name
Common
Isaac
EYE-zuhk
Isaac (name) means In the Bible, the son of Abraham and Sarah, and father of Esau and Jacob. Example: “The story of Isaac appears in the Book of Genesis.”
name
1
In the Bible, the son of Abraham and Sarah, and father of Esau and Jacob.
"The story of Isaac appears in the Book of Genesis."
2
A male given name from Hebrew, also used as a surname.
"Isaac Newton made major discoveries in physics."
How to use Isaac
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA biblical figure and a common male first name/surname derived from his story.
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Word forms
- Plural
- Isaacs
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The story of _____ appears in the Book of Genesis.
Etymology
From Hebrew Yitzhak, meaning "he laughs" — according to Genesis, a reference to his mother Sarah laughing when told she would have a child in old age.
Synonyms
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Frequently asked questions
What does “Isaac” mean?
The word “Isaac” means in the Bible, the son of Abraham and Sarah, and father of Esau and Jacob. In plain terms, a biblical figure and a common male first name/surname derived from his story.
How do you pronounce “Isaac”?
“Isaac” is pronounced EYE-zuhk (/ˈaɪzək/ in IPA).
How do you use “Isaac” in a sentence?
Here is “Isaac” used in a sentence: “The story of Isaac appears in the Book of Genesis.”
What part of speech is “Isaac”?
“Isaac” is a name.
Where does the word “Isaac” come from?
The word “Isaac” comes from Hebrew. From Hebrew Yitzhak, meaning "he laughs" — according to Genesis, a reference to his mother Sarah laughing when told she would have a child in old age.
Is “Isaac” a common word?
“Isaac” is a fairly common word in modern English.
How many meanings does “Isaac” have?
“Isaac” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: in the Bible, the son of Abraham and Sarah, and father of Esau and Jacob.
How is Isaac related to Abraham in the Bible?
In the Bible, Isaac is the son of Abraham and Sarah. He is also the father of Esau and Jacob, placing him among the patriarchs of the Hebrew tradition.
Is Isaac a first name or a surname?
Isaac is chiefly a male given name derived from Hebrew, but it is also used as a surname. As a first name it remains popular across many English-speaking countries.
Is Isaac a biblical name?
Yes. Isaac appears in the Bible as the son of Abraham and Sarah and the father of Esau and Jacob. Because of this heritage, it is often regarded as a classic biblical, Hebrew-origin name.
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