Editing Isaac (section)

==In art==
[[File:2138 - Milano - Abbazia di Viboldone - Giusto de' Menabuoi, Storie di Isacco - Foto Giovanni Dall'Orto,.jpg|thumb|''Stories of Jacob and Isaac'' by [[Giusto de' Menabuoi]] (14th century)]]

The earliest Christian portrayal of Isaac is found in the [[Catacombs of Rome|Roman catacomb]] [[fresco]]es.<ref name="Early Christian Art">{{cite journal|author=Smith, Alison Moore|title=The Iconography of the Sacrifice of Isaac in Early Christian Art|jstor=497708|journal=American Journal of Archaeology|volume=26|issue=2|pages=159–73|doi=10.2307/497708|year=1922|s2cid=191366399}}</ref> Excluding the fragments, Alison Moore Smith classifies these artistic works in three categories:

{{Quote|Abraham leads Isaac towards the altar; or Isaac approaches with the bundle of sticks, Abraham having preceded him to the place of offering {{omission}} Abraham is upon a pedestal and Isaac stands near at hand, both figures in orant [[attitude (art)|attitude]] {{omission}} Abraham is shown about to sacrifice Isaac while the latter stands or kneels on the ground beside the altar. Sometimes Abraham grasps Isaac by the hair. Occasionally the ram is added to the scene and in the later paintings the [[Hand of God (art)|Hand of God]] emerges from above.<ref name="Early Christian Art"/>}}

Several more paintings regarding Isaac:

* ''The Sacrifice of Isaac'' (Caravaggio) — A Baroque painting depicting the moment the angel stops Abraham.<ref>“Sacrifice of Isaac (Caravaggio),” Wikipedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sacrifice_of_Isaac_(Caravaggio)</ref>

* ''The Sacrifice of Isaac'' (Rembrandt) — A 1635 painting expressing Abraham’s obedience and emotional turmoil.<ref>“The Sacrifice of Isaac (Rembrandt),” Wikipedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Sacrifice_of_Isaac_(Rembrandt)</ref>

* ''Abraham and Isaac'' (Titian) — A 1542–1544 oil painting depicting the binding of Isaac, commissioned for the Church of Santo Spirito in Isola and now housed in Santa Maria della Salute, Venice. It captures the dramatic moment when the angel intervenes.<ref>“Abraham and Isaac by Titian,” ArtBible.info, https://www.artbible.info/art/large/670.html</ref>

* ''Beit Alpha Synagogue Mosaic'' — A 6th-century synagogue mosaic in Israel that depicts the binding of Isaac, featuring Abraham with raised knife, the divine hand, and a ram. It reflects Jewish religious symbolism during the Byzantine era.<ref>“Beit Alpha – Ancient Synagogue and Zodiac Mosaic,” BibleWalks.com, https://www.biblewalks.com/beitalpha</ref>

There are a number of songs inspired by the account concerning Isaac:

*  Michael Card’s 1989 song "They Called Him Laughter" reflects on Isaac as the long-awaited son whose name symbolizes the joy and surprise of God’s fulfilled promise.<ref>Ray Mansfield, "Michael Card – The Beginning – 1989," Real 80s CCM, December 9, 2024. https://real80sccm.com/2024/12/09/michael-card-the-beginning-1989/</ref>

* ''When I Lay My Isaac Down'' — A Southern Gospel song by C.T. & Becky Townsend, using Isaac as a metaphor for personal surrender to God’s will.<ref>Townsend Ministries, “When I Lay My Isaac Down,” accessed May 15, 2025. https://www.townsendministry.org/</ref>

* ''God Will Provide a Lamb'' — A worship song by Sally DeFord emphasizing God's provision of a substitute sacrifice for Isaac, symbolizing Christ.<ref>Sally DeFord, “God Will Provide a Lamb,” DeFord Music, https://defordmusic.com/song-list/god-will-provide-a-lamb/</ref>

* ''Canticle II: Abraham and Isaac'' — A 1952 classical composition by Benjamin Britten, dramatizing the Genesis 22 story through music based on the medieval Chester Mystery Plays.<ref>“Canticle II: Abraham and Isaac,” Wikipedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canticle_II%3A_Abraham_and_Isaac</ref>