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יִצְחָק (yits.chaq)

yits.chaq

Isaac

H3327 · Hebrew · Old Testament · 99 verses

N:N-M-P

Quick Reference

Language
Biblical Hebrew
Testament
Old Testament
Occurrences
99 verses
Root
—
Part of speech
N:N-M-P

Word Overview

The name Yitschaq means "he laughs," a meaning explicitly linked to the events surrounding his birth in Genesis. Abraham laughed in disbelief when God promised him a son in his old age, and Sarah did the same upon hearing the news (Genesis 17:17; 18:12). The name serves as a permanent reminder of that initial reaction, which shifted from skeptical amusement to joyful wonder after Isaac was born (Genesis 21:6).

As a proper noun, Yitschaq identifies the patriarch, the son of Abraham and Sarah, and the father of Jacob and Esau. His story occupies a central place in the Genesis narrative, particularly in the account of the binding of Isaac (Genesis 22). The name appears frequently throughout the Pentateuch and is invoked later by prophets to remind Israel of God's covenant faithfulness to the ancestors (Exodus 32:13; Jeremiah 33:26).

In poetic texts, the name sometimes functions as a metonym for the nation itself. For instance, Amos refers to "the house of Isaac" when addressing the people of Israel (Amos 7:9, 16). This usage highlights how the patriarch’s identity became synonymous with the collective destiny and heritage of the people descended from him.

Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).

What This Word Means for Your Faith

The name Isaac means "he laughs," a title born from the moment God promised Abraham and Sarah a child in their old age. At first, their laughter came from disbelief, but it eventually turned into joyful wonder when the promise was fulfilled. This shift reminds us that God’s timing often exceeds our expectations, turning moments of doubt into seasons of profound gratitude.

In Genesis 21:6, Sarah declares, "God has made laughter for me; everyone who hears will laugh with me." Her joy becomes a shared celebration, showing how divine faithfulness brings communal blessing. The name stands as a permanent marker of that transition from skepticism to trust, inviting us to see our own lives through the lens of God’s reliable promises.

Later in Scripture, Isaac represents not just an individual but the continuation of God’s covenant with His people. When prophets mention "the house of Isaac," they recall how God sustains generations even when circumstances seem impossible. This enduring legacy encourages believers to rest in the truth that God’s word does not return void, but accomplishes what He intends.

How it's translated

How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 99 verses where it appears, by frequency.

  • Isaac80×
  • to/ Isaac14×
  • and/ Isaac5×
  • <to>/ Isaac3×
  • for/ Isaac2×
  • in/ Isaac1×
  • and/ to/ Isaac1×

Forms in the text

The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.

  • יִצְחָ֣ק12×
  • יִצְחָ֔ק11×
  • יִצְחָ֥ק9×
  • יִצְחָ֖ק8×
  • יִצְחָק֙7×
  • יִצְחָֽק\׃7×
  • יִצְחָ֑ק7×
  • לְ/יִצְחָ֖ק6×
  • יִצְחָ֛ק6×
  • יִצְחָ֤ק5×
  • יִצְחָ֜ק4×
  • לְ/יִצְחָֽק\׃3×

Key Verses

  • Genesis 17:19
    God said, “No, but Sarah, your wife, will bear you a son. You shall call his name Isaac. I will establish my covenant with him for an everlasting covenant for his offspring after him.

    God explicitly commands the naming of Isaac, linking the name directly to the establishment of His everlasting covenant with Abraham's offspring.

  • Genesis 22:2
    He said, “Now take your son, your only son, Isaac, whom you love, and go into the land of Moriah. Offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains which I will tell you of.”

    God refers to Isaac as Abraham's "only son" whom he loves, highlighting the supreme test of faith and the depth of trust required in obedience.

  • Genesis 25:11
    After the death of Abraham, God blessed Isaac, his son. Isaac lived by Beer Lahai Roi.

    After Abraham’s death, God specifically blesses Isaac, demonstrating the continuity of divine favor and provision for the next generation.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does the name Isaac mean?

The name Isaac (Yitschaq) means "he laughs." It references the laughter of both Abraham and Sarah when God promised them a son in their old age, which later shifted from disbelief to joy upon his birth.

Why is Isaac important in the Bible?

Isaac is a central patriarch because he is the child of promise through whom God established His covenant with Abraham. He serves as the bridge between Abraham and Jacob, ensuring the continuation of the lineage through which blessings would come to all nations.

How is Isaac used symbolically in the prophets?

In books like Amos, "the house of Isaac" is used as a metonym for the nation of Israel. This usage connects the people’s identity and destiny directly to the covenant promises made to their ancestor Isaac.

What happened during the binding of Isaac?

In Genesis 22, God tested Abraham by asking him to sacrifice Isaac on Mount Moriah. Abraham obeyed, but God provided a ram as a substitute at the last moment, sparing Isaac’s life and confirming Abraham’s faith.

Every Occurrence (99 verses across 10 books)

Genesis 73 verses
Genesis 17:19

God said, “No, but Sarah, your wife, will bear you a son. You shall call his name Isaac. I will establish my covenant…

Genesis 17:21

But I will establish my covenant with Isaac, whom Sarah will bear to you at this set time next year.”

Genesis 21:3

Abraham called his son who was born to him, whom Sarah bore to him, Isaac.

Genesis 21:4

Abraham circumcised his son, Isaac, when he was eight days old, as God had commanded him.

Genesis 21:5

Abraham was one hundred years old when his son, Isaac, was born to him.

Genesis 21:8

The child grew and was weaned. Abraham made a great feast on the day that Isaac was weaned.

Genesis 21:10

Therefore she said to Abraham, “Cast out this servant and her son! For the son of this servant will not be heir with my…

Genesis 21:12

God said to Abraham, “Don’t let it be grievous in your sight because of the boy, and because of your servant. In all…

Genesis 22:2

He said, “Now take your son, your only son, Isaac, whom you love, and go into the land of Moriah. Offer him there as a…

Genesis 22:3

Abraham rose early in the morning, and saddled his donkey; and took two of his young men with him, and Isaac his son.…

Genesis 22:6

Abraham took the wood of the burnt offering and laid it on Isaac his son. He took in his hand the fire and the knife.…

Genesis 22:7

Isaac spoke to Abraham his father, and said, “My father?” He said, “Here I am, my son.” He said, “Here is the fire and…

Genesis 22:9

They came to the place which God had told him of. Abraham built the altar there, and laid the wood in order, bound…

Genesis 24:4

But you shall go to my country, and to my relatives, and take a wife for my son Isaac.”

Genesis 24:14

Let it happen, that the young lady to whom I will say, ‘Please let down your pitcher, that I may drink,’ then she says,…

Genesis 24:62

Isaac came from the way of Beer Lahai Roi, for he lived in the land of the South.

Genesis 24:63

Isaac went out to meditate in the field at the evening. He lifted up his eyes and looked. Behold, there were camels…

Genesis 24:64

Rebekah lifted up her eyes, and when she saw Isaac, she got off the camel.

Genesis 24:66

The servant told Isaac all the things that he had done.

Genesis 24:67

Isaac brought her into his mother Sarah’s tent, and took Rebekah, and she became his wife. He loved her. So Isaac was…

Genesis 25:5

Abraham gave all that he had to Isaac,

Genesis 25:6

but Abraham gave gifts to the sons of Abraham’s concubines. While he still lived, he sent them away from Isaac his son,…

Genesis 25:9

Isaac and Ishmael, his sons, buried him in the cave of Machpelah, in the field of Ephron, the son of Zohar the Hittite,…

Genesis 25:11

After the death of Abraham, God blessed Isaac, his son. Isaac lived by Beer Lahai Roi.

Genesis 25:19

This is the history of the generations of Isaac, Abraham’s son. Abraham became the father of Isaac.

Genesis 25:20

Isaac was forty years old when he took Rebekah, the daughter of Bethuel the Syrian of Paddan Aram, the sister of Laban…

Genesis 25:21

Isaac entreated Yahweh for his wife, because she was barren. Yahweh was entreated by him, and Rebekah his wife…

Genesis 25:26

After that, his brother came out, and his hand had hold on Esau’s heel. He was named Jacob. Isaac was sixty years old…

Genesis 25:28

Now Isaac loved Esau, because he ate his venison. Rebekah loved Jacob.

Genesis 26:1

There was a famine in the land, in addition to the first famine that was in the days of Abraham. Isaac went to…

Genesis 26:6

Isaac lived in Gerar.

Genesis 26:8

When he had been there a long time, Abimelech king of the Philistines looked out at a window, and saw, and, behold,…

Genesis 26:9

Abimelech called Isaac, and said, “Behold, surely she is your wife. Why did you say, ‘She is my sister’?” Isaac said to…

Genesis 26:12

Isaac sowed in that land, and reaped in the same year one hundred times what he planted. Yahweh blessed him.

Genesis 26:16

Abimelech said to Isaac, “Go away from us, for you are much mightier than we.”

Genesis 26:17

Isaac departed from there, encamped in the valley of Gerar, and lived there.

Genesis 26:18

Isaac dug again the wells of water, which they had dug in the days of Abraham his father, for the Philistines had…

Genesis 26:19

Isaac’s servants dug in the valley, and found there a well of flowing water.

Genesis 26:20

The herdsmen of Gerar argued with Isaac’s herdsmen, saying, “The water is ours.” So he called the name of the well…

Genesis 26:25

He built an altar there, and called on Yahweh’s name, and pitched his tent there. There Isaac’s servants dug a well.

Genesis 26:27

Isaac said to them, “Why have you come to me, since you hate me, and have sent me away from you?”

Genesis 26:31

They rose up some time in the morning, and swore an oath to one another. Isaac sent them away, and they departed from…

Genesis 26:32

The same day, Isaac’s servants came, and told him concerning the well which they had dug, and said to him, “We have…

Genesis 26:35

They grieved Isaac’s and Rebekah’s spirits.

Genesis 27:1

When Isaac was old, and his eyes were dim, so that he could not see, he called Esau his elder son, and said to him, “My…

Genesis 27:5

Rebekah heard when Isaac spoke to Esau his son. Esau went to the field to hunt for venison, and to bring it.

Genesis 27:20

Isaac said to his son, “How is it that you have found it so quickly, my son?” He said, “Because Yahweh your God gave me…

Genesis 27:21

Isaac said to Jacob, “Please come near, that I may feel you, my son, whether you are really my son Esau or not.”

Genesis 27:22

Jacob went near to Isaac his father. He felt him, and said, “The voice is Jacob’s voice, but the hands are the hands of…

Genesis 27:26

His father Isaac said to him, “Come near now, and kiss me, my son.”

Genesis 27:30

As soon as Isaac had finished blessing Jacob, and Jacob had just gone out from the presence of Isaac his father, Esau…

Genesis 27:32

Isaac his father said to him, “Who are you?” He said, “I am your son, your firstborn, Esau.”

Genesis 27:33

Isaac trembled violently, and said, “Who, then, is he who has taken venison, and brought it to me, and I have eaten of…

Genesis 27:37

Isaac answered Esau, “Behold, I have made him your lord, and all his brothers I have given to him for servants. I have…

Genesis 27:39

Isaac his father answered him, “Behold, your dwelling will be of the fatness of the earth, and of the dew of the sky…

Genesis 27:46

Rebekah said to Isaac, “I am weary of my life because of the daughters of Heth. If Jacob takes a wife of the daughters…

Genesis 28:1

Isaac called Jacob, blessed him, and commanded him, “You shall not take a wife of the daughters of Canaan.

Genesis 28:5

Isaac sent Jacob away. He went to Paddan Aram to Laban, son of Bethuel the Syrian, the brother of Rebekah, Jacob’s and…

Genesis 28:6

Now Esau saw that Isaac had blessed Jacob and sent him away to Paddan Aram, to take him a wife from there, and that as…

Genesis 28:8

Esau saw that the daughters of Canaan didn’t please Isaac, his father.

Genesis 28:13

Behold, Yahweh stood above it, and said, “I am Yahweh, the God of Abraham your father, and the God of Isaac. I will…

Genesis 31:18

and he took away all his livestock, and all his possessions which he had gathered, including the livestock which he had…

Genesis 31:42

Unless the God of my father, the God of Abraham, and the fear of Isaac, had been with me, surely now you would have…

Genesis 31:53

The God of Abraham, and the God of Nahor, the God of their father, judge between us.” Then Jacob swore by the fear of…

Genesis 35:12

The land which I gave to Abraham and Isaac, I will give it to you, and to your offspring after you I will give the…

Genesis 35:27

Jacob came to Isaac his father, to Mamre, to Kiriath Arba (which is Hebron), where Abraham and Isaac lived as…

Genesis 35:28

The days of Isaac were one hundred eighty years.

Genesis 35:29

Isaac gave up the spirit and died, and was gathered to his people, old and full of days. Esau and Jacob, his sons,…

Genesis 46:1

Israel traveled with all that he had, and came to Beersheba, and offered sacrifices to the God of his father, Isaac.

Genesis 48:15

He blessed Joseph, and said, “The God before whom my fathers Abraham and Isaac walked, the God who has fed me all my…

Genesis 48:16

the angel who has redeemed me from all evil, bless the lads, and let my name be named on them, and the name of my…

Genesis 49:31

There they buried Abraham and Sarah, his wife. There they buried Isaac and Rebekah, his wife, and there I buried Leah:

Genesis 50:24

Joseph said to his brothers, “I am dying, but God will surely visit you, and bring you up out of this land to the land…

Exodus 9 verses
Leviticus 1 verse
Numbers 1 verse
Deuteronomy 6 verses
Joshua 2 verses
I Kings 1 verse
II Kings 1 verse
I Chronicles 4 verses
II Chronicles 1 verse