English Standard Version
Hebrews 11:17
17By 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,
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,
- 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,
- New Living Translation (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,
Context of Hebrews 11:17
15If they had been thinking of that land from which they had gone out, they would have had opportunity to return. 16But as it is, they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared for them a city. 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, 18of whom it was said, "Through Isaac shall your offspring be named." 19He considered that God was able even to raise him from the dead, from which, figuratively speaking, he did receive him back.
Read all of Hebrews 11Hebrews 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!" And he said, "Here I am."
- James 2:21Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered up his son Isaac on the altar?
- Deuteronomy 8:2And you shall remember the whole way that the Lord your God has led you these forty years in the wilderness, that he might humble you, testing you to know what was in your heart, whether you would keep his commandments or not.
- 2 Chronicles 32:31And so in the matter of the envoys of the princes of Babylon, who had been sent to him to inquire about the sign that had been done in the land, God left him to himself, in order to test him and to know all that was in his heart.
- Job 1:11But stretch out your hand and touch all that he has, and he will curse you to your face."
- Job 2:3And the Lord said to Satan, "Have you considered my servant Job, that there is none like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, who fears God and turns away from evil? He still holds fast his integrity, although you incited me against him to destroy him without reason."
- Proverbs 17:3The crucible is for silver, and the furnace is for gold, and the Lord tests hearts.
- Daniel 11:35and some of the wise shall stumble, so that they may be refined, purified, and made white, until the time of the end, for it still awaits the appointed time.
- Zechariah 13:9And I will put this third into the fire, and refine them as one refines silver, and test them as gold is tested. They will call upon my name, and I will answer them. I will say, 'They are my people'; and they will say, 'The Lord is my God.'"
- Malachi 3:2But who can endure the day of his coming, and who can stand when he appears? For he is like a refiner's fire and like fullers' soap.
- James 1:2Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds,
- James 5:11Behold, we consider those blessed who remained steadfast. You have heard of the steadfastness of Job, and you have seen the purpose of the Lord, how the Lord is compassionate and merciful.
- 1 Peter 1:6In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials,
- 1 Peter 4:12Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you.
- Revelation 3:10Because you have kept my word about patient endurance, I will keep you from the hour of trial that is coming on the whole world, to try those who dwell on the earth.
- Hebrews 7:6But this man who does not have his descent from them received tithes from Abraham and blessed him 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
In the dictionaries
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
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