Genesis25
New International Version
1Abraham had taken another wife, whose name was Keturah.
2She bore him Zimran, Jokshan, Medan, Midian, Ishbak and Shuah.
3Jokshan was the father of Sheba and Dedan; the descendants of Dedan were the Ashurites, the Letushites and the Leummites.
4The sons of Midian were Ephah, Epher, Hanok, Abida and Eldaah. All these were descendants of Keturah.
5Abraham left everything he owned to Isaac.
6But while he was still living, he gave gifts to the sons of his concubines and sent them away from his son Isaac to the land of the east.
7Abraham lived a hundred and seventy-five years.
8Then Abraham breathed his last and died at a good old age, an old man and full of years; and he was gathered to his people.
9His sons Isaac and Ishmael buried him in the cave of Machpelah near Mamre, in the field of Ephron son of Zohar the Hittite,
10the field Abraham had bought from the Hittites. There Abraham was buried with his wife Sarah.
11After Abraham’s death, God blessed his son Isaac, who then lived near Beer Lahai Roi.
12This is the account of the family line of Abraham’s son Ishmael, whom Sarah’s slave, Hagar the Egyptian, bore to Abraham.
13These are the names of the sons of Ishmael, listed in the order of their birth: Nebaioth the firstborn of Ishmael, Kedar, Adbeel, Mibsam,
14Mishma, Dumah, Massa,
15Hadad, Tema, Jetur, Naphish and Kedemah.
16These were the sons of Ishmael, and these are the names of the twelve tribal rulers according to their settlements and camps.
17Ishmael lived a hundred and thirty-seven years. He breathed his last and died, and he was gathered to his people.
18His descendants settled in the area from Havilah to Shur, near the eastern border of Egypt, as you go toward Ashur. And they lived in hostility toward all the tribes related to them.
19This is the account of the family line of Abraham’s son Isaac. Abraham became the father of Isaac,
20and Isaac was forty years old when he married Rebekah daughter of Bethuel the Aramean from Paddan Aram and sister of Laban the Aramean.
21Isaac prayed to the Lord on behalf of his wife, because she was childless. The Lord answered his prayer, and his wife Rebekah became pregnant.
22The babies jostled each other within her, and she said, “Why is this happening to me?” So she went to inquire of the Lord.
23The Lord said to her, “Two nations are in your womb, and two peoples from within you will be separated; one people will be stronger than the other, and the older will serve the younger.”
24When the time came for her to give birth, there were twin boys in her womb.
25The first to come out was red, and his whole body was like a hairy garment; so they named him Esau.
26After this, his brother came out, with his hand grasping Esau’s heel; so he was named Jacob. Isaac was sixty years old when Rebekah gave birth to them.
27The boys grew up, and Esau became a skillful hunter, a man of the open country, while Jacob was content to stay at home among the tents.
28Isaac, who had a taste for wild game, loved Esau, but Rebekah loved Jacob.
29Once when Jacob was cooking some stew, Esau came in from the open country, famished.
30He said to Jacob, “Quick, let me have some of that red stew! I’m famished!” (That is why he was also called Edom.)
31Jacob replied, “First sell me your birthright.”
32“Look, I am about to die,” Esau said. “What good is the birthright to me?”
33But Jacob said, “Swear to me first.” So he swore an oath to him, selling his birthright to Jacob.
34Then Jacob gave Esau some bread and some lentil stew. He ate and drank, and then got up and left. So Esau despised his birthright.
Study Guide
Public-domain commentary and original-language notes for Genesis 25.
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?
Key Words
אַבְרָהָם: Abraham, the later name of Abram
לָקַח: to take (in the widest variety of applications)
יָסַף: to add or augment (often adverbial, to continue to do a thing)
אִשָּׁה: a woman
שֵׁם: an appellation, as amark or memorial of individuality; by implication honor, authority, character
קְטוּרָה: Keturah, a wife of Abraham
יָלַד: to bear young; causatively, to beget; medically, to act as midwife; specifically, to show lineage
זִמְרָן: Zimran, a son of Abraham by Keturah
יׇקְשָׁן: Jokshan, an Arabian patriarch
מְדָן: Medan, a son of Abraham
Cross References
Genesis 25Fulfillment of prophecy that Ishmael would dwell and die in the presence of all his brethren.
Supported by Matthew Henry, Matthew Poole, John Calvin, JFB
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
New Testament explicitly labels Esau "profane" for selling his birthright for a single meal.
Supported by Matthew Henry, JFB
Confirms Abraham giving all his inheritance to Isaac, as recorded earlier in chapter 24.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Fulfillment of the promise that Abraham would die in a good old age.
Supported by JFB
Fulfillment of God's promise to make Ishmael fruitful and beget twelve princes.
Supported by Matthew Henry, John Calvin, JFB
God declares His love for Jacob and hatred of Esau (Edom), reflecting their early division.
Supported by John Calvin
Hosea explicitly references Jacob taking his brother by the heel in the womb.
Supported by John Calvin
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
The purchase and initial use of the cave of Machpelah for Sarah's burial.
Supported by Matthew Henry, Matthew Poole, John Calvin
Isaac's return to settle by the well Lahai-roi, where he previously journeyed.
Supported by John Calvin
Fulfillment of the prophecy: David subdues Edom, and they become servants to Israel.
Supported by Matthew Poole, John Calvin
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
Bildad the Shuhite is linked genealogically to Abraham's son Shuah by Keturah.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Prophetic mention of Midian and Ephah bringing gold and incense.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Previous sending away of Hagar and Ishmael matches sending away Keturah's sons.
Supported by Matthew Poole
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
Isaac confirms to Esau that he has made Jacob his lord and master.
Supported by John Calvin
Isaac prophesies Esau's servile yoke under Jacob and his eventual rebellion.
Supported by John Calvin, JFB
Edom revolts from under the hand of Judah, matching Isaac's prophecy of rebellion.
Supported by JFB
Parallels the danger of the heart walking after the eyes to satisfy sensual desires.
Supported by Matthew Henry, JFB
Distinguishes the chosen line of Isaac from Abraham's other fleshly descendants.
Supported by JFB
Geographical boundaries from Havilah to Shur, matching Ishmael's dwelling place.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Reiterates Padan-aram as the ancestral homeland for Isaac's wife Rebekah.
Supported by John Calvin
Jacob's quiet life "dwelling in tents" is praised as the lifestyle of faith.
Supported by Matthew Henry
Directly links Esau's descendents with the name Edom, meaning "Red."
Supported by Matthew Poole
The entire prophecy details the historical, deep-seated enmity between Jacob and Esau's descendants.
Supported by John Calvin