Genesis – Chapter 22

Old Testament24 Verses

Chapter Summary

"After these things, God tempted Abraham, and said to him: Abraham, Abraham. And he answered: Here I am." — so begins Genesis 22. The chapter centers on Abraham, Isaac and Rebekah. Across its 24 verses, two threads run through the text: family and covenant relationships and worship and praise. The Church invites us to read this chapter within the whole sweep of salvation history, where every page points toward Christ.

1After these things, God tempted Abraham, and said to him: Abraham, Abraham. And he answered: Here I am.

2He said to him: Take thy only begotten son Isaac, whom thou lovest, and go into the land of vision; and there thou shalt offer him for an holocaust upon one of the mountains which I will shew thee.

3So Abraham rising up in the night, saddled his ass, and took with him two young men, and Isaac his son: and when he had cut wood for the holocaust, he went his way to the place which God had commanded him.

4And on the third day, lifting up his eyes, he saw the place afar off.

5And he said to his young men: Stay you here with the ass; I and the boy will go with speed as far as yonder, and after we have worshipped, will return to you.

6And he took the wood for the holocaust, and laid it upon Isaac his son; and he himself carried in his hands fire and a sword. And as they two went on together,

7Isaac said to his father: My father. And he answered: What wilt thou, son? Behold, saith he, fire and wood: where is the victim for the holocaust?

8And Abraham said: God will provide himself a victim for an holocaust, my son. So they went on together.

9And they came to the place which God had shewn him, where he built an altar, and laid the wood in order upon it; and when he had bound Isaac his son, he laid him on the altar upon the pile of wood.

10And he put forth his hand, and took the sword, to sacrifice his son.

11And behold, an angel of the Lord from heaven called to him, saying: Abraham, Abraham. And he answered: Here I am.

12And he said to him: Lay not thy hand upon the boy, neither do thou any thing to him: now I know that thou fearest God, and hast not spared thy only begotten son for my sake.

13Abraham lifted up his eyes, and saw behind his back a ram, amongst the briers, sticking fast by the horns, which he took and offered for a holocaust instead of his son.

14And he called the name of that place, The Lord seeth. Whereupon, even to this day, it is said: In the mountain the Lord will see.

15And the angel of the Lord called to Abraham a second time from heaven, saying:

16By my own self have I sworn, saith the Lord: because thou hast done this thing, and hast not spared thy only begotten son for my sake:

17I will bless thee, and I will multiply thy seed as the stars of heaven, and as the sand that is by the sea shore; thy seed shall possess the gates of their enemies.

18And in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed, because thou hast obeyed my voice.

19Abraham returned to his young men, and they went to Bersabee together, and he dwelt there.

20After these things, it was told Abraham, that Melcha also had borne children to Nachor his brother.

21Hus, the firstborn, and Buz, his brother, and Camuel the father of the Syrians,

22And Cased, and Azau, and Pheldas, and Jedlaph,

23And Bathuel, of whom was born Rebecca: these eight did Melcha bear to Nachor, Abraham's brother.

24And his concubine, named Roma, bore Tabee, and Gaham, and Tahas, and Maacha.

Important Verses in Genesis 22

After these things, God tempted Abraham, and said to him: Abraham, Abraham. And he answered: Here I am.

Genesis 22:1

And Abraham said: God will provide himself a victim for an holocaust, my son. So they went on together.

Genesis 22:8

And behold, an angel of the Lord from heaven called to him, saying: Abraham, Abraham. And he answered: Here I am.

Genesis 22:11

And the angel of the Lord called to Abraham a second time from heaven, saying:

Genesis 22:15

Historical Context

As a Old Testament book, Genesis was written with the people of Israel, to root their identity in God's creation and the covenant with the patriarchs in view. Chapter 22 of 50 stands in the central portion of the book, where decisive events or teachings take shape. It is a narrative passage recounting concrete events in salvation history with 24 verses in the Douay-Rheims translation. The chapter focuses on Abraham, Isaac and Rebekah, whose actions and words drive the passage forward. It opens with the line: "After these things, God tempted Abraham, and said to him: Abraham, Abraham. And he answered: Here I am." The chapter ends with: "And his concubine, named Roma, bore Tabee, and Gaham, and Tahas, and Maacha. " In terms of historical background, Genesis was composed to give Israel its foundational identity: one God created all things good, sin entered through human choice, and God responded with a plan of salvation beginning with Abraham. Scholarly and ecclesial tradition places the composition of Genesis around Traditions reaching back to the 2nd millennium BC, compiled in final form between the 10th and 5th centuries BC.

Who Wrote It

Traditionally attributed to Moses; Catholic scholarship recognizes the work of inspired editors drawing on ancient oral and written traditions

When It Was Written

Traditions reaching back to the 2nd millennium BC, compiled in final form between the 10th and 5th centuries BC

Catholic Commentary

The literal sense of Genesis 22 presents a concrete episode in the history of creation, covenant, and the patriarchs. A pivotal line is verse 1: "After these things, God tempted Abraham, and said to him: Abraham, Abraham. And he answered: Here I am." The passage repeatedly touches on family and covenant relationships.

The Church teaches that every passage of Scripture must be read in light of Christ and the Magisterium (CIC 1431). Here, the Catechism teaches that Genesis reveals God's plan of salvation from the beginning (CIC 54-64). The spiritual sense invites believers to recognize family and covenant relationships as part of God's pedagogy of salvation.

The moral and spiritual import remains timely: The family is the first school of faith, where love, obedience, and forgiveness are learned.. St. Jerome insisted that ignorance of Scripture is ignorance of Christ; this chapter offers material for meditation, examination of conscience, and deeper love of God.

Main Teachings

  • The family is the first school of faith, where love, obedience, and forgiveness are learned.
  • Worship is the heart of the covenant: giving God the praise and adoration that are His due.
  • Love of God and love of neighbor sum up the whole law and reveal the very nature of God.

People in This Chapter

Abraham12 mentionsIsaac5 mentionsRebekah1 mention

Reflection for Today

Genesis Chapter 22, the Binding of Isaac (Akedah), is one of the most profound and challenging passages in Scripture. Catholic theology sees in Abraham's willingness to sacrifice his son a prefigurement of God the Father offering His only Son for the salvation of the world (CIC 2572). The Church Fathers extensively developed this typology—Isaac carrying the wood up the mountain prefigures Christ carrying His cross.

Abraham's response to Isaac's question—"God will provide the lamb"—is prophetic. The ram caught in the thicket points forward to Christ, the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world. The Catechism teaches that this chapter reveals the depths of Abraham's faith and obedience, which become the model for all believers (CIC 145).

The location of this event, Mount Moriah, is traditionally identified with the Temple Mount in Jerusalem, where Solomon would build the Temple and where Christ would offer Himself on the cross. This geographical connection underscores the unity of salvation history. God's solemn oath, swearing by Himself since there is none greater, guarantees the fulfillment of His promises. This chapter teaches us that true faith holds nothing back from God, trusting that He will provide even when we cannot see how.

💡Catholic Reflection • Church Teachings

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Genesis Chapter 22 about?

Genesis 22 contains 24 verses. It opens with "After these things, God tempted Abraham, and said to him: Abraham, Abraham. And he answered: Here I am." and closes with "And his concubine, named Roma, bore Tabee, and Gaham, and Tahas, and Maacha. ". The book as a whole is narrative with genealogies and covenant accounts.

What is a key verse in Genesis 22?

One of the most significant verses is verse 1: "After these things, God tempted Abraham, and said to him: Abraham, Abraham. And he answered: Here I am." It is often cited in Catholic teaching and preaching.

Who appears in Genesis Chapter 22?

This chapter mentions Abraham, Isaac, Rebekah.

Who wrote Genesis and when?

Traditionally attributed to Moses; Catholic scholarship recognizes the work of inspired editors drawing on ancient oral and written traditions. Traditions reaching back to the 2nd millennium BC, compiled in final form between the 10th and 5th centuries BC.

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