Genesis 22:14 (KJV)

What does Genesis 22:14 mean?

Genesis 22:14 describes how Abraham named the place "Jehovahjireh," meaning "The LORD will provide," after God provided a ram as a substitute for Isaac. The verse explains that people continued to say, "In the mount of the LORD it shall be seen," pointing to God's provision at that specific location.

Abraham is the speaker in Genesis 22:14, responding to the dramatic moment when God stopped him from sacrificing his son Isaac and provided a ram instead. The act of naming the place marks the significance of God's intervention. The phrase "to this day" shows that the story and the saying about God's provision remained important for later generations who remembered what happened on that mountain.

The Hebrew behind Genesis 22:14

• יְהוָה יִרְאֶה (YHWH yir’eh, transliterated "Jehovahjireh"): This name means "The LORD will provide" or "The LORD will see." The word יִרְאֶה (yir’eh) comes from the verb "to see," which in this context carries the sense of "to see to it" or "to provide." This highlights that God not only sees needs but also acts to meet them.
• בְּהַר יְהוָה יֵרָאֶה (behar YHWH ye-ra’eh, "In the mount of the LORD it shall be seen"): The phrase uses the same verb for "seen" as in the name "Jehovahjireh," linking the place and the event. It suggests that God's provision or presence is something that can be witnessed or experienced at that location.

Why Genesis 22:14 matters

• Genesis 22:14 clarifies that the focus is on God's action—God provides at the crucial moment, not Abraham's willingness alone.
• The verse connects the specific event of God providing a ram for Abraham with a lasting lesson for future generations, showing that God's provision is not a one-time event but a continuing reality.
• The use of the phrase "to this day" and the naming of the place tie the story to a real location and ongoing tradition, grounding the narrative in history and memory for the people of Israel.