Genesis 22:4 kjv
Then on the third day Abraham lifted up his eyes, and saw the place afar off.
Genesis 22:4 nkjv
Then on the third day Abraham lifted his eyes and saw the place afar off.
Genesis 22:4 niv
On the third day Abraham looked up and saw the place in the distance.
Genesis 22:4 esv
On the third day Abraham lifted up his eyes and saw the place from afar.
Genesis 22:4 nlt
On the third day of their journey, Abraham looked up and saw the place in the distance.
Genesis 22 4 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Faith & Obedience | ||
| Gen 12:4 | So Abram went, as the Lord had told him... | Abraham's foundational obedience to God's call. |
| Heb 11:8 | By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to a place... | Highlights Abraham's faith-filled obedience. |
| Jam 2:21-23 | Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered Isaac his son on the altar? ...faith was working along with his works... | Faith proven by works of obedience, climaxing here. |
| Rom 4:20-21 | No distrust made him waver concerning the promise of God, but he grew strong in his faith, giving glory to God, fully convinced that God was able to do what he had promised. | Abraham's unwavering conviction despite the command. |
| Phil 2:8 | ...being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. | Echoes the obedience unto sacrifice, prefiguring Christ. |
| Divine Provision & Guidance | ||
| Gen 22:8 | Abraham said, “God will provide for himself the lamb for a burnt offering, my son.” | Abraham's declaration of God's provision. |
| Gen 22:14 | So Abraham called the name of that place The Lord Will Provide... | Naming of the place reinforces divine provision. |
| Psa 23:1 | The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. | Assurance of God's provision and guidance. |
| Deut 8:2 | And you shall remember the whole way that the Lord your God has led you these forty years in the wilderness, that he might humble you... | God's leading through tests and journeys. |
| Heb 11:10 | For he was looking forward to the city that has foundations, whose designer and builder is God. | Abraham's faith sees beyond the present, towards God's plan. |
| Thematic Resonance (The "Third Day") | ||
| Hos 6:2 | After two days he will revive us; on the third day he will raise us up... | Prophetic reference to a third-day resurrection/restoration. |
| Jon 1:17; 2:10 | ...Jonah was in the belly of the fish three days and three nights... the Lord spoke to the fish, and it vomited Jonah out upon the dry ground. | Jonah's experience prefigures Christ's three days in tomb. |
| Matt 12:40 | For just as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the great fish, so will the Son of Man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth. | Jesus directly connects Jonah's three days to His resurrection. |
| Luke 24:7 | ...saying that the Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men and be crucified and on the third day rise. | Direct prophecy of Christ's resurrection on the third day. |
| 1 Cor 15:4 | ...that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures... | Paul's emphasis on Christ's resurrection on the third day as foundational truth. |
| John 2:19-21 | Jesus answered them, “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.” ...He was speaking about the temple of his body. | Jesus speaks of His body's resurrection on the third day. |
| Thematic Resonance (The "Place"/Moriah) | ||
| Gen 22:2 | ...Go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains of which I shall tell you. | The initial command specifying "the land of Moriah" and a particular mountain. |
| 2 Chr 3:1 | Then Solomon began to build the house of the Lord in Jerusalem on Mount Moriah, where the Lord had appeared to David his father... | Identifies Mount Moriah as the future site of the Temple, signifying its sacred nature. |
| Matt 27:33; Luke 23:33; John 19:17 | And when they came to a place called Golgotha (which means Place of a Skull), they crucified him there... | Moriah (likely encompassing the region including Calvary) is the geographical foreshadowing of Christ's sacrifice. |
| Journey & Preparation | ||
| Gen 19:27 | And Abraham went early in the morning to the place where he had stood before the Lord. | Abraham's habit of going to designated places to meet with God. |
| Exod 3:5 | Then he said, “Do not come near; take your sandals off your feet, for the place where you are standing is holy ground.” | Highlights sacred nature of divinely chosen locations. |
Genesis 22 verses
Genesis 22 4 Meaning
Genesis 22:4 describes a pivotal moment in Abraham's journey to the land of Moriah, where he was commanded by God to sacrifice his son, Isaac. After three days of travel, Abraham clearly discerns the designated place for the sacrifice from a distance, signifying the end of their arduous journey and the immediate proximity of the ultimate test of his faith and obedience. This visual recognition of "the place" indicates a divine guiding hand and Abraham's profound awareness of his sacred commission.
Genesis 22 4 Context
Genesis 22:4 is situated within the "Akedah," or "binding" of Isaac (Gen 22:1-19), one of the most intense and pivotal narratives in the Bible. The preceding verses (Gen 22:1-3) describe God's astounding command for Abraham to offer Isaac, his "only son, whom you love," as a burnt offering. Abraham's immediate, silent obedience, rising early to prepare for the journey, underscores his profound faith.
The "three-day" journey described in this verse speaks to Abraham's agonizing wait, his full processing of God's command, and his unwavering resolve. The destination, "the land of Moriah," and specifically "the place" God would show him, sets the stage for a unique divine-human encounter and a sacrificial act. Historically and culturally, travel during this period was slow and arduous, especially for an elderly man, a young boy, and servants with necessary provisions. Abraham’s leaving the servants behind, mentioned just after this verse (Gen 22:5), further emphasizes the deeply personal and sacred nature of the final approach to the altar. The whole chapter acts as a supreme test of faith and loyalty to God, following God's earlier covenants with Abraham concerning his descendants and the land.
Genesis 22 4 Word analysis
On the third day (bayyōm haššəlišī, בַּיּוֹם הַשְּׁלִישִׁי):
- "On the": Hebrew prefix ba-, indicating "on" or "in".
- "day": yōm. Refers to a full 24-hour period.
- "third": šəlišī. Ordinal number, highly significant in biblical narratives.
- Significance: This duration is crucial. It suggests sufficient time for reflection, doubt, and emotional turmoil for Abraham, yet also signifies divine timing. In biblical typology, the "third day" often symbolizes a turning point, resurrection, or divine intervention after a period of waiting or judgment (e.g., Jonah in the fish, Christ's resurrection, restoration in Hosea). For Abraham, it's the point of reaching the ultimate test and a divine display.
Abraham (ʾAḇrāhām, אַבְרָהָם):
- His name means "father of a multitude" (Gen 17:5), a constant reminder of God's promise to him, which seems imperiled by this command.
- Here, his character as the epitome of faith is being rigorously tested.
lifted up his eyes (wayyiśśāʾ ʿêynāyw, וַיִּשָּׂא עֵינָיו):
- "lifted up": nāśāʾ, meaning to lift, carry, raise.
- "his eyes": ʿayin. Common biblical idiom.
- Significance: Not a casual glance but a deliberate, focused gaze, suggesting intense observation or anticipation. It can also imply a sense of readiness, an awareness of what lies ahead, or perhaps a prayerful looking to God for direction, which results in the visual confirmation. It marks an intentional act of perception.
and saw (wayyarʾ, וַיַּרְא):
- From the verb rāʾāh, "to see."
- Simple act of seeing. Combined with "lifted up his eyes," it denotes clarity and confirmation. He knew it was the place.
the place (hammāqôm, הַמָּקוֹם):
- "the": Hebrew definite article ha-.
- "place": māqôm. General term for a location.
- Significance: Though unnamed in this specific verse, the context identifies it as Mount Moriah. It is the divinely appointed location for the unique event. The use of the definite article ("the place") rather than specifying "a place" emphasizes its singularity and divine selection, a place already known or identified by God and now revealed to Abraham. It becomes a sacred site where God manifests His provision.
afar off (mērrāḥôq, מֵרָחוֹק):
- "from": min.
- "distance": rāḥôq.
- Significance: Indicates a considerable physical distance. This means the destination was still a ways off, underscoring the duration of their journey and Abraham’s persistence. It also implies that God had prepared distinct, recognizable features on this distant "place" for Abraham to discern it. It builds tension; he sees it, but the final, harrowing ascent is yet to come.
Words-group analysis:
- "On the third day Abraham lifted up his eyes": This phrase emphasizes the convergence of divine timing, Abraham's unwavering commitment through enduring effort, and his alert spiritual perception. It highlights the profound interior struggle and the patient anticipation of God's revealed purpose after an extended period of preparation. The long journey reinforces the weight of Abraham’s obedience and faith.
- "and saw the place afar off": This part highlights the precise nature of God's command ("I will tell you") and Abraham's attunement to divine guidance. The immediate recognition signifies the divine hand in revealing "the place." Seeing it "afar off" draws out the dramatic moment, hinting at both the proximity of the test and Abraham's continued march towards it, even with the knowledge now revealed.
Genesis 22 4 Bonus section
The visual of Abraham lifting his eyes and seeing "the place" suggests an inner readiness, a psychological and spiritual preparation over those three days. It speaks to the discipline of Abraham’s walk with God, that he was spiritually attuned enough to recognize the divinely appointed location once it was within sight. This implies that God does not hide His will from those who diligently seek Him. The very "place" identified later as Mount Moriah becomes incredibly significant in biblical history, not just as the site of Isaac's almost-sacrifice, but centuries later as the chosen site for Solomon's Temple (2 Chr 3:1) and arguably encompassing the greater Jerusalem area where Christ was crucified, binding the themes of ultimate sacrifice, divine provision, and redemption to this specific geographic location across millennia.
Genesis 22 4 Commentary
Genesis 22:4 marks the culmination of Abraham's three-day march toward Moriah, a journey loaded with immense emotional and spiritual weight. The simple declaration that Abraham "lifted up his eyes and saw the place afar off" conceals profound theological implications. The "third day" resonates deeply throughout scripture, pointing to resurrection, restoration, and pivotal divine intervention, most notably Christ's triumph over death. This prefigures the ultimate divine provision for humanity's salvation.
Abraham's clear discernment of "the place" demonstrates his profound connection with God's will and highlights God's perfect plan. It was not a random location but the chosen "place," divinely set apart for this ultimate act of faith and ultimately, for God's redemptive work. His persistent journey, seeing the goal from afar, encapsulates the pilgrimage of faith where the end goal is fixed by God, even when the path is difficult. Abraham's readiness to perceive and obey underscores his exemplary faith that trusts God to fulfill His promises, even when the immediate command seems to contradict them.