Hebrews 11:17-19

Hebrews 11:17

By faith Abraham, when he was tried, offered up Isaac: and he that had received the promises offered up his only begotten son,

a. NLT: It was by faith that Abraham offered Isaac as a sacrifice when God was testing him. Abraham, who had received God’s promises, was ready to sacrifice his only son, Isaac,

b. NIV: By faith Abraham, when God tested him, offered Isaac as a sacrifice. He who had embraced the promises was about to sacrifice his one and only son,

c. YLT: By faith Abraham hath offered up Isaac, being tried, and the only begotten he did offer up who did receive the promises,

d. Amplified Bible Classic: By faith Abraham, when he was put to the test [while the testing of his faith was still in progress], had already brought Isaac for an offering; he who had gladly received and welcomed [God’s] promises was ready to sacrifice his only son,

1. “By faith Abraham, when he was tried, offered up Isaac…”

a. [By] faith [Strong: 4102 pistis pis'-tis from 3982; persuasion, i.e. credence; moral conviction (of religious truth, or the truthfulness of God or a religious teacher), especially reliance upon Christ for salvation; abstractly, constancy in such profession; by extension, the system of religious (Gospel) truth itself:--assurance, belief, believe, faith, fidelity.] [W.E. Vine: The main elements in faith in its relation to the invisible God…are especially brought out in the use of this noun and the corresponding verb, they are: 1. A firm conviction producing a full acknowledgement of god’s revelation or truth [His word]. 2. A personal surrender to Him. 3. A conduct inspired by such surrender.]

1). Pink: “Crediting the sure testimony of God, resting on His promises, and expecting the accomplishment of them, faith gives the object hoped for at a future period, a present reality and power in the soul, as if already possessed, for the believer is satisfied with the security afforded, and acts under the full persuasion that God will not fail of His engagement. Faith gives the soul an appropriating hold of them…it gives not an imaginary appearance to things, but a real subsistence.”

2). Also faith by definition involves a previous instruction. God had to speak faith to the heart in order for the heart to experience “faith”.

a). Romans 10:17 “So the faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.”

b). In every verse that tells of a man or woman having faith, we must recognize that God had previously spoken, even though the text does not say it. The perfect example in our study is Hebrews 11:4, where because of faith, Abel offered a more excellent sacrifice than Cain. Many people wonder why Cain’s offering was rejected and why Abel’s was not. It was because there was a previous instruction  that Abel from the heart obeyed and Cain did not. Even though the text does not show a previous instruction, the presence of faith in Abel demands it.

b. Abraham [Strong: 11 Abraam ab-rah-am'; of Hebrew origin (85); Abraham, the Hebrew patriarch:--Abraham. (In Acts 7:16 the text should probably read Jacob.)]

c. when he was tried [Strong: 3985 peirazo pi-rad'-zo from 3984; to test (objectively), i.e. endeavor, scrutinize, entice, discipline:--assay, examine, go about, prove, tempt(-er), try.]

d. offered ip [Strong: 4374 prosphero pros-fer'-o;  from 4314 and 5342 (including its alternate); to bear towards, i.e. lead to, tender (especially to God), treat:--bring (to, unto), deal with, do, offer (unto, up), present unto, put to.]

e. Isaac [Strong: 2464 Isaak ee-sah-ak' ; of Hebrew origin (3327); Isaac (i.e. Jitschak), the son of Abraham:--Isaac.]

2. “…and he that had received the promises offered up his only begotten son.”

a. and [Strong: 2532 kai kahee; apparently, a primary particle, having a copulative and sometimes also a cumulative force; and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other particles or small words:--and, also, both, but, even, for, if, or, so, that, then, therefore, when, yet.]

b. he that had received [Strong: 324 anadechomai an-ad-ekh'-om-ahee; from 303 and 1209; to entertain (as a guest):--receive.]

c. the promises [Strong: 1860 epaggelia ep-ang-el-ee'-ah; from 1861; an announcement (for information, assent or pledge; especially a divine assurance of good):--message, promise.]

d. offered up [Strong: 4374 prosphero pros-fer'-o from 4314 and 5342 (including its alternate); to bear towards, i.e. lead to, tender (especially to God), treat:--bring (to, unto), deal with, do, offer (unto, up), present unto, put to.]

e. his only begotten [Strong: 3439 monogenes mon-og-en-ace';  from 3441 and 1096; only-born, i.e. sole:--only (begotten, child).]

Hebrews 11:18

Of whom it was said, That in Isaac shall thy seed be called:

a. NLT: even though God had told him, “Isaac is the son through whom your descendants will be counted.

b. NIV: even though God had said to him, “It is through Isaac that your offspring will be reckoned.

c. YLT: of whom it was said -- 'In Isaac shall a seed be called to thee;'

d. Amplified Bible Classic:  Of whom it was said, Through Isaac shall your descendants be reckoned.

1. “Of whom it was said, That in Isaac shall thy seed be called:”

a. Of [4314 * pros] [Strong: a strengthened form of 4253; a preposition of direction; forward to, i.e. toward (with the genitive case, the side of, i.e. pertaining to; with the dative case, by the side of, i.e. near to; usually with the accusative case, the place, time, occasion, or respect, which is the destination of the relation, i.e. whither or for which it is predicated):--about, according to , against, among, at, because of, before, between, (where-)by, for, X at thy house, in, for intent, nigh unto, of, which pertain to, that, to (the end that), X together, to (you) -ward, unto, with(-in). In the comparative case, it denotes essentially the same applications, namely, motion towards, accession to, or nearness at.]

b. whom [3739 * hos; including feminine he; and neuter ho] [Strong: probably a primary word (or perhaps a form of the article 3588); the relatively (sometimes demonstrative) pronoun, who, which, what, that:--one, (an-, the) other, some, that, what, which, who(-m, -se), etc.] 

c. it was said [2980 * laleo] [Strong: a prolonged form of an otherwise obsolete verb; to talk, i.e. utter words:--preach, say, speak (after), talk, tell, utter.]

d. that [3754 * hoti] [Strong: neuter of 3748 as conjunction; demonstrative, that (sometimes redundant); causative, because:--as concerning that, as though, because (that), for (that), how (that), (in) that, though, why.]

e. in [1722 * en] [Strong: a primary preposition denoting (fixed) position (in place, time or state), and (by implication) instrumentality (medially or constructively), i.e. a relation of rest (intermediate between 1519 and 1537); "in," at, (up-)on, by, etc.:--about, after, against, + almost, X altogether, among, X as, at, before, between, (here-)by (+ all means), for (... sake of), + give self wholly to, (here-)in(-to, -wardly), X mightily, (because) of, (up-)on, (open-)ly, X outwardly, one, X quickly, X shortly, (speedi-)ly, X that, X there(-in, -on), through(-out), (un-)to(-ward), under, when, where(-with), while, with(-in). Often used in compounds, with substantially the same import; rarely with verbs of motion, and then not to indicate direction, except (elliptically) by a separate (and different) preposition.]

f. Isaac [2464 * of Hebrew origin (3327); Isaac (i.e. Jitschak), the son of Abraham:--Isaac.]

g. shall… be called [2564 * kaleo] [Strong: akin to the base of 2753; to "call" (properly, aloud, but used in a variety of applications, directly or otherwise):--bid, call (forth), (whose, whose sur-)name (was (called)).]

h. thy [4671 * soi] [Strong: dative case of 4771; to thee:--thee, thine own, thou, thy.]

i. seed [4690 * sperma] [Strong: from 4687; something sown, i.e. seed (including the male "sperm"); by implication, offspring; specially, a remnant (figuratively, as if kept over for planting):--issue, seed.]

1). Albert Barnes Commentary: A numerous posterity had been promised to him. It was there said expressly that this promise was not to be fulfilled through the son of Abraham, by the bondwoman Hagar, but through Isaac. Of course, it was implied that Isaac was to reach manhood, and yet notwithstanding this, and notwithstanding Abraham fully believed it, be prepared deliberately, in obedience to the divine command, to put him to death. The phrase "thy seed be called" means, that his posterity was to be named after Isaac, or was to descend only from him. The word "called" in the Scriptures is often equivalent to the verb "to be;"

2). In repeated rhema words from God, God spoke to Abraham. Speaking broadly at first then narrowing it down, God consistently told Abraham of millions of descendants, and that it would all start with Isaac.

a). Genesis 12:2 “And I will make of thee a great nation…”

b). Genesis 12:7 “…Unto thy seed will I give this land…”

c). Genesis 13:15 “For all the land which thou seest, to thee will I give it, and to thy seed for ever.”

d). Genesis 15:5 And he brought him forth abroad, and said, Look now toward heaven, and tell the stars, if thou be able to number them: and he said unto him, So shall thy seed be.

Hebrews 11:19

Accounting that God was able to raise him up, even from the dead; from whence also he received him in a figure.

a. NLT: Abraham reasoned that if Isaac died, God was able to bring him back to life again. And in a sense, Abraham did receive his son back from the dead.

b. NIV: Abraham reasoned that God could even raise the dead, and so in a manner of speaking he did receive Isaac back from death.

c. YLT: reckoning that even out of the dead God is able to raise up, whence also in a figure he did receive him.

d. Amplified Bible Classic: For he reasoned that God was able to raise [him] up even from among the dead. Indeed in the sense that Isaac was figuratively dead [potentially sacrificed], he did [actually] receive him back from the dead.

e. Amplified Bible: For he considered [it reasonable to believe] that God was able to raise Isaac even from among the dead. [Indeed, in the sense that he was prepared to sacrifice Isaac in obedience to God] Abraham did receive him back [from the dead] figuratively speaking.

1. “Accounting that God was able to raise him up, even from the dead…”

a. Accounting [3049 * logizomai] [Strong: middle voice from 3056; to take an inventory, i.e. estimate (literally or figuratively):--conclude, (ac-)count (of), + despise, esteem, impute, lay, number, reason, reckon, suppose, think (on).]

b. that [3754 * hoti] [Strong: neuter of 3748 as conjunction; demonstrative, that (sometimes redundant); causative, because:--as concerning that, as though, because (that), for (that), how (that), (in) that, though, why.]

c. God [2316 * theos] [Strong: of uncertain affinity; a deity, especially (with 3588) the supreme Divinity; figuratively, a magistrate; by Hebraism, very:--X exceeding, God, god(-ly, -ward).]

d. was able [1415 * dunatos] [Strong: from 1410; powerful or capable (literally or figuratively); neuter possible:--able, could, (that is) mighty (man), possible, power, strong.

e. to raise him up [1453 * egeiro] [Strong: probably akin to the base of 58 (through the idea of collecting one's faculties); to waken (transitively or intransitively), i.e. rouse (literally, from sleep, from sitting or lying, from disease, from death; or figuratively, from obscurity, inactivity, ruins, nonexistence):--awake, lift (up), raise (again, up), rear up, (a-)rise (again, up), stand, take up.]

f. even [2532 * kai] [Strong: apparently, a primary particle, having a copulative and sometimes also a cumulative force; and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other particles or small words:--and, also, both, but, even, for, if, or, so, that, then, therefore, when, yet.]

g. from [1537 * ek; or ex] [Strong: a primary preposition denoting origin (the point whence action or motion proceeds), from, out (of place, time, or cause; literal or figurative; direct or remote):--after, among, X are, at, betwixt(-yond), by (the means of), exceedingly, (+ abundantly above), for(- th), from (among, forth, up), + grudgingly, + heartily, X heavenly, X hereby, + very highly, in, ...ly, (because, by reason) of, off (from), on, out among (from, of), over, since, X thenceforth, through, X unto, X vehemently, with(-out). Often used in composition, with the same general import; often of completion.]

h. the dead [3498 * nekros] [Strong: from an apparently primary nekus (a corpse); dead (literally or figuratively; also as noun):--dead.

1). In order to do justice to this passage, it must be studied in conjunction with Genesis 22 because the passage in Hebrews 11:17-19 reveals wonderful  spiritual truths not revealed in Genesis 22.

2). Genesis 22:1, 2 And it came to pass after these things, that God did tempt Abraham, and said unto him, Abraham: and he said, Behold, here I am.

22:2 And he said, Take now thy son, thine only son Isaac, whom thou lovest, and get thee into the land of Moriah; and offer him there for a burnt offering upon one of the mountains which I will tell thee of.

a). Abraham knew what this meant, he had offered up burnt offerings in the past, he knew it meant the death of Isaac. Unger’s Bible Dictionary says of this offering: the name given to this sacrifice because it was to be wholly consumed and to rise in smoke toward heaven. Yet God had already spoken to Abraham that Isaac and his generations would be the Covenant seed. Isaac was Abraham’s only son in the sense Isaac was the only Covenant son.

(1) Genesis 17:19-21 And God said, Sarah thy wife shall bear thee a son indeed; and thou shalt call his name Isaac: and I will establish my covenant with him for an everlasting covenant, and with his seed after him.

17:20 And as for Ishmael, I have heard thee: Behold, I have blessed him, and will make him fruitful, and will multiply him exceedingly; twelve princes shall he beget, and I will make him a great nation.

17:21 But my covenant will I establish with Isaac, which Sarah shall bear unto thee at this set time in the next year.

b). Moriah [Unger’s Bible Dictionary] The land of Moriah is named as the place whither Abraham went to offer up Isaac. It is thought to be the same with “Mount Moriah,” one of the hills of Jerusalem on which Solomon built the temple, on the spot once occupied by the threshing floor of Ornan the Jebusite (2 Chronicles 3:1). The Jews themselves believe that the altar of burnt offerings in the temple stood upon the very site of the altar on which Abraham purposed to offer up his son. Some Bible scholars believe Isaac was offered on Calvary

3). Genesis 22:3, 4 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.

22:4 Then on the third day Abraham lifted up his eyes, and saw the place afar off.

a). Abraham had three day to think about what he was doing. This is a type of Christ, Jesus and Isaac both raised on the third day, Issac figuratively.

b). Moody Atlas of Bible Lands, Barry Beitzel, p.65. “…we possess numerous texts and military annals from all parts of the ancient Near East: from Egypt, Babylonia, Assyria, and Asia Minor…The evidence is uniform and mutually corroborated that one day’s journey in the Biblical world incorporated between 17-23 miles, with slightly higher average mileage when traveling downstream by boat…Abraham cited Mt. Moriah on the third day of his trip from Beersheba, and the two sites were separated by approximately 50 airline miles.”

4). Genesis 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.

a). This statement was a powerful faith statement. It was not said with a thought that God or he himself would not go through with it, rather he believed he would. In repeated ‘rhema’ words from God, speaking broadly at first then narrowing it down, God consistently told Abraham of millions of descendants, and they all had to come through Isaac. It meant of course that Isaac would eventually grow up, get married and have children.

(1) Genesis 17:15, 16 And God said unto Abraham, As for Sarai thy wife, thou shalt not call her name Sarai, but Sarah shall her name be.

17:16 And I will bless her, and give thee a son also of her: yea, I will bless her, and she shall be a mother of nations; kings of people shall be of her.

(2) Genesis 17:19 And God said, Sarah thy wife shall bear thee a son indeed; and shou shalt call his name Isaac: and I will establish my covenant with him for an everlasting covenant, and with his seed after him.

b). In John there is a statement from Jesus that indicates that Abraham saw Jesus’ day, probably in a vision.

(1) John 8:56 Your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day: and he saw it, and was glad.

e). With all this in his heart, Abraham actually believed that if he went through with the burnt offering, God would raise Isaac from the dead as the Scripture says in Hebrews 11:19. The full of faith language Abraham used in Genesis 22:5 is continued through the incident.

5). Genesis 22:6 And Abraham took the wood of the burnt offering, and laid it upon Isaac his son; and he took the fire in his hand, and a knife; and they went both of them together.

a). Josephus writes that Isaac was about 25 years old at this time. He was old enough to carry the wood for the sacrifice. Abraham at this time was about 120-125 years old.

6). Genesis 22:7, 8 And Isaac spake unto Abraham his father, and said, My father: and he said, Here am I, my son. And he said, Behold the fire and the wood: but where is the lamb for a burnt offering?

22:8 And Abraham said, My son, God will provide himself a lamb for a burnt offering: so they went both of them together.

a). Abraham told his servants that he and Isaac would be back, and here he assured Isaac that God would provide himself a lamb, i.e., provide Himself for a lamb.

(1) [ASV] And Abraham said, God will provide himself the lamb for a burnt-offering, my son. So they went both of them together.

b). Abraham was speaking prophetically to the time in the future when Jesus would become the lamb sacrificed for our redemption.

(1) John 1:29 The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.

(2) 1 Peter 1:18-20 Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers;

1:19 But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot:

1:20 Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you,

c). Abraham was a prophet (Genesis 20:7), and had foreseen Jesus day. Perhaps [I believe personally],even a vision of the crucifixion and resurrection! Regardless, Abraham had already been given a rhema word on New Jerusalem.

(1) Hebrews 11:9, 10 By faith he sojourned in the land of promise, as in a strange country, dwelling in tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise:

11:10 For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God.

7). Genesis 22:9-14 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.

22:10 And Abraham stretched forth his hand, and took the knife to slay his son.

22:11 And the angel of the LORD called unto him out of heaven, and said, Abraham, Abraham: and he said, Here am I.

22:12 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.

22:13 And Abraham lifted up his eyes, and looked, and behold behind him a ram caught in a thicket by his horns: and Abraham went and took the ram, and offered him up for a burnt offering in the stead of his son.

22:14 And Abraham called the name of that place Jehovah-jireh: as it is said to this day, In the mount of the LORD it shall be seen.

22:15 And the angel of the LORD called unto Abraham out of heaven the second time,

22:16 And said, By myself have I sworn, saith the LORD, for because thou hast done this thing, and hast not withheld thy son, thine only son:

22:17 That in blessing I will bless thee, and in multiplying I will multiply thy seed as the stars of the heaven, and as the sand which is upon the sea shore; and thy seed shall possess the gate of his enemies;

22:18 And in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed; because thou hast obeyed my voice.

a). Exposition of Hebrews, Arthur Pink, Baker Book House, 1986, p. 341. “The assurance which was given to Abraham was the greatest that Heaven itself could afford: a promise and an oath. We say the greatest, for in v. 16, the Apostle declares that amongst men an “oath” is an end of strife; how much more when the great God Himself takes one! Moreover, observe He sware “by Himself”: He staked Himself; it was as though He had said, I will cease to be God if I do not perform this. The Lord pledged His veracity, declared the event should be as certain as His existence.”

8). Genesis 22:19 So Abraham returned unto his young men, and they rose up and went together to Beersheba; and Abraham dwelt at Beersheba.

a). The bottom line in all of this is that Abraham in faith and obedience offered Isaac as a sacrifice believing the whole time that if he did go through with this act that God would raise Isaac from the dead in order to fulfill all the promises God had made concerning him. Hallelujah!

2. “…from whence also he received him in a figure.”

a. from whence [3606 * hothen] [Strong: from 3739 with the directive enclitic of source; from which place or source or cause (adverb or conjunction):--from thence, (from) whence, where(-by, -fore, -upon).]

b. also [2532 * kai] [Strong: apparently, a primary particle, having a copulative and sometimes also a cumulative force; and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other particles or small words:--and, also, both, but, even, for, if, or, so, that, then, therefore, when, yet.]

c. he received [2865 * komizo] [Strong: from a primary komeo (to tend, i.e. take care of); properly, to provide for, i.e. (by implication) to carry off (as if from harm; genitive case obtain):--bring, receive.]

d. him [846 * autos] [Strong: from the particle au (perhaps akin to the base of 109 through the idea of a baffling wind) (backward); the reflexive pronoun self, used (alone or in the comparative 1438) of the third person , and (with the proper personal pronoun) of the other persons:--her, it(-self), one, the other, (mine) own, said, (self-), the) same, ((him-, my-, thy- )self, (your-)selves, she, that, their(-s), them(-selves), there(-at, - by, -in, -into, -of, -on, -with), they, (these) things, this (man), those, together, very, which.]

e. in [1722 * en] [Strong: a primary preposition denoting (fixed) position (in place, time or state), and (by implication) instrumentality (medially or constructively), i.e. a relation of rest (intermediate between 1519 and 1537); "in," at, (up-)on, by, etc.:--about, after, against, + almost, X altogether, among, X as, at, before, between, (here-)by (+ all means), for (... sake of), + give self wholly to, (here-)in(-to, -wardly), X mightily, (because) of, (up-)on, (open-)ly, X outwardly, one, X quickly, X shortly, (speedi-)ly, X that, X there(-in, -on), through(-out), (un-)to(-ward), under, when, where(-with), while, with(-in). Often used in compounds, with substantially the same import; rarely with verbs of motion, and then not to indicate direction, except (elliptically) by a separate (and different) preposition.]

f. a figure [3850 * parabole] [Strong: from 3846; a similitude ("parable"), i.e. (symbolic) fictitious narrative (of common life conveying a moral), apothegm or adage:--comparison, figure, parable, proverb.]

1). The Classic Amplified Translation says:  Indeed in the sense that Isaac was figuratively dead [potentially sacrificed], he did [actually] receive him back from the dead.