Hebrews 11:19

from whence The only place in this Epistle where ὅθεν has its local sense.

in a figure Lit. "in a parable." For the use of the word see Hebrews 9:9. The exact meaning is much disputed. It has been rendered "as a type" (comp. Vulg. in parabolam), or "in a bold venture." or "unexpectedly." These views are hardly tenable. But how could Abraham have received Isaac back "in a figure" when he received him back "in reality"? The answer is that he received him back, figuratively, from the dead, because Isaac was typically, or figuratively, dead potentially sacrificed when he received him back. Josephus in narrating the event uses the same word (Antt.i. 13. § 4). But in this instance again it is possible that the key to the expression might be found in some Jewish legend. In one Jewish writer it is said (of course untruly) that Isaac really was killed, and raised again. The restoration of Isaac wasundoubtedly a type of the resurrection of Christ, but it is hardly probable that the writer would have expressed so deep a truth in a passing and ambiguous expression.