Hebrews 11:17 (ASV)

Passage

By faith Abraham, being tried, offered up Isaac: yea, he that had gladly received the promises was offering up his only begotten [son];

Nearby Context

Hebrews 11:15 And if indeed they had been mindful of that [country] from which they went out, they would have had opportunity to return.

Hebrews 11:16 But now they desire a better [country], that is, a heavenly: wherefore God is not ashamed of them, to be called their God; for he hath prepared for them a city.

Hebrews 11:17 By faith Abraham, being tried, offered up Isaac: yea, he that had gladly received the promises was offering up his only begotten [son];

Hebrews 11:18 even he to whom it was said, In Isaac shall thy seed be called:

Hebrews 11:19 accounting that God [is] able to raise up, even from the dead; from whence he did also in a figure receive him back.

Study Lenses

The verse centers on "only begotten Son", "faith", "abraham", "tried", "offered", "isaac", "gladly", and "received". It is saying that the verse draws attention to "only begotten Son" and "faith", so its meaning should be read from those terms before moving to application.

The nearby context moves from verse 16's "But now they desire a better country..." into verse 18's "even he to whom it was said...", so "only begotten Son" and "faith" belong inside that flow. In Hebrews context, the local focus is Christ, faith, and discipleship.

A plain takeaway is to answer the verse's own emphasis on "only begotten Son" and "faith" with trust shaped by these words, not by a vague optimism outside the passage.