Genesis 22:5
Then Abraham said to his young men, “Stay here with the donkey; I and the boy will go over there and worship and come again to you.”
English Standard Version (ESV)
This page isn't yet indexed by search engines.
Abraham tells his young men, "I and the boy will go... and worship and come again to you." This isn't a simple statement of fact, but a profound act of faith, revealing his deep conviction that God would somehow restore Isaac, even after a sacrifice. It underscores Abraham's radical trust that God's promises would ultimately be fulfilled, no matter how impossible the circumstances seemed.
Abraham has just received the most challenging command imaginable: to sacrifice his beloved son, Isaac. After a three-day journey, as they approach the designated mountain, Abraham instructs his servants to wait behind with the donkey, telling them that he and Isaac will go ahead to worship and then return. This statement reveals Abraham's extraordinary faith, as he fully intended to offer Isaac but believed God would miraculously restore him, perhaps through resurrection, so they would return.
Why did Abraham leave his young men behind with the donkey? It wasn't just about keeping the surprise.
Abraham's decision to leave his servants behind was strategic. He knew that if they witnessed him binding Isaac, they might try to intervene, driven by their own understanding or even fear.
Abraham tells his servants he and Isaac will 'come again.' How could he say this when about to offer his son?
Ask a follow-up
Ask Sola things like:
Live chat about Genesis 22:5 is available in the Sola app.
Abraham's declaration that he and Isaac would 'come again' is a profound expression of his unwavering faith. It reveals a deep trust that God would somehow fulfill His promises, even in the face of apparent impossibility.
Understand the original words
shachah · Hebrew Verb
Acts of humble submission, reverence, and honor directed toward God, acknowledging His worthiness and majesty through physical or spiritual action.
Abraham's words reveal a profound faith, not just in obeying God's command, but in God's power to fulfill His promises, even through resurrection.
c. 1800 BC
God establishes covenant with Abraham
God makes a binding promise to Abraham, assuring him of numerous descendants and a significant lineage.
c. 1790 BC
Birth of Isaac
Abraham and Sarah's promised son, Isaac, is born, representing the fulfillment of God's covenant promises.
c. 1775 BC— this verse
God commands Abraham to sacrifice Isaac
God tests Abraham's faith by commanding him to offer his beloved son Isaac as a burnt offering in the land of Moriah.
c. 1775 BC
Abraham and Isaac journey to Moriah
Abraham and Isaac travel for three days towards the designated mountain, a journey fraught with emotional and spiritual tension.
c. 1775 BC
Divine Intervention on Mount Moriah
As Abraham is about to sacrifice Isaac, an angel of the Lord intervenes, providing a ram as a substitute sacrifice.
c. 1775 BC
God reaffirms covenant promises
Following the test, God reiterates and expands upon his promises to Abraham, swearing by himself due to Abraham's obedience.
This passage directly explains Abraham's perspective, stating that he offered Isaac 'accounting that God was able to raise him up, even from the dead, from which he also received him back as in a figure.' This illuminates Abraham's confident declaration of returning, rooted in his faith in resurrection.
Romans 4:17-22This passage discusses Abraham's faith in God who gives life to the dead and calls into existence the things that do not exist. It provides the theological framework for Abraham's belief that God could bring Isaac back to life, even after being sacrificed.
Genesis 21:12God had previously promised Abraham that 'through Isaac shall your offspring be named.' This foundational promise underscores the apparent contradiction Abraham faced and highlights the depth of his faith in God's ability to uphold His word, even in seemingly impossible circumstances like this one.
John 3:16This verse speaks of God's ultimate sacrifice of His Son for the world. It provides a New Testament parallel where God the Father, like Abraham, willingly gives His beloved Son, reflecting a divine pattern of sacrifice for the sake of a greater purpose and promise.
1 Samuel 3:18When confronted with a difficult divine command, Eli said, 'It is the LORD; let him do what seems good to him.' This shows a similar submissive spirit to Abraham's, demonstrating how individuals must yield to God's will even when it is painful or difficult to comprehend.
gillGenesis 22:5: "And Abraham said unto his young men, Abide ye here with the ass; and I and the lad will go yonder and worship, and come again to you."
And Abraham said unto the young men, abide you here with the ass,.... At the place from whence he had his first sight of Mount Moriah: he chose not to take his two servants with him, lest when they saw him binding his son, and going about to sacrifice him, they should lay hold upon him, and restrain him from doing it; and to prevent this he takes…
ellicottGenesis 22:5: "And Abraham said unto his young men, Abide ye here with the ass; and I and the lad will go yonder and worship, and come again to you."
(5) I and the lad will . . . come again to you. —In these words Abraham gives utterance to the hope ascribed to him in Hebrews 11:19 . The belief in the resurrection of the body was no new thing with Abraham, as it was part of the creed both of Chaldea and Egypt (Tomkins, Studies, p. 127). God will provide himself a lamb.—Heb., the lamb. We learn…
Abraham tells his young men, "I and the boy will go... and worship and come again to you." This isn't a simple statement of fact, but a profound act of faith, revealing his deep conviction that God would somehow restore Isaac, even after a sacrifice. It underscores Abraham's radical trust that God's promises would ultimately be fulfilled, no matter how impossible the circumstances seemed.
Abraham has just received the most challenging command imaginable: to sacrifice his beloved son, Isaac. After a three-day journey, as they approach the designated mountain, Abraham instructs his servants to wait behind with the donkey, telling them that he and Isaac will go ahead to worship and then return. This statement reveals Abraham's extraordinary faith, as he fully intended to offer Isaac but believed God would miraculously restore him, perhaps through resurrection, so they would return.
Abraham has just received the most challenging command imaginable: to sacrifice his beloved son, Isaac. After a three-day journey, as they approach the designated mountain, Abraham instructs his servants to wait behind with the donkey, telling them that he and Isaac will go ahead to worship and then return. This statement reveals Abraham's extraordinary faith, as he fully intended to offer Isaac but believed God would miraculously restore him, perhaps through resurrection, so they would return.
"Then Abraham said to his young men, “Stay here with the donkey; I and the boy will go over there and worship and come again to you.”" — Abraham tells his young men, "I and the boy will go... and worship and come again to you." This isn't a simple statement of fact, but a profound act of faith, revealing his deep conviction that God w…
Get the original Greek and Hebrew, verse-by-verse context, and related passages inside the app.
