The Offering of Isaac
(John 3:1–21)

1 וַיְהִ֗י (And it came to pass) אַחַר֙ (after) הַדְּבָרִ֣ים (the things) הָאֵ֔לֶּה (these), וְהָ֣אֱלֹהִ֔ים (that God) נִסָּ֖ה (tested) אֶת־ (-) אַבְרָהָ֑ם (Abraham) וַיֹּ֣אמֶר (and said) אֵלָ֔יו (to him), אַבְרָהָ֖ם (Abraham)! וַיֹּ֥אמֶר (And he said), הִנֵּֽנִי׃ (Behold, I am here).

2 וַיֹּ֡אמֶר (And He said), קַח־ (Take) נָ֠א (now) אֶת־ (-) בִּנְךָ֙ (your son) אֶת־ (-) יְחִֽידְךָ֤ (only), אֲשֶׁר־ (whom) אָהַ֙בְתָּ֙ (you love) אֶת־ (-)— יִצְחָ֔ק (Isaac)— וְלֶךְ־ (and go) לְךָ֔ (-) אֶל־ (to) אֶ֖רֶץ (the land) הַמֹּרִיָּ֑ה (of Moriah). וְהַעֲלֵ֤הוּ (And offer him) שָׁם֙ (there) לְעֹלָ֔ה (as a burnt offering) עַ֚ל (on) אַחַ֣ד (one) הֶֽהָרִ֔ים (of the mountains) אֲשֶׁ֖ר (of which) אֹמַ֥ר (I will tell) אֵלֶֽיךָ׃ (to you).

3 וַיַּשְׁכֵּ֨ם (And rose early) אַבְרָהָ֜ם (Abraham) בַּבֹּ֗קֶר (in the morning) וַֽיַּחֲבֹשׁ֙ (and saddled) אֶת־ (-) חֲמֹר֔וֹ (his donkey), וַיִּקַּ֞ח (and he took) אֶת־ (-) שְׁנֵ֤י (two) נְעָרָיו֙ (of his young men) אִתּ֔וֹ (with him), וְאֵ֖ת (and) יִצְחָ֣ק (Isaac) בְּנ֑וֹ (his son), וַיְבַקַּע֙ (and he split) עֲצֵ֣י (the wood for) עֹלָ֔ה (the burnt offering), וַיָּ֣קָם (and he arose) וַיֵּ֔לֶךְ (and went) אֶל־ (to) הַמָּק֖וֹם (the place) אֲשֶׁר־ (of which) אָֽמַר־ (had told) ל֥וֹ (to him) הָאֱלֹהִֽים׃ (God).

4 בַּיּ֣וֹם (On the day) הַשְּׁלִישִׁ֗י (third) וַיִּשָּׂ֨א (and lifted up) אַבְרָהָ֧ם (Abraham) אֶת־ (-) עֵינָ֛יו (his eyes), וַיַּ֥רְא (and he saw) אֶת־ (-) הַמָּק֖וֹם (the place) מֵרָחֹֽק׃ (from a distance).

5 וַיֹּ֨אמֶר (And said) אַבְרָהָ֜ם (Abraham) אֶל־ (to) נְעָרָ֗יו (his young men), שְׁבוּ־ (Stay) לָכֶ֥ם (-) פֹּה֙ (here) עִֽם־ (with) הַחֲמ֔וֹר (the donkey), וַאֲנִ֣י (and I) וְהַנַּ֔עַר (and the boy) נֵלְכָ֖ה (will go) עַד־ (over) כֹּ֑ה (there) וְנִֽשְׁתַּחֲוֶ֖ה (and we will worship), וְנָשׁ֥וּבָה (and we will come back) אֲלֵיכֶֽם׃ (to you⁺).

6 וַיִּקַּ֨ח (And took) אַבְרָהָ֜ם (Abraham) אֶת־ (-) עֲצֵ֣י (the wood) הָעֹלָ֗ה (of the burnt offering) וַיָּ֙שֶׂם֙ (and laid it) עַל־ (on) יִצְחָ֣ק (Isaac) בְּנ֔וֹ (his son); וַיִּקַּ֣ח (and he took) בְּיָד֔וֹ (in his hand) אֶת־ (-) הָאֵ֖שׁ (the fire) וְאֶת־ (and) הַֽמַּאֲכֶ֑לֶת (the knife), וַיֵּלְכ֥וּ (and they went) שְׁנֵיהֶ֖ם (the two of them) יַחְדָּֽו׃ (together).

7 וַיֹּ֨אמֶר (And spoke) יִצְחָ֜ק (Isaac) אֶל־ (to) אַבְרָהָ֤ם (Abraham) אָבִיו֙ (his father), וַיֹּ֣אמֶר (and said), אָבִ֔י (My father)! וַיֹּ֖אמֶר (And he said), הִנֶּ֣נִּֽי (Behold, I am here) בְנִ֑י (my son). וַיֹּ֗אמֶר (And he said), הִנֵּ֤ה (Behold) הָאֵשׁ֙ (the fire) וְהָ֣עֵצִ֔ים (and the wood), וְאַיֵּ֥ה (and where is) הַשֶּׂ֖ה (the lamb) לְעֹלָֽה׃ (for a burnt offering)?

8 וַיֹּ֙אמֶר֙ (And said) אַבְרָהָ֔ם (Abraham), אֱלֹהִ֞ים (God) יִרְאֶה־ (will see) לּ֥וֹ (for Himself) הַשֶּׂ֛ה (the lamb) לְעֹלָ֖ה (for a burnt offering), בְּנִ֑י (my son). וַיֵּלְכ֥וּ (And they went) שְׁנֵיהֶ֖ם (the two of them) יַחְדָּֽו׃ (together).

9 וַיָּבֹ֗אוּ (And they came) אֶֽל־ (to) הַמָּקוֹם֮ (the place) אֲשֶׁ֣ר (that) אָֽמַר־ (had told) ל֣וֹ (him) הָאֱלֹהִים֒ (God), וַיִּ֨בֶן (and built) שָׁ֤ם (there) אַבְרָהָם֙ (Abraham) אֶת־ (-) הַמִּזְבֵּ֔חַ (the altar) וַֽיַּעֲרֹ֖ךְ (and arranged) אֶת־ (-) הָעֵצִ֑ים (the wood), וַֽיַּעֲקֹד֙ (and he bound) אֶת־ (-) יִצְחָ֣ק (Isaac) בְּנ֔וֹ (his son) וַיָּ֤שֶׂם (and laid) אֹתוֹ֙ (him) עַל־ (on) הַמִּזְבֵּ֔חַ (the altar) מִמַּ֖עַל (upon) לָעֵצִֽים׃ (the wood).

10 וַיִּשְׁלַ֤ח (And stretched out) אַבְרָהָם֙ (Abraham) אֶת־ (-) יָד֔וֹ (his hand) וַיִּקַּ֖ח (and took) אֶת־ (-) הַֽמַּאֲכֶ֑לֶת (the knife) לִשְׁחֹ֖ט (to slaughter) אֶת־ (-) בְּנֽוֹ׃ (his son).

Yahweh Provides the Sacrifice

11 וַיִּקְרָ֨א (And called) אֵלָ֜יו (to him) מַלְאַ֤ךְ (the angel) יְהוָה֙ (of YHWH) מִן־ (from) הַשָּׁמַ֔יִם (the heavens), וַיֹּ֖אמֶר (and said), אַבְרָהָ֣ם׀ (Abraham), אַבְרָהָ֑ם (Abraham)! וַיֹּ֖אמֶר (And he said), הִנֵּֽנִי׃ (Behold, I am here).

12 וַיֹּ֗אמֶר (And he said), אַל־ (Not) תִּשְׁלַ֤ח (stretch out) יָֽדְךָ֙ (your hand) אֶל־ (upon) הַנַּ֔עַר (the boy), וְאַל־ (and not) תַּ֥עַשׂ (do) ל֖וֹ (to him) מְא֑וּמָּה (anything). כִּ֣י׀ (For) עַתָּ֣ה (now) יָדַ֗עְתִּי (I know) כִּֽי־ (that) יְרֵ֤א (fear) אֱלֹהִים֙ (God) אַ֔תָּה (you), וְלֹ֥א (and since not) חָשַׂ֛כְתָּ (you have withheld) אֶת־ (-) בִּנְךָ֥ (your son) אֶת־ (-) יְחִידְךָ֖ (your only one) מִמֶּֽנִּי׃ (from me).

13 וַיִּשָּׂ֨א (And lifted up) אַבְרָהָ֜ם (Abraham) אֶת־ (-) עֵינָ֗יו (his eyes), וַיַּרְא֙ (and looked), וְהִנֵּה־ (and behold) אַ֔יִל (a ram) אַחַ֕ר (behind him) נֶאֱחַ֥ז (caught) בַּסְּבַ֖ךְ (in the thicket) בְּקַרְנָ֑יו (by its horns). וַיֵּ֤לֶךְ (And went) אַבְרָהָם֙ (Abraham) וַיִּקַּ֣ח (and took) אֶת־ (-) הָאַ֔יִל (the ram) וַיַּעֲלֵ֥הוּ (and offered it) לְעֹלָ֖ה (as a burnt offering) תַּ֥חַת (instead) בְּנֽוֹ׃ (of his son).

14 וַיִּקְרָ֧א (And called) אַבְרָהָ֛ם (Abraham) שֵֽׁם־ (the name) הַמָּק֥וֹם (of place) הַה֖וּא (that) יְהוָ֣ה׀ (YHWH) יִרְאֶ֑ה (Yireh). אֲשֶׁר֙ (As) יֵאָמֵ֣ר (it is said) הַיּ֔וֹם (to this day), בְּהַ֥ר (On the mountain) יְהוָ֖ה (of YHWH) יֵרָאֶֽה׃ (it shall be seen).

15 וַיִּקְרָ֛א (And called) מַלְאַ֥ךְ (the angel) יְהוָ֖ה (of YHWH) אֶל־ (to) אַבְרָהָ֑ם (Abraham) שֵׁנִ֖ית (a second time) מִן־ (from) הַשָּׁמָֽיִם׃ (the heavens)

16 וַיֹּ֕אמֶר (and said), בִּ֥י (By Myself) נִשְׁבַּ֖עְתִּי (I have sworn), נְאֻם־ (says) יְהוָ֑ה (YHWH), כִּ֗י (that) יַ֚עַן (because) אֲשֶׁ֤ר (-) עָשִׂ֙יתָ֙ (you have done) אֶת־ (-) הַדָּבָ֣ר (the thing) הַזֶּ֔ה (this), וְלֹ֥א (and not) חָשַׂ֖כְתָּ (have you withheld) אֶת־ (-) בִּנְךָ֥ (your son) אֶת־ (-) יְחִידֶֽךָ׃ (only),

17 כִּֽי־ (that) בָרֵ֣ךְ (blessing) אֲבָרֶכְךָ֗ (I will bless you), וְהַרְבָּ֨ה (and multiplying) אַרְבֶּ֤ה (I will multiply) אֶֽת־ (-) זַרְעֲךָ֙ (your seed) כְּכוֹכְבֵ֣י (as the stars) הַשָּׁמַ֔יִם (of the heavens) וְכַח֕וֹל (and as the sand) אֲשֶׁ֖ר (which is) עַל־ (on) שְׂפַ֣ת (the shore) הַיָּ֑ם (of the sea); וְיִרַ֣שׁ (and shall possess) זַרְעֲךָ֔ (your seed) אֵ֖ת (-) שַׁ֥עַר (the gate) אֹיְבָֽיו׃ (of their enemies).

18 וְהִתְבָּרֲכ֣וּ (And will be blessed) בְזַרְעֲךָ֔ (in your seed) כֹּ֖ל (all) גּוֹיֵ֣י (the nations) הָאָ֑רֶץ (of the earth), עֵ֕קֶב (because) אֲשֶׁ֥ר (that) שָׁמַ֖עְתָּ (you have listened) בְּקֹלִֽי׃ (to My voice).

19 וַיָּ֤שָׁב (And returned) אַבְרָהָם֙ (Abraham) אֶל־ (to) נְעָרָ֔יו (his young men), וַיָּקֻ֛מוּ (and they rose) וַיֵּלְכ֥וּ (and went) יַחְדָּ֖ו (together) אֶל־ (to) בְּאֵ֣ר (Beer-) שָׁ֑בַע (sheba). וַיֵּ֥שֶׁב (And dwelt) אַבְרָהָ֖ם (Abraham) בִּבְאֵ֥ר (at Beer-) שָֽׁבַע׃פ (sheba).

The Sons of Nahor

20 וַיְהִ֗י (And it came to pass) אַחֲרֵי֙ (after) הַדְּבָרִ֣ים (the things) הָאֵ֔לֶּה (these) וַיֻּגַּ֥ד (that it was told) לְאַבְרָהָ֖ם (to Abraham), לֵאמֹ֑ר (saying), הִ֠נֵּה (Behold), יָלְדָ֨ה (has borne) מִלְכָּ֥ה (Milcah)— גַם־ (even) הִ֛וא (she) בָּנִ֖ים (sons) לְנָח֥וֹר (to Nahor) אָחִֽיךָ׃ (your brother).

21 אֶת־ (-) ע֥וּץ (Uz) בְּכֹר֖וֹ (his firstborn), וְאֶת־ (and) בּ֣וּז (Buz) אָחִ֑יו (his brother), וְאֶת־ (and) קְמוּאֵ֖ל (Kemuel) אֲבִ֥י (the father) אֲרָֽם׃ (of Aram))

22 וְאֶת־ (and) כֶּ֣שֶׂד (Chesed), וְאֶת־ (and) חֲז֔וֹ (Hazo), וְאֶת־ (and) פִּלְדָּ֖שׁ (Pildash), וְאֶת־ (and) יִדְלָ֑ף (Jidlaph), וְאֵ֖ת (and) בְּתוּאֵֽל׃ (Bethuel).

23 וּבְתוּאֵ֖ל (And Bethuel) יָלַ֣ד (begat) אֶת־ (-) רִבְקָ֑ה (Rebekah); שְׁמֹנָ֥ה (eight) אֵ֙לֶּה֙ (these) יָלְדָ֣ה (bore) מִלְכָּ֔ה (Milcah) לְנָח֖וֹר (to Nahor), אֲחִ֥י (brother) אַבְרָהָֽם׃ (Abraham’s).

24 וּפִֽילַגְשׁ֖וֹ (And his concubine), וּשְׁמָ֣הּ (and her name was) רְאוּמָ֑ה (Reumah), וַתֵּ֤לֶד (and bore) גַּם־ (also) הִוא֙ (she) אֶת־ (-) טֶ֣בַח (Tebah), וְאֶת־ (and) גַּ֔חַם (Gaham), וְאֶת־ (and) תַּ֖חַשׁ (Tahash), וְאֶֽת־ (and) מַעֲכָֽה׃ס (Maacah).