And Abraham stretched forth his hand, and took the knife to slay his son.

GENESIS 22:10KJV
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Genesis 22:10 (KJV)

What does Genesis 22:10 mean?

Genesis 22:10 describes the moment when Abraham, following God’s earlier command, reaches out his hand and takes a knife to sacrifice his son Isaac. This verse shows Abraham’s willingness to obey, even when it means giving up what is most precious to him.

In this scene, Abraham is on Mount Moriah with Isaac, having built an altar and arranged the wood. The verse captures the climax of the story, where Abraham is fully prepared to act on God’s instruction. The focus is on Abraham’s action—stretching out his hand and taking the knife—highlighting the seriousness and intensity of his obedience.

The Hebrew behind Genesis 22:10

  • "forth" (שָׁלַח, shalach): This word often means to send or stretch out. Here, it emphasizes Abraham’s deliberate and intentional movement, not a casual or accidental gesture.
  • "knife" (מַאֲכֶלֶת, ma’akhelet): This term refers specifically to a knife used for slaughtering, not just any knife. It underscores the seriousness of what Abraham is about to do.
  • "slay" (שָׁחַט, shachat): This word means to kill or slaughter, especially in a ritual or sacrificial sense. It makes clear that Abraham is preparing to offer Isaac as a sacrifice, not simply harm him.

Why Genesis 22:10 matters

  • This verse clears up any doubt about Abraham’s intent—he is not hesitating or holding back but is fully prepared to carry out what he believes God has asked.
  • The verse’s language connects the story to the broader theme of sacrifice in the Hebrew Bible, using words that would remind readers of later sacrificial practices.
  • Genesis 22:10 sets up the dramatic intervention that follows, making the reader feel the tension and gravity of the moment before God stops Abraham.

Where else these words appear

“knife” Hebrew H3979 · used in 4 verses

  • Genesis 22:6 And 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.
  • Judges 19:29 And when he was come into his house, he took a knife, and laid hold on his concubine, and divided her, together with her bones, into twelve pieces, and sent her into all the coasts of Israel.
  • Proverbs 30:14 There is a generation, whose teeth are as swords, and their jaw teeth as knives, to devour the poor from off the earth, and the needy from among men.

“slay” Hebrew H7819 · used in 70 verses

  • Genesis 37:31 And they took Joseph's coat, and killed a kid of the goats, and dipped the coat in the blood;
  • Leviticus 9:12 And he slew the burnt offering; and Aaron's sons presented unto him the blood, which he sprinkled round about upon the altar.
  • 2 Kings 10:14 And he said, Take them alive. And they took them alive, and slew them at the pit of the shearing house, even two and forty men; neither left he any of them.