Genesis 25

King James Version

Full text for Genesis Chapter 25

1¶ Then again Abraham took a wife, and her name [was] Keturah.

2And she bare him Zimran, and Jokshan, and Medan, and Midian, and Ishbak, and Shuah.

3And Jokshan begat Sheba, and Dedan. And the sons of Dedan were Asshurim, and Letushim, and Leummim.

4And the sons of Midian; Ephah, and Epher, and Hanoch, and Abida, and Eldaah. All these [were] the children of Keturah.

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.

7And these [are] the days of the years of Abraham's life which he lived, an 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 Ishmael buried him in the cave of Machpelah, in the field of Ephron the son of Zohar the Hittite, which [is] before Mamre;

10The field which Abraham purchased of the sons of Heth: there was Abraham buried, and Sarah his wife.

11¶ And it came to pass after the death of Abraham, that God blessed his son Isaac; and Isaac dwelt by the well Lahairoi.

12Now these [are] the generations of Ishmael, Abraham's son, whom Hagar the Egyptian, Sarah's handmaid, bare unto Abraham:

13And these [are] the names of the sons of Ishmael, by their names, according to their generations: the firstborn of Ishmael, Nebajoth; and Kedar, and Adbeel, and Mibsam,

14And Mishma, and Dumah, and Massa,

15Hadar, and Tema, Jetur, Naphish, and Kedemah:

16These [are] the sons of Ishmael, 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 Ishmael, an hundred and thirty and seven years: and he gave up the ghost and died; and was gathered unto his people.

18And they dwelt from Havilah unto Shur, that [is] before Egypt, as thou goest toward Assyria: [and] he died in the presence of all his brethren.

19¶ And 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 Bethuel the Syrian of Padanaram, the sister to Laban the Syrian.

21And Isaac intreated the LORD for his wife, because she [was] barren: and the LORD was intreated 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 enquire of the LORD.

23And 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 an 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.

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.

29¶ And 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.

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?

33And 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 lentiles; and he did eat and drink, and rose up, and went his way: thus Esau despised [his] birthright.

AI Analysis

AI Summaries

Short Summary

Genesis 25 details Abraham's final years, including his marriage to Keturah and the birth of more children, whom he sent away with gifts before his death at 175. Isaac and Ishmael bury him, and God blesses Isaac. The chapter then outlines Ishmael's generations and introduces Isaac's twin sons, Esau and Jacob, born after Isaac prayed for barren Rebekah. It concludes with Esau selling his birthright to Jacob for a meal, demonstrating his disregard for his inheritance.

Medium Summary

Genesis 25 opens by recounting Abraham's later years, including his marriage to Keturah and the birth of several more sons. Before his death at 175, Abraham bequeathed all his possessions to Isaac, while giving gifts to his other sons and sending them eastward. Abraham was buried by Isaac and Ishmael in the cave of Machpelah alongside Sarah. Following Abraham's passing, God blessed Isaac, and the narrative shifts to the generations of Ishmael, listing his twelve princely sons and noting his death at 137 years. The chapter then focuses on Isaac's lineage, detailing his marriage to Rebekah, who was barren until Isaac interceded with the LORD. Rebekah conceived twins, Esau and Jacob, after the LORD revealed that two nations were in her womb and the elder would serve the younger. The chapter concludes with the account of Esau, a skilled hunter, selling his birthright to Jacob, a plain man, for a bowl of lentil pottage when he was faint, thereby showing his contempt for his inheritance.

Long Summary

Genesis 25 commences with the final period of Abraham's life, detailing his marriage to Keturah, who bore him six additional sons and their descendants. Abraham, in his wisdom, gave all his primary inheritance to Isaac, while providing gifts to his other sons and sending them eastward during his lifetime. At the venerable age of one hundred threescore and fifteen years, Abraham died, "full of years," and was gathered to his people. His sons, Isaac and Ishmael, united in burying him in the cave of Machpelah, the very field Abraham had purchased for Sarah's burial. After Abraham's death, God extended His blessing to Isaac, who continued to dwell by the well Lahairoi. The narrative then shifts to provide a genealogical account of Ishmael, Abraham's son by Hagar, listing his twelve sons who became tribal princes, and noting Ishmael's death at one hundred and thirty-seven years. These generations of Ishmael settled from Havilah to Shur, establishing their territories. The chapter then transitions to the generations of Isaac, emphasizing that Abraham begat Isaac. Isaac, at forty years old, took Rebekah, daughter of Bethuel, as his wife. When Rebekah remained barren, Isaac earnestly entreated the LORD on her behalf, and the LORD heard his prayer, allowing Rebekah to conceive. During her pregnancy, Rebekah experienced internal struggle and sought the LORD, who revealed that two nations were within her womb, and the elder would eventually serve the younger. True to the prophecy, she bore twins: the first, red and hairy, was named Esau, and the second, holding Esau's heel, was named Jacob. Isaac was sixty years old at their birth. As the boys grew, Esau became a skilled hunter and man of the field, while Jacob was a plain man dwelling in tents. Isaac favored Esau for his venison, but Rebekah loved Jacob. The chapter culminates with the pivotal event where Esau, returning faint from hunting, impulsively sold his birthright to Jacob for a simple meal of lentil pottage, thereby demonstrating his profound disregard for his spiritual and familial inheritance.

Core Concepts

  • Abraham's Legacy and DeathAbraham's life concludes with his death at 175, after he had given his primary inheritance to Isaac and sent his other sons away with gifts. He was buried by Isaac and Ishmael in the cave of Machpelah, fulfilling his desire to be with Sarah.
  • Generations of IshmaelThe chapter details the lineage of Ishmael, listing his twelve sons who became "princes according to their nations." This section highlights the fulfillment of God's promise to Abraham that Ishmael would also be made a great nation.
  • Divine Sovereignty in BirthIsaac's wife Rebekah was barren, but through Isaac's prayer, the LORD opened her womb. This divine intervention underscores God's control over life and lineage, particularly in the continuation of the covenant line.
  • Prophecy of Two NationsBefore the birth of Esau and Jacob, the LORD revealed to Rebekah that two nations were in her womb, and the "elder shall serve the younger." This prophecy foretold the future relationship and destiny of their descendants, highlighting God's preordained plan.
  • Birthright and its DespisingEsau, the firstborn, sold his birthright to Jacob for a bowl of pottage due to immediate hunger. This act is presented as Esau despising his birthright, signifying a lack of value for his spiritual and familial inheritance and setting the stage for future conflicts.
  • Familial PreferencesThe chapter notes that Isaac loved Esau because of his venison, while Rebekah loved Jacob. These differing parental affections contribute to the family dynamics and foreshadow the tensions and deceptions that will arise between the brothers.