Accounting that God was able to raise him up, even from the dead; from whence also he received him in a figure.
Parallel translations
- WEB concluding that God is able to raise up even from the dead. Figuratively speaking, he also did receive him back from the dead.
- BSB Abraham reasoned that God could raise the dead, and in a sense, he did receive Isaac back from death.
- NKJV concluding that God was able to raise him up, even from the dead, from which he also received him in a figurative sense.
- NASB He considered that God is able to raise people even from the dead, from which he also received him back as a type.
- NLT Abraham reasoned that if Isaac died, God was able to bring him back to life again. And in a sense, Abraham did receive his son back from the dead.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
Abraham reasoned that God could even raise the dead, and so figuratively he did receive Isaac back from death. Faith trusts God's power over death to keep his promises.
Overview
Abraham obeyed because he concluded God was able to raise Isaac, since the promises depended on him. In a figurative sense he received his son back "from the dead" when God spared Isaac and provided a substitute (Genesis 22:13). This points forward to the resurrection of Christ, the true and final answer to the power of death.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 8
- Rom 4:17–21(As it is written, I have made thee a father of many nations,) before him whom he believed, even God, who quickeneth the dead, and calleth those things which be not as though they were.
- Matt 9:28And when he was come into the house, the blind men came to him: and Jesus saith unto them, Believe ye that I am able to do this? They said unto him, Yea, Lord.
- Eph 3:20Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us,
- Gen 22:13And Abraham lifted up his eyes, and looked, and behold behind him a ram caught in a thicket by his horns: and Abraham went and took the ram, and offered him up for a burnt offering in the stead of his son.
- Heb 11:11–12Through faith also Sara herself received strength to conceive seed, and was delivered of a child when she was past age, because she judged him faithful who had promised.
- Gen 22:4–5Then on the third day Abraham lifted up his eyes, and saw the place afar off.
- Heb 9:24For Christ is not entered into the holy places made with hands, which are the figures of the true; but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us:
- Rom 5:14Nevertheless death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over them that had not sinned after the similitude of Adam’s transgression, who is the figure of him that was to come.
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Christ at the center
Hebrews is sustained worship of Christ: better than angels, Moses, and the priests; the great High Priest after Melchizedek who by one sacrifice perfects forever those he saves.
How Hebrews 11:19 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
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