The Binding of Isaac
Genesis 22
God tests Abraam by commanding him to offer his beloved son Isaac as a whole burnt offering, and as Abraam raises the knife an angel of the Lord stops him, providing a ram caught in a thicket to offer in Isaac's place. The Lord then renews his promise of blessing and of descendants as numerous as the stars and the sand, and the chapter closes with a brief record of the sons born to Abraam's brother Nachor.
About these editions
The Septuagint (LXX) in Greek, with Charles Thomson’s 1808 and Sir Lancelot Brenton’s 1851 English translations, set beside the King James Version and the Jewish Masoretic text (JPS 1917) where they align, so you can compare the Greek and the Hebrew. All public domain; choose which to show with the controls above.
Thomson 1808Septuagint
Brenton 1851Septuagint
Greek · BrentonSeptuagint
KJV 1769Masoretic
JPS 1917Masoretic
1
ThomsonAND it came to pass after these things that God tried Abraham and said to him, Abraham! Abraham! And he said, Here I am.
BrentonAnd it came to pass after these things that God tempted Abraam, and said to him, Abraam, Abraam; and he said, Lo! I am here.
GreekΚαὶ ἐγένετο μετὰ τὰ ῥήματα ταῦτα ὁ Θεὸς ἐπείρασε τὸν Ἁβραὰμ, καὶ εἶπεν αὐτῷ, Ἁβραὰμ, Ἁβραάμ· καὶ εἶπεν, ἰδοὺ ἐγώ.
KJVAnd it came to pass after these things, that God did tempt Abraham, and said unto him, Abraham: and he said, Behold, here I am.
JPSAnd it came to pass after these things, that God did prove Abraham, and said unto him: ‘Abraham’; and he said: ‘Here am I.’
2
ThomsonAnd He said, Take thy son, thy dear son whom thou hast loved—Isaak; and go to the hilly country and offer him up there for a whole homage offering on one of the hills which I will point out to thee.
BrentonAnd he said, Take thy son, the beloved one, whom thou hast loved—Isaac, and go into the high land, and offer him there for a whole-burnt-offering on one of the mountains which I will tell thee of.
GreekΚαὶ εἶπε, λάβε τὸν υἱόν σου τὸν ἀγαπητὸν, ὃν ἠγάπησας, τὸν Ἰσαὰκ, καὶ πορεύθητι εἰς τὴν γῆν τὴν ὑψηλὴν, καὶ ἀνένεγκε αὐτὸν ἐκεῖ εἰς ὁλοκάρπωσιν ἐφʼ ἓν τῶν ὀρέων ὧν ἄν σοι εἴπω.
KJVAnd he said, Take now thy son, thine only son Isaac, whom thou lovest, and get thee into the land of Moriah; and offer him there for a burnt offering upon one of the mountains which I will tell thee of.
JPSAnd He said: ‘Take now thy son, thine only son, whom thou lovest, even Isaac, and get thee into the land of Moriah; and offer him there for a burnt-offering upon one of the mountains which I will tell thee of.’
3
ThomsonSo Abraham arose in the morning and saddled his ass and took with him two servants and his son Isaak: and having split wood for the whole homage offering he set out on the journey and came to the place which God told him
BrentonAnd Abraam rose up in the morning and saddled his ass, and he took with him two servants, and Isaac his son, and having split wood for a whole-burnt-offering, he arose and departed, and came to the place of which God spoke to him,
GreekἈναστὰς δὲ Ἁβραὰμ τὸ πρωῒ, ἐπέσαξε τὴν ὄνον αὐτοῦ· παρέλαβε δὲ μεθʼ ἑαυτοῦ δύο παῖδας, καὶ Ἰσαὰκ τὸν υἱὸν αὐτοῦ· καὶ σχίσας ξύλα εἰς ὁλοκάρπωσιν, ἀναστὰς ἐπορεύθη, καὶ ἦλθεν ἐπὶ τὸν τόπον, ὃν εἶπεν αὐτῷ ὁ Θεὸς, τῇ ἡμέρᾳ τῇ τρίτῃ.
KJVAnd 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.
JPSAnd Abraham rose early in the morning, and saddled his ass, and took two of his young men with him, and Isaac his son; and he cleaved the wood for the burnt-offering, and rose up, and went unto the place of which God had told him.
4
Thomsonon the third day. Now when Abraham raised his eyes and saw the place at a distance
Brentonon the third day; and Abraam having lifted up his eyes, saw the place afar off.
GreekΚαὶ ἀναβλέψας Ἁβραὰμ τοῖς ὀφθαλμοῖς αὐτοῦ, εἶδε τὸν τόπον μακρόθεν.
KJVThen on the third day Abraham lifted up his eyes, and saw the place afar off.
JPSOn the third day Abraham lifted up his eyes, and saw the place afar off.
5
Thomsonhe said to his servants, Stay here with the ass, and I and the lad will go yonder, and when we have worshipped we will return to you.
BrentonAnd Abraam said to his servants, Sit ye here with the ass, and I and the lad will proceed thus far, and having worshipped we will return to you.
GreekΚαὶ εἶπεν Ἁβραὰμ τοῖς παισὶν αὐτοῦ, καθίσατε αὐτοῦ μετὰ τῆς ὄνου· ἐγὼ δὲ καὶ τὸ παιδάριον διελευσόμεθα ἕως ὧδε· καὶ προσκυνήσαντες ἀναστρέψομεν πρὸς ὑμᾶς.
KJVAnd Abraham said unto his young men, Abide ye here with the ass; and I and the lad will go yonder and worship, and come again to you.
JPSAnd Abraham said unto his young men: ‘Abide ye here with the ass, and I and the lad will go yonder; and we will worship, and come back to you.’
6
ThomsonThen Abraham took the wood of the whole homage offering and laid it on his son Isaak; and he took in his hand the fire and the knife, and they both proceeded on together.
BrentonAnd Abraam took the wood of the whole-burnt-offering, and laid it on Isaac his son, and he took into his hands both the fire and the knife, and the two went together.
GreekἜλαβε δὲ Ἁβραὰμ τὰ ξύλα τῆς ὁλοκαρπώσεως, καὶ ἐπέθηκεν Ἰσαὰκ τῷ υἱῷ αὐτοῦ· ἔλαβε δὲ μετὰ χεῖρας καὶ τὸ πῦρ καὶ τὴν μάχαιραν, καὶ ἐπορεύθησαν οἱ δύο ἅμα.
KJVAnd Abraham took the wood of the burnt offering, and laid it upon Isaac his son; and he took the fire in his hand, and a knife; and they went both of them together.
JPSAnd Abraham took the wood of the burnt-offering, and laid it upon Isaac his son; and he took in his hand the fire and the knife; and they went both of them together.
7
ThomsonAnd Isaak said to his father Abraham, Father. And he said, What is the matter, son? And Isaak said, Here is the fire and the wood; where is the sheep for a whole homage offering?
BrentonAnd Isaac said to Abraam his father, Father. And he said, What is it, son? And he said, Behold the fire and the wood, where is the sheep for a whole-burnt-offering?
GreekΕἶπε δὲ Ἰσαὰκ πρὸς Ἁβραὰμ τὸν πατέρα αὐτοῦ, πάτερ· ὁ δὲ εἶπε, τί ἐστι, τέκνον; εἶπε, δὲ, ἰδοὺ τὸ πῦρ καὶ τὰ ξύλα, ποῦ ἐστὶ τὸ πρόβατον τὸ εἰς ὁλοκάρπωσιν;
KJVAnd Isaac spake unto Abraham his father, and said, My father: and he said, Here am I, my son. And he said, Behold the fire and the wood: but where is the lamb for a burnt offering?
JPSAnd Isaac spoke unto Abraham his father, and said: ‘My father.’ And he said: ‘Here am I, my son.’ And he said: ‘Behold the fire and the wood; but where is the lamb for a burnt-offering?’
8
ThomsonAnd Abraham said, My son! God will provide for Himself a sheep for a whole homage offering.
BrentonAnd Abraam said, God will provide himself a sheep for a whole-burnt-offering, my son. And both having gone together,
GreekΕἶπε δὲ Ἁβραὰμ, ὁ Θεὸς ὄψεται ἑαυτῷ πρόβατον εἰς ὁλοκάρπωσιν, τέκνον. πορευθέντες δὲ ἀμφότεροι ἅμα,
KJVAnd Abraham said, My son, God will provide himself a lamb for a burnt offering: so they went both of them together.
JPSAnd Abraham said: ‘God will aprovide Himself the lamb for a burnt-offering, my son.’ So they went both of them together.
9
ThomsonSo they both proceeded on together and came to the place which God told him. And Abraham built there the altar, and placed thereon the wood; and having bound his son Isaak he laid him on the altar above the wood.
Brentoncame to the place which God spoke of to him; and there Abraam built the altar, and laid the wood on it, and having bound the feet of Isaac his son together, he laid him on the altar upon the wood.
Greekἦλθον ἐπὶ τὸν τόπον, ὃν εἶπεν αὐτῷ ὁ Θεός· καὶ ᾠκοδόμησεν ἐκεῖ Ἁβραὰμ τὸ θυσιαστήριον, καὶ ἐπέθηκε τὰ ξύλα· καὶ συμποδίσας Ἰσαὰκ τὸν υἱὸν αὐτοῦ, ἐπέθηκεν αὐτὸν ἐπὶ τὸ θυσιαστήριον ἐπάνω τῶν ξύλων.
KJVAnd they came to the place which God had told him of; and Abraham built an altar there, and laid the wood in order, and bound Isaac his son, and laid him on the altar upon the wood.
JPSAnd they came to the place which God had told him of; and Abraham built the altar there, and laid the wood in order, and bound Isaac his son, and laid him on the altar, upon the wood.
10
ThomsonAnd when Abraham stretched forth his hand to take hold of the knife to slay his son,
BrentonAnd Abraam stretched forth his hand to take the knife to slay his son.
GreekΚαὶ ἐξέτεινεν Ἁβραὰμ τὴν χεῖρα αὐτοῦ λαβεῖν τὴν μάχαιραν, σφάξαι τὸν υἱὸν αὐτοῦ.
KJVAnd Abraham stretched forth his hand, and took the knife to slay his son.
JPSAnd Abraham stretched forth his hand, and took the knife to slay his son.
11
Thomsonthe angel of the Lord called to him out of heaven and said, Abraham! Abraham! And he said, Here I am.
BrentonAnd an angel of the Lord called him out of heaven, and said, Abraam, Abraam. And he said, Behold, I am here.
GreekΚαὶ ἐκάλεσεν αὐτὸν Ἄγγελος Κυρίου ἐκ τοῦ οὐρανοῦ, καὶ εἶπεν, Ἁβραὰμ, Ἁβραάμ· ὁ δὲ εἶπεν, ἰδοὺ ἐγώ.
KJVAnd the angel of the LORD called unto him out of heaven, and said, Abraham, Abraham: and he said, Here am I.
JPSAnd the angel of the LORD called unto him out of heaven, and said: ‘Abraham, Abraham.’ And he said: ‘Here am I.’
12
ThomsonAnd He said, Lay not thy hand on the lad, nor do any thing to him; for now I know that thou fearest God and on my account hast not spared thy darling son.
BrentonAnd he said, Lay not thine hand upon the child, neither do anything to him, for now I know that thou fearest God, and for my sake thou hast not spared thy beloved son.
GreekΚαὶ εἶπε, μὴ ἐπιβάλῃς τὴν χεῖρά σου ἐπὶ τὸ παιδάριον, μηδὲ ποιήσῃς αὐτῷ μηδέν· νῦν γὰρ ἔγνων, ὅτι φοβῇ σὺ τὸν Θεόν· καὶ οὐκ ἐφείσω τοῦ υἱοῦ σου τοῦ ἀγαπητοῦ διʼ ἐμέ.
KJVAnd 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.
JPSAnd he said: ‘Lay not thy hand upon the lad, neither do thou any thing unto him; for now I know that thou art a God-fearing man, seeing thou hast not withheld thy son, thine only son, from Me.’
13
ThomsonThen Abraham raised his eyes and looked, and lo! a ram caught by the horns in a sabek bush. And Abraham went and took the ram and offered him up for an homage offering instead of his son Isaak.
BrentonAnd Abraam lifted up his eyes and beheld, and lo! a ram caught by his horns in a plant of Sabec; and Abraam went and took the ram, and offered him up for a whole-burnt-offering in the place of Isaac his son.
GreekΚαὶ ἀναβλέψας Ἁβραὰμ τοῖς ὀφθαλμοῖς αὐτοῦ εἶδε, καὶ ἰδοὺ κριὸς εἷς κατεχόμενος ἐν φυτῷ Σαβὲκ τῶν κεράτων. Καὶ ἐπορεύθη Ἁβραὰμ, καὶ ἔλαβε τὸν κριὸν, καὶ ἁνήνεγκεν αὐτὸν εἰς ὁλοκάρπωσιν ἀντὶ Ἰσαὰκ τοῦ υἱοῦ αὐτοῦ.
KJVAnd 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.
JPSAnd Abraham lifted up his eyes, and looked, and behold behind him a ram caught in the 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.
14
ThomsonAnd Abraham called the name of that place, The Lord hath seen, that at this day they might say, On this mountain, The Lord was seen.
BrentonAnd Abraam called the name of that place, The Lord hath seen; that they might say to-day, In the mount the Lord was seen.
GreekΚαὶ ἐκάλεσεν Ἁβραὰμ τὸ ὄνομα τοῦ τόπου ἐκείνου, Κύριος εἶδεν· ἵνα εἴπωσιν σήμερον, ἐν τῷ ὄρει Κύριος ὤφθη.
KJVAnd Abraham called the name of that place Jehovahjireh: as it is said to this day, In the mount of the LORD it shall be seen.
JPSAnd Abraham called the name of that place Adonai-jireh; as it is said to this day: ‘In the mount where the LORD is seen.’
15
ThomsonThen the angel of the Lord called to Abraham a second time out of heaven,
BrentonAnd an angel of the Lord called Abraam the second time out of heaven,
GreekΚαὶ ἐκάλεσεν Ἄγγελος Κυρίου τὸν Ἁβραὰμ δεύτερον ἐκ τοῦ οὐρανοῦ,
KJVAnd the angel of the LORD called unto Abraham out of heaven the second time,
JPSAnd the angel of the LORD called unto Abraham a second time out of heaven,
16
Thomsonsaying, By Myself I have sworn, saith the Lord: Because thou hast done this, and for My sake hast not spared thy beloved son,
Brentonsaying, I have sworn by myself, says the Lord, because thou hast done this thing, and on my account hast not spared thy beloved son,
Greekλέγων, Κατʼ ἐμαυτοῦ ὤμοσα, λέγει Κύριος, οὗ εἵνεκεν ἐποίησας τὸ ῥῆμα τοῦτο, καὶ οὐκ ἐφείσω τοῦ υἱοῦ σου τοῦ ἀγαπτοῦ διʼ ἐμὲ,
KJVAnd said, By myself have I sworn, saith the LORD, for because thou hast done this thing, and hast not withheld thy son, thine only son:
JPSand said: ‘By Myself have I sworn, saith the LORD, because thou hast done this thing, and hast not withheld thy son, thine only son,
17
Thomsonwith blessings I will indeed bless thee; and I will multiply thy seed abundantly as the stars of heaven and as the sand on the seashore: and thy seed shall inherit the cities of their adversaries;
Brentonsurely blessing I will bless thee, and multiplying I will multiply thy seed as the stars of heaven, and as the sand which is by the shore of the sea, and thy seed shall inherit the cities of their enemies.
GreekἮ μὴν εὐλογῶν εὐλογήσω σε, καὶ πληθύνων πληθυνῶ τὸ σπέρμα σου, ὡς τοὺς ἀστέρας τοῦ οὐρανοῦ, καὶ ὡς τὴν ἄμμον τὴν παρὰ τὸ χεῖλος τῆς θαλάσσης· καὶ κληρονομήσει τὸ σπέρμα σου τὰς πόλεις τῶν ὑπεναντίων.
KJVThat in blessing I will bless thee, and in multiplying I will multiply thy seed as the stars of the heaven, and as the sand which is upon the sea shore; and thy seed shall possess the gate of his enemies;
JPSthat in blessing I will bless thee, and in multiplying I will multiply thy seed as the stars of the heaven, and as the sand which is upon the seashore; and thy seed shall possess the gate of his enemies;
18
Thomsonand by the seed of thee all the nations of the earth shall be blessed, because thou hast hearkened to my voice.
BrentonAnd in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed, because thou hast hearkened to my voice.
GreekΚαὶ ἐνευλογηθήσονται ἐν τῷ σπέρματί σου πάντα τὰ ἔθνη τῆς γῆς, ἀνθʼ ὧν ὑπήκουσας τῆς ἐμῆς φωνῆς.
KJVAnd in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed; because thou hast obeyed my voice.
JPSand in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed; because thou hast hearkened to My voice.’
19
ThomsonThen Abraham returned to his servants and they arose and came together to Well of the Oath, for Abraham lived at Well of the Oath.
BrentonAnd Abraam returned to his servants, and they arose and went together to the well of the oath; and Abraam dwelt at the well of the oath.
GreekἈπεστράφη δὲ Ἁβραὰμ πρὸς τοὺς παῖδας αὐτοῦ· καὶ ἀναστάντες ἐπορεύθησαν ἅμα ἐπὶ τὸ φρέαρ τοῦ ὅρκου. Καὶ κατῴκησεν Ἁβραὰμ ἐπὶ τὸ φρέαρ τοῦ ὅρκου.
KJVSo Abraham returned unto his young men, and they rose up and went together to Beersheba; and Abraham dwelt at Beersheba.
JPSSo Abraham returned unto his young men, and they rose up and went together to Beer- sheba; and Abraham dwelt at Beer-sheba.
20
ThomsonAnd after these things it was told Abraham saying, With regard to Melcha, behold she also hath born sons to thy brother Nachor,
BrentonAnd it came to pass after these things, that it was reported to Abraam, saying, Behold, Melcha herself too has born sons to Nachor thy brother,
GreekἘγένετο δὲ μετὰ τὰ ῥήματα ταῦτα, καὶ ἀνηγγέλη τῷ Ἁβραὰμ, λέγοντες, ἰδοὺ τέτοκε Μελχὰ καὶ αὐτὴ υἱοὺς τῷ Ναχὼρ τῷ ἀδελφῷ σου,
KJVAnd it came to pass after these things, that it was told Abraham, saying, Behold, Milcah, she hath also born children unto thy brother Nahor;
JPSAnd it came to pass after these things, that it was told Abraham, saying: ‘Behold, Milcah, she also hath borne children unto thy brother Nahor:
21
ThomsonOuz the first born, and Baux his brother, and Hamuel, the father of the Syrians,
BrentonUz the first-born, and Baux his brother, and Camuel the father of the Syrians, and Chazad, and
Greekτὸν Οὒζ πρωτότοκον, καὶ τὸν Βαὺξ ἀδελφὸν αὐτοῦ, καὶ τὸν Καμουὴλ πατέρα Σύρων,
KJV—
JPSUz his first-born, and Buz his brother, and Kemuel the father of Aram;
22
Thomsonand Chazad and Azau, and Phaldes and Jeldaph and Bathuel;
BrentonAzav and Phaldes, and Jeldaph, and Bathuel, and Bathuel begot Rebecca;
Greekκαὶ τὸν Χαζὰδ, καὶ Ἀζαῦ, καὶ τὸν Φαλδὲς, καὶ τὸν Ἰελδὰφ, καὶ τὸν Βαθουήλ.
KJV—
JPS—
23
Thomsonand Bathuel begot Rebekka. These were the eight sons, whom Melcha bore to Nachor the brother of Abraham.
Brentonthese are eight sons, which Melcha bore to Nachor the brother of Abraam.
GreekΒαθουὴλ δὲ ἐγέννησε τὴν Ῥεβέκκαν. ὀκτὼ οὗτοι υἱοὶ, οὓς ἔτεκε Μελχὰ τῷ Ναχὼρ τῷ ἀδελφῷ Ἁβραάμ.
KJVAnd Bethuel begat Rebekah: these eight Milcah did bear to Nahor, Abraham’s brother.
JPSAnd Bethuel begot Rebekah; these eight did Milcah bear to Nahor, Abraham’s brother.
24
ThomsonAnd his concubine whose name was Reuma bore also Tabek and Gaam and Tochos and Mocha.
BrentonAnd his concubine whose name was Rheuma, she also bore Tabec, and Taam, and Tochos, and Mocha.
GreekΚαὶ ἡ παλλακὴ αὐτοῦ, ᾗ ὄνομα Ῥεύμα, ἔτεκε καὶ αὐτὴ τὸν Ταβὲκ, καὶ τὸν Ταὰμ, καὶ τὸν Τοχός, καὶ τὸν Μοχά.
KJVAnd his concubine, whose name was Reumah, she bare also Tebah, and Gaham, and Thahash, and Maachah.
JPSAnd his concubine, whose name was Reumah, she also bore Tebah, and Gaham, and Tahash, and Maacah.