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31 verses · KJV · every verse read aloud

Isaac in the Bible

What does the Bible say about Isaac?

Isaac was the son God promised to Abraham and Sarah in their old age; his name means laughter (Genesis 21:1-6). God said His covenant would continue through Isaac (Genesis 17:19). When God tested Abraham, Isaac was laid on the altar, and God provided a ram instead (Genesis 22:13). He married Rebekah and fathered Esau and Jacob.

  1. The promised son: Isaac's birth
  2. Isaac on the altar at Moriah
  3. Isaac, Rebekah, Esau and Jacob

Isaac in the Bible: The promised son — Isaac's birth

God kept His word to Abraham and Sarah when they were old.

5 verses

Genesis 21:1-3

KJV
King James Version

1And the LORD visited Sarah as he had said, and the LORD did unto Sarah as he had spoken. 2For Sarah conceived, and bare Abraham a son in his old age, at the set time of which God had spoken to him. 3And Abraham called the name of his son that was born unto him, whom Sarah bare to him, Isaac.

Berean Standard Bible (modern English)

Now the LORD attended to Sarah as He had said, and the LORD did for Sarah what He had promised. So Sarah conceived and bore a son to Abraham in his old age, at the very time God had promised. And Abraham gave the name Isaac to the son Sarah bore to him.

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Also in NKJV · ESV What the early church said about Genesis 21:1-3

Genesis 17:15-19

KJV
King James Version

15And God said unto Abraham, As for Sarai thy wife, thou shalt not call her name Sarai, but Sarah shall her name be. 16And I will bless her, and give thee a son also of her: yea, I will bless her, and she shall be a mother of nations; kings of people shall be of her. 17Then Abraham fell upon his face, and laughed, and said in his heart, Shall a child be born unto him that is an hundred years old? and shall Sarah, that is ninety years old, bear? 18And Abraham said unto God, O that Ishmael might live before thee! 19And God said, Sarah thy wife shall bear thee a son indeed; and thou shalt call his name Isaac: and I will establish my covenant with him for an everlasting covenant, and with his seed after him.

Berean Standard Bible (modern English)

Then God said to Abraham, “As for Sarai your wife, do not call her Sarai, for her name is to be Sarah. And I will bless her and will surely give you a son by her. I will bless her, and she will be the mother of nations; kings of peoples will descend from her.” Abraham fell facedown. Then he laughed and said to himself, “Can a child be born to a man who is a hundred years old? Can Sarah give birth at the age of ninety?” And Abraham said to God, “O that Ishmael might live under Your blessing!” But God replied, “Your wife Sarah will indeed bear you a son, and you are to name him Isaac. I will establish My covenant with him as an everlasting covenant for his descendants after him.

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Also in NKJV · ESV What the early church said about Genesis 17:15-19

Genesis 18:10-14

KJV
King James Version

10And he said, I will certainly return unto thee according to the time of life; and, lo, Sarah thy wife shall have a son. And Sarah heard it in the tent door, which was behind him. 11Now Abraham and Sarah were old and well stricken in age; and it ceased to be with Sarah after the manner of women. 12Therefore Sarah laughed within herself, saying, After I am waxed old shall I have pleasure, my lord being old also? 13And the LORD said unto Abraham, Wherefore did Sarah laugh, saying, Shall I of a surety bear a child, which am old? 14Is any thing too hard for the LORD? At the time appointed I will return unto thee, according to the time of life, and Sarah shall have a son.

Berean Standard Bible (modern English)

Then the LORD said, “I will surely return to you at this time next year, and your wife Sarah will have a son!” Now Sarah was behind him, listening at the entrance to the tent. And Abraham and Sarah were already old and well along in years; Sarah had passed the age of childbearing. So she laughed to herself, saying, “After I am worn out and my master is old, will I now have this pleasure?” And the LORD asked Abraham, “Why did Sarah laugh and say, ‘Can I really bear a child when I am old?’ Is anything too difficult for the LORD? At the appointed time I will return to you — in about a year — and Sarah will have a son.”

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Also in NKJV · ESV What the early church said about Genesis 18:10-14

Genesis 21:6

KJV
King James Version

And Sarah said, God hath made me to laugh, so that all that hear will laugh with me.

Berean Standard Bible (modern English)

Then Sarah said, “God has made me laugh, and everyone who hears of this will laugh with me.”

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Also in NKJV · ESV What the early church said about Genesis 21:6

Genesis 21:12

KJV
King James Version

And God said unto Abraham, Let it not be grievous in thy sight because of the lad, and because of thy bondwoman; in all that Sarah hath said unto thee, hearken unto her voice; for in Isaac shall thy seed be called.

Berean Standard Bible (modern English)

But God said to Abraham, “Do not be distressed about the boy and your maidservant. Listen to everything that Sarah tells you, for through Isaac your offspring will be reckoned.

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Also in NKJV · ESV What the early church said about Genesis 21:12

Isaac in the Bible: Isaac on the altar at Moriah

God tested Abraham, and God provided a lamb.

7 verses

Genesis 22:2

KJV
King James Version

And he said, Take now thy son, thine only son Isaac, whom thou lovest, 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.

Berean Standard Bible (modern English)

“Take your son,” God said, “your only son Isaac, whom you love, and go to the land of Moriah. Offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains, which I will show you.”

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Also in NKJV · ESV What the early church said about Genesis 22:2

Genesis 22:7

KJV
King James Version

And Isaac spake unto Abraham his father, and said, My father: and he said, Here am I, my son. And he said, Behold the fire and the wood: but where is the lamb for a burnt offering?

Berean Standard Bible (modern English)

Then Isaac said to his father Abraham, “My father!” “Here I am, my son,” he replied. “The fire and the wood are here,” said Isaac, “but where is the lamb for the burnt offering?”

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Also in NKJV · ESV What the early church said about Genesis 22:7

Genesis 22:8

KJV
King James Version

And Abraham said, My son, God will provide himself a lamb for a burnt offering: so they went both of them together.

Berean Standard Bible (modern English)

Abraham answered, “God Himself will provide the lamb for the burnt offering, my son.” And the two walked on together.

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Also in NKJV · ESV What the early church said about Genesis 22:8

Genesis 22:12

KJV
King James Version

And he said, Lay not thine hand upon the lad, neither do thou any thing unto him: for now I know that thou fearest God, seeing thou hast not withheld thy son, thine only son from me.

Berean Standard Bible (modern English)

“Do not lay a hand on the boy or do anything to him,” said the angel, “for now I know that you fear God, since you have not withheld your only son from me. ”

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Also in NKJV · ESV What the early church said about Genesis 22:12

Genesis 22:13

KJV
King James Version

And Abraham lifted up his eyes, and looked, and behold behind him a ram caught in a 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.

Berean Standard Bible (modern English)

Then Abraham looked up and saw behind him a ram in a thicket, caught by its horns. So he went and took the ram and offered it as a burnt offering in place of his son.

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Also in NKJV · ESV What the early church said about Genesis 22:13

Hebrews 11:17

KJV
King James Version

By faith Abraham, when he was tried, offered up Isaac: and he that had received the promises offered up his only begotten son,

Berean Standard Bible (modern English)

By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac on the altar. He who had received the promises was ready to offer his one and only son,

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Also in NKJV · ESV What the early church said about Hebrews 11:17

James 2:21

KJV
King James Version

Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar?

Berean Standard Bible (modern English)

Was not our father Abraham justified by what he did when he offered his son Isaac on the altar?

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Also in NKJV · ESV What the early church said about James 2:21

Isaac in the Bible: Isaac, Rebekah, Esau and Jacob

5 verses

Genesis 24:67

KJV
King James Version

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.

Berean Standard Bible (modern English)

And Isaac brought her into the tent of his mother Sarah and took Rebekah as his wife. And Isaac loved her and was comforted after his mother’s death.

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Also in NKJV · ESV What the early church said about Genesis 24:67

Genesis 25:20

KJV
King James Version

And Isaac was forty years old when he took Rebekah to wife, the daughter of Bethuel the Syrian of Padanaram, the sister to Laban the Syrian.

Berean Standard Bible (modern English)

and Isaac was forty years old when he married Rebekah, the daughter of Bethuel the Aramean from Paddan-aram and the sister of Laban the Aramean.

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Also in NKJV · ESV What the early church said about Genesis 25:20

Genesis 25:21

KJV
King James Version

And Isaac intreated the LORD for his wife, because she was barren: and the LORD was intreated of him, and Rebekah his wife conceived.

Berean Standard Bible (modern English)

Later, Isaac prayed to the LORD on behalf of his wife, because she was barren. And the LORD heard his prayer, and his wife Rebekah conceived.

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Also in NKJV · ESV What the early church said about Genesis 25:21

Genesis 25:26

KJV
King James Version

And after that came his brother out, and his hand took hold on Esau's heel; and his name was called Jacob: and Isaac was threescore years old when she bare them.

Berean Standard Bible (modern English)

After this, his brother came out grasping Esau’s heel; so he was named Jacob. And Isaac was sixty years old when the twins were born.

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Also in NKJV · ESV What the early church said about Genesis 25:26

Genesis 25:28

KJV
King James Version

And Isaac loved Esau, because he did eat of his venison: but Rebekah loved Jacob.

Berean Standard Bible (modern English)

Because Isaac had a taste for wild game, he loved Esau; but Rebekah loved Jacob.

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Also in NKJV · ESV What the early church said about Genesis 25:28

Isaac in the Bible: God's promise to Isaac — wells and blessing

God renewed to Isaac the promise He made to Abraham.

7 verses

Genesis 26:24

KJV
King James Version

And the LORD appeared unto him the same night, and said, I am the God of Abraham thy father: fear not, for I am with thee, and will bless thee, and multiply thy seed for my servant Abraham's sake.

Berean Standard Bible (modern English)

and that night the LORD appeared to him and said, “I am the God of your father Abraham. Do not be afraid, for I am with you. I will bless you and multiply your descendants for the sake of My servant Abraham.”

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Also in NKJV · ESV What the early church said about Genesis 26:24

Genesis 26:2-5

KJV
King James Version

2And the LORD appeared unto him, and said, Go not down into Egypt; dwell in the land which I shall tell thee of: 3Sojourn in this land, and I will be with thee, and will bless thee; for unto thee, and unto thy seed, I will give all these countries, and I will perform the oath which I sware unto Abraham thy father; 4And I will make thy seed to multiply as the stars of heaven, and will give unto thy seed all these countries; and in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed; 5Because that Abraham obeyed my voice, and kept my charge, my commandments, my statutes, and my laws.

Berean Standard Bible (modern English)

The LORD appeared to Isaac and said, “Do not go down to Egypt. Settle in the land where I tell you. Stay in this land as a foreigner, and I will be with you and bless you. For I will give all these lands to you and your offspring, and I will confirm the oath that I swore to your father Abraham. I will make your descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky, and I will give them all these lands, and through your offspring all nations of the earth will be blessed, because Abraham listened to My voice and kept My charge, My commandments, My statutes, and My laws.”

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Also in NKJV · ESV What the early church said about Genesis 26:2-5

Genesis 26:12

KJV
King James Version

Then Isaac sowed in that land, and received in the same year an hundredfold: and the LORD blessed him.

Berean Standard Bible (modern English)

Now Isaac sowed seed in the land, and that very year he reaped a hundredfold. And the LORD blessed him,

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Also in NKJV · ESV What the early church said about Genesis 26:12

Genesis 26:25

KJV
King James Version

And he builded an altar there, and called upon the name of the LORD, and pitched his tent there: and there Isaac's servants digged a well.

Berean Standard Bible (modern English)

So Isaac built an altar there and called on the name of the LORD, and he pitched his tent there. His servants also dug a well there.

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Also in NKJV · ESV What the early church said about Genesis 26:25

Genesis 28:1

KJV
King James Version

And Isaac called Jacob, and blessed him, and charged him, and said unto him, Thou shalt not take a wife of the daughters of Canaan.

Berean Standard Bible (modern English)

So Isaac called for Jacob and blessed him. “Do not take a wife from the Canaanite women,” he commanded.

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Also in NKJV · ESV What the early church said about Genesis 28:1

Hebrews 11:20

KJV
King James Version

By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau concerning things to come.

Berean Standard Bible (modern English)

By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau concerning the future.

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Also in NKJV · ESV What the early church said about Hebrews 11:20

Isaac in the Bible: Isaac's death and legacy

7 verses

Genesis 35:29

KJV
King James Version

And Isaac gave up the ghost, and died, and was gathered unto his people, being old and full of days: and his sons Esau and Jacob buried him.

Berean Standard Bible (modern English)

Then he breathed his last and died and was gathered to his people, old and full of years. And his sons Esau and Jacob buried him.

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Also in NKJV · ESV What the early church said about Genesis 35:29

Exodus 3:6

KJV
King James Version

Moreover he said, I am the God of thy father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob. And Moses hid his face; for he was afraid to look upon God.

Berean Standard Bible (modern English)

Then He said, “I am the God of your father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.” At this, Moses hid his face, for he was afraid to look at God.

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Also in NKJV · ESV What the early church said about Exodus 3:6

Matthew 8:11

KJV
King James Version

And I say unto you, That many shall come from the east and west, and shall sit down with Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, in the kingdom of heaven.

Berean Standard Bible (modern English)

I say to you that many will come from the east and the west to share the banquet with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven.

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Also in NKJV · ESV What the early church said about Matthew 8:11

Short Bible verses about Isaac

Easy to memorize, to write in a card, or to send to a friend.

7 verses

  • “And Isaac loved Esau, because he did eat of his venison: but Rebekah loved Jacob.”

    Genesis 25:28 KJV · 15 words

    Listen

  • “And Abraham gave all that he had unto Isaac.”

    Genesis 25:5 KJV · 9 words

    Listen

  • “By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau concerning things to come.”

    Hebrews 11:20 KJV · 11 words

    Listen

  • “And the days of Isaac were an hundred and fourscore years.”

    Genesis 35:28 KJV · 11 words

    Listen

  • “The sons of Abraham; Isaac, and Ishmael.”

    1 Chronicles 1:28 KJV · 7 words

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  • “And Abraham begat Isaac. The sons of Isaac; Esau and Israel.”

    1 Chronicles 1:34 KJV · 11 words

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  • “Now we, brethren, as Isaac was, are the children of promise.”

    Galatians 4:28 KJV · 11 words

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What the first Christians said about Isaac

Exact words from our library of the early church writers. Each one opens at the place it was written.

“Observe also how the same promises are given to Isaac and Jacob. For this is what He says to Isaac: ‘And in your seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed.’”

Justin MartyrDialogue with Trypho
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The Greek and Hebrew words for Isaac

The words behind the English. Each word page has a Listen button for how it is said.

Questions people ask about Isaac in the Bible

Who was Isaac in the Bible?

Isaac was the son of Abraham and Sarah, born when they were old, as God had promised (Genesis 21:1-3). God chose to carry on His covenant through him (Genesis 17:19). He was the father of Esau and Jacob.

Listen: Genesis 21:1-3 · Genesis 17:15-19

What does the name Isaac mean?

Isaac means "laughter." Abraham laughed when God promised a son in his old age (Genesis 17:17), and at his birth Sarah said, "God hath made me to laugh" (Genesis 21:6).

Listen: Genesis 21:6

Who were Isaac's wife and sons?

Isaac married Rebekah when he was 40, and he loved her (Genesis 24:67, 25:20). After he prayed for her, she bore twins, Esau and Jacob, when Isaac was 60 (Genesis 25:21, 25:26). His brother was Ishmael (1 Chronicles 1:28).

Listen: Genesis 24:67 · Genesis 25:26

How old was Isaac when Abraham offered him?

The Bible does not give his age. It says Isaac carried the wood for the offering up the mountain and asked, "where is the lamb?" (Genesis 22:6-7), so he was no longer a small child.

Listen: Genesis 22:7

How old was Isaac when he died?

Isaac lived 180 years. He died "old and full of days," and his sons Esau and Jacob buried him (Genesis 35:28-29).

Listen: Genesis 35:28 · Genesis 35:29