Called the name of his son may also be expressed “named his son,” “called his son,” “gave his son the name.” It was the custom for the father to give the name to a child, but there were exceptions to this (see 19.37, 38). Abraham had named Hagar’s son in 16.15.

Who was born to him is repeated in the words whom Sarah bore him. Most translations reduce this repetitive statement in one way or another. Revised English Bible say “the son whom Sarah bore to him.” Because it is stated in verse 2 that Sarah bore Abraham a son, Good News Translation does not repeat this information here.

Isaac: see discussion at 17.19. It should be noted that Isaac’s name in chapters 17 and 18 is associated with the laughter of disbelief. In verse 6 of this chapter the laughter is related to joy over the birth of a child in the old couple’s declining years.

The whole verse may be rendered, for example, “Abraham named the son Sarah gave him Isaac” or “Isaac is the name Abraham called his son.” In a number of languages this verse is made a continuation of verse 2 and may be shortened by simply saying “… and Abraham called the baby’s name Isaac.”

Quoted with permission from Reyburn, William D. and Fry, Euan McG. A Handbook on Genesis. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 1997. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .