By faith Abraham, when he was tried, offered up Isaac: and he that had received the promises offered up his only begotten son,
Tried, х peirazomenos (G3985)] - 'tempted,' as in Genesis 22:1. Put to the proof of his faith. Not that God 'tempts' to sin, but in the sense proves (James 1:13-15).
Offered up, х proseneenochen (G4374)] - 'hath offered up,' as if the work and its praise were yet enduring (Alford). In intention he did sacrifice Isaac; in actual fact he "offered" him, as far as the presentation to God is concerned.
And - and so.
He that had received, х anadexamenos (G324)] - 'accepted;' i:e., welcomed by faith: not merely "had the He that had received, х anadexamenos (G324)] - 'accepted;' i:e., welcomed by faith: not merely "had the promises," as Hebrews 7:6. The difficulty to faith was, that in Isaac's posterity the promises were to be fulfilled. How could this be if Isaac were sacrificed?
Offered up, х proseferen (G4374)] - 'was offering up:' was in the act of offering.
His only-begotten son (cf. Genesis 22:2). Eusebius ('Praeparatio Evangelica,' 1: 10 and 4: 16) has preserved a fragment of a Greek translation of Sanchoniatho, which mentions a mystical sacrifice of the Phoenicians, wherein a prince in royal robes was the offerer, and his only son the victim: evidently a tradition derived from Abraham's offering, handed down through Esau or Edom, Isaac's son. Isaac was Abraham's "only-begotten son" in respect of Sarah and the promises; he sent away his other sons by other wives (Genesis 25:6). Abraham is a type of the Father not sparing His only-begotten Son to fulfill the divine purpose of love. God allowed no human sacrifices, though He claimed the first-born of Israel as His (cf. 2 Kings 3:27).