“Yahweh Will Provide.” The Hebrew is Yahweh yireh (better known as “Jehovah jireh” from earlier versions such as the King James and ASV), more literally, “Yahweh will see,” but in this case, the verb “see” has its fuller or pregnant sense of “provide,” because God does not just “see,” He sees the need and then acts; He provides.

“On Yahweh’s mountain it will be provided.” Here again, as earlier in the verse, “provided” is more literally “seen.” In this context of Genesis, the translation in the REV and most other English versions is the primary emphasis—that Yahweh will see, or provide, on the mountain—but the last phrase in the verse can also be translated “On this mountain Yahweh is seen.”^a This is no doubt a very purposeful choice of words on God’s part and an amphibologia (double meaning).^b The mountain on which Abraham offered Isaac in a figurative sense (Heb. 11:19), is very likely the mountain on which Jesus was crucified. So it is very true that God “provided” on that mountain: He provided a ram for Abraham and years later He provided His Son for all of mankind so we could be saved. Also, however, just as we can “see” Abraham for who he is by the selfless way he showed his love for God by being willing to offer his son Isaac, so too we can “see” God and His great love and compassion for mankind by the selfless way that He offered His Son for us on the mountain. God is truly “seen” on Calvary. In truth, the loving God and the obedient Son are both clearly seen for who they are on that holy mountain.

[See figure of speech “amphibologia.”]