Genesis 25WEB
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Genesis25

World English Bible · Public Domain

1Abraham took another wife, and her name was Keturah.

2She bore him Zimran, Jokshan, Medan, Midian, Ishbak, and Shuah.

3Jokshan became the father of Sheba, and Dedan. The sons of Dedan were Asshurim, Letushim, and Leummim.

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

5Abraham gave all that he had to Isaac,

6but Abraham gave gifts to the sons of Abraham’s concubines. While he still lived, he sent them away from Isaac his son, eastward, to the east country.

7These are the days of the years of Abraham’s life which he lived: one hundred seventy-five years.

8Abraham gave up his spirit, and died at a good old age, an old man, and full of years, and was gathered to his people.

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

10the field which Abraham purchased from the children of Heth. Abraham was buried there with Sarah, his wife.

11After the death of Abraham, God blessed Isaac, his son. Isaac lived by Beer Lahai Roi.

12Now this is the history of the generations of Ishmael, Abraham’s son, whom Hagar the Egyptian, Sarah’s servant, bore to Abraham.

13These are the names of the sons of Ishmael, by their names, according to the order of their birth: the firstborn of Ishmael, Nebaioth, then Kedar, Adbeel, Mibsam,

14Mishma, Dumah, Massa,

15Hadad, Tema, Jetur, Naphish, and Kedemah.

16These are the sons of Ishmael, and these are their names, by their villages, and by their encampments: twelve princes, according to their nations.

17These are the years of the life of Ishmael: one hundred thirty-seven years. He gave up his spirit and died, and was gathered to his people.

18They lived from Havilah to Shur that is before Egypt, as you go toward Assyria. He lived opposite all his relatives.

19This is the history of the generations of Isaac, Abraham’s son. Abraham became the father of Isaac.

20Isaac was forty years old when he took Rebekah, the daughter of Bethuel the Syrian of Paddan Aram, the sister of Laban the Syrian, to be his wife.

21Isaac entreated Yahweh for his wife, because she was barren. Yahweh was entreated by him, and Rebekah his wife conceived.

22The children struggled together within her. She said, “If it is like this, why do I live?” She went to inquire of Yahweh.

23Yahweh said to her, “Two nations are in your womb. Two peoples will be separated from your body. The one people will be stronger than the other people. The elder will serve the younger.”

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

25The first came out red all over, like a hairy garment. They named him Esau.

26After that, his brother came out, and his hand had hold on Esau’s heel. He was named Jacob. Isaac was sixty years old when she bore them.

27The boys grew. Esau was a skillful hunter, a man of the field. Jacob was a quiet man, living in tents.

28Now Isaac loved Esau, because he ate his venison. Rebekah loved Jacob.

29Jacob boiled stew. Esau came in from the field, and he was famished.

30Esau said to Jacob, “Please feed me with some of that red stew, for I am famished.” Therefore his name was called Edom.

31Jacob said, “First, sell me your birthright.”

32Esau said, “Behold, I am about to die. What good is the birthright to me?”

33Jacob said, “Swear to me first.” He swore to him. He sold his birthright to Jacob.

34Jacob gave Esau bread and lentil stew. He ate and drank, rose up, and went his way. So Esau despised his birthright.

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