Genesis 25ESV
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Genesis25

English Standard Version

1 , whose was .

2She him , , , , , and .

3 and . The of were , , and .

4The of were , , , , and . All these were the of .

5 all he had to .

6But to the of his , and while he was still he from his , to the .

7 are the of the of , .

8 breathed his and in a , an and of years, and was to his .

9 and his him in the of , in the of the of the , east ,

10the that from the . was , with his .

11 the of , his . And .

12These are the of , , whom the , , to .

13These are the of the of , in the order of their : , the of ; and , , ,

14 , , ,

15 , , , , and .

16These are the of and these are their , by their and by their , according to their .

17(These are the of the of : . He breathed his and , and was to his .)

18They from to , which is in the of . He over all his .

19These are the of , : ,

20and was when he , the of the of , the of the , to be his .

21And to the Lord his , because she was . And the Lord granted his , and his .

22The , and she , If it is thus, why is happening to me? So she to of the Lord.

23And the Lord to her, are in your , and from shall be ; the shall be than the , the shall the .

24When her to were , , there were in her .

25The , all his body like a , so they his .

26 his with his , so his was . was when she them.

27When the up, was a , a of the , while was a , in .

28 because he of his , but .

29Once when was , from the , and he was .

30And to , Let me some stew, for I am ! (Therefore his was . )

31 , me your .

32 , I am to ; of what use is a to me?

33 , to me . So he to him and his to .

34Then and , and he and and and went his . Thus his .

Study Guide

Public-domain commentary and original-language notes for Genesis 25.

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Chapter Summary

In this chapter: Abraham's family by Keturah, His death and burial. (1–10). God blesses Isaac, The descendants of Ishmael. (11–18). The birth of Esau and Jacob. (19–26). The different characters of Esau and Jacob. (27, 28). Esau despises and sells his birth-right. (29–34).

vv1-10

All the days, even of the best and greatest saints, are not remarkable days; some slide on silently; such were these last days of Abraham. Here is an account of Abraham's children by Keturah, and the disposition which he made of his estate. After the birth of these sons, he set his house in order, with prudence and justice. He did this while he yet lived. It is wisdom for men to do what they find to do while they live, as far as they can. Abraham lived 175 years; just one hundred years after he came to Canaan; so long he was a sojourner in a strange country. Whether our stay in this life be long or short, it matters but little, provided we leave behind us a testimony to the faithfulness and goodness of the Lord, and a good example to our families. We are told that his sons Isaac and Ishmael buried him. It seems that Abraham had himself brought them together while he lived. Let us not close the history of the life of Abraham without blessing God for such a testimony of the triumph of faith.

vv11-18

Ishmael had twelve sons, whose families became distinct tribes. They peopled a very large country that lay between Egypt and Assyria, called Arabia. The number and strength of this family were the fruit of the promise, made to Hagar and to Abraham, concerning Ishmael.

vv19-26

Isaac seems not to have been much tried, but to have spent his days in quietness. Jacob and Esau were prayed for; their parents, after being long childless, obtained them by prayer. The fulfilment of God's promise is always sure, yet it is often slow. The faith of believers is tried, their patience exercised, and mercies long waited for are more welcome when they come. Isaac and Rebekah kept in view the promise of all nations being blessed in their posterity, therefore were not only desirous of children, but anxious concerning every thing which seemed to mark their future character. In all our doubts we should inquire of the Lord by prayer. In many of our conflicts with sin and temptation, we may adopt Rebekah's words, “If it be so, why am I thus?” If a child of God, why so careless or carnal? If not a child of God, why so afraid of, or so burdened with sin?

Cross References

Genesis 25
v18Genesis 16:12fulfillment

Fulfillment of prophecy that Ishmael would dwell and die in the presence of all his brethren.

Supported by Matthew Henry, Matthew Poole, John Calvin, JFB

v23Romans 9:10-12allusion

Paul cites this oracle of election ("the elder shall serve the younger") to show God's sovereign purpose.

Supported by Matthew Henry, John Calvin, JFB

v33Hebrews 12:16allusion

New Testament explicitly labels Esau "profane" for selling his birthright for a single meal.

Supported by Matthew Henry, JFB

v5Genesis 24:36thematic

Confirms Abraham giving all his inheritance to Isaac, as recorded earlier in chapter 24.

Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB

v8Genesis 15:15fulfillment

Fulfillment of the promise that Abraham would die in a good old age.

Supported by JFB

v16Genesis 17:20fulfillment

Fulfillment of God's promise to make Ishmael fruitful and beget twelve princes.

Supported by Matthew Henry, John Calvin, JFB

v23Malachi 1:2-5thematic

God declares His love for Jacob and hatred of Esau (Edom), reflecting their early division.

Supported by John Calvin

v26Hosea 12:3allusion

Hosea explicitly references Jacob taking his brother by the heel in the womb.

Supported by John Calvin

v34Hebrews 12:17thematic

Confirms that Esau was later rejected when he desired to inherit the blessing.

Supported by Matthew Henry

Parallels the list of Keturah's sons, explicitly designating her as Abraham's concubine.

Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB

v9Genesis 23:19thematic

The purchase and initial use of the cave of Machpelah for Sarah's burial.

Supported by Matthew Henry, Matthew Poole, John Calvin

v11Genesis 24:62thematic

Isaac's return to settle by the well Lahai-roi, where he previously journeyed.

Supported by John Calvin

v232 Samuel 8:14fulfillment

Fulfillment of the prophecy: David subdues Edom, and they become servants to Israel.

Supported by Matthew Poole, John Calvin

v31Genesis 27:36thematic

Esau bitterly recalls how Jacob took away both his birthright and his blessing.

Supported by Matthew Poole, John Calvin

Defines the legal birthright in Israel, consisting of a double portion of the inheritance.

Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB

v2Job 2:11thematic

Bildad the Shuhite is linked genealogically to Abraham's son Shuah by Keturah.

Supported by Matthew Poole

v4Isaiah 60:6thematic

Prophetic mention of Midian and Ephah bringing gold and incense.

Supported by Matthew Poole

v6Genesis 21:14thematic

Previous sending away of Hagar and Ishmael matches sending away Keturah's sons.

Supported by Matthew Poole

v11Genesis 17:19thematic

God establishes His covenant blessing specifically with Isaac after Abraham's death.

Supported by Matthew Poole

Parallels the genealogical record of the firstborn sons of Ishmael.

Supported by John Calvin

v23Genesis 27:37thematic

Isaac confirms to Esau that he has made Jacob his lord and master.

Supported by John Calvin

v23Genesis 27:40thematic

Isaac prophesies Esau's servile yoke under Jacob and his eventual rebellion.

Supported by John Calvin, JFB

v232 Chronicles 21:8fulfillment

Edom revolts from under the hand of Judah, matching Isaac's prophecy of rebellion.

Supported by JFB

v32Job 31:7thematic

Parallels the danger of the heart walking after the eyes to satisfy sensual desires.

Supported by Matthew Henry, JFB

v5Romans 9:7-9thematic

Distinguishes the chosen line of Isaac from Abraham's other fleshly descendants.

Supported by JFB

v181 Samuel 15:7thematic

Geographical boundaries from Havilah to Shur, matching Ishmael's dwelling place.

Supported by Matthew Poole

v20Genesis 28:2thematic

Reiterates Padan-aram as the ancestral homeland for Isaac's wife Rebekah.

Supported by John Calvin

v27Hebrews 11:9thematic

Jacob's quiet life "dwelling in tents" is praised as the lifestyle of faith.

Supported by Matthew Henry

v30Genesis 36:1thematic

Directly links Esau's descendents with the name Edom, meaning "Red."

Supported by Matthew Poole

v23Obadiah 1:1-16thematic

The entire prophecy details the historical, deep-seated enmity between Jacob and Esau's descendants.

Supported by John Calvin