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Hebrews 11:19
ESV He considered that God was able even to raise him from the dead, from which, figuratively speaking, he did receive him back.
NIV Abraham reasoned that God could even raise the dead, and so in a manner of speaking he did receive Isaac back from death.
NASB He considered that God is able to raise people even from the dead, from which he also received him back as a type.
CSB He considered God to be able even to raise someone from the dead; therefore, he received him back, figuratively speaking.
NLT Abraham reasoned that if Isaac died, God was able to bring him back to life again. And in a sense, Abraham did receive his son back from the dead.
KJV Accounting that God was able to raise him up, even from the dead; from whence also he received him in a figure.
NKJV concluding that God was able to raise him up, even from the dead, from which he also received him in a figurative sense.

What does Hebrews 11:19 mean?

Faith, in a biblical sense, is not blind. It is based on prior experience, and means trusting that God can work in ways we cannot immediately see (Hebrews 1:1–3). The ultimate example of this type of faith is Abraham's obedience to God, when commanded to sacrifice his son, Isaac (Genesis 22:1–14). This was the same son through whom God had sworn to fulfill His promises to Abraham (Hebrews 11:18; Genesis 21:12). In literal terms, this command would seem to be a violation of God's nature, as well as a break in His agreement with Abraham.

And yet, Abraham had seen God provide him with a son despite doubts and delays (Genesis 17:17; 21:5). Abraham had seen God rescue Lot (Genesis 19:15–16), despite Abraham's fears about the judgment of Sodom (Genesis 18:22–23). So, when God gave His mysterious command, Abraham was willing to trust in God and obey—proving by his actions that he possessed a true, godly faith (James 2:14–17). For this reason, he was not only rewarded by God (Genesis 22:15–18), who never intended to let Isaac die (Genesis 22:12), but he became an example of faith for the rest of humanity.

Here, the writer of Hebrews offers one of the justifications Abraham would have held as part of his faith in God. At the time Abraham spoke with God, Scripture had not recorded any instances of God bringing someone back from the dead. And yet, Abraham's faith in God's assurances was strong enough that he felt God could resurrect Isaac, if need be. Poetically speaking, God did "bring back" Isaac from death, by sparing him after Abraham had committed to follow through with the sacrifice.
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