Genesis 22:12

“Do not lay a hand on the boy or do anything to him,” said the angel, “for now I know that you fear God, since you have not withheld your only son from me.”

Berean Standard Bible

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Study note

Setting — The angel of the LORD addresses Abraham from heaven at the instant his raised hand is about to fall on Isaac. This is the interruption at the act's peak, not before it begins.

The words — יָדְךָ (yad-ka, "your hand") names the specific instrument of the act, while the following תַּעַשׂ (ta'as, "you do") widens the prohibition to any action at all. The move from concrete to total underscores that no partial compliance would have sufficed.

The thread — James 2:21 cites this event as the proof that Abraham was justified by works, and 1 Samuel 15:22 states the underlying principle: obedience to God's voice outweighs sacrifice.

Why it lands — The verse defines "fearing God" not as emotion but as the willingness to release what is most precious when commanded. It asks the reader to identify what they have not yet been willing to give up.

Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.

The Hebrew words

King James Version

And he said, Lay not thine hand upon the lad, neither do thou any thing unto him: for now I know that thou fearest God, seeing thou hast not withheld thy son, thine only son from me.

Cross-references

James 2:21 Was not our father Abraham justified by what he did when he offered his son Isaac on the altar?
James 2:18 But someone will say, “You have faith and I have deeds.” Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by my deeds.
1 Samuel 15:22 But Samuel declared: “Does the LORD delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as much as in obedience to His voice? Behold, obedience is better than sacrifice, and attentiveness is better than the fat of rams.
Matthew 10:37 Anyone who loves his father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me; anyone who loves his son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me;
Romans 8:32 He who did not spare His own Son but gave Him up for us all, how will He not also, along with Him, freely give us all things?
Genesis 22:2 “Take your son,” God said, “your only son Isaac, whom you love, and go to the land of Moriah. Offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains, which I will show you.”
Matthew 19:29 And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or fields for the sake of My name will receive a hundredfold and will inherit eternal life.
1 Corinthians 10:13 No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; He will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, He will also provide an escape, so that you can stand up under it.
Genesis 26:5 because Abraham listened to My voice and kept My charge, My commandments, My statutes, and My laws.”
Ecclesiastes 12:13 When all has been heard, the conclusion of the matter is this: Fear God and keep His commandments, because this is the whole duty of man.