Akedah

Akedah, from Hebrew akédah meaning "binding," refers to the Binding of Isaac, a story in Genesis 22 that has been central in Jewish, Christian, and Islamic thought. The narrative describes God telling Abraham to take his son Isaac to the land of Moriah and offer him as a burnt offering.

Abraham complies, taking Isaac to the region designated by God. At the critical moment, an angel calls to Abraham to refrain from harming the boy, and a ram caught in a thicket is offered instead. God reaffirms the promises given to Abraham because of his obedience.

In Jewish interpretation, the Akedah is a paradigmatic test of faith and obedience, discussed in rabbinic literature for its moral and philosophical implications. Debates concern Isaac’s active or passive role, the meaning of free will, and the ethical dimensions of divine command. The story is often linked to themes of providence, mercy, and the testing of devotion.

In Christianity, the binding is commonly read as a foreshadowing of Christ’s sacrificial death, with Isaac representing the willing Son who submits to the Father’s will, and the ram symbolizing substitutionary atonement. The episode is cited as illustrating faith, obedience, and God’s mercy.

In Islamic tradition, the Qur’an recounts a similar story in which Abraham is prepared to sacrifice his son, who is not named; most Muslim commentators identify Ishmael with the son, though some traditions mention Isaac. God halts the sacrifice and provides a ram, emphasizing submission to God and divine mercy.

The Akedah has influenced theology, philosophy, art, and ethics, and remains a focal point in discussions of faith, obedience, mercy, and the ethics of divine command.