Just a footnote to Bill East's reference to early patristic
interpretations. The passage in Genesis 17.17 has Abraham laughing (risit)
at the idea that Sara(h) would bear a son, and it is in this context that
the name "Isaac" for the son is first mentioned (17.19). It is in Gen
18.12, which looks and feels like an alternate ancient explanation, that
Sarah laughs (risit; although she tries to deny it); the name "Isaac" is
not explicitly mentioned in this passage. It is in Gen 21.1ff that Isaac
is finally born, and his father names him; reference is made by Sarah to
God making "risum" for her and people "laughing" (corridebit) presumably
about her old-age birth. As has already been pointed out, the Hebrew for
"Isaac" has a masculine subject, "he laughed" -- "she laughed" would be
something like "Tisaac," I guess. Already in the first century ce, Philo
comments on Abraham's laughing at this situation (Allegorical Interp 3.85,
Change of Names 175ff -- Abraham's fleeting, human, doubt -- Questions in
Genesis 3.55).
Bob
--
Robert A. Kraft, Religious Studies, University of Pennsylvania
227 Logan Hall (Philadelphia PA 19104-6304); tel. 215 898-5827
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http://ccat.sas.upenn.edu/rs/rak/kraft.html
Bill East wrote:
> The Fathers however assert that he got his name, not from Sarah's laughter
> but from that of Abraham. Thus Jerome writes:
>
> Diversa opinio, sed una etymologia, quare appellatus sit Isaac. Interpretatur
> enim Isaac, 'risus'. Alii dicunt, quia Saraa riserit, idea eum risum
> vocatum esse,
> quod falsum est. Alii vero quod riserit Abraham, quod et nos probamus.
>
> "There are different opinions, but only one etymology, why he should be
> called Isaac.
> For Isaac is interpreted 'laughter'. Some say, that Sarah laughed, and
> therefore he
> was called 'Laughter', which is false. Others indeed say it was because
> Abraham
> laughed, with which we agree." (Jerome, Hebraicae Quaestiones, Corp. Chr. 77
> p. 535).
>
> Augustine says, "For his father had laughed, marvelling in joy" (City of
> God, 16:31).
>
> Bede says, "Isaac is interpreted 'Laughter', without doubt because Abraham
> laughed
> in his heart when he heard of his birth."
>
> And he goes on:
>
> "And that word 'Laughter' (risus) fittingly signifies the joy of the New
> Testament, in which the children of the promise, with the Lord dwelling
> among them, exult for ever."
> (In Genesim, IV, Cor. Chr. 118A, pp. 207-8)
>
> And so say they all. Nothing to do with 'ritus' I assure you.
>
> The Supple Doctor.
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