The Meaning of Genesis 22:9 Explained

Genesis 22:9

KJV: And they came to the place which God had told him of; and Abraham built an altar there, and laid the wood in order, and bound Isaac his son, and laid him on the altar upon the wood.

YLT: And they come in unto the place of which God hath spoken to him, and there Abraham buildeth the altar, and arrangeth the wood, and bindeth Isaac his son, and placeth him upon the altar above the wood;

Darby: And they came to the place of which God had told him. And Abraham built the altar there, and piled the wood; and he bound Isaac his son, and laid him on the altar upon the wood.

ASV: And they came to the place which God had told him of. And Abraham built the altar there, and laid the wood in order, and bound Isaac his son, and laid him on the altar, upon the wood.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

And they came  to the place  which God  had told  him of; and Abraham  built  an altar  there, and laid  the wood  in order,  and bound  Isaac  his son,  and laid  him on the altar  upon  the wood. 

What does Genesis 22:9 Mean?

Study Notes

laid
The typical lessons here are:
(1) Isaac, type of Christ "obedient unto death" Philippians 2:5-8 .
(2) Abraham, type of the Father, who "spared not His own son, but delivered Him up for us all" John 3:16 ; Romans 8:32 .
(3) the ram, type of substitution--Christ offered as a burnt-offering in our stead, Hebrews 10:5-10 .
(4) cf. resurrection Hebrews 11:17-19 ; James 2:21-23 .

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 22:9 mean?

And they came to the place which had told him God and built there Abraham - an altar and arranged the wood and he bound Isaac his son and laid him on the altar upon the wood
וַיָּבֹ֗אוּ אֶֽל־ הַמָּקוֹם֮ אֲשֶׁ֣ר אָֽמַר־ ל֣וֹ הָאֱלֹהִים֒ וַיִּ֨בֶן שָׁ֤ם אַבְרָהָם֙ אֶת־ הַמִּזְבֵּ֔חַ וַֽיַּעֲרֹ֖ךְ הָעֵצִ֑ים וַֽיַּעֲקֹד֙ יִצְחָ֣ק בְּנ֔וֹ וַיָּ֤שֶׂם אֹתוֹ֙ עַל־ הַמִּזְבֵּ֔חַ מִמַּ֖עַל לָעֵצִֽים

וַיָּבֹ֗אוּ  And  they  came 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine plural
Root: בֹּוא 
Sense: to go in, enter, come, go, come in.
הַמָּקוֹם֮  the  place 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: מָקֹום  
Sense: standing place, place.
אָֽמַר־  had  told 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, third person masculine singular
Root: אָמַר 
Sense: to say, speak, utter.
הָאֱלֹהִים֒  God 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine plural
Root: אֱלֹהִים  
Sense: (plural).
וַיִּ֨בֶן  and  built 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: בָּנָה  
Sense: to build, rebuild, establish, cause to continue.
אַבְרָהָם֙  Abraham 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: אַבְרָהָם  
Sense: friend of God and founder of Hebrew nation via God’s elective covenant.
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.
הַמִּזְבֵּ֔חַ  an  altar 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: מִזְבֵּחַ  
Sense: altar.
וַֽיַּעֲרֹ֖ךְ  and  arranged 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: עָרַךְ  
Sense: to arrange, set or put or lay in order, set in array, prepare, order, ordain, handle, furnish, esteem, equal, direct, compare.
הָעֵצִ֑ים  the  wood 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine plural
Root: עֵץ  
Sense: tree, wood, timber, stock, plank, stalk, stick, gallows.
וַֽיַּעֲקֹד֙  and  he  bound 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: עָקַד  
Sense: (Qal) to bind, tie.
יִצְחָ֣ק  Isaac 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יִצְחָק  
Sense: son of Abraham by Sarah his wife and father of Jacob and Esau.
בְּנ֔וֹ  his  son 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct, third person masculine singular
Root: בֵּן 
Sense: son, grandson, child, member of a group.
וַיָּ֤שֶׂם  and  laid 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: שׂוּמָה 
Sense: to put, place, set, appoint, make.
הַמִּזְבֵּ֔חַ  the  altar 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: מִזְבֵּחַ  
Sense: altar.
מִמַּ֖עַל  upon 
Parse: Preposition-m, Adverb
Root: מַעַל 
Sense: higher part, upper part adv.
לָעֵצִֽים  the  wood 
Parse: Preposition-l, Article, Noun, masculine plural
Root: עֵץ  
Sense: tree, wood, timber, stock, plank, stalk, stick, gallows.