The Meaning of Genesis 22:12 Explained

Genesis 22:12

KJV: And he said, Lay not thine hand upon the lad, neither do thou any thing unto him: for now I know that thou fearest God, seeing thou hast not withheld thy son, thine only son from me.

YLT: and He saith, 'Put not forth thine hand unto the youth, nor do anything to him, for now I have known that thou art fearing God, and hast not withheld thy son, thine only one, from Me.'

Darby: And he said, Stretch not out thy hand against the lad, neither do anything to him; for now I know that thou fearest God, and hast not withheld thy son, thine only son, from me.

ASV: And he said, Lay not thy hand upon the lad, neither do thou anything unto him. For now I know that thou fearest God, seeing thou hast not withheld thy son, thine only son, from me.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

And he said,  Lay  not thine hand  upon  the lad,  neither do thou  any thing  unto him: for now  I know  that thou fearest  God,  seeing thou hast not  withheld  thy son,  thine only  [son] from me. 

What does Genesis 22:12 Mean?

Study Notes

fearest
.
fear of the Lord
The "fear of the Lord," a phrase of the O.T. piety, meaning reverential trust, with hatred of evil.

Context Summary

Genesis 22:1-13 - Abraham Ready To Offer Isaac
Faith must be proved. Only in trial does she put forth her strength or dare the impossible. Satan tempts to bring forth the bad, God to call forth into exercise our highest and best. God went every step of the way with His servant, who was called into closer fellowship with himself than any other of the human race. Moriah was a miniature of Calvary, where God spared not His only Son. Abraham's obedience was immediate. He arose early in the morning. It was exact. It was performed in the spirit of worship. It was contagious, for Isaac used the same expression to his father, as he to God-"Here am I." Apparently he had no need to acquaint Sarah with the object of his journey; he was so sure that the divine promise could not fail. He said to his young men, "We will come unto you." If it were necessary, he knew that God would raise him from the dead. See Hebrews 11:19. Isaac asked, "Where is the lamb?" John the Baptist answered in John 1:29. [source]

Chapter Summary: Genesis 22

1  Abraham is tested with the command to offer Isaac
3  He gives proof of his faith and obedience
11  The angel prevents him
13  Isaac is exchanged for a ram
14  The place is called Jehovah-jireh
15  Abraham is again blessed
20  The generations of Nahor unto Rebekah

What do the individual words in Genesis 22:12 mean?

And He said not do lay your hand on the boy or do to him anything For now I know that fear God you since not you have withheld - your son only from Me
וַיֹּ֗אמֶר אַל־ תִּשְׁלַ֤ח יָֽדְךָ֙ אֶל־ הַנַּ֔עַר וְאַל־ תַּ֥עַשׂ ל֖וֹ מְא֑וּמָּה‪‬ כִּ֣י ׀ עַתָּ֣ה יָדַ֗עְתִּי כִּֽי־ יְרֵ֤א אֱלֹהִים֙ אַ֔תָּה וְלֹ֥א חָשַׂ֛כְתָּ אֶת־ בִּנְךָ֥ יְחִידְךָ֖ מִמֶּֽנִּי

וַיֹּ֗אמֶר  And  He  said 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: אָמַר 
Sense: to say, speak, utter.
תִּשְׁלַ֤ח  do  lay 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, second person masculine singular
Root: שָׁלַח  
Sense: to send, send away, let go, stretch out.
יָֽדְךָ֙  your  hand 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular construct, second person masculine singular
Root: יָד  
Sense: hand.
הַנַּ֔עַר  the  boy 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: נַעַר  
Sense: a boy, lad, servant, youth, retainer.
ל֖וֹ  to  him 
Parse: Preposition, third person masculine singular
מְא֑וּמָּה‪‬  anything 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: מְאוּמָה  
Sense: anything.
עַתָּ֣ה  now 
Parse: Adverb
Root: עַתָּה  
Sense: now.
יָדַ֗עְתִּי  I  know 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, first person common singular
Root: דָּעָה 
Sense: to know.
כִּֽי־  that 
Parse: Conjunction
Root: כִּי 
Sense: that, for, because, when, as though, as, because that, but, then, certainly, except, surely, since.
יְרֵ֤א  fear 
Parse: Adjective, masculine singular construct
Root: יָרֵא  
Sense: fearing, reverent, afraid.
אֱלֹהִים֙  God 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural
Root: אֱלֹהִים  
Sense: (plural).
וְלֹ֥א  since  not 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Adverb, Negative particle
Root: הֲלֹא 
Sense: not, no.
חָשַׂ֛כְתָּ  you  have  withheld 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, second person masculine singular
Root: חָשַׂךְ  
Sense: to withhold, restrain, hold back, keep in check, refrain.
אֶת־  - 
Parse: Direct object marker
Root: אֹות 
Sense: sign of the definite direct object, not translated in English but generally preceding and indicating the accusative.
בִּנְךָ֥  your  son 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct, second person masculine singular
Root: בֵּן 
Sense: son, grandson, child, member of a group.
יְחִידְךָ֖  only 
Parse: Adjective, masculine singular construct, second person masculine singular
Root: יָחִיד  
Sense: only, only one, solitary, one.
מִמֶּֽנִּי  from  Me 
Parse: Preposition, first person common singular
Root: מִן 
Sense: from, out of, on account of, off, on the side of, since, above, than, so that not, more than.