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,
Hebrews 11:17 in other translations
| BSB | By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac on the altar. He who had received the promises was ready to offer his one and only son, |
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| WEB | By faith, Abraham, being tested, offered up Isaac. Yes, he who had gladly received the promises was offering up his only born son, |
| ASV | By faith Abraham, being tried, offered up Isaac: yea, he that had gladly received the promises was offering up his only begotten son; |
| YLT | By faith Abraham hath offered up Isaac, being tried, and the only begotten he did offer up who did receive the promises, |
| DARBY | By faith Abraham, when tried, offered up Isaac, and he who had received to himself the promises offered up his only begotten son, |
| BBE | By faith Abraham made an offering of Isaac, when he was tested: and he with whom the agreement had been made gave up as an offering the only son of his body, |
| Webster | By faith Abraham, when he was tried, offered up Isaac: and he that had received the promises offered up his only-begotten son, |
What does Hebrews 11:17 mean?
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain
Barnes' Notes
When he was tried. The word here used is rendered tempted in Mt 4:1,3, 16:1, 19:3, 22:18,35, and in twenty-two other places in the New Testament; prove, in Jn 6:6; hath gone about, in Acts 24:6; examine, 2Cor 13:6; and tried, in Rev 2:2,10, 3:10. It does not mean here, as it often does, to place inducements before one to lead him to do wrong, but to subject his faith to a trial in order to test its genuineness and strength. The meaning here is, that Abraham was placed in circumstances which showed what was the real strength of his confidence in God.
Offered up Isaac. That is, he showed that he was ready and willing to make the sacrifice, and would have done it if he had not been restrained by the voice of the angel, Gen 22:11,12. So far as the intention of Abraham was concerned, the deed was done, for he had made every preparation for the offering, and was actually about to take the life of his son.
And he that had received the promises offered up his only-begotten son. The promises particularly of a numerous posterity. The fulfilment of those promises depended on him whom he was now about to offer as a sacrifice. If Abraham had been surrounded with children, or if no special promise of a numerous posterity had been made to him, this act would not have been so remarkable. It would, in any case, have been a strong act of faith; it was peculiarly strong in his case, from the circumstances that he had an only son, and that the fulfilment of the promise depended on his life.
(c) "tried" Gen 22:1, Jas 2:21
Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain
Adam Clarke's Commentary
Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain
Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Hebrews 11:8-19
We are often called to leave worldly connexions, interests, and comforts. If heirs of Abraham's faith, we shall obey and go forth, though not knowing what may befall us; and we shall be found in the way of duty, looking for the performance of God's promises. The trial of Abraham's faith was, that he simply and fully obeyed the call of God. Sarah received the promise as the promise of God; being convinced of that…
Hebrews 11:17 in the original Greek
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Cross references for Hebrews 11:17
- Genesis 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:
- James 2:21-24
Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar? Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect? And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God. Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only.
- Genesis 22:1-12
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. 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. 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. Then on the third day Abraham lifted up his eyes, and saw the place afar off. …
- James 5:11
Behold, we count them happy which endure. Ye have heard of the patience of Job, and have seen the end of the Lord; that the Lord is very pitiful, and of tender mercy.
- 1 Peter 1:6-7
Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations: That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ:
- Revelation 3:10
Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth.
- Proverbs 17:3
The fining pot is for silver, and the furnace for gold: but the Lord trieth the hearts.
- 1 Peter 4:12
Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you:
- Job 1:11-12
But put forth thine hand now, and touch all that he hath, and he will curse thee to thy face. And the Lord said unto Satan, Behold, all that he hath is in thy power; only upon himself put not forth thine hand. So Satan went forth from the presence of the Lord.
- Daniel 11:35
And some of them of understanding shall fall, to try them, and to purge, and to make them white, even to the time of the end: because it is yet for a time appointed.
- Hebrews 7:6
But he whose descent is not counted from them received tithes of Abraham, and blessed him that had the promises.
- 2 Chronicles 32:31
Howbeit in the business of the ambassadors of the princes of Babylon, who sent unto him to enquire of the wonder that was done in the land, God left him, to try him, that he might know all that was in his heart.
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Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Context
- Hebrews 11:16
But now they desire a better country, that is, an heavenly: wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God: for he hath prepared for them a city.
- 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,
- Hebrews 11:18
Of whom it was said, That in Isaac shall thy seed be called:
Hebrews 11:17 in other languages
| Spanish Reina-Valera 1909 | Por fe ofreció Abraham á Isaac cuando fué probado, y ofrecía al unigénito el que había recibido las promesas, |
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| French Bible J.N. Darby 1885 | Par la foi, Abraham, étant éprouvé, a offert Isaac; et celui qui avait reçu les promesses offrit son fils unique, |
| German Elberfelder 1871 | Durch Glauben hat Abraham, als er versucht wurde, den Isaak geopfert, und der, welcher die Verheißungen empfangen hatte, brachte den Eingeborenen dar, |
| Latin Clementine Vulgate | Fide obtulit Abraham Isaac, cum tentaretur, et unigenitum offerebat, qui susceperat repromissiones: |