Genesis 25

The Death of Abraham

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.

The Descendants of Ishmael

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.

The Birth of Esau and Jacob

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 the LORD for his wife, because she was barren. The LORD 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 the LORD.

²³The LORD 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.

PreviousGenesis 24

NextGenesis 26

Genesis 25 records the death of Abraham at 175 years old, after he takes another wife, Keturah, and fathers six more sons whom he sends away to protect Isaac's inheritance. The chapter includes genealogies of Ishmael's twelve sons who become tribal princes, and concludes with the dramatic birth of twins Esau and Jacob to Isaac and Rebekah, with God prophesying that the elder will serve the younger. This transitional chapter shifts focus from Abraham's legacy to the next generation of covenant bearers.

Context

This chapter serves as a bridge between the Abraham narrative (chapters 12-24) and the Jacob cycle that will dominate the remainder of Genesis.

Key Themes

Outline

1-6
Abraham's Final Family and ProvisionsAbraham marries Keturah and fathers six sons but secures Isaac's inheritance by sending the other sons away with gifts
7-11
The Death and Burial of AbrahamAbraham dies at 175 years old and is buried by both Isaac and Ishmael in the cave of Machpelah with Sarah
12-18
The Genealogy of IshmaelIshmael's twelve sons are listed, becoming princes of their respective nations before Ishmael dies at 137 years old
19-26
The Birth of Esau and JacobIsaac prays for his barren wife Rebekah, who conceives twins whose prenatal struggle leads to God's prophecy about two nations
27-34
The Contrasting Brothers and Birthright SaleEsau becomes a hunter while Jacob remains among the tents, culminating in Esau selling his birthright for a meal

The Death of Abraham

25:1–25:11

narrativenarrationsolemn

Abraham takes another wife, Keturah, and has more children, but gives his inheritance to Isaac before dying at 175 years old. Isaac and Ishmael bury him with Sarah in the cave of Machpelah.

person_contrast

Abraham's final act of sending away Keturah's sons "eastward" while blessing Isaac mirrors his earlier separation of Ishmael, establishing a pattern where divine election requires geographic division.

The Descendants of Ishmael

25:12–25:18

genealogynarrationcontemplative

A genealogical record of Ishmael's twelve sons who became princes of their respective nations, fulfilling God's promise that Ishmael would become a great nation. Ishmael dies at 137 years old.

person_contrast

Abraham's name appears here solely to establish Ishmael's lineage, marking the rare instance where the covenant patriarch functions merely as a genealogical anchor rather than covenant recipient.

The Birth of Esau and Jacob

25:19–25:34

narrativenarrationsolemn

The birth of twin brothers Esau and Jacob to Isaac and Rebekah, with a divine prophecy that the elder will serve the younger, culminating in Jacob's deceptive acquisition of Esau's birthright. This passage establishes the foundational conflict between the brothers and God's sovereign choice in covenant succession.

person_contrast

Isaac's passive role throughout Genesis transforms here as he actively intercedes for Rebekah's barrenness, marking his only recorded prayer in Scripture.

Genesis 25:2

1 Chronicles 1:32lexical

The sons of Keturah, Abraham’s concubine: she bore Zimran, Jokshan, Medan, Midian, Ishbak, and Shuah. The sons of Joksha…

Genesis 25:3

1 Chronicles 1:32lexical

The sons of Keturah, Abraham’s concubine: she bore Zimran, Jokshan, Medan, Midian, Ishbak, and Shuah. The sons of Joksha…

Genesis 10:7lexical

The sons of Cush were: Seba, Havilah, Sabtah, Raamah, and Sabteca. The sons of Raamah were: Sheba and Dedan.

Ezekiel 38:13lexical

Sheba, Dedan, and the merchants of Tarshish, with all its young lions, will ask you, ‘Have you come to take the plunder?…

1 Chronicles 1:9lexical

The sons of Cush: Seba, Havilah, Sabta, Raama, Sabteca. The sons of Raamah: Sheba and Dedan.

Genesis 25:4

1 Chronicles 1:33lexical

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

1 Chronicles 1:32lexical

The sons of Keturah, Abraham’s concubine: she bore Zimran, Jokshan, Medan, Midian, Ishbak, and Shuah. The sons of Joksha…

Genesis 25:8

Genesis 35:29lexical

Isaac gave up the spirit and died, and was gathered to his people, old and full of days. Esau and Jacob, his sons, burie…

Exodus 3:16lexical

Go and gather the elders of Israel together, and tell them, ‘The LORD, the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, of I…

1 Chronicles 29:28lexical

He died at a good old age, full of days, riches, and honor; and Solomon his son reigned in his place.

Genesis 25:9

Genesis 50:13lexical

for his sons carried him into the land of Canaan, and buried him in the cave of the field of Machpelah, which Abraham bo…

Genesis 49:30lexical

in the cave that is in the field of Machpelah, which is before Mamre, in the land of Canaan, which Abraham bought with t…

Genesis 23:17lexical

So the field of Ephron, which was in Machpelah, which was before Mamre, the field, the cave which was in it, and all the…

Genesis 23:19lexical

After this, Abraham buried Sarah his wife in the cave of the field of Machpelah before Mamre (that is, Hebron), in the l…

Genesis 49:29lexical

He instructed them, and said to them, “I am to be gathered to my people. Bury me with my fathers in the cave that is in…

Genesis 25:10

Genesis 23:19lexical

After this, Abraham buried Sarah his wife in the cave of the field of Machpelah before Mamre (that is, Hebron), in the l…

Genesis 50:13lexical

for his sons carried him into the land of Canaan, and buried him in the cave of the field of Machpelah, which Abraham bo…

Genesis 23:20lexical

The field, and the cave that is in it, were deeded to Abraham by the children of Heth as a possession for a burial place…

Genesis 49:31lexical

There they buried Abraham and Sarah, his wife. There they buried Isaac and Rebekah, his wife, and there I buried Leah:

Joshua 24:32lexical

They buried the bones of Joseph, which the children of Israel brought up out of Egypt, in Shechem, in the parcel of grou…

Genesis 25:11

Genesis 26:18lexical

Isaac dug again the wells of water, which they had dug in the days of Abraham his father, for the Philistines had stoppe…

Genesis 48:15lexical

He blessed Joseph, and said, “The God before whom my fathers Abraham and Isaac walked, the God who has fed me all my lif…

Genesis 48:16lexical

the angel who has redeemed me from all evil, bless the lads, and let my name be named on them, and the name of my father…

Genesis 25:12

Genesis 21:9lexical

Sarah saw the son of Hagar the Egyptian, whom she had borne to Abraham, mocking.

Genesis 16:1lexical

Now Sarai, Abram’s wife, bore him no children. She had a servant, an Egyptian, whose name was Hagar.

Genesis 16:3lexical

Sarai, Abram’s wife, took Hagar the Egyptian, her servant, after Abram had lived ten years in the land of Canaan, and ga…

Genesis 16:15lexical

Hagar bore a son for Abram. Abram called the name of his son, whom Hagar bore, Ishmael.

Genesis 16:16lexical

Abram was eighty-six years old when Hagar bore Ishmael to Abram.

Genesis 25:13

1 Chronicles 1:29lexical

These are their generations: the firstborn of Ishmael, Nebaioth; then Kedar, Adbeel, Mibsam,

Isaiah 60:7lexical

All the flocks of Kedar will be gathered together to you. The rams of Nebaioth will serve you. They will be accepted as…

Genesis 28:9lexical

So Esau went to Ishmael, and took, in addition to the wives that he had, Mahalath the daughter of Ishmael, Abraham’s son…

Genesis 36:3lexical

and Basemath, Ishmael’s daughter, sister of Nebaioth.

Genesis 25:14

1 Chronicles 1:30lexical

Mishma, Dumah, Massa, Hadad, Tema,

Genesis 25:15

1 Chronicles 1:31lexical

Jetur, Naphish, and Kedemah. These are the sons of Ishmael.

1 Chronicles 5:19lexical

They made war with the Hagrites, with Jetur, and Naphish, and Nodab.

1 Chronicles 1:30lexical

Mishma, Dumah, Massa, Hadad, Tema,

Genesis 25:16

Genesis 17:20lexical

As for Ishmael, I have heard you. Behold, I have blessed him, and will make him fruitful, and will multiply him exceedin…

Genesis 25:18

1 Samuel 15:7lexical

Saul struck the Amalekites, from Havilah as you go to Shur, which is before Egypt.

Genesis 25:19

Genesis 21:5lexical

Abraham was one hundred years old when his son, Isaac, was born to him.

Genesis 21:3lexical

Abraham called his son who was born to him, whom Sarah bore to him, Isaac.

1 Chronicles 1:34lexical

Abraham became the father of Isaac. The sons of Isaac: Esau and Israel.

Genesis 25:20

Genesis 28:5lexical

Isaac sent Jacob away. He went to Paddan Aram to Laban, son of Bethuel the Syrian, the brother of Rebekah, Jacob’s and E…

Genesis 28:2lexical

Arise, go to Paddan Aram, to the house of Bethuel your mother’s father. Take a wife from there from the daughters of Lab…

Genesis 28:6lexical

Now Esau saw that Isaac had blessed Jacob and sent him away to Paddan Aram, to take him a wife from there, and that as h…

Genesis 31:18lexical

and he took away all his livestock, and all his possessions which he had gathered, including the livestock which he had…

Genesis 25:23

Isaiah 49:1lexical

Listen, islands, to me. Listen, you peoples, from afar: the LORD has called me from the womb; from the inside of my moth…

Genesis 25:24

Genesis 38:27lexical

In the time of her travail, behold, twins were in her womb.

Genesis 25:26

Genesis 27:21lexical

Isaac said to Jacob, “Please come near, that I may feel you, my son, whether you are really my son Esau or not.”

Genesis 28:6lexical

Now Esau saw that Isaac had blessed Jacob and sent him away to Paddan Aram, to take him a wife from there, and that as h…

Genesis 27:30lexical

As soon as Isaac had finished blessing Jacob, and Jacob had just gone out from the presence of Isaac his father, Esau hi…

Genesis 35:29lexical

Isaac gave up the spirit and died, and was gathered to his people, old and full of days. Esau and Jacob, his sons, burie…

Genesis 27:22lexical

Jacob went near to Isaac his father. He felt him, and said, “The voice is Jacob’s voice, but the hands are the hands of…

Genesis 25:27

Genesis 27:30lexical

As soon as Isaac had finished blessing Jacob, and Jacob had just gone out from the presence of Isaac his father, Esau hi…

Genesis 27:19lexical

Jacob said to his father, “I am Esau your firstborn. I have done what you asked me to do. Please arise, sit and eat of m…

Genesis 27:5lexical

Rebekah heard when Isaac spoke to Esau his son. Esau went to the field to hunt for venison, and to bring it.

Genesis 25:28

Genesis 27:5lexical

Rebekah heard when Isaac spoke to Esau his son. Esau went to the field to hunt for venison, and to bring it.

Genesis 27:30lexical

As soon as Isaac had finished blessing Jacob, and Jacob had just gone out from the presence of Isaac his father, Esau hi…

Genesis 28:5lexical

Isaac sent Jacob away. He went to Paddan Aram to Laban, son of Bethuel the Syrian, the brother of Rebekah, Jacob’s and E…

Genesis 27:19lexical

Jacob said to his father, “I am Esau your firstborn. I have done what you asked me to do. Please arise, sit and eat of m…

Genesis 24:67lexical

Isaac brought her into his mother Sarah’s tent, and took Rebekah, and she became his wife. He loved her. So Isaac was co…

Genesis 25:30

Genesis 27:19lexical

Jacob said to his father, “I am Esau your firstborn. I have done what you asked me to do. Please arise, sit and eat of m…

Judges 8:5lexical

He said to the men of Succoth, “Please give loaves of bread to the people who follow me; for they are faint, and I am pu…

Genesis 27:11lexical

Jacob said to Rebekah his mother, “Behold, Esau my brother is a hairy man, and I am a smooth man.

Interlinear

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Historical Context

Places and events in this chapter

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