Madonna’s “Issac” has been mistakenly thought to be overtly referencing the story of Issac or the Akeda. This moment is known to Christians as “The Sacrifice of Issac.” This is not entirely true. The Yemenite portions of the song do not, but some of the lyrics do.
The song comes from her studies of...
[Intro: Yitzhak Sinwani]
אם ננעלו דלתי נדיבים
דלתי נדיבים דלתי מרום
[Chorus: Yitzhak Sinwani]
אם ננעלו, אם ננעלו
אם ננעלו, אם ננעלו
אם ננעלו, אם ננעלו
אם ננעלו, אם ננעלו
[Verse 1: Madonna]
Staring up into the heavens
In this hell that binds your hands
Will you sacrifice your comfort?
Make your way in a foreign land?
[Pre-Chorus: Madonna]
Wrestle with your darkness
Angels call your name
Can you hear what they are saying?
Will you ever be the same?
[Chorus: Madonna, Yitzhak Sinwani]
Mmm-mmm-mmm (אם ננעלו, אם ננעלו)
Mmm-mmm-mmm (אם ננעלו, אם ננעלו)
[Verse 2: Madonna]
Remember, remember, never forget
All of your life has all been a test
You will find the gate that's open
Even though your spirit's broken
[Pre-Chorus: Madonna, Yitzhak Sinwani]
Open up my heart
And cause my lips to speak
Bring the heavens and the stars
Down to Earth for me
(אם ננעלו דלתי נדיבים)
[Chorus: Madonna, Yitzhak Sinwani]
Mmm-mmm-mmm (אם ננעלו, אם ננעלו)
Mmm-mmm-mmm (אם ננעלו, אם ננעלו)
Mmm-mmm-mmm (אם ננעלו, אם ננעלו)
Mmm-mmm-mmm (Iאם ננעלו, אם ננעלו)
[Bridge: Yitzhak Sinwani]
אל חי
אל חי מרומם על כרובים
כולם ברוחו יעלו
[Pre-Chorus: Madonna]
Wrestle with your darkness
Angels call your name
Can you hear what they are saying?
Will you ever be the same?
[Chorus: Madonna, Yitzhak Sinwani]
Mmm-mmm-mmm (אם ננעלו, אם ננעלו)
Mmm-mmm-mmm (אם ננעלו, אם ננעלו)
Mmm-mmm-mmm (אם ננעלו, אם ננעלו)
Mmm-mmm-mmm (אם ננעלו, אם ננעלו)
[Post-Chorus]
אל חי
אל חי מרומם על כרובים
[Outro: Yitzhak Sinwani]
The generous truly know what will be given
If they don't stop, you know
The gates of heaven are always open
And there's this God in the sky and the angels
How they sit, you know in front of the light
And that's what it's about
Isaac was written by Stuart Price & Madonna.
Isaac was produced by Stuart Price & Madonna.