Hebrews 11:17

By faith. See on verses 1, 3.

Abraham. For the record of the experience here referred to see Genesis 22:1-9.

Tried. Or, “tested.” The account of this experience in Genesis begins with the statement that “God did tempt [test] Abraham” (Genesis 22:1). To be sure, God knew in advance what Abraham would do, and the test was not necessary so far as God’s information about Abraham was concerned. But Abraham needed to go through this trying experience in order that his faith might reach maturity. It was the crowning experience of his life.

Offered up Isaac. See Genesis 22:1-19.

Only begotten. Greek monogenes, literally, “unique,” “only” (see on John 1:14). Numerically speaking, Isaac was not Abraham’s “only begotten,” or even his first begotten. Isaac was Abraham’s “only” son in the unique sense that he was the only one of Abraham’s children eligible to be the covenant heir (see on verse 18).