Genesis 22:16
New International Version
and said, “I swear by myself, declares the LORD, that because you have done this and have not withheld your son, your only son,

New Living Translation
“This is what the LORD says: Because you have obeyed me and have not withheld even your son, your only son, I swear by my own name that

English Standard Version
and said, “By myself I have sworn, declares the LORD, because you have done this and have not withheld your son, your only son,

Berean Standard Bible
saying, “By Myself I have sworn, declares the LORD, that because you have done this and have not withheld your only son,

King James Bible
And 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:

New King James Version
and said: “By Myself I have sworn, says the LORD, because you have done this thing, and have not withheld your son, your only son

New American Standard Bible
and said, “By Myself I have sworn, declares the LORD, because you have done this thing and have not withheld your son, your only son,

NASB 1995
and said, “By Myself I have sworn, declares the LORD, because you have done this thing and have not withheld your son, your only son,

NASB 1977
and said, “By Myself I have sworn, declares the LORD, because you have done this thing, and have not withheld your son, your only son,

Legacy Standard Bible
and said, “By Myself I have sworn, declares Yahweh, because you have done this thing and have not spared your son, your only one,

Amplified Bible
and said, “By Myself (on the basis of Who I Am) I have sworn [an oath], declares the LORD, that since you have done this thing and have not withheld [from Me] your son, your only son [of promise],

Christian Standard Bible
and said, “By myself I have sworn,” this is the LORD’s declaration: “Because you have done this thing and have not withheld your only son,

Holman Christian Standard Bible
and said, “By Myself I have sworn,” this is the LORD’s declaration: “Because you have done this thing and have not withheld your only son,

American Standard Version
and said, By myself have I sworn, saith Jehovah, because thou hast done this thing, and hast not withheld thy son, thine only son,

Contemporary English Version
You were willing to offer your only son to the LORD, and so he makes you this solemn promise,

English Revised Version
and said, By myself have I sworn, saith the LORD, because thou hast done this thing, and hast not withheld thy son, thine only son:

GOD'S WORD® Translation
and said, "I am taking an oath on my own name, declares the LORD, that because you have done this and have not refused to give me your son, your only son,

Good News Translation
"I make a vow by my own name--the LORD is speaking--that I will richly bless you. Because you did this and did not keep back your only son from me,

International Standard Version
and said, "I have taken an oath to swear by myself," declares the LORD, "that since you have carried this out and have not withheld your only unique son,

Majority Standard Bible
saying, “By Myself I have sworn, declares the LORD, that because you have done this and have not withheld your only son,

NET Bible
and said, "'I solemnly swear by my own name,' decrees the LORD, 'that because you have done this and have not withheld your son, your only son,

New Heart English Bible
and said, "I have sworn by myself, "says the LORD, "because you have done this thing, and have not withheld your son, your only son, from me,

Webster's Bible Translation
And said, By myself have I sworn, saith the LORD, for because thou hast done this thing, and hast not withheld thy son, thy only son:

World English Bible
and said, “‘I have sworn by myself,’ says Yahweh, ‘because you have done this thing, and have not withheld your son, your only son,
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
and says, “I have sworn by Myself—a declaration of YHWH—that because you have done this thing, and have not withheld your son, your only one,

Young's Literal Translation
and saith, 'By Myself I have sworn -- the affirmation of Jehovah -- that because thou hast done this thing, and hast not withheld thy son, thine only one --

Smith's Literal Translation
And he will say, By myself did I swear, says Jehovah, for because that thou didst this word, and didst not spare thy son, thine only.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
By 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:

Catholic Public Domain Version
“By my own self, I have sworn, says the Lord. Because you have done this thing, and have not spared your only begotten son for my sake,

New American Bible
and said: “I swear by my very self—oracle of the LORD—that because you acted as you did in not withholding from me your son, your only one,

New Revised Standard Version
and said, “By myself I have sworn, says the LORD: Because you have done this, and have not withheld your son, your only son,
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
And said, I have sworn by myself, says the LORD, for because you have done this thing and have not withheld your son, your only son, from me,

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And he said, “By myself I have sworn, says LORD JEHOVAH, because you have made this response and you have not kept back your son, your only one, from me:
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
and said: 'By Myself have I sworn, saith the LORD, because thou hast done this thing, and hast not withheld thy son, thine only son,

Brenton Septuagint Translation
I have sworn by myself, says the Lord, because thou hast done this thing, and on my account hast not spared thy beloved son,

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
The Sacrifice Averted
15And the angel of the LORD called to Abraham from heaven a second time, 16saying, “By Myself I have sworn, declares the LORD, that because you have done this and have not withheld your only son, 17I will surely bless you, and I will multiply your descendants like the stars in the sky and the sand on the seashore. Your descendants will possess the gates of their enemies.…

Cross References
Hebrews 6:13-14
When God made His promise to Abraham, since He had no one greater to swear by, He swore by Himself, / saying, “I will surely bless you and multiply your descendants.”

James 2:21-23
Was not our father Abraham justified by what he did when he offered his son Isaac on the altar? / You see that his faith was working with his actions, and his faith was perfected by what he did. / And the Scripture was fulfilled that says, “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness,” and he was called a friend of God.

Romans 4:16-22
Therefore, the promise comes by faith, so that it may rest on grace and may be guaranteed to all Abraham’s offspring—not only to those who are of the law, but also to those who are of the faith of Abraham. He is the father of us all. / As it is written: “I have made you a father of many nations.” He is our father in the presence of God, in whom he believed, the God who gives life to the dead and calls into being what does not yet exist. / Against all hope, Abraham in hope believed and so became the father of many nations, just as he had been told, “So shall your offspring be.” ...

Galatians 3:16-18
The promises were spoken to Abraham and to his seed. The Scripture does not say, “and to seeds,” meaning many, but “and to your seed,” meaning One, who is Christ. / What I mean is this: The law that came 430 years later does not revoke the covenant previously established by God, so as to nullify the promise. / For if the inheritance depends on the law, then it no longer depends on a promise; but God freely granted it to Abraham through a promise.

Hebrews 11:17-19
By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac on the altar. He who had received the promises was ready to offer his one and only son, / even though God had said to him, “Through Isaac your offspring will be reckoned.” / Abraham reasoned that God could raise the dead, and in a sense, he did receive Isaac back from death.

Romans 8:32
He who did not spare His own Son but gave Him up for us all, how will He not also, along with Him, freely give us all things?

John 3:16
For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that everyone who believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.

Luke 1:73
the oath He swore to our father Abraham, to grant us

Acts 3:25
And you are sons of the prophets and of the covenant God made with your fathers when He said to Abraham, ‘Through your offspring all the families of the earth will be blessed.’

Galatians 3:8-9
The Scripture foresaw that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, and foretold the gospel to Abraham: “All nations will be blessed through you.” / So those who have faith are blessed along with Abraham, the man of faith.

Exodus 32:13
Remember Your servants Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, to whom You swore by Your very self when You declared, ‘I will make your descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky, and I will give your descendants all this land that I have promised, and it shall be their inheritance forever.’”

Genesis 12:2-3
I will make you into a great nation, and I will bless you; I will make your name great, so that you will be a blessing. / I will bless those who bless you and curse those who curse you; and all the families of the earth will be blessed through you.”

Genesis 15:5-6
And the LORD took him outside and said, “Now look to the heavens and count the stars, if you are able.” Then He told him, “So shall your offspring be.” / Abram believed the LORD, and it was credited to him as righteousness.

Genesis 17:16-19
And I will bless her and will surely give you a son by her. I will bless her, and she will be the mother of nations; kings of peoples will descend from her.” / Abraham fell facedown. Then he laughed and said to himself, “Can a child be born to a man who is a hundred years old? Can Sarah give birth at the age of ninety?” / And Abraham said to God, “O that Ishmael might live under Your blessing!” ...

Genesis 18:18
Abraham will surely become a great and powerful nation, and through him all the nations of the earth will be blessed.


Treasury of Scripture

And said, By myself have I sworn, said the LORD, for because you have done this thing, and have not withheld your son, your only son:

Genesis 12:2
And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing:

Psalm 105:9
Which covenant he made with Abraham, and his oath unto Isaac;

Isaiah 45:23
I have sworn by myself, the word is gone out of my mouth in righteousness, and shall not return, That unto me every knee shall bow, every tongue shall swear.

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Dearly Declares Kept Oath Swear Sworn Withheld
Genesis 22
1. Abraham is tested with the command to offer Isaac.
3. He gives proof of his faith and obedience.
11. The angel prevents him.
13. Isaac is exchanged for a ram.
14. The place is called Jehovah-jireh.
15. Abraham is again blessed.
20. The generations of Nahor unto Rebekah.














“By Myself I have sworn,”
This phrase is significant as it underscores the gravity and solemnity of God's promise. In the Hebrew text, the word for "sworn" is "נִשְׁבַּעְתִּי" (nishba'ti), which conveys a binding oath. In ancient Near Eastern culture, swearing by oneself was the highest form of oath, as there was no higher authority than God Himself. This reflects God's unchanging nature and His ultimate authority. The act of swearing by Himself indicates the certainty and seriousness of His promise to Abraham.

“declares the LORD,”
The use of "declares the LORD" emphasizes the divine authority behind the statement. The Hebrew word for "LORD" is "יְהוָה" (YHWH), the sacred and personal name of God, often rendered as Yahweh. This name is associated with God's covenantal faithfulness and His eternal presence. It is a reminder of God's personal relationship with Abraham and His commitment to fulfill His promises.

“that because you have done this”
This phrase highlights the conditional aspect of God's promise. Abraham's obedience in the preceding verses, where he was willing to sacrifice Isaac, is the catalyst for God's reaffirmation of His covenant. The Hebrew word for "done" is "עָשִׂיתָ" (asita), which implies action and completion. Abraham's faith was not just theoretical but demonstrated through his actions, which is a key theme in the narrative.

“and have not withheld your son, your only son,”
The repetition of "your son, your only son" emphasizes the magnitude of Abraham's sacrifice. The Hebrew word for "withheld" is "חָשַׂכְתָּ" (chasakta), meaning to hold back or restrain. This phrase underscores the depth of Abraham's faith and trust in God, as Isaac was the child of promise through whom God's covenant was to be fulfilled. The mention of "only son" also foreshadows the New Testament parallel of God not withholding His only Son, Jesus Christ, for the salvation of humanity.

(16) By myself have I sworn, saith the Lord (Jehovah).--This solemn interposition of an oath (Hebrews 6:17), of which the present is the sole instance in Holy Scripture, plainly indicates that this trial of Abraham's faith was of no common kind, and that its typical teaching is of no ordinary value. Abraham might have appealed to God's own attributes, and said, Far be it from thee, Lord, to command a human sacrifice, and bid a father slay his son. He might have pleaded the promises bound up with Isaac's life. But no, as soon as he is convinced that the command comes from God. he obeys, and, against hope, still believes that the promises will all be fulfilled in the sacrificed Isaac. He is thus the highest and most perfect example of faith, and by his offering of his son the Church received the assurance that the Son of God incarnate in the flesh would upon that very mountain offer the sacrifice Divinely necessary for the pardon of man's sins.

The blessing now given to Abraham differs from those that precede it in three particulars. First, it is no longer a promise, but a solemn compact ratified by an oath. Next, it assures Abraham's seed of victory, whereby the spiritual Israel is certified of the ultimate triumph of the Gospel. Lastly, it transfers to Abraham's offspring the promise of being the means of blessedness to all mankind.



Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
saying,
וַיֹּ֕אמֶר (way·yō·mer)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 559: To utter, say

“By Myself
בִּ֥י (bî)
Preposition | first person common singular
Strong's Hebrew

I have sworn,
נִשְׁבַּ֖עְתִּי (niš·ba‘·tî)
Verb - Nifal - Perfect - first person common singular
Strong's 7650: To seven oneself, swear

declares
נְאֻם־ (nə·’um-)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 5002: An oracle

the LORD,
יְהוָ֑ה (Yah·weh)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3068: LORD -- the proper name of the God of Israel

that
כִּ֗י (kî)
Conjunction
Strong's 3588: A relative conjunction

because
יַ֚עַן (ya·‘an)
Adverb
Strong's 3282: Heed, purpose, to indicate the reason, cause

you have done
עָשִׂ֙יתָ֙ (‘ā·śî·ṯā)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - second person masculine singular
Strong's 6213: To do, make

this
הַזֶּ֔ה (haz·zeh)
Article | Pronoun - masculine singular
Strong's 2088: This, that

and have not
וְלֹ֥א (wə·lō)
Conjunctive waw | Adverb - Negative particle
Strong's 3808: Not, no

withheld
חָשַׂ֖כְתָּ (ḥā·śaḵ·tā)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - second person masculine singular
Strong's 2820: To restrain, refrain, to refuse, spare, preserve, to observe

your only
יְחִידֶֽךָ׃ (yə·ḥî·ḏe·ḵā)
Adjective - masculine singular construct | second person masculine singular
Strong's 3173: United, sole, beloved, lonely, the life

son,
בִּנְךָ֥ (bin·ḵā)
Noun - masculine singular construct | second person masculine singular
Strong's 1121: A son


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OT Law: Genesis 22:16 And said I have sworn by myself (Gen. Ge Gn)
Genesis 22:15
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