Bible Strands
Genesis 22:3
So Abraham got up early the next morning, saddled his donkey, and took along two of his servants and his son Isaac. He split the wood for a burnt offering and set out for the place God had designated.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — Abraham acts immediately after God commands him to sacrifice Isaac on a mountain in Moriah. He rises at dawn to prepare for the journey to the designated location.
The words — וַ/יַּשְׁכֵּ֨ם (va/i.yashkem) translates literally as "and he rose early," emphasizing prompt action. בַּ/בֹּ֗קֶר (ba./boqer) specifies "in the morning," anchoring the obedience to a specific time.
The thread — This narrative of immediate obedience parallels Psalms 119:60, which declares hurrying without hesitation to keep commandments. It anticipates New Testament teachings on prioritizing divine command over family ties in Matthew 10:37 and Luke 14:26.
Why it lands — The text demands immediate compliance with a difficult directive without delay. It requires the reader to examine whether their own actions follow divine instruction before personal convenience or emotion.
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 Abraham rose up early in the morning, and saddled his ass, and took two of his young men with him, and Isaac his son, and clave the wood for the burnt offering, and rose up, and went unto the place of which God had told him.
Cross-references
- Psalms 119:60 I hurried without hesitating to keep Your commandments.
- 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;
- Luke 14:26 “If anyone comes to Me and does not hate his father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters—yes, even his own life—he cannot be My disciple.
- Genesis 17:23 On that very day Abraham took his son Ishmael and all those born in his household or purchased with his money—every male among the members of Abraham’s household—and he circumcised them, just as God had told him.
- Genesis 21:14 Early in the morning, Abraham got up, took bread and a skin of water, put them on Hagar’s shoulders, and sent her away with the boy. She left and wandered in the Wilderness of Beersheba.
- Ecclesiastes 9:10 Whatever you find to do with your hands, do it with all your might, for in Sheol, where you are going, there is no work or planning or knowledge or wisdom.
- Isaiah 26:3 You will keep in perfect peace the steadfast of mind, because he trusts in You.
- Galatians 1:16 to reveal His Son in me so that I might preach Him among the Gentiles, I did not rush to consult with flesh and blood,
- Hebrews 11:17 By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac on the altar. He who had received the promises was ready to offer his one and only son,
- Mark 10:28 Peter began to say to Him, “Look, we have left everything and followed You.”