How does Fear and Trembling interpret the biblical story of Abraham?

In Fear and Trembling, Søren Kierkegaard uses the biblical story of Abraham to illustrate the "religious" stage of existence, which he distinguishes from the "ethical" stage.1

Kierkegaard argues that the ethical—defined by the laws, customs, and social norms of a community—is "teleologically suspended" in the religious. While the ethical stage demands adherence to universal moral standards, the religious stage involves a direct, absolute relationship with God that transcends these social norms.1

By retelling Abraham’s story, Kierkegaard posits that faith requires an individual to prioritize a divine command over the rationalized expectations of society. From the perspective of human reason and social order, this act appears paradoxical, absurd, or even "mad," because it rejects the idea that human reason or historical socialization can serve as the ultimate standard of truth. Ultimately, Kierkegaard interprets Abrahamic faith as a commitment to a higher authority that exists beyond the finitude of human ideology and established morality.1