isaac—demonstrate a practical, full understanding of the commanded "burnt offering." This quiet diligence in preparing for such a horrific task showcases a faith so complete that it transcends human logic and emotion. It is an action rooted in a deep, enduring relationship with God, believing that even in an incomprehensible command, God's ways are ultimately good and just (Heb 11:19). This singular focus on God's command, in stark contrast to the common child sacrifice of the surrounding cultures, would reveal that the God of Abraham did not desire human sacrifice, but required total allegiance and trust from His chosen.