Genesis 22:8 kjv

And Abraham said, My son, God will provide himself a lamb for a burnt offering: so they went both of them together.

Genesis 22:8 nkjv

And Abraham said, "My son, God will provide for Himself the lamb for a burnt offering." So the two of them went together.

Genesis 22:8 niv

Abraham answered, "God himself will provide the lamb for the burnt offering, my son." And the two of them went on together.

Genesis 22:8 esv

Abraham said, "God will provide for himself the lamb for a burnt offering, my son." So they went both of them together.

Genesis 22:8 nlt

"God will provide a sheep for the burnt offering, my son," Abraham answered. And they both walked on together.

Genesis 22 verses

Genesis 22 8 Meaning

Genesis 22:8 captures a profound moment of faith and prophecy spoken by Abraham to his son Isaac on their journey to Mount Moriah for the offering. Abraham declares with unwavering trust that "God will provide for Himself the lamb for a burnt offering." This statement expresses his belief in God's sovereignty and His unfailing provision, foreshadowing not only the substitutionary ram on that mountain but ultimately the self-provision of God's perfect sacrifice for sin in the Person of Jesus Christ. It also highlights Abraham's obedient submission to God's command, maintaining composure and trust even in the face of an unthinkable request.

Genesis 22 8 Context

Genesis 22:8 is part of the climactic narrative known as the "Akedah" or "binding of Isaac," Abraham's supreme test of faith. Chapters 12 through 21 establish Abraham's covenant relationship with God, his long wait for Isaac, and God's repeated promises of numerous descendants through this "only son." The command to sacrifice Isaac, therefore, is an incomprehensible challenge to all that Abraham knows of God's promises and character. The immediate context of verse 8 finds Abraham and Isaac having journeyed three days to the land of Moriah, where Isaac now carries the wood for the burnt offering, unaware of his role in the sacrifice. His question to Abraham about the lamb creates the pivotal moment for Abraham's faith-filled response.

Historically, the practice of burnt offerings was common in the ancient Near East, but child sacrifice was specifically a abhorrent practice among Canaanite peoples, condemned by God (Deut 12:31, Lev 18:21, Jer 19:5). Abraham's test powerfully contrasts Yahweh's character with the gods of surrounding nations: God does not demand human sacrifice, but provides the sacrifice, highlighting His life-giving nature and His own costly provision for atonement, setting Israel apart from pagan cults.

Genesis 22 8 Word analysis

• And Abraham: ʾAvraham (אברם). The patriarch, called by God, whose life is defined by faith and obedience to divine promises. His statement here is a testament to the growth of his faith, having experienced God's faithfulness previously.
• said, wayyōʾmer (ויאמר): Indicating a direct and verbal response. It is a confident declaration, not a hesitant speculation.
• My son, bᵊnī (בְּנִי): A term of endearment and affection, emphasizing the deep bond between Abraham and Isaac. It underscores the immense cost and emotional toll of this test, yet Abraham speaks tenderly to his son.
• God ʾĕlōhîm (אֱלֹהִים): The generic but majestic name for God, emphasizing His power, sovereignty, and role as Creator and Judge. In this context, it speaks to the ultimate authority and capability of the divine provider.
• will provide yireh (יִרְאֶה): From the root ra'ah (רָאָה), which means "to see," but can also mean "to provide" or "to choose." Here, it carries the strong sense of divine foresight and active provision. God will "see to it," "choose," or "make visible" the necessary sacrifice. This word directly connects to the later naming of the place, Yahweh-Yireh (Gen 22:14).
• for himself lō (לֹו): A crucial nuance. God will provide the lamb for Himself or as His own. This implies that the provision originates solely with God, for His own purpose, to fulfill His own requirements, and ultimately to demonstrate His character. It emphasizes the divine initiative in redemption.
• the lamb haśśeh (השה): A specific, young animal, a typical sacrificial victim. This detail aligns with later Israelite sacrificial laws where lambs (or goats) were central for burnt offerings and particularly for Passover. It's the expected sacrifice for a whole burnt offering.
• for a burnt offering. lāʿōlāh (לעלה): The Hebrew word ʿolah literally means "that which goes up," referring to an offering completely consumed by fire upon the altar, symbolizing total surrender, devotion, and propitiation before God.

Words-Group Analysis

• "My son, God will provide for himself the lamb for a burnt offering." This is Abraham's profound declaration of faith. It's not wishful thinking but a confident, prophetic utterance born out of a deep understanding of God's nature as the One who provides. It indicates Abraham's expectation of a divine solution to their seemingly impossible predicament. This phrase serves as a direct, and seemingly simple, answer to Isaac's pointed question, yet it carries the full weight of Abraham's trust in God's promises and His power to act.
• "So they both went together." This simple phrase conveys immense weight. It signifies Abraham's continued unwavering obedience after his declaration of faith. There is no hesitation, no further questioning or protest, from either father or son. Isaac's quiet submission indicates trust in his father, mirroring Abraham's trust in God. This phrase highlights the quiet determination to proceed with the command, based on Abraham's spoken assurance.

Genesis 22 8 Bonus section

The site of this event, Mount Moriah, later became the site of the Temple in Jerusalem (2 Chr 3:1). This continuity connects the ultimate Old Testament picture of sacrifice and provision with the center of Israel's worship, further emphasizing its redemptive significance. Abraham’s faith was tested to the extreme, but the outcome solidified his legacy as a man who implicitly trusted God’s ability to work beyond human comprehension, even to raise the dead (Heb 11:19), implying that God would restore Isaac even if he were sacrificed. The prophetic utterance of Abraham was therefore rooted in an understanding of God’s absolute power over life and death, setting the stage for the New Testament revelation of ultimate provision in Christ’s death and resurrection.

Genesis 22 8 Commentary

Genesis 22:8 is a pivotal verse in the "Akedah," showcasing Abraham's extraordinary faith and providing a deep theological and prophetic message. Abraham's words, "God will provide for himself the lamb for a burnt offering," are far more than a hopeful guess; they are a profound declaration rooted in a lifetime of experiencing God's faithfulness and a spiritual intuition about God's nature. It’s a confession of absolute reliance on God to fulfill His own commands and promises.

The phrase "for himself" (לֹו) is critical. It implies that God is the author, the initiator, and the fulfiller of the necessary sacrifice. He does not find a lamb, but He provides one that is intrinsically His own, for His own righteous purposes. This foreshadows the truth that human beings cannot truly atone for their own sins or fully satisfy divine justice; the ultimate provision for atonement must come from God Himself.

This verse serves as a profound prefigurement of Christ. Just as a ram was substituted for Isaac, Jesus Christ became the ultimate "Lamb of God" (John 1:29) who "God provided for himself." God's provision in Genesis 22 points to His ultimate act of providing His unique Son as the sinless sacrifice for humanity, satisfying divine justice and providing reconciliation. The burnt offering's symbol of complete devotion finds its perfect expression in Christ's absolute obedience and sacrifice.

Practically, this verse reminds us that when God commands something that seems impossible or against all reason, He often has a divine provision already planned. Our role is to trust and obey, even when we do not see the full picture. It teaches us to lean into God's character as "Yahweh-Yireh" (The Lord Will Provide) and find assurance in His perfect timing and provision.