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Genesis 25

Genesis25

King James Version · Public Domain

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1 Then again Abraham took a wife, and her name was Keturah.

2 And she bare him Zimran, and Jokshan, and Medan, and Midian, and Ishbak, and Shuah.

3 And Jokshan begat Sheba, and Dedan. And the sons of Dedan were Asshurim, and Letushim, and Leummim.

4 And the sons of Midian; Ephah, and Epher, and Hanoch, and Abida, and Eldaah. All these were the children of Keturah.

5 And Abraham gave all that he had unto Isaac.

6 But unto the sons of the concubines, which Abraham had, Abraham gave gifts, and sent them away from Isaac his son, while he yet lived, eastward, unto the east country.

7 And these are the days of the years of Abraham's life which he lived, an hundred threescore and fifteen years.

8 Then Abraham gave up the ghost, and died in a good old age, an old man, and full of years; and was gathered to his people.

9 And his sons Isaac and Ishmael buried him in the cave of Machpelah, in the field of Ephron the son of Zohar the Hittite, which is before Mamre;

10 The field which Abraham purchased of the sons of Heth: there was Abraham buried, and Sarah his wife.

11 And it came to pass after the death of Abraham, that God blessed his son Isaac; and Isaac dwelt by the well Lahai–roi.

12 Now these are the generations of Ishmael, Abraham's son, whom Hagar the Egyptian, Sarah's handmaid, bare unto Abraham:

13 And these are the names of the sons of Ishmael, by their names, according to their generations: the firstborn of Ishmael, Nebaioth; and Kedar, and Adbeel, and Mibsam,

14 And Mishma, and Dumah, and Massa,

15 Hadar, and Tema, Jetur, Naphish, and Kedemah:

16 These are the sons of Ishmael, and these are their names, by their towns, and by their castles; twelve princes according to their nations.

17 And these are the years of the life of Ishmael, an hundred and thirty and seven years: and he gave up the ghost and died; and was gathered unto his people.

18 And they dwelt from Havilah unto Shur, that is before Egypt, as thou goest toward Assyria: and he died in the presence of all his brethren.

19 And these are the generations of Isaac, Abraham's son: Abraham begat Isaac:

20 And Isaac was forty years old when he took Rebekah to wife, the daughter of Bethuel the Syrian of Paddan–aram, the sister to Laban the Syrian.

21 And Isaac entreated the Lord for his wife, because she was barren: and the Lord was entreated of him, and Rebekah his wife conceived.

22 And the children struggled together within her; and she said, If it be so, why am I thus? And she went to enquire of the Lord.

23 And the Lord said unto her, Two nations are in thy womb, and two manner of people shall be separated from thy bowels; and the one people shall be stronger than the other people; and the elder shall serve the younger.

24 And when her days to be delivered were fulfilled, behold, there were twins in her womb.

25 And the first came out red, all over like an hairy garment; and they called his name Esau.

26 And after that came his brother out, and his hand took hold on Esau's heel; and his name was called Jacob: and Isaac was threescore years old when she bare them.

27 And the boys grew: and Esau was a cunning hunter, a man of the field; and Jacob was a plain man, dwelling in tents.

28 And Isaac loved Esau, because he did eat of his venison: but Rebekah loved Jacob.

29 And Jacob sod pottage: and Esau came from the field, and he was faint:

30 And Esau said to Jacob, Feed me, I pray thee, with that same red pottage; for I am faint: therefore was his name called Edom.

31 And Jacob said, Sell me this day thy birthright.

32 And Esau said, Behold, I am at the point to die: and what profit shall this birthright do to me?

33 And Jacob said, Swear to me this day; and he sware unto him: and he sold his birthright unto Jacob.

34 Then Jacob gave Esau bread and pottage of lentiles; and he did eat and drink, and rose up, and went his way: thus Esau despised his birthright.

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Genesis 25

Public-domain commentary and original-language notes for Genesis 25. The full AI study guide (summary, themes, context) has its own page.

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