Genesis 22:8

8 Abraham said, "God himself will provide the lamb for a burnt offering, my son." So the two of them walked on together.

Genesis 22:8 Meaning and Commentary

Genesis 22:8

And Abraham said, my son, God will provide himself a lamb for
a burnt offering
In which answer Abraham may have respect to the Messiah, the Lamb of God, ( John 1:29 John 1:36 ) , whom he had provided in council and covenant before the world was; and who in promise, and type, and figure, was slain from the foundation of the world, ( Revelation 13:8 ) ; and whom in due time God would send into the world, ( John 10:36 ) , and make him an offering for sin, ( Isaiah 53:10 ) , and accept of him in the room and stead of his people: and this was a provision that could only be made by the Lord, and was the produce of his infinite wisdom, and the fruit of his grace, favour, and good will and of which Abraham had a clear sight and strong persuasion, see ( John 8:56 ) ; though as the words may be considered as a more direct answer to Isaac's question, which related to the sacrifice now about to be offered, they may be regarded as a prophecy of Abraham's, and of his faith in it, that God would, as in fact he did, provide a lamb or ram in the room of that he was called to offer; or he may mean Isaac himself, whom he was bid to take and offer, and so was a lamb of God's providing; though he did not choose directly to say this, but puts him off with such an answer, suggesting that it was best for him to leave it with God, who, as he had called them to such service, would supply them with a proper sacrifice; and in speaking in this manner he might give room for Isaac to suspect what was intended, and so by degrees bring him to the knowledge of it. Some Jewish writers ^F5 say, that Abraham to this answer added in express terms,

``my son, thou art the lamb:''

so they went both of them together;
they proceeded on in their journey until they came to the place they were directed to go. The Targum of Jonathan says,

``they went both of them with a perfect heart as one;''

the Jerusalem Targum is,

``with a quiet, easy, and composed mind or heart;''

and Jarchi,

``with a like heart;''

all intimating that Isaac was thoroughly acquainted with what was to be done, that he was to be the sacrifice, and that he heartily agreed to it, and that he and his father were of one mind in it, and that he went with the same will to be offered up, as his father did to offer him; and indeed the expression being repeated from ( Genesis 22:6 ) , seems to suggest something remarkable and worthy of attention.

---

FOOTNOTES:

F5 Pirke Eliezer, ut supra. (c. 31.)

Genesis 22:8 In-Context

6 Abraham took the wood of the burnt offering and laid it on his son Isaac, and he himself carried the fire and the knife. So the two of them walked on together.

7 Isaac said to his father Abraham, "Father!" And he said, "Here I am, my son." He said, "The fire and the wood are here, but where is the lamb for a burnt offering?"

8 Abraham said, "God himself will provide the lamb for a burnt offering, my son." So the two of them walked on together.

9 When they came to the place that God had shown him, Abraham built an altar there and laid the wood in order. He bound his son Isaac, and laid him on the altar, on top of the wood.

10 Then Abraham reached out his hand and took the knife to kill his son.