How Old Was Isaac When He Was to Be Sacrificed?

If you’re like me, then you grew up coloring pictures of Bible characters in Sunday school. So, color me shocked when I discovered that Isaac wasn’t a little boy when Abraham bound him on Mount Moriah. Just how old was Isaac when he was to be sacrificed?

Jewish tradition holds that he was 37. I do not know for certain this was his age, but after reviewing the text carefully, I have come to believe quite strongly that he was indeed a man and not a boy.

How Old Was Isaac When Abraham Sacrificed Him?

Why do we think Isaac was a boy? How can we trust Jewish tradition on how old Isaac was when Abraham sacrificed him? What does the text actually say?

First, let’s acknowledge that text is not explicit. Genesis 22 does not contain Isaac’s age. But, as is generally true, we can understand more by examining terms (like this one) in the original language. In this story, there are definitely some important Hebrew elements to note.

First, the Hebrew word for a small child is ילד or yeled. We see this noun used for children in many places in the Hebrew scriptures. It comes from the root yalad which appears quite frequently to denote giving birth.

This word yeled is used in Genesis 21 to describe both Isaac and Ishmael. This is an important detail because Ishmael was already 14 when Isaac was born.

Second, the word used to describe Isaac during his binding in Genesis 22 is נער or na’ar. This word has many different, related uses in scripture. It means young (especially unmarried) man.

Joseph was described as “a young Hebrew” in Genesis 41:12 with this word na’ar. Yet, his brothers didn’t sell him into slavery until after he turned 17. And, the text details an unspecified but significant period of time spent in Egypt before this point.

In fact, Genesis 39:2 says that “he became a successful man” using the word איש. Remember, this was before it again called him a na’ar in Genesis 41.

The Sacrifice of Isaac

In the sacrifice of Isaac, age matters. It fundamentally alters the nature of the story. Gone is the exploitation of an ignorant (and potentially unwilling) child. Instead, we have a story that highlights the faith of both father and son.

I don’t have the credentials to dive into all of the meaning and God’s purpose behind testing Abraham in this way. There is a wealth of commentary on it. But, it is clear to me that Abraham understood this to be a test of faith.

The Hebrew text presents the verbs for worship and return in verse 5 in the future tense with the inflection for we. Abraham told his servants we will worship and we will return.

I also believe that the binding was a test of Isaac’s faith. He could have resisted his father. Instead, he submitted to God’s will, even when it seemed to lead to his destruction.

In what areas do you struggle to surrender to Him in faith?

We all tend to cling to the things which we value most. But, he is better equipped to provide and safeguard the things we find precious.

Prayer for Today

My prayer for today is that I would be more faithful to God in choosing to trust when obeying. I pray that this will replace the time spent giving in to worries and doubt over the potential outcome.

I am resolved to focus more on my understanding of who God is, when my situation isn’t what I want it to be. Especially when it seems that the next step seems to lead me away from the outcome I want.

Verses About Isaac and Being Sacrificed

I encourage you to read through the entire story in Genesis 22. But, here are some other verses which I find relevant to when Abraham almost sacrificed Isaac. And, for our own tests of faith.

“By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac, and he who had received the promises was in the act of offering up his only son, of whom it was said, ‘Through Isaac shall your offspring be named.’ He considered that God was able even to raise him from the dead, from which, figuratively speaking, he did receive him back.” Hebrews 11:17-19 (ESV)

“But Jews came from Antioch and Iconium, and having persuaded the crowds, they stoned Paul and dragged him out of the city, supposing that he was dead. But when the disciples gathered about him, he rose up and entered the city, and on the next day he went on with Barnabas to Derbe. 

When they had preached the gospel to that city and had made many disciples, they returned to Lystra and to Iconium and to Antioch, strengthening the souls of the disciples, encouraging them to continue in the faith, and saying that through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God.

And when they had appointed elders for them in every church, with prayer and fasting they committed them to the Lord in whom they had believed.” Act 14:19-23 (ESV)

Resources on the Binding of Isaac

I was asked to provide some resources on the binding of Isaac in the comments, and I thought it was worth adding a section here for it. I have found these articles helpful in understanding the purpose behind this story in Genesis.

The Jewish encyclopedia is a pretty good place to start for an approachable, comprehensive overview of what rabbis throughout history have come to believe about an issue in the Hebrew scriptures. This is the link for Isaac. It details his sacrifice near the bottom.

I also find myself checking out this website pretty frequently in my studies. In the article about Isaac’s sacrifice, it includes several ages at which Christian commentators have assessed him. Bonus–they’re all in what we would consider adulthood, today.

I did not wish to jump into the fray on God’s purpose behind this commandment to Abraham. But, I came across this inspired commentary by the late Rabbi Jonathan Sacks and had to share it. Let me know if you disagree!