Hebrews 11:17

Hebrews 11:17 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)By faith Abraham, when he was tried, offered up Isaac: and he that had received the promises offered up his only begotten son,
• New International Version (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,
• English Standard Version (ESV)By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac, and he who had received the promises was in the act of offering up his only son,
• New King James Version (NKJV)By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac, and he who had received the promises offered up his only begotten son,

Context of Hebrews 11:17

15If they were thinking about where they came from, they would have had an opportunity to return. 16But they now desire a better place — a heavenly one. Therefore, God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared a city for them. By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac. He received the promises and yet he was offering his one and only son, 18the one to whom it had been said, Your offspring will be traced through Isaac. 19He considered God to be able even to raise someone from the dead; therefore, he received him back, figuratively speaking.

Hebrews 11:17 word by word

Πίστει προσενήνοχεν Ἀβραὰμ τὸν Ἰσαὰκ πειραζόμενος, καὶ τὸν μονογενῆ προσέφερεν ὁ τὰς ἐπαγγελίας ἀναδεξάμενος,Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• By faithπίστιςpistis · faithG4102
• AbrahamἈβραάμAbraam · AbrahamG11
• when he was triedπειράζωpeirazō · to test/tempt: testG3985
• offered upπροσφέρωprospherō · to bring toG4374
• IsaacἸσαάκIsaak · IsaacG2464
• andκαίkai · andG2532
• he that had receivedἀναδέχομαιanadechomai · to receiveG324
• the promisesὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• the promisesἐπαγγελίαepaggelia · promiseG1860
• his only begottenμονογενήςmonogenēs · uniqueG3439

Cross-references for Hebrews 11:17

• Genesis 22:1After these things God tested Abraham and said to him, “Abraham!” “Here I am,” he answered.
• James 2:21Wasn’t Abraham our father justified by works in offering Isaac his son on the altar?
• Deuteronomy 8:2Remember that the Lord your God led you on the entire journey these forty years in the wilderness, so that he might humble you and test you to know what was in your heart, whether or not you would keep his commands.
• 2 Chronicles 32:31When the ambassadors of Babylon’s rulers were sent to him to inquire about the miraculous sign that happened in the land, God left him to test him and discover what was in his heart.
• Job 1:11But stretch out your hand and strike everything he owns, and he will surely curse you to your face.”
• Job 2:3Then the Lord said to Satan, “Have you considered my servant Job? No one else on earth is like him, a man of perfect integrity, who fears God and turns away from evil. He still retains his integrity, even though you incited me against him, to destroy him for no good reason.”
• Proverbs 17:3A crucible for silver, and a smelter for gold, and the Lord is the tester of hearts.
• Daniel 11:35Some of those who have insight will fall so that they may be refined, purified, and cleansed until the time of the end, for it will still come at the appointed time.
• Zechariah 13:9I will put this third through the fire; I will refine them as silver is refined and test them as gold is tested. They will call on my name, and I will answer them. I will say, ‘They are my people,’ and they will say, ‘The Lord is our God.’”
• Malachi 3:2But who can endure the day of his coming? And who will be able to stand when he appears? For he will be like a refiner’s fire and like launderer’s bleach.
• James 1:2Consider it a great joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you experience various trials,
• James 5:11See, we count as blessed those who have endured. You have heard of Job’s endurance and have seen the outcome that the Lord brought about — the Lord is compassionate and merciful.
• 1 Peter 1:6You rejoice in this, even though now for a short time, if necessary, you suffer grief in various trials
• 1 Peter 4:12Dear friends, don’t be surprised when the fiery ordeal comes among you to test you, as if something unusual were happening to you.
• Revelation 3:10Because you have kept my command to endure, I will also keep you from the hour of testing that is going to come on the whole world to test those who live on the earth.
• Hebrews 7:6But one without this lineage collected a tenth from Abraham and blessed the one who had the promises.

Commentaries on Hebrews 11:17

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 17Abraham, when he was tried - See the history of this whole transaction explained at large in the notes on Genesis 22:1-9. Offered up his only-begotten - Abraham did, in effect, offer up Isaac; he built an altar, bound his son, laid him upon the altar, had ready the incense, took the knife, and would immediately have slain him had he not been prevented by the same authority by which the sacrifice was enjoined. Isaac is here called his only-begotten, as be…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 17By faith Abraham - The apostle had stated one strong instance of the faith of Abraham, and he now refers to one still more remarkable - the strongest illustration of faith, undoubtedly, which has ever been evinced in our world. When he was tried - The word used here is rendered “tempted,” in Matthew 4:1, Matthew 4:3; Matthew 16:1; Matthew 19:3; Matthew 22:18, Matthew 22:35, and in twenty-two other places in the New Testament; “prove,” in John 6:6; “hath…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 8-19Verses 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, she truly judged that he both…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 17-19ready to offer his one and only son: See Genesis 22:1–18. God did not want Abraham to sacrifice his son. He was testing Abraham's faith, which Abraham showed through his obedience.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1717. offered up--literally, "hath offered up," as if the work and its praise were yet enduring [Alford]. As far as His intention was concerned, he did sacrifice Isaac; and in actual fact "he offered him," as far as the presentation of him on the altar as an offering to God is concerned. tried--Greek, "tempted," as in Ge 22:1. Put to the proof of his faith. Not that God "tempts" to sin, but God "tempts" in the sense of proving or trying (Jas 1:13-15)…Read the comment

Topics related to Hebrews 11:17

• Abraham
• Atonement
• Decision
• Faith
• Heart
• Isaac
• Obedience
• Offerings
• Temptation

In the dictionaries

• Abraham
• Isaac
• Abraham, Abram
• Only Begotten
• Builder
• Conceive
• Confess
• Cruel
• Faith
• Impossible

Commentaries on Hebrews 11

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Calvin’s Commentaries
• John Wesley’s Notes
• Illustrated New Testament
• Burkitt’s Expository Notes
• Darby Translation Notes
• Family Bible Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• The People’s New Testament
• Robertson’s Word Pictures
• Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
• Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings