Genesis 22:9 kjv

And they came to the place which God had told him of; and Abraham built an altar there, and laid the wood in order, and bound Isaac his son, and laid him on the altar upon the wood.

Genesis 22:9 nkjv

Then they came to the place of which God had told him. And Abraham built an altar there and placed the wood in order; and he bound Isaac his son and laid him on the altar, upon the wood.

Genesis 22:9 niv

When they reached the place God had told him about, Abraham built an altar there and arranged the wood on it. He bound his son Isaac and laid him on the altar, on top of the wood.

Genesis 22:9 esv

When they came to the place of which God had told him, Abraham built the altar there and laid the wood in order and bound Isaac his son and laid him on the altar, on top of the wood.

Genesis 22:9 nlt

When they arrived at the place where God had told him to go, Abraham built an altar and arranged the wood on it. Then he tied his son, Isaac, and laid him on the altar on top of the wood.

Genesis 22 verses

Genesis 22 9 Meaning

Genesis 22:9 describes the critical actions Abraham takes upon reaching the designated place for sacrifice. It narrates Abraham's meticulous construction of the altar, the ordered placement of wood upon it, and the solemn act of binding his son Isaac and laying him upon the altar, positioned on top of the wood. This verse marks the physical climax of the "Akedah" or "binding" and underscores Abraham's profound obedience and faith in God's command, even to the point of intending to offer his long-awaited son.

Genesis 22 9 Context

Genesis 22:9 occurs at the climax of the "Akedah" (Hebrew for "binding"), the pivotal narrative of Abraham's ultimate test. God's command in Gen 22:2 for Abraham to sacrifice his beloved son, Isaac, represents the most severe trial of faith Abraham ever faced. Earlier in the chapter, Abraham rose early, cut the wood, saddled his donkey, and embarked on a three-day journey with Isaac and two servants to "the place of which God would tell him." Isaac, unaware of his role, even asked about the lamb for the burnt offering (Gen 22:7). Abraham's cryptic reply ("God will provide for Himself the lamb") foreshadows divine intervention. Verse 9 then describes their arrival at Mount Moriah and Abraham's immediate, unhesitating action to prepare for the sacrifice, demonstrating his resolute obedience despite the immense personal cost. This event unfolds just prior to God's intervention, preventing the sacrifice, and providing a ram as a substitute.

Genesis 22 9 Word analysis

• And they came (וַיָּבֹ֣אוּ - vayyavo'u): This simple past tense verb with the "waw consecutive" (common in Hebrew narrative) indicates immediate action following the previous verse. The plural "they" (Abraham and Isaac, likely without the servants who remained behind, as suggested in verse 5) highlights their shared journey and proximity to the moment of decision. Their arrival is not by chance but a determined destination.
• to the place (אֶל־הַמָּק֗וֹם - el-hamMakom): "The place" is highly significant. It is specific and divinely appointed, not just any hill. This term often refers to sacred locations in the Bible, foreshadowing later divine presence or chosen sites for worship, notably the Temple Mount in Jerusalem (traditionally identified with Moriah, 2 Chron 3:1). Its definite article underscores its unique sacred status as chosen by God.
• of which God had told him (אֲשֶׁ֣ר אָֽמַר־ל֣וֹ הָֽאֱלֹהִ֔ים - asher amar-lo ha'Elohim): Emphasizes divine direction and the fulfillment of a specific command. Abraham's obedience is not arbitrary but directly in response to God's explicit instruction (Gen 22:2). "Elohim" is used, referring to God as the transcendent creator and judge.
• And Abraham built there (וַיִּ֨בֶן שָׁם אַבְרָהָם - vayyiven sham Avraham): A deliberate and immediate act. Building an altar signifies an act of worship, consecration, and readiness to interact with God through sacrifice. Abraham is actively preparing for the ultimate expression of his faith.
• the altar (אֶת־הַֽמִּזְבֵּ֔חַ - et-hamMizbeakh): The specific structure for animal sacrifice. Altars were places of covenant, atonement, and communion with God. This altar's purpose here is starkly different from others in Genesis, not for thanks or worship after an event, but for an unimaginable one.
• And he arranged (וַיַּעֲרֹךְ֙ - vayya'arokh): Implies careful and deliberate placement. Abraham is meticulous in following the established ritual, demonstrating his full intent to carry out the command precisely.
• the wood (אֶת־הָֽעֵצִ֔ים - et-ha'etzim): This is the very wood Isaac had carried (Gen 22:6), heightening the poignant reality of the situation. It symbolizes the fuel for destruction and also the means of elevation for the sacrifice.
• And he bound (וַיַּעֲקֹד֙ - vayya'aqod): The heart of the "Akedah" term. This action signifies complete submission. Binding ensured the sacrifice could not resist, or move during the act, and highlighted the voluntary self-offering. Isaac, potentially a young man (not a child, given he carried the wood and his age relation to Sarah's death later), could have resisted, making his non-resistance a significant detail emphasizing his own obedience.
• Isaac his son (אֶת־יִצְחָ֣ק בְּנ֔וֹ - et-Yitzkhak b'no): The repetition of "his son" (similar to Gen 22:2) underscores the profound emotional cost for Abraham. Isaac is not just any son, but the "son of laughter," the child of promise, Abraham's future and hope.
• and laid him (וַיַּשְׁלִכֵ֙הוּ֙ - vayyashlikhehu): This Hebrew verb can mean "to throw" or "to cast," but in this context, it should be understood as "to lay down" or "to place." It conveys a definitive, albeit perhaps rapid or decisive, placement. It emphasizes the completed action of positioning Isaac as the intended sacrifice.
• on the altar, on top of the wood (עַל־הַמִּזְבֵּ֔חַ מִמַּ֥עַל לָֽעֵצִֽים׃ - al-hamMizbeakh mimma'al la'etzim): This precise spatial description leaves no doubt about Abraham's intent. Isaac is positioned exactly where the burnt offering would be, confirming Abraham's full obedience to the divine instruction.

Word Groups Analysis:

• "And they came to the place... of which God had told him": Highlights the divinely appointed location and the unwavering obedience of Abraham (and Isaac) in reaching it. This is not a random act, but the direct execution of God's specific command, marking a geographical and spiritual destination.
• "And Abraham built there the altar, and he arranged the wood": These actions emphasize Abraham's deliberate preparation and methodical adherence to the ritual requirements for sacrifice. They portray a resolute determination and carefulness in carrying out God's will, no matter how painful. The preparation indicates his full intention to proceed.
• "And he bound Isaac his son, and laid him on the altar, on top of the wood": This climactic sequence of actions reveals the profound nature of Abraham's faith and the terrifying reality of the moment. The "binding" is the defining act, symbolizing complete submission—Isaac's and Abraham's—to God's sovereign will. Placing him on the altar, upon the prepared wood, leaves no room for doubt about the imminence of the sacrifice, yet simultaneously sets the stage for God's merciful intervention.

Genesis 22 9 Bonus section

The site traditionally identified as Mount Moriah for this event (Gen 22:2) is later described as the location where Solomon built the First Temple (2 Chron 3:1), which in turn, is also traditionally seen as the area where the second Temple stood, and possibly where Christ was later crucified. This suggests a divine continuity of sacred space for covenant, sacrifice, and ultimately, redemption. The 'Akedah is considered one of the foundational texts for understanding sacrifice, covenant, and the nature of divine testing throughout both Jewish and Christian traditions. In rabbinic tradition, Isaac's conscious and willing participation in his binding is often highlighted, elevating him from a passive victim to an active participant in an act of profound self-offering and obedience to God alongside his father. This mirrors Christ's willing surrender. The profound silence of Isaac throughout Genesis 22 further amplifies the scene's gravitas and Isaac's obedience, only adding to the overwhelming obedience of Abraham.

Genesis 22 9 Commentary

Genesis 22:9 marks the dramatic zenith of the 'Akedah, presenting Abraham's unfathomable obedience as it culminates in physical action. Each step—the building of the altar, the meticulous arrangement of wood, the binding of his only son, and the laying of Isaac upon the wood—is charged with immense spiritual significance. This is not a reluctant or hesitant act; rather, Abraham carries out the preparations with precise deliberation, revealing the depth of his conviction that God is faithful and powerful enough even to raise Isaac from the dead (Heb 11:19). The precise placement of Isaac on the altar and the wood echoes the preparation for an actual burnt offering, demonstrating Abraham's full intent to obey. This scene functions as a potent counter-narrative to the widespread child sacrifice practices of the ancient Near East, revealing a God who tests His people's loyalty profoundly but ultimately provides, values human life, and does not demand such abhorrent rituals. Instead, He seeks an ultimate trust that manifests in willing obedience, prefiguring the true sacrifice God Himself would provide in Christ, the perfect Lamb.