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.

Previous Genesis 24

Next Genesis 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 Provisions Abraham 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 Abraham Abraham 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 Ishmael Ishmael'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 Jacob Isaac 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 Sale Esau 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

narrative narration solemn

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

genealogy narration contemplative

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

narrative narration solemn

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.

Insight Character Study

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.

Insight Character Study

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