Who Was Isaac in the Bible — In Biblical Context
Isaac was the son of Abraham and Sarah, the heir of the covenant promise, and the father of Esau and Jacob.
Isaac was the son of Abraham and Sarah, the heir of the covenant promise, and the father of Esau and Jacob.
"And Abraham called the name of his son that was born unto him, whom Sarah bare to him, Isaac." — Genesis 21:3 (KJV)
The Biblical Context
Isaac was the long-awaited son of Abraham and Sarah, born when Abraham was a hundred years old and Sarah was ninety — a miraculous fulfilment of God's promise. He was the child of the covenant, through whom God would fulfil His promise to bless all nations. The most testing moment of Isaac's life came on Mount Moriah, when Abraham bound him to the altar. Isaac carried the wood for the sacrifice and asked where the lamb was; Abraham answered that God would provide Himself a lamb. At the moment of sacrifice, God provided a ram in the thicket, and Isaac was spared. Isaac later married Rebekah, and she bore him twin sons — Esau and Jacob. He was deceived into blessing Jacob instead of Esau, yet the blessing stood because it was God's sovereign choice. Isaac lived 180 years and was buried by his sons in the cave of Machpelah. He is a type of Christ: the beloved, only son who willingly submitted to the father's will and was delivered from death.
Where It Sits in Scripture
The core passage for this question, Genesis 21:3, sits inside Genesis 21. To grasp the full meaning, read the surrounding paragraph — the verses before set up the thought, the verses after carry it forward.
"And Abraham called the name of his son that was born unto him, whom Sarah bare to him, Isaac."
Supporting Passages
"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? And Abraham said, My son, God will provide himself a lamb for a burnt offering: so they went both of them together."
"Sojourn 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; And 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."
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