Hebrews 11 19

Hebrews 11:19 kjv

Accounting that God was able to raise him up, even from the dead; from whence also he received him in a figure.

Hebrews 11:19 nkjv

concluding that God was able to raise him up, even from the dead, from which he also received him in a figurative sense.

Hebrews 11:19 niv

Abraham reasoned that God could even raise the dead, and so in a manner of speaking he did receive Isaac back from death.

Hebrews 11:19 esv

He considered that God was able even to raise him from the dead, from which, figuratively speaking, he did receive him back.

Hebrews 11:19 nlt

Abraham reasoned that if Isaac died, God was able to bring him back to life again. And in a sense, Abraham did receive his son back from the dead.

Hebrews 11 verses

Hebrews 11 19 Meaning

Hebrews 11:19 states Abraham's deep conviction that God had the power to raise Isaac from the dead, even as he prepared to offer him as a sacrifice. His obedience to God's command demonstrated a profound faith in divine omnipotence, specifically God's ability to overcome death. The verse concludes by stating that Abraham "received him back in a figure," signifying that Isaac's return from the brink of death was a symbolic prefiguration or illustration of resurrection, pointing forward to a greater reality. It showcases Abraham's foresight beyond the physical act, trusting in God's ability to uphold His promises through miraculous power.

Hebrews 11 19 Context

Hebrews chapter 11, often called the "Hall of Faith," extols numerous Old Testament figures for their exemplary trust in God, despite not having seen the full fulfillment of God's promises in their lifetime. It presents faith as a forward-looking assurance, a confident expectation of what God will do, even when it seems humanly impossible.

The specific context for verse 19 is the culmination of the Abrahamic narrative within this chapter (Heb 11:8-19). Abraham had already demonstrated faith by leaving Ur for an unknown land, sojourning as a foreigner, and believing for the birth of Isaac despite his own old age and Sarah's barrenness. His ultimate test of faith came when God commanded him to offer Isaac, his "only begotten son" through whom all the promises of nationhood and blessing were to be realized. This command presented an immense spiritual dilemma for Abraham: how could God's promise of descendants through Isaac be fulfilled if Isaac was to be sacrificed? The verse explains Abraham's reasoning and resolution to this dilemma. For the original audience of Hebrews, facing persecution and tempted to abandon their Christian faith for the perceived safety of Judaism, Abraham's radical faith in the face of impossible circumstances provided a powerful encouragement to persevere and trust in God's ultimate power and fulfillment of promises.

Hebrews 11 19 Word analysis

• accounting (λογισάμενος - logisamenos): A participle from logizomai, meaning to reason, reckon, calculate, consider, conclude. This implies Abraham's act of faith was not blind but based on careful deliberation and logical conclusion derived from his knowledge of God's character and past promises. He thought through the implications and reached a conviction.
• that God was able (δυνατὸς ὁ Θεὸς - dynatos ho Theos): "Able" (δυνατός - dynatos) denotes powerful, mighty, capable. This emphasizes God's omnipotence. Abraham had a strong and specific conviction in God's absolute power. This is crucial as it underpins the logic of his faith: if God promised a numerous offspring through Isaac, then God must be able to restore Isaac to life to fulfill that promise.
• to raise him (ἐγείραι - egeirai): To raise, awaken, resurrect. This verb is commonly used for resurrection from the dead. Abraham clearly conceived of the possibility of God bringing Isaac back to life. This shows an early understanding or anticipation of resurrection power, not merely revival from illness but victory over death.
• even from the dead (ἐκ νεκρῶν - ek nekron): "From dead ones" or "from among the dead." This phrase unequivocally specifies resurrection, not merely rescue from death's brink. It implies returning from the state of death. Abraham's faith stretched to encompass God's power over the grave itself.
• from whence also (ὅθεν καί - hothen kai): Meaning "from which also," or "for this reason." This transitional phrase links Abraham's expectation of resurrection directly to the subsequent "receiving" of Isaac. It highlights that the recovery of Isaac was tied to, and occurred as a consequence of, this profound faith.
• he received him (κομίσετο αὐτόν - komiseto auton): To receive back, get back, recover. This word implies a recovery of something that was given up or lost. Isaac was as good as dead in Abraham's mind when he offered him, and God "gave him back."
• in a figure (ἐν παραβολῇ - en parabolē): "In a parable," "in a type," "as an illustration," or "as a likeness." This is a key phrase. It signifies that Isaac's rescue from death's door was not a literal resurrection in the sense that Jesus experienced (i.e., dying and then physically returning to life), but it was a powerful symbolic act. It served as an object lesson, a prophetic illustration, or a "type" pointing forward to the future ultimate resurrection from the dead, particularly that of Jesus Christ. It wasn't the actual event but a representation of it. This interpretation deepens the theological significance of the event.
• Word-group analysis:
  • "accounting that God was able to raise him even from the dead": This phrase encapsulates Abraham's deep theological understanding of God's character (omnipotent) and His faithfulness to His promises (through Isaac). It's a statement of reasoned, robust faith that looked beyond human possibility to divine capability.
  • "from whence also he received him in a figure": This connects the physical rescue of Isaac directly to Abraham's prior spiritual conviction. The manner of Isaac's return was not arbitrary; it was a miraculous rescue that visually confirmed Abraham's faith and served as a powerful prophetic sign, foreshadowing Christ's ultimate victory over death.

Hebrews 11 19 Bonus section

The sacrifice of Isaac (Akedah) is one of the most poignant narratives in the Old Testament, and Hebrews 11:19 extracts its deepest spiritual truth: Abraham's faith in resurrection. This passage implicitly addresses the core message of Hebrews itself, which is the superiority of Christ and the new covenant. Abraham's experience served as a tangible example of faith in a God who not only gives life but restores it, a principle that finds its ultimate expression in the resurrected Christ. Isaac, as the beloved, only-begotten son, voluntarily going to the altar and being delivered for a new life, remarkably foreshadows Jesus, the only-begotten Son, who truly was sacrificed and truly rose from the dead. The "figure" here is a clear demonstration of how God prepared His people through types and shadows to understand the greater reality to come in Christ.

Hebrews 11 19 Commentary

Hebrews 11:19 is a profound statement on the nature of Abraham's faith, revealing its depth and a forward-looking dimension towards resurrection. When commanded to sacrifice Isaac, Abraham faced a direct conflict between God's immediate command and God's overarching promise that nations would come through Isaac. His faith resolved this tension by trusting God's ultimate power: He reasoned that if God made the promise, God was capable of raising Isaac even from death to fulfill it. This was not blind optimism but a theological conclusion based on God's omnipotence and unwavering faithfulness.

The statement that he received Isaac "in a figure" is critical. Isaac did not literally die and resurrect, but his rescue at the eleventh hour served as a powerful prophetic type or prefiguration. It dramatically illustrated the power of God over death and prefigured the literal resurrection of Jesus Christ. In this dramatic rescue, Isaac effectively passed through a symbolic death and returned to life, thereby providing a foreshadowing of the ultimate salvation won through Christ's death and resurrection. Abraham, in this act, anticipated a cornerstone truth of the Christian faith. This account encourages believers to trust in God's power even in seemingly impossible circumstances, reminding us that God is able to bring life from death and to fulfill His promises in ways beyond human comprehension.