The Meaning of Genesis 22:3 Explained

Genesis 22:3

KJV: And Abraham rose up early in the morning, and saddled his ass, and took two of his young men with him, and Isaac his son, and clave the wood for the burnt offering, and rose up, and went unto the place of which God had told him.

YLT: And Abraham riseth early in the morning, and saddleth his ass, and taketh two of his young men with him, and Isaac his son, and he cleaveth the wood of the burnt-offering, and riseth and goeth unto the place of which God hath spoken to him.

Darby: And Abraham rose early in the morning, and saddled his ass, and took two of his young men with him, and Isaac his son; and he clave the wood for the burnt-offering, and rose up and went to the place that God had told him of.

ASV: And Abraham rose early in the morning, and saddled his ass, and took two of his young men with him, and Isaac his son. And he clave the wood for the burnt-offering, and rose up, and went unto the place of which God had told him.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

And Abraham  rose up early  in the morning,  and saddled  his ass,  and took  two  of his young men  with him, and Isaac  his son,  and clave  the wood  for the burnt offering,  and rose up,  and went  unto the place  of which God  had told  him. 

What does Genesis 22:3 Mean?

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 22:3 mean?

So rose early Abraham in the morning and saddled - his donkey and took two of his young men with him and Isaac his son and he split the wood for the burnt offering and arose and went to the place of which had told him God
וַיַּשְׁכֵּ֨ם אַבְרָהָ֜ם בַּבֹּ֗קֶר וַֽיַּחֲבֹשׁ֙ אֶת־ חֲמֹר֔וֹ וַיִּקַּ֞ח שְׁנֵ֤י נְעָרָיו֙ אִתּ֔וֹ וְאֵ֖ת יִצְחָ֣ק בְּנ֑וֹ וַיְבַקַּע֙ עֲצֵ֣י עֹלָ֔ה וַיָּ֣קָם וַיֵּ֔לֶךְ אֶל־ הַמָּק֖וֹם אֲשֶׁר־ אָֽמַר־ ל֥וֹ הָאֱלֹהִֽים

וַיַּשְׁכֵּ֨ם  So  rose  early 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Hifil, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: שָׁכַם  
Sense: to rise or start early.
אַבְרָהָ֜ם  Abraham 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: אַבְרָהָם  
Sense: friend of God and founder of Hebrew nation via God’s elective covenant.
בַּבֹּ֗קֶר  in  the  morning 
Parse: Preposition-b, Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: בֹּקֶר 
Sense: morning, break of day.
וַֽיַּחֲבֹשׁ֙  and  saddled 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: חָבַשׁ  
Sense: to tie, bind, bind on, bind up, saddle, restrain, bandage, govern.
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.
חֲמֹר֔וֹ  his  donkey 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct, third person masculine singular
Root: חֲמֹור 
Sense: (he)ass.
וַיִּקַּ֞ח  and  took 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: יָקַח 
Sense: to take, get, fetch, lay hold of, seize, receive, acquire, buy, bring, marry, take a wife, snatch, take away.
שְׁנֵ֤י  two 
Parse: Number, mdc
Root: שְׁנַיִם  
Sense: two.
נְעָרָיו֙  of  his  young  men 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural construct, third person masculine singular
Root: נַעַר  
Sense: a boy, lad, servant, youth, retainer.
אִתּ֔וֹ  with  him 
Parse: Preposition, third person masculine singular
Root: אֵת 
Sense: with, near, together with.
יִצְחָ֣ק  Isaac 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יִצְחָק  
Sense: son of Abraham by Sarah his wife and father of Jacob and Esau.
בְּנ֑וֹ  his  son 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct, third person masculine singular
Root: בֵּן 
Sense: son, grandson, child, member of a group.
וַיְבַקַּע֙  and  he  split 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Piel, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: בָּקַע  
Sense: to split, cleave, break open, divide, break through, rip up, break up, tear.
עֲצֵ֣י  the  wood  for 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural construct
Root: עֵץ  
Sense: tree, wood, timber, stock, plank, stalk, stick, gallows.
עֹלָ֔ה  the  burnt  offering 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular
Root: עֹלָה  
Sense: whole burnt offering.
וַיָּ֣קָם  and  arose 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: קוּם 
Sense: to rise, arise, stand, rise up, stand up.
וַיֵּ֔לֶךְ  and  went 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: הָלַךְ  
Sense: to go, walk, come.
הַמָּק֖וֹם  the  place 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: מָקֹום  
Sense: standing place, place.
אֲשֶׁר־  of  which 
Parse: Pronoun, relative
Root: אֲשֶׁר 
Sense: (relative part.).
אָֽמַר־  had  told 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, third person masculine singular
Root: אָמַר 
Sense: to say, speak, utter.
הָאֱלֹהִֽים  God 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine plural
Root: אֱלֹהִים  
Sense: (plural).