Genesis 22:2
Genesis 22 :2
Take your son, your only son, whom you love—Isaac—and go to the region of Moriah. Sacrifice him there as a burnt offering on a mountain I will show you.
— NIV
Speaker: god
Context
God's command to Abraham to sacrifice Isaac, the supreme test of faith.
Genesis 22:2
God’s command to Abraham to sacrifice Isaac—the Akedah (Binding), one of the most profound and troubling passages in scripture.
The Test
- Take his son—his only son (of the covenant)
- The one he loves—Isaac
- Go to Moriah
- Offer him as a burnt offering
In Jewish Tradition
The Akedah (עֲקֵדָה, “binding”) is central to Jewish thought:
- Demonstrates absolute faith and obedience
- Isaac is a willing participant, not a victim
- Read on Rosh Hashanah; the shofar recalls the ram
- Merit of the Akedah invoked in prayers
In Christian Tradition
Christians see typological significance:
- Abraham willing to sacrifice his son prefigures God the Father
- Isaac carrying wood foreshadows Jesus carrying the cross
- The ram substituted pictures Christ as substitute
- Moriah is identified with Jerusalem/Golgotha
In Islamic Tradition
Islam affirms the sacrifice narrative but many scholars identify Ishmael, not Isaac, as the son. The Eid al-Adha festival commemorates Abraham’s willingness to sacrifice his son.