Patriarch · OT
Isaac
The son of promise, born to Abraham and Sarah in their old age, and the second of Israel's patriarchs.
Isaac (Hebrew Yitzchak, 'he laughs') was born to Abraham at one hundred years old and to Sarah at ninety — the laughter of disbelief at the announcement (Genesis 18:12) turned into the laughter of joy at his birth. He is the long-awaited child of promise through whom the covenant would be carried forward.
The most searing episode of his life came on Mount Moriah, when Abraham, in obedience to God, bound him on the altar and raised the knife — only to be stopped by the angel of the Lord and provided a ram caught in a thicket. Isaac later married Rebekah, brought to him from Abraham's homeland, and after twenty years of barrenness she bore twin sons, Esau and Jacob.
Isaac's life is less dramatic than his father's or his son's, but he is the indispensable middle link of the patriarchal line. He dug wells, made covenants of peace with foreign kings, and, blind in his old age, gave the patriarchal blessing — through Rebekah and Jacob's deception — to the younger son.
Key moments
Born to Sarah in her old age
The miraculous fulfillment of God's covenant promise.
Bound on Mount Moriah
Genesis 22 — a foreshadowing of the Father offering the Son.
Married Rebekah
Genesis 24 — one of scripture's most beautiful courtship narratives.
Blessed Jacob
Through deception, but in the providence of God.
Key verses
"And Abraham called the name of his son that was born unto him, whom Sarah bare to him, Isaac."
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"And he said, Take now thy son, thine only son, whom thou lovest, even Isaac, and get thee into the land of Moriah; and offer him there for a burnt-offering upon one of the mountains which I will tell thee of."
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"And Abraham lifted up his eyes, and looked, and, behold, behind him a ram caught in the thicket by his horns: and Abraham went and took the ram, and offered him up for a burnt-offering in the stead of his son."
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"And Isaac brought her into his mother Sarah’s tent, and took Rebekah, and she became his wife; and he loved her. And Isaac was comforted after his mother’s death."
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"By faith Abraham, being tried, offered up Isaac: yea, he that had gladly received the promises was offering up his only begotten son; even he to whom it was said, In Isaac shall thy seed be called: accounting that God is able to raise up, even from the dead; from whence he did also in a figure receive him back."
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Frequently asked
How old was Isaac when Abraham nearly sacrificed him?
The text does not give a number, but he was old enough to carry the wood for the burnt offering up the mountain (Genesis 22:6). Jewish tradition often places him in his late twenties or thirties; many Christian commentators see him as a teenager.
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