The Binding of Isaac

The words

1. Bound

   Tied up.

   Abraham binds Isaac and lays him on the altar upon the wood; the angel then tells him not to harm the lad.

   Genesis 22:9–12 (opens a new tab)

2. Burnt

   Burned on the altar as an offering.

   God tells Abraham to offer Isaac as a burnt offering; after the angel stops him, Abraham offers the ram in his son’s place.

   Genesis 22:2 (opens a new tab) · Genesis 22:12 (opens a new tab) · Genesis 22:13 (opens a new tab) · Leviticus 1:9 (opens a new tab)

3. Clave

   Split or cut, in the KJV’s older wording.

   Abraham rises early and splits the wood for the burnt offering before setting out with Isaac and two young men.

   Genesis 22:3 (opens a new tab) · NET Bible: Genesis 22:3 (opens a new tab)

4. Horns

   Abraham sees a ram caught by its horns in a thicket and offers it as a burnt offering in Isaac’s place.

   Genesis 22:13 (opens a new tab)

5. Isaac

   Isaac carries the wood, asks his father where the lamb is, and is later bound before the angel stops Abraham from harming him.

   Genesis 22:6–7 (opens a new tab) · Genesis 22:9–12 (opens a new tab)

6. Jehovah-jireh

   The LORD provides, in the NET Bible’s rendering.

   Abraham names the place Jehovah-jireh after offering the ram in his son’s place; the KJV follows with a saying about the LORD’s mount.

   Genesis 22:13–14 (opens a new tab) · NET Bible: Genesis 22:14 (opens a new tab)

7. Knife

   Abraham takes the knife to slay his son, but the angel calls from heaven and tells him not to harm the lad.

   Genesis 22:10–12 (opens a new tab)

8. Multiply

   In the renewed promise, the LORD says Abraham’s descendants will multiply like the stars of heaven and the sand upon the seashore.

   Genesis 22:16–17 (opens a new tab)

9. Obeyed

   The renewed blessing says all nations will be blessed through Abraham’s descendants because he has obeyed God’s voice.

   Genesis 22:18 (opens a new tab)

10. Provide

    When Isaac asks where the lamb is, Abraham answers that God will provide one; later he offers a ram in Isaac’s place.

    Genesis 22:7–8 (opens a new tab) · Genesis 22:13 (opens a new tab)

11. Sand

    Sand on the seashore is paired with the stars of heaven as an image of the many descendants promised to Abraham.

    Did you know?

    An earlier promise uses another earthly image: Abraham’s descendants are compared with the dust of the earth in Genesis 13.

    Genesis 22:17 (opens a new tab) · Genesis 13:16 (opens a new tab)

12. Sea Shore

    The promise places the sand upon the sea shore, one of the images used to describe Abraham’s future descendants.

    Did you know?

    The sea’s sand becomes an image of abundance again when Joseph gathers grain, so much that he stops counting it.

    Genesis 22:17 (opens a new tab) · Genesis 41:49 (opens a new tab)

13. Thicket

    A growth of bushes.

    The ram Abraham sees is caught in a thicket by its horns; he takes it and offers it in place of Isaac.

    Genesis 22:13 (opens a new tab) · NET Bible: Genesis 22:13 (opens a new tab)

14. Third Day

    On the third day of the journey, Abraham sees the place in the distance and tells the two young men to stay behind.

    Genesis 22:3 (opens a new tab) · Genesis 22:4–5 (opens a new tab)

15. Withheld

    Held back.

    After stopping Abraham, the angel says he has not withheld his son; the second call repeats this wording before the renewed blessing.

    Genesis 22:12 (opens a new tab) · Genesis 22:15–17 (opens a new tab)