Hebrews 11:17 (KJV)

Passage

By faith Abraham, when he was tried, offered up Isaac: and he that had received the promises offered up his only begotten son,

Nearby Context

Hebrews 11:15 And truly, if they had been mindful of that country from whence they came out, they might have had opportunity to have returned.

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

Hebrews 11:17 By faith Abraham, when he was tried, offered up Isaac: and he that had received the promises offered up his only begotten son,

Hebrews 11:18 Of whom it was said, That in Isaac shall thy seed be called:

Hebrews 11:19 Accounting that God was able to raise him up, even from the dead; from whence also he received him in a figure.

Study Lenses

The verse centers on "only begotten Son", "faith", "abraham", "tried", "offered", "isaac", "received", and "promises". 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 "Of whom it was said That in...", 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.