# Isaac — The City of God character guide > Isaac in The City of God by Augustine of Hippo. **Role:** supporting **Also known as:** Isaac Taylor **First appearance:** 0002-part-i-book-i ## Snapshot Abraham's promised son, carried to the altar as a sacrifice, read by Augustine as a living type of Christ. ## Who they are Isaac occupies the hinge of Augustine's sacred history, the child through whom the promise to Abraham passes and the figure whose near-sacrifice prefigures the cross. His story lets Augustine argue that the city of God was never built on human strength but on faith in a promise that looked absurd. He matters because he anchors the claim that Scripture's deepest meanings were planted long before Christ arrived. ## Relationships ### [Abraham](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_city_of_god_se/characters/abraham) _family_ Abraham is the father of Isaac, and their relationship is central to the story of faith and sacrifice in the biblical narrative. ## In the story ### [Concerning the twins Esau and Jacob, who were very unlike each other both in their character and actions](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_city_of_god_se/chapters/part-i-iv) Father of Esau and Jacob, though not directly named in the excerpt, he is the father of the twins. ### [Book XV: The Progress of the Two Cities](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_city_of_god_se/chapters/part-ii-book-xv) Son of Abraham and Sarah, born according to the promise, a type of the children of the free woman. ### [Of the children of the flesh and the children of the promise](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_city_of_god_se/chapters/part-ii-ii) Son of the free woman Sarah, born according to promise, representing the children of promise. ### [That Sarah’s barrenness was made productive by God’s grace](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_city_of_god_se/chapters/part-ii-iii) Child of promise, typifying the children of grace and citizens of the free city. ### [XIV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_city_of_god_se/chapters/part-ii-xiv) Mentioned as living 180 years of the same length. ### [XXIV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_city_of_god_se/chapters/part-ii-xxiv) Mentioned as the seed of Abraham and the birth from which the 400 years are reckoned. ### [Of the three men or angels, in whom the Lord is related to have appeared to Abraham at the oak of Mamre](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_city_of_god_se/chapters/part-ii-xxix) Isaac is the promised son of Abraham and Sarah, through whom the nation of Israel and all nations are blessed. ### [Of Isaac, who was born according to the promise, whose name was given on account of the laughter of both parents.](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_city_of_god_se/chapters/part-ii-xxxi) Son born according to God's promise; his name means 'laughter'. ### [Of Abraham's Obedience and Faith, Proved by the Offering of Isaac, and of Sarah's Death](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_city_of_god_se/chapters/part-ii-xxxii) The beloved son offered in sacrifice, who carries the wood for the offering, prefiguring Christ carrying His cross. ### [Of Rebecca, the granddaughter of Nahor, whom Isaac took to wife](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_city_of_god_se/chapters/part-ii-xxxiii) Took Rebecca as his wife at age forty, three years after his mother's death. ### [Chapter XXXIV: On Abraham's Marriage to Keturah After Sarah's Death](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_city_of_god_se/chapters/part-ii-xxxiv) Son of Abraham and Sarah, inherits the whole estate and represents the children of promise. ### [Chapter XXXV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_city_of_god_se/chapters/part-ii-xxxv) Father of the twins Esau and Jacob; prayed for his barren wife Rebecca. ### [Of the oracle and blessing which Isaac received, just as his father did, being beloved for his sake.](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_city_of_god_se/chapters/part-ii-xxxvi) Receives an oracle and blessing from God, similar to his father Abraham; remains faithful and obedient, content with his one wife. ### [Chapter XXXVII: Of the things mystically prefigured in Esau and Jacob](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_city_of_god_se/chapters/part-ii-xxxvii) Isaac, grown old and blind, blesses Jacob instead of Esau, unknowingly prophesying Christ. ### [Of Jacob’s mission to Mesopotamia to get a wife, and of the vision which he saw in a dream by the way, and of his getting four women when he sought one wife.](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_city_of_god_se/chapters/part-ii-xxxviii) Jacob's father, who blesses him and sends him to Mesopotamia to take a wife, conferring the blessing of Abraham. ### [Of the blessing which Jacob promised in Judah his son](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_city_of_god_se/chapters/part-ii-xli) Isaac is the son of Abraham through whom the lineage to Christ continues, excluding Esau. ### [XLII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_city_of_god_se/chapters/part-ii-xlii) Mentioned as the father of Esau and Jacob, whose sons also typified the two peoples. ### [The Fulfillment of God's Promise Concerning the Land of Canaan](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_city_of_god_se/chapters/part-ii-ii) One of the three fathers to whom the promises were made. ### [Of the threefold meaning of the prophecies](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_city_of_god_se/chapters/part-ii-iii) Mentioned alongside Abraham and Jacob as recipients of divine oracles. ### [III](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_city_of_god_se/chapters/part-ii-iii) Son of Abraham, born when Abraham was 100 years old; father of Esau and Jacob at age 60. ### [Of the times of Jacob and his son Joseph](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_city_of_god_se/chapters/part-ii-iv) Isaac dies at 180 years old, leaving his twin sons Jacob and Esau at 120 years old. ### [Of the predictions concerning the salvation of the world in Christ, in Obadiah, Nahum, and Habakkuk](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_city_of_god_se/chapters/part-ii-xxxi) Father of the twin sons Jacob and Esau, mentioned in the context of Obadiah's prophecy. ### [Chapter XXXIX: About the Hebrew Written Characters Which That Language Always Possessed](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_city_of_god_se/chapters/part-ii-xxxix) Isaac is listed among the patriarchs who lived before the Egyptian sages and philosophers. ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_city_of_god_se/characters/isaac - Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_city_of_god_se - All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_city_of_god_se/characters