Hebrews 11:17 Meaning and Explanation
“By faith Abraham, when he was tried, offered up Isaac: and he that had received the promises offered up his only begotten son,”
King James Version (KJV)
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Read Full Chapter →When tested, Abraham by faith offered up Isaac, surrendering the very son through whom the promises had come.
What Does Hebrews 11:17 Mean?
The writer returns to Abraham for his greatest trial: the command to offer up Isaac. The man who had received God's promises was asked to give back the one in whom those promises rested.
Abraham obeyed, laying his only begotten son on the altar in full trust of God. This was faith stretched to its furthest point, holding to God even when the command seemed to contradict the promise. The scene moves every reader toward a greater offering, for it foreshadows the Father who would give His own beloved Son. Faith surrenders even its dearest treasure into the hands of a God it knows to be good.
Hebrews 11:17 in the Original Language
peirazo (πειράζω), 'tried' -- to test or prove, putting someone to the trial to reveal what is within.
Frequently Asked Questions About Hebrews 11:17
What does Hebrews 11:17 mean?
When tested, Abraham by faith offered up Isaac, surrendering the very son through whom the promises had come.