Accounting that God was able to raise him up, even from the dead; from whence also he received him in a figure.
Faith answered the objections which reason brought against God's command to offer Isaac, by suggesting that what God promised He both can and will perform, however impossible it seem (Romans 4:20-21).
Able to raise him - rather, general, 'able to raise from the dead.' Compare Romans 4:17. The quickening of Sarah's dead womb suggested that God can raise even the dead, though no instance had as yet occurred.
He received him in a figure - Greek, 'in a parable.' Alford, 'Received him back, risen from that death which he had undergone under the figure of the ram.' Rather (Gregory of Nyssa), the figure is the representation which the scene gave to Abraham of Christ in His death (typified by Isaac's offering in intention, and the ram's actual substitution, answering to Christ's vicarious death), and in His resurrection (typified by Abraham's receiving him back from the jaws of death: cf. 2 Corinthians 1:9-10); as on the day of atonement the slain goat and the scape-goat together formed one joint rite, representing Christ's death and resurrection. It was then that Abraham saw Christ's day (John 8:56). 'From which state (namely, that of the dead) he received him back in the way of [so en (G1722) is used, Hebrews 4:11] a tupe of the resurrection in Christ.'