Genesis 22:5 Meaning: The Hope in Abraham's 'We Will Return'

Two Hebrew words carry the weight of Abraham's confidence.

The word for 'worship' here is shachah, which means to bow down or prostrate oneself. It is the usual word for the reverence we give to God. But Abraham uses it for what he intends to do on that mountain, which includes building an altar, binding his son, and raising a knife. He calls it worship, because even this impossible act is directed toward God.

Then there is the word for 'come back': shuv. Abraham says 'we will return.' He does not say 'I will return alone.' The verb is plural, and it is a confident declaration. He expects both of them to walk back down that mountain. The writer of Hebrews explains why: Abraham believed God could raise Isaac from the dead. So his 'we will return' was not wishful thinking. It was the grammar of resurrection hope, spoken before anyone had ever come back from the dead.

Christian readers across traditions have been struck by Abraham's 'we will come back.' Many see it as evidence of his faith in the resurrection. Matthew Henry called it an example of 'obedient faith', Abraham trusted God even when he could not see how the promise would hold. Methodists like Adam Clarke pointed directly to Hebrews 11:19: Abraham concluded God could raise the dead. Anglican writers note that the passage also teaches something about God himself: unlike the gods of surrounding nations, the God of Abraham does not demand child sacrifice. What all traditions share is the sense that Abraham's words point beyond the immediate terror to a hope that rests in God's character.

Some readers think Abraham deceived his servants by saying 'we will come back' when he knew he was going to sacrifice Isaac. In fact, Abraham was not lying. He meant exactly what he said. He believed God would keep His promise to make Isaac the father of many nations, even if that required raising him from the dead. Hebrews 11:19 later confirms this. Abraham's words were an honest expression of faith, not a cover-up.

This week, you may face a moment when following God seems to put His own promises at risk. Maybe a job move that threatens security, a hard conversation that could break a relationship, or a sacrifice that feels like it costs too much. Abraham's words offer a way forward: he calls it worship, and he expects to return. You do not need to see how it will end. You only need to trust the One who knows. He is faithful. He will keep His word.