Why does God call Isaac Abraham's only son, when Abraham also had Ishmael for a son? Doesn't only mean only?

Question

"And he said, Take now thy son, thine only son Isaac..." Gen 22: 2

"...for now I know that thou fearest God, seeing thou hast not withheld thy son, thine only son from me." Gen 22: 12.

"...and hast not withheld thy son, thine only son:" Gen 22: 16

Additional Details

The Bible says that Ishmael's mother, Hagar, was a wife to Abraham. Which means Ishmael was a legitimate son, not a bastard.

"And Sarai Abram’s wife took Hagar her maid the Egyptian, after Abram had dwelt ten years in the land of Canaan, and gave her to her husband Abram to be his wife." Gen 16:3.

When Ishmael and Hagar were sent away it was clear that Ishmael was not to be the rightful heir, but it is also clear that Ishmael would remain Abraham's son. God said, "And also of the son of the bondwoman will I make a nation, because he is thy seed." Gen 21:13.

Even after Abraham died Ishmael is still called Abraham son. "And his sons Isaac and Ishmael buried him in the cave of Machpelah..." Gen 25:9.

Also, "Now these are the generations of Ishmael, Abraham’s son, whom Hagar the Egyptian, Sarah’s handmaid, bare unto Abraham:" Gen 25:12.

So the Bible never stops calling Ishmael Abraham's son. So why, just because Isaac is the heir is he the "only" son?

Thank you for your additional ideas, Pam. I have read the Bible, and I do read the Bible. I still think my question is legitimate.

Answer 1

Best Answer - Chosen by Asker

It is the divine reversal - a pattern that is constantly repeated throughout the Bible ...

It is even hidden in the Hebrew (and the Greek too) language of the text in a literary form called a chiasm.

In a chiasm, concepts or ideas are placed in a special symmetric order or pattern in a mirrored structure to emphasize them.

For example, Matt 20:16a “So the last will be first, and the first last.” This sentence is a simple chiasm:

A So the **last**
B will be **first**
B’ and the **first**
A’ **last**.

And that is exactly what a chiasm does: it places the last first and the first last. When you break down a chiasm, the letters on the right are used to show which parts of the chiasm correspond to each other. Look at it like a mirror. The second half reflects the first half.

This divine reversal is seen also in the Biblical characters...

Cain is the firstborn, of the two Abel is last. But Abel's offering is accepted and Cain's is rejected.

Ishmael is the firstborn, of the two Isaac is last. But Ishmael is rejected as the Messiah's lineage and Isaac is accepted.

Esau is the firstborn, Jacob is last. But Esau is rejected and Jacob is accepted.

And there are more ... like David ... the youngest son rejected by his brothers and father but who ended up in the Messiah's bloodline etc

All of these that are rejected are only rejected from being in the Messiah's bloodline. They are not rejected from the love of God. It is never about the individual, it is about Jesus coming through their bloodline.

It is ultimately all about Jesus. Because actually, God calls Israel His firstborn son, yet He calls Jesus His "ONLY" begotten Son, echoing His own words to Abraham in Genesis 22:2. So the divine reversal comes into play there again. Isaac is a 'type' of Christ. It is never about rejection of the first son, it is about Jesus and the bloodline that led up to His birth.

God bless you

Asker's Rating:

Asker's Comment:

Thank you everyone for your informative comments. I picked this answer as it helps to understand how the story of the almost sacrificed Isaac was in similitude of the sacrifice of Jesus Christ.

Answer 2

The bible needed a better editor.

Answer 3

God was referring to Abraham's only son by his wife, Sarah.

Answer 4

Hmmmm. I never noticed that "only son" part. That is a very good question. I guess God didn't recognize Ishmael as his son because God's covenant wasn't going to be made with him. I don't know for sure.

Answer 5

other one was illegitimate..

Answer 6

Remember that by this time, Ishmael was a grown man, and had LONG before left Abraham's Bedouin encampment. He lived a good distance off, and was founding his own tribe, so Isaac was Abraham's "only son" in the sense that he was the only one left at home, I suppose.

Answer 7

Ishmael was his son through Hagar, a handmaid of Sarah. He was not a legitimate child, or heir, to Abraham.

Answer 8

There are lots of loose ends and details that don't match up in the Bible. Funny, right, since it was divinely inspired.

That's why I'm a person of science and fact. And I don't mean divinely-inspired facts, either.

Answer 9

Isaac was theson God promised Abraham and Sarah. He was the one who would be the father of a great nation, according to the promise. Ishmael was a child conceived in sin with a concubine outside of God's will. He was not recognized by God as heir to Abraham's blessing.

Good answer Dritz!

Answer 10

He's the only son of the promise, the covenant. He's the only son born from the faith in the promise that God gave Abraham. He's the only son who could receive his birthright.

Ishmael was what happened when Sarah and Abraham decided that God wasn't making good on His promise quickly enough and they decided to speed things up a bit. We see how well that's gone. *sigh*

This is actually an interesting issue to study from both a natural and supernatural level --- it has *much* to teach us about waiting on God and what happens when we do things out of the flesh rather than following after God's Spirit.

Fleshly actions produce spiritually illegitimate children. Walking after the Spirit produces results beyond what we can imagine.

Answer 11

I don't have all of my Hebrew resources here. YHVH certainly knew about Ishmael. My guess is "only" here was the word meaning "special".

Answer 12

If you get a chance to go to heaven, then you can ask. Human beings minds are not smart enough to understand Gods mind. You just cant know everything but you know there is a deep reason. i really dont know, maybe in the near future that have to come through prayer and scripture reading.

Answer 13

1. Isaac was his only legitimate son...ie the son of Sarah, his wife. Ishmael was the sone of Hagar, a servant and concubine.

2. Isaac was his only son in the sense that Isaac embodied the teachings of his father that would be passed down to Jacob and eventually to the entire Israelite (Jewish) people.

3. Isaac was prophesied as the son who would inherit and maintain Abraham's legacy.

Answer 14

No offense meant, and I really do mean that, but God did not, and does not count bastards. I really don't mean that the way it sounds. but one was born to a servant, one to his wife. there is no comparison.

Answer 15

You haven't read your bible, have you? Abraham had sent away Ishmael, his other son.
Isaac was the "ONLY SON" that Abraham had left. Ishmael was not the "promised child". He was a mistake that Abraham made because he lacked faith to patiently wait on God for the promise of a son through Sarah. Even though Ishmael was a mistake, God still promised to bless him for Abraham's sake. But God made Abraham send Ishmael away because he would not be heir with Isaac. Isaac was the only heir. Abraham had more children after Sarah's death with another wife and they were not heirs either. At Abraham's death, they were sent gifts but not the substance of what Abraham had. Isaac was the only heir and through him alone God would fulfill his promises to Abraham.

Answer 16

Oh oh! Pick me! Pick me! I know this one!

Gen 16:15-16: Abram has a son named Ishmael

Gen 17:5: Abram receives a new name: Abraham

Gen 18: God promises a son to Sarah, Abraham's wife (Hagar is a concubine)

Gen 21 - Isaac is born to Sarah and Abraham and Sarah has Hagar and Ishamael cast out. (Don't be too harsh on Sarah, there were real safety concerns here because it wasn't uncommon for someone in Ishmael's position to kill a young heir like Isaac.) This effectively ends Abraham's relationship with both Hagar and Ishmael, legally speaking.

Gen 22 - Isaac is the only son.

So the answer to your question is:
a) "Abram" was the father of Ishmael and "Abraham" was of Isaac: thus "Abraham" had only one son

b) Ishmael was the son of a concubine and not an heir

c) Ishmael and Hagar had been disowned by and legally removed from the family

Side Note: Those that are answering that Ishmael was illegitimate and thus not an heir are incorrect. Ishamel was considered legally the son of Sarai (Sarah before God changed her name) as per Gen 16:2. Ishmael *would* have been an heir had not Isaac been born.

Besides, such answers are imposing a 21st century marriage standard onto poor Abraham. Neither of his sons was illegitimate. A concubine was a wife from the servant class, not a "mistress."

Answer 17

The answer that many members have given that Ishmael was illegitimate son of Abraham is based on ignorance of knowledge.

Those who believe Jewish writings of course they will always remain ignorant. Because Jews always lied and changed the God’s words in Torah They killed many of the Prophets God sent to guide them. Sending Jesus Christ was their last test from God and they failed by trying to have Jesus crucified. God had Jesus Christ lifted alive to Heaven by his Angels.

Prophets never commited sins. Just like if a Layer commits a crime, Judge gives him harder punishment than ordinary people, sameway God would punish a Prophet much more severely if he commits sin knowing fornication a sin. Abraham married to Hagar. After marriage she became mother of Ishmael and Abraham. Ishmael was Abraham’s firstborn son. God showed Abraham in dream that he was sacrificing his son Ishmael. So he told Ishmael and Ishmael replied to father; go ahead and do God has commanded you! you will find me patient.
Jews invented similar story of Ishaq being the only son. Or Ishmael’s nation will look better than their’s,

When Abraham was sacrificing Ishmael, Angel Gabriel came and stopped him and said God has accepted your sacrifice, and sends you this Lamb instead. Abraham and Ishmael together built the Kaaba and Muslims started coming every year for Haj. Muslims walk seven times anti clock wise around Kaaba and also sacrifice animals on the 9th day of lunar month known as month of Zul-Haj.

Read some of the God's words translated by a Scholar of Islam now for your knowledge.

Of the Jews there are those who displace words from their (right) places, and say: "We hear and we disobey"; and "Hear what is not Heard"; and "Ra'ina"; with a twist of their tongues and a slander to Faith. If only they had said: "What hear and we obey"; and "Do hear"; and "Do look at us"; it would have been better for them, and more proper; but Allah hath cursed them for their Unbelief; and but few of them will believe.
( سورة النساء , An-Nisa, Chapter #4, Verse #46)

But the transgressors among them changed the word from that which had been given them so we sent on them a plague from heaven. For that they repeatedly transgressed.
( سورة الأعراف , Al-Araf, Chapter #7, Verse #162)

The Jews say: "(Allah)'s hand is tied up." Be their hands tied up and be they accursed for the (blasphemy) they utter. Nay, both His hands are widely outstretched: He giveth and spendeth (of His bounty) as He pleaseth. But the revelation that cometh to thee from Allah increaseth in most of them their obstinate rebellion and blasphemy. Amongst them we have placed enmity and hatred till the Day of Judgment. Every time they kindle the fire of war, Allah doth extinguish it; but they (ever) strive to do mischief on earth. And Allah loveth not those who do mischief.
( سورة المائدة , Al-Maeda, Chapter #5, Verse #64)

It was We who revealed the law (to Moses): therein was guidance and light. By its standard have been judged the Jews, by the prophets who bowed (as in Islam) to Allah’s will, by the rabbis and the doctors of law: for to them was entrusted the protection of Allah’s book, and they were witnesses thereto: therefore fear not men, but fear me, and sell not my signs for a miserable price. If any do fail to judge by (the light of) what Allah hath revealed, they are (no better than) Unbelievers.
( سورة المائدة , Al-Maeda, Chapter #5, Verse #44)


Say: "We believe in Allah, and in what has been revealed to us and what was revealed to Abraham, Isma'il, Isaac, Jacob, and the Tribes, and in (the Books) given to Moses, Jesus, and the Prophets, from their Lord: We make no distinction between one and another among them, and to Allah do we bow our will (in Islam)."
( سورة آل عمران , Aal-e-Imran, Chapter #3, Verse #84)


The Jews call 'Uzair a son of Allah, and the Christians call Christ the son of Allah. That is a saying from their mouth; (in this) they but imitate what the unbelievers of old used to say. Allah.s curse be on them: how they are deluded away from the Truth!
( سورة التوبة , At-Taubah, Chapter #9, Verse #30)

Allah hath heard the taunt of those who say: "Truly, Allah is indigent and we are rich!"- We shall certainly record their word and (their act) of slaying the Prophets in defiance of right, and We shall say: "Taste ye the penalty of the Scorching Fire!


That they said (in boast), "We killed Christ Jesus the son of Mary, the Messenger of Allah.;- but they killed him not, nor crucified him, but so it was made to appear to them, and those who differ therein are full of doubts, with no (certain) knowledge, but only conjecture to follow, for of a surety they killed him not:-
( سورة النساء , An-Nisa, Chapter #4, Verse #157)

Christ the son of Mary was no more than an apostle; many were the apostles that passed away before him. His mother was a woman of truth. They had both to eat their (daily) food. See how Allah doth make His signs clear to them; yet see in what ways they are deluded away from the truth!
( سورة المائدة , Al-Maeda, Chapter #5, Verse #75)

Mocked were (many) apostle before thee; But their scoffers were hemmed in by the thing that they mocked.
Muhammad is not the father of any of your men, but (he is) the Messenger of Allah, and the Seal of the Prophets: and Allah has full knowledge of all things.
( سورة الأحزاب , Al-Ahzab, Chapter #33, Verse #40)

(Both) the Jews and the Christians say: "We are sons of Allah, and his beloved." Say: "Why then doth He punish you for your sins? Nay, ye are but men,- of the men he hath created: He forgiveth whom He pleaseth, and He punisheth whom He pleaseth: and to Allah belongeth the dominion of the heavens and the earth, and all that is between: and unto Him is the final goal (of all)"
( سورة المائدة , Al-Maeda, Chapter #5, Verse #18)