Charts, Graphics and Short Doctrines

A Reasonably Literal Translation of Genesis 22:1–18

Isaac was a Type of Christ

The Parallels Between Abraham Offering Up Isaac and Jesus Offering Himself

Parallels between the Deaths of Jesus and Isaac, from the Bible Illustrator

The Offering of Isaac and Our Lord’s Sacrifice on the Cross

A Reasonably Literal Translation of Genesis 22:1–18

God tells Abraham to take his son Isaac and offer him as a burnt offering In the land of Moriah

And so it is after these things that the Elohim tested Abraham. Therefore He said to him, “Abraham;” and he replied, “Here [lit., behold] I [am].”

And God [lit., He] said, “Now take your son, your only son whom you have loved, Isaac, and go on behalf of yourself to the land of Moriah and cause him to ascend as though a burnt offering on one of the mountains which I will say to you.”

Abraham leads his son and two servants to Moriah

Therefore Abraham rose up early in the morning and he saddled his donkey and he took two of his youths with him along with [lit., and] Isaac his son. He cut the wood [for] a burnt offering and rose up and went toward the place which the Elohim had said to him. On the third day, Abraham lifted up his eyes and he saw the place from afar off.

Abraham and his son Isaac go alone to worship God

Then Abraham said to his young men, “You all remain by yourselves [lit., to you (all)] here with the donkey and let I and the lad go yonder and worship; and we should return unto you [all].”

So Abraham took the wood [for] the burnt offering and he placed it upon [the back of] Isaac, his son. Then he took the fire and the knife in his hand and they went both of them together.

Isaac asks Abraham “Where is the lamb?”

Then Isaac spoke to his father, saying, “My father.”

And he answered, “Behold, I [am listening], my son.”

And he asked, “Behold the fire and the wood, but where [is] the lamb for the burnt offering?”

Then Abraham said, “Elohim looks to Himself—the lamb for the burnt-offering, my son.”

Then the two of them [continued] walking together.

When they reach the proper place, Abraham builds and altar there and places Isaac onto the altar

They went to the place that Elohim had told him. Then Abraham built an altar there and he laid out, in order, the wood. Then he bound Isaac his son and placed him upon the altar from over towards the wood. Then Abraham reached out his hand and took the knife to sacrifice his son.

The Angel of Jehovah stops Abraham from sacrificing his son

Then a Messenger [or, Angel] of Y^ehowah called to him from the [two] heavens, saying, “Abraham, Abraham.”

And he answered, “Behold, I [am listening].”

And He said, “You will not reach out your hand against the boy and you will not do anything to him, for I now know that you [are] one who fears [and respects] Elohim and [that] you have not withheld from Me your son, your only [son].”

God provides the ram as a substitute for Isaac; Abraham calls that place Jehovah Jireh

Then Abraham lifted up his eyes and looked, and he saw [lit., behold] a ram behind [him] caught in the thicket by his horns. So Abraham went and he took the ram and he caused it to ascend for a burnt offering instead of his son.

Therefore, Abraham called the name of that place Y^ehowah Yireh, where it is said today, at the mountain, Y^ehowah will be seen [or, Y^ehowah will appear].

The promise of the Angel of Y^ehowah

Then the Angel of Y^ehowah called to Abraham a second [time] from the heavens, and He said, “By Myself I have sworn a declaration of Y^ehowah, because of what you did—this thing—and you did not withhold your son, your only [son]. For blessing, I will bless you and multiplying I will multiply your seed as the stars of the heavens and as the sand that [is] on the shore of the sea. Furthermore [lit., and], your Seed will possess the gate of His enemies. At the same time, all nations of the earth will bless themselves by means of your Seed because you have listened to [and obeyed] My voice.”

Most of this doctrine is taken from the Blue Letter Bible site.

Isaac was a Type of Christ

1.       Both Isaac and Christ were children of promise. Gen 15:4 Isa 7:14

2.       The birth of both was pre-announced. Gen 18:10 Luke 1:30-31

3.       Both were named before their birth. Isaac in Gen 17:19 and Jesus in Matt. 1:21 and Luke 1:31

4.       The birth of both was contrary to nature. Sarah was barren all of her life and Isaac was born to her past the age of giving birth (Gen 11:30). Mary was a virgin (Matt. 1:18-20).

5.       When these births were prophesied, they were received with skepticism. Gen. 17:17 18:12 Luke 1:34

6.       These births occurred at the proper time in history. Gen. 21:2 Gal. 4:4

7.       Both are called an only son. Gen 22:2 (Heb 11:17) John 3:16

8.       Both were mocked and persecuted by their own kindred. Gen 21:9-10 Gal. 4:28-29 Matt. 27:29

9.       Neither Isaac nor Christ had transgressed the law that they should be offered up. Gen 22:2 Matt. 27:24

10.     As Isaac carried the wood on which he was to die, so Christ carried his own cross. Gen 22:6 John 19:17

11.     As Isaac went willingly to the "altar," so Christ went willingly to the "cross." Gen. 22:9 John 10:17

12.     Both were given up or forsaken by his father. Gen 22:12 Matt. 27:46

13.     Both rose from the place of death in resurrection (actually, Abraham expected that this would happen if he killed his son). Heb 11:17-19 Matt. 28:6

14.     The seed of Isaac would be multiplied throughout the world (Gen. 22:17); through Jesus, many sons of God would be born (John 1:12 Heb. 2:10).

Points taken from: http://www.blueletterbible.org/study/larkin/dt/28.cfm accessed July 30, 2013. This is also found here: http://www.altogetherlovely.org/downloads/11.%20TYPES%20IN%20THE%20BIBLE.pdf accessed July 30, 2013.

This table can be replaced by the other one.

The Parallels Between Abraham Offering Up Isaac and Jesus Offering Himself

Abraham Offering Up Isaac

Jesus Offering Up Himself

Isaac is Abraham’s uniquely-born son.

Jesus is the uniquely-born Son of God the Father.

This was discussed in great detail in the exegesis of Gen. 18:11. How Isaac's Unusual Birth Foreshadowed the Birth of Our Lord (HTML) (PDF) (WPD).

Isaac is the son loved by Abraham. Gen. 22:2

God love His Son. Matt. 3:17 John 3:35 5:20 17:24

This was done by the edict of God. Gen. 22:3

This was done by the edict of God. Acts 2:23

Abraham appears to be offering Isaac from a mountain. Gen. 22:14

Jesus will be crucified upon Mount Golgotha. Matt. 27:33 Mark 15:22 John 19:17

This was a one-time thing. God never asked Abraham or anyone else ever again to offer up their son to Him.

Jesus Christ died once for all mankind. Heb. 7:27 1Peter 3:18

Isaac asks, “Where is the lamb?” Gen. 22:7

Jesus is the Lamb of God. John 1:29, 36

Then Abraham said, “Elohim looks to Himself [for] the lamb for the burnt-offering, my son.” (Gen. 22:8a).

Associated with this offering of Isaac was the substitutionary offering of the ram. Gen. 22:13

Jesus died as our substitute. Heb. 7:27 1Peter 2:24

Let’s add to this that the 3 days’ journey represents our Lord’s 3 year public ministry.

God sets up such parallels over and over again, so that we can look at the Old Testament, and then we can look at Jesus, and see that God foreshadows His death and resurrection.

This is the brief comparison; it will be expanded upon further down in this study.

Most commentaries offer up a set of parallels like this.

Parallels between the Deaths of Jesus and Isaac, from the Bible Illustrator

1.       The description of the sacrifice which was given. "Thy son, thine only son Isaac, whom thou lovest." How naturally our thoughts are led by this language to Jesus, the only-begotten Son of God, the Son of His delight, His dearly beloved Son.

2.       He was to be presented as a sacrifice (Genesis 22:1-2, &c). Here again we are directly led to Jesus. He came to be a sacrifice.

3.       He was to be devoted and sacrificed by his Father. To Abraham God said, "Take now thy son," &c. Jesus was God's gift to the world.

4.       He was to be offered on mount Moriah. To this spot, with his father, he travelled for three days, &c. Near the same spot--on Calvary, Jesus was sacrificed for the sin of the world.

5.       Isaac bare the wood, which was designed to burn the offering. Christ also bare the cross on which He was to be crucified.

6.       Isaac freely submitted to be bound and tied upon the altar. Jesus voluntarily went forth to death, and freely surrendered his spirit into the hands of his Father. But here the typical resemblance terminates. For Isaac a substitute is provided.

From http://www.studylight.org/commentaries/tbi/view.cgi?bk=0&ch=21 accessed September 7, 2014.

Compared to the chapters in the Bible spent on Abraham, Jacob and Joseph, there is relatively little time spent on Isaac. However, there are two things which are emphasized in the book of Genesis about Isaac: his birth and his being very nearly sacrificed here in Gen. 22. Isaac’s birth points directly to the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ and Abraham’s willingness to sacrifice Isaac foretells our Lord’s sacrifice on the cross. Isaac was a type of Christ in his birth and he was a type of Christ when being offered as a sacrifice.

Somehow, Abraham or Isaac knew (whichever man authored this portion of Genesis), as guided by God the Holy Spirit, that this is what we needed to know about Isaac. Nearly every single verse in Gen. 22 finds fulfillment in Jesus Christ and His being offered for our sins.

This is one of the most complete doctrines on the offering of Isaac (the type) and the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross (the antitype). There will be nearly 50 parallels presented below.

The Offering of Isaac and Our Lord’s Sacrifice on the Cross

The Offering of Isaac

The Offering of Jesus Christ

We have already examined the parallels in their births. Isaac is a uniquely-born son, born of a promise made to his father, which birth was outside of the laws of nature and, of course, a great surprise to his mother. Gen. 22:2

Our Lord is the Uniquely-Born Son of God, born of a promise made to all mankind, Whose birth was outside the laws of nature, and, which birth was a great surprise to his mother. John 3:16

This was discussed in great detail in the exegesis of Gen. 18:11. How Isaac's Unusual Birth Foreshadowed the Birth of Our Lord (HTML) (PDF) (WPD).

Abraham is specifically told in advance to sacrifice his son. Gen. 22:2

Jesus Christ was ordained from eternity past by God the Father to die for our sins. 1Peter 1:20

Although Abraham has fathered a son by Hagar (who no longer lives at his compound), God still refers to Isaac as Abraham’s only son in Gen. 22:2, 16. This is the first occurrence of this word, and it is applied to Isaac where he is required to be a burnt offering to God.

This same word only is applied prophetically to Jesus Christ on the cross: in Zech. 12:10 "And I will pour out on the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem a spirit of grace and pleas for mercy, so that, when they look on Me, on Him Whom they have pierced, they shall mourn for Him, as one mourns for an only child, and weep bitterly over Him, as one weeps over a firstborn.” (ESV, capitalized)

We are told specifically that Abraham is to offer up the son whom he loves. Gen. 22:2

God the Father loves God the Son, Whom is offered up for our sins. Isa. 53:5–6 John 3:35 5:20 2Cor. 5:21

This was done by the edict of God. Gen. 22:3

This was done by the edict of God. Acts 2:23

God only asks one man—Abraham—on once occasion only, to offer up his son as a sacrifice. God never asks anyone to do this again. The offering of Isaac is a unique occurrence in Scripture and in human history. It is a one-time event, never to be repeated. Gen. 22:1–2

The offering of Jesus Christ for our sins is a unique occurrence in human history. For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, that He might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive in the spirit (1Peter 3:18). So also the Messiah, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for Him (Heb. 9:28; HCSB). See also Heb. 7:27

Isaac is the son of promise.

Jesus is the Son of Promise.

Isaac is the seed God promised to Abraham.

Jesus is the Seed promised to Abraham.

The offering is made on a hill in the vicinity of Moriah. Gen. 22:2

The offering is made on a hill in the vicinity of Moriah. Matt. 21:10

Abraham appears to be offering Isaac from a mountain (possibly Mount Golgotha). Gen. 22:14

Jesus will be crucified upon Mount Golgotha. Matt. 27:33 Mark 15:22 John 19:17

A donkey was brought to the place of sacrifice. Gen. 22:3

A donkey was brought to the place of sacrifice. Matt. 21:2–11

Wood was carried to the sacrifice. Gen. 22:6

Our Lord carried probably the top section of the cross to where He was offered up. John 19:17

Isaac carried the wood which would be used in the sacrifice. Gen. 22:6

Jesus carried his wood (the cross) to where He would be crucified. John 19:17

The father carries the instruments which represent judgment—the knife and the fire. The fire speaks of judgment and the knife speaks of the execution of God’s justice. Gen. 22:6

The Father judged the Son on the cross. Isa. 53:4–5, 10 Rom. 8:3 ` 2Cor. 5:21

Two men are brought to the sacrifice. Gen. 22:3

Jesus was hung between two thieves on crosses. Mark 15:27 Luke 23:32–33

Isaac was to be offered as a burnt offering. Burning is always associated with judgment (Gen. 22:2).

Jesus Christ was judged for our sins (Rom. 4:25 5:8, 10).

It appears that Isaac consented to being lifted and tied up as an offering. If he was old enough to carry all of the wood needed for a sacrifice, then he was old enough to resist his father.

Jesus willingly went to the cross. As a Member of the Godhead, He was able to resist His Father.

Isaac went willingly (Gen. 22:3).

Jesus Christ offered Himself willingly (Luke 22:42).

Isaac allowed himself to be bound to the altar, on top of the wood. Abraham was over 100 years old at this time and would not have been stronger than Isaac (Gen. 22:9).

Jesus was also bound (Matt. 27:2). Jesus willingly allowed Himself to be nailed to the cross and crucified, even though He could have destroyed His persecutors there with the word of His mouth (Matt. 26:64 Heb. 1:2–3).

Isaac was bound to the altar, upon the wood (Gen. 22:9).

Jesus Christ was bound to the cross, often called the wood in the New Testament (Acts 5:30 10:39 Peter 2:24 ).

Abraham the father, offered up his son, Isaac.

God the Father offered up His Son, Jesus Christ.

Isaac, the one to be offered, specifically carried the wood to the site of his sacrifice. Gen. 22:6

Jesus, the One to be offered, carried a portion of the wood, partway to where He would be crucified. John 19:17

The son Isaac was offered up on the wood. Genesis 22:9

Jesus, the Son of God, was offered up on the wood. Luke 23:33

Because Isaac was a young man, this would have required his obedience.

Going to the cross required the obedience of Jesus Christ. Luke 22:42 Philip. 2:8

Two men went with Abraham and Isaac. Genesis 22:3

Two men were on crosses next to Jesus. Mark 15:27 Luke 23:33

It was a 3-day journey to the place of the sacrifice. Genesis 22:4

Although Jesus spends 3 days in the grave (Luke 24:13-21), I believe, however, this to be analogous to our Lord’s 3-year ministry.

Isaac asks, “Where is the lamb?” Gen. 22:7

Jesus is the Lamb of God. John 1:29, 36

Then Abraham said, “Elohim looks to Himself—the lamb—for the burnt-offering, my son.” (Gen. 22:8a).

Gen. 21 is about the birth of Isaac; and Gen. 22 is the offering of Isaac. This information is presented first; and is, therefore, the most fundamental.

The purpose of Jesus was to go to the cross and die for our sins. This is the purpose of the 1^st Advent. Apart from that, we are not saved. Isa. 53:4–5, 10–11 1John 5:12

Abraham willingly offered up his own son as a sacrifice, binding his feet, laying him on the altar and taking the knife to slit his throat. Gen. 22:9–10, 12

God willingly offers His Son. Rom. 8:32 [God] did not spare his own Son but gave Him up for us all, how will He not also with Him graciously give us all things? (ESV; capitalized)

Abraham offering up his son involves two people: Abraham and Isaac. There is no one else involved in this worship.

When Jesus paid for our sins, there were only two entities involves: God the Father and God the Son. In act, Golgotha was made dark so that no one could see God the Father judge our sins in God the Son.

There are only two people who actually observe this incident: Abraham (the father) and Isaac (the son).

Because God covered Golgotha with darkness, only two observed the cross: God the Father and Jesus the Son.

Abraham does not withhold his son from God. Gen. 22:12

God does not withhold His only Son. He did not even spare His own Son but offered Him up for us all; how will He not also with Him grant us everything? (Rom. 8:32, HCSB) See also John 3:16

It is God Who provides the sacrifice. Genesis 22:8

It is God Who provides the sacrifice. John 1:29

God provided a substitute for Isaac, a ram who had been caught by his horns in a bush nearby (Gen. 22:13).

Jesus Christ dies as a substitute for our sins (Rom. 5:8 1Cor. 5:7).

The place where Abraham was to offer up Isaac is named Jehovah will provide (Gen. 22:14).

Our salvation is completely the provision of God. We do nothing to secure our salvation; we can only believe in order to take that which God has provided for us (Eph. 2:8–9 Titus 3:5).

God would see of the willingness of Abraham to offer up his son and be satisfied. Gen. 22:14–17

God would see the sacrifice of His Son and be satisfied. Out of the anguish of His soul He shall see and be satisfied... (Isa. 53:11). And Then He said, “Behold, I have come to do Your will, O God.” By which will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all (Heb. 10:9a, 10). Also see Luke 22:42

Abraham was obedient to God, ready to offer up His Son. Gen. 22:12

Jesus Christ was obedient to the death of the cross. Philip. 2:8

Isaac was restrained and placed upon the wood. Gen. 22:9

Jesus was fastened to the wood. Luke 23:33

Abraham offers his own son to God (actually, he is about to offer up his son).

God offers His Own Son for Abraham (and for all mankind).

God requiring Abraham offer up his son presents Abraham with a dichotomy: on the one hand, God is asking for the sacrifice of his son; on the other hand, all of God’s promises to Abraham are fulfilled in his son.

God offering up His Own Son seemingly is a dichotomy: on the one hand, God requires the sacrifice of His Son for our sins; on the other hand, all of God’s promises to man are fulfilled in His Son.

The place where Abraham was to offer up Isaac is named Jehovah will provide (Gen. 22:14).

Our salvation is completely the provision of God. We do nothing to secure our salvation; we can only believe in order to take that which God has provided for us (Eph. 2:8–9 Titus 3:5).

Great blessing is associated with the offering of Isaac (Gen. 22:17–18).

Great blessing is associated with the offering of Jesus Christ for our sins (Rom. 4:6–8).

The people of all nations would be blessed through Abraham and his offering of Isaac (Gen. 22:18).

The people of all nations are blessed by the offering of Jesus Christ (Rom. 4:9 Rev. 19:9 20:6).

Abraham knew that Isaac would rise again from this offering. He told his servant, “We will return.” (Gen. 22:5).

Jesus Christ did not remain a dead offering; He rose from the dead (Matt. 28).

All of God’s promises made to Abraham are based upon Isaac. Still God requires the sacrifice of Isaac. Gen. 13:16 Heb. 11:17–18

All of God’s promises to us are based upon His Son, Jesus. Still, God requires the sacrifice of Jesus. Isa. 53:10–11 1Cor. 1:30 Col. 2:8–10

Abraham expected that God would resurrect Isaac from the dead. Heb. 11:17–19

This foreshadows God the Father raising Jesus from the dead. Acts 2:24, 32 Gal. 1:1

There is clearly a substitutionary death here. The ram is offered up instead of Isaac. Gen. 22:13

There is clearly a substitutionary death here. The Son of God is offered up on our behalf. Isa. 53:4–5 2Cor. 5:21 Gal. 3:13 Heb. 7:27 10:5–10 1Peter 2:24 3:18

The ram’s horns are caught in thicket of thorns. Genesis 22:13

Jesus wore a crown of thorns. John 19:2

This in itself is symbolic. The word horn is found throughout the Old and New Testaments as a symbol of power and authority. Being caught in a thicket of thorns of wearing a crown of thorns is relinquishing that authority to suffer on the earth.

After this offering, Isaac is still alive. (Gen. 22:5, 19). Abraham had assumed that, if he killed Isaac as a sacrifice, that God would raise him up from the dead (Heb. 11:17–19).

Jesus was resurrected from the dead after He offered Himself for our sins. Heb. 10:12–13

Heb 11:19 He considered God to be able even to raise someone from the dead, from which Abraham also got Isaac back as an illustration. This is the only verse that I am aware of where the offering of Isaac is seen as typical of the offering of Jesus.

Isaac’s seed would be multiplied. Genesis 22:17

Jesus is the firstborn of many sons (John 1:12 Isaiah 53:10). His offering would justify the many (Isa. 53:11).

Isaac’s seed would triumph over all of his enemies. Gen. 22:17 24:60

The cross is the basis for the triumph of Jesus Christ over all of His enemies [Operation Footstool (HTML) (PDF) (WPD)]. Psalm 110:1 Luke 20:43 Acts 2:35 Heb. 10:13

The nations of the earth would be blessed because of this offering of Isaac. Gen. 22:18

The people of the earth are blessed because Jesus died for our sins. By His knowledge shall the Righteous One, My Servant, make many to be accounted righteous, and He shall bear their iniquities (Isa. 53:11b) See also Psalm 72:17 Gal. 3:8–9, 28–29

Servant gets bride for son. Genesis 24:1-4

God would provide a bride (the church) for Jesus. Eph. 5:22-32 Rev. 21:2, 9; 22:17

The bride was a beautiful virgin Genesis 24:16

The bride of Christ is a beautiful virgin. 2Cor. 11:2

Whereas, we could easily overlook 2 or 3 parallels in this instance, and write if off as coincidence, it is hard to look at over 30 parallels between the offering of Isaac and the crucifixion of Jesus Christ without concluding that God reveals the crucifixion through this offering.

The more you know about the Bible, the more you appreciate it and come to believe that it is the Word of God. Few people who believe in Jesus Christ decide, the very next day, that the Bible is the infallible Word of God. However, as you learn more and more about what the Bible says, and more and more about its history, it becomes quite clear that parallels like these are more than some interesting set of coincidences, but additional proof that this is the Word of God.

Some of these parallels came from: http://www.ovrlnd.com/Teaching/Typology.html

http://www.godsholyspirit.com/christian_desk/isaac_jesus.html

http://www.studylight.org/commentaries/bcc/view.cgi?bk=0&ch=22 all accessed December 10, 2014 or earlier.