Genesis 25

Abraham Marries Keturah

1Abraham took 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 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 he had to Isaac. 6But to the sons of his concubines Abraham gave gifts, while he was still living, and he sent them away from his son Isaac, eastward to the east country.

The Death of Abraham

7This is the length of Abraham's life, one hundred seventy-five years. 8Abraham breathed his last and died in a good old age, an old man and full of years, and was gathered to his people. 9His sons Isaac and Ishmael buried him in the cave of Machpelah, in the field of Ephron son of Zohar the Hittite, east of Mamre, 10the field that Abraham purchased from the Hittites. There Abraham was buried, with his wife Sarah. 11After the death of Abraham God blessed his son Isaac. And Isaac settled at Beer-lahai-roi.

Ishmael's Descendants

12These are the descendants of Ishmael, Abraham's son, whom Hagar the Egyptian, Sarah's slave-girl, bore to Abraham. 13These are the names of the sons of Ishmael, named in the order of their birth: Nebaioth, the firstborn of Ishmael; and 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 tribes. 17(This is the length of the life of Ishmael, one hundred thirty-seven years; he breathed his last and died, and was gathered to his people.) 18They settled from Havilah to Shur, which is opposite Egypt in the direction of Assyria; he settled down#25.18 Heb he fell alongside of#25.18 Or down in opposition to all his people.

The Birth and Youth of Esau and Jacob

19These are the descendants of Isaac, Abraham's son: Abraham was the father of Isaac, 20and Isaac was forty years old when he married Rebekah, daughter of Bethuel the Aramean of Paddan-aram, sister of Laban the Aramean. 21Isaac prayed to the Lord for his wife, because she was barren; and the Lord granted his prayer, and his wife Rebekah conceived. 22The children struggled together within her; and she said, “If it is to be this way, why do I live?”#25.22 Syr: Meaning of Heb uncertain So she went to inquire of the Lord. 23And the Lord said to her,

“Two nations are in your womb,

and two peoples born of you shall be divided;

the one shall be stronger than the other,

the elder shall serve the younger.”

24When her time to give birth was at hand, there were twins in her womb. 25The first came out red, all his body like a hairy mantle; so they named him Esau. 26Afterward his brother came out, with his hand gripping Esau's heel; so he was named Jacob.#25.26 That is He takes by the heel or He supplants Isaac was sixty years old when she bore them.

27When the boys grew up, Esau was a skillful hunter, a man of the field, while Jacob was a quiet man, living in tents. 28Isaac loved Esau, because he was fond of game; but Rebekah loved Jacob.

Esau Sells His Birthright

29Once when Jacob was cooking a stew, Esau came in from the field, and he was famished. 30Esau said to Jacob, “Let me eat some of that red stuff, for I am famished!” (Therefore he was called Edom.#25.30 That is Red) 31Jacob said, “First sell me your birthright.” 32Esau said, “I am about to die; of what use is a birthright to me?” 33Jacob said, “Swear to me first.”#25.33 Heb today So he swore to him, and sold his birthright to Jacob. 34Then Jacob gave Esau bread and lentil stew, and he ate and drank, and rose and went his way. Thus Esau despised his birthright.

Learn More About New Revised Standard Version

Genesis 25

Abraham's Descendants through Keturah

(1 Chronicles 1.32,33)

1Then again Abraham took a wife, and her name was Ketu´rah. 2And she bare him Zimran, and Jokshan, and Medan, and Mid´i-an, and Ishbak, and Shu´ah. 3And Jokshan begat Sheba, and Dedan. And the sons of Dedan were As´shurim, and Let´ushim, and Le´ummim. 4And the sons of Mid´i-an; Ephah, and Epher, and Hanoch, and Abi´dah, and Elda´ah. All these were the children of Ketu´rah. 5And Abraham gave all that he had unto Isaac. 6But 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.

The Death and Burial of Abraham

7And these are the days of the years of Abraham's life which he lived, a hundred threescore and fifteen years. 8Then 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. 9And his sons Isaac and Ish´ma-el buried him in the cave of Machpe´lah, in the field of Ephron the son of Zohar the Hittite, which is before Mamre; 10#Gen 23.3-16. the field which Abraham purchased of the sons of Heth: there was Abraham buried, and Sarah his wife. 11And it came to pass after the death of Abraham, that God blessed his son Isaac; and Isaac dwelt by the well La´hai–roi.

The Descendants of Ishmael

(1 Chronicles 1.28-31)

12Now these are the generations of Ish´ma-el, Abraham's son, whom Hagar the Egyptian, Sarah's handmaid, bare unto Abraham: 13and these are the names of the sons of Ish´ma-el, by their names, according to their generations: the firstborn of Ish´ma-el, Neba´joth; and Kedar, and Ad´beel, and Mibsam, 14and Mishma, and Dumah, and Massa, 15Hadar, and Tema, Jetur, Naphish, and Ked´emah: 16these are the sons of Ish´ma-el, and these are their names, by their towns, and by their castles; twelve princes according to their nations. 17And these are the years of the life of Ish´ma-el, a hundred and thirty and seven years: and he gave up the ghost and died, and was gathered unto his people. 18And they dwelt from Hav´ilah unto Shur, that is before Egypt, as thou goest toward Assyria: and he died in the presence of all his brethren.

The Birth of Esau and Jacob

19And these are the generations of Isaac, Abraham's son: Abraham begat Isaac: 20and Isaac was forty years old when he took Rebekah to wife, the daughter of Bethu´el the Syrian of Pa´dan–a´ram, the sister to Laban the Syrian. 21And Isaac entreated the Lord for his wife, because she was barren: and the Lord was entreated of him, and Rebekah his wife conceived. 22And the children struggled together within her; and she said, If it be so, why am I thus? And she went to inquire of the Lord. 23#Rom 9.12. 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.

24And when her days to be delivered were fulfilled, behold, there were twins in her womb. 25And the first came out red, all over like a hairy garment; and they called his name Esau. 26And 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.

Esau Sells His Birthright

27And the boys grew: and Esau was a cunning hunter, a man of the field; and Jacob was a plain man, dwelling in tents. 28And Isaac loved Esau, because he did eat of his venison: but Rebekah loved Jacob.

29And Jacob sod pottage: and Esau came from the field, and he was faint: 30and Esau said to Jacob, Feed me, I pray thee, with that same red pottage; for I am faint: therefore was his name called Edom.#25.30 That is, Red. 31And Jacob said, Sell me this day thy birthright. 32And Esau said, Behold, I am at the point to die: and what profit shall this birthright do to me? 33#Heb 12.16. And Jacob said, Swear to me this day; and he sware unto him: and he sold his birthright unto Jacob. 34Then Jacob gave Esau bread and pottage of lentils; and he did eat and drink, and rose up, and went his way. Thus Esau despised his birthright.

Learn More About King James Version, American Edition