Genesis — Chapter 25

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1Now Abraham had taken another wife, named Keturah,

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

3Jokshan was the father of Sheba and Dedan. And the sons of Dedan were the Asshurites, the Letushites, and the Leummites.

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

5Abraham left everything he owned to Isaac.

6But while he was still alive, Abraham gave gifts to the sons of his concubines and sent them away from his son Isaac to the land of the east.

7Abraham lived a total of 175 years.

8And at a ripe old age he breathed his last and died, old and contented, and was gathered to his people.

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

10This was the field that Abraham had bought from the Hittites. Abraham was buried there with his wife Sarah.

11After Abraham’s death, God blessed his son Isaac, who lived near Beer-lahai-roi.

12This is the account of Abraham’s son Ishmael, whom Hagar the Egyptian, Sarah’s maidservant, bore to Abraham.

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

14Mishma, Dumah, Massa,

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

16These were the sons of Ishmael, and these were their names by their villages and encampments—twelve princes of their tribes.

17Ishmael lived a total of 137 years. Then he breathed his last and died, and was gathered to his people.

18Ishmael’s descendants settled from Havilah to Shur, which is near the border of Egypt as you go toward Asshur. And they lived in hostility toward all their brothers.

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

20and Isaac was forty years old when he married Rebekah, the daughter of Bethuel the Aramean from Paddan-aram and the sister of Laban the Aramean.

21Later, Isaac prayed to the LORD on behalf of his wife, because she was barren. And the LORD heard his prayer, and his wife Rebekah conceived.

22But the children inside her struggled with each other, and she said, “Why is this happening to me?” So Rebekah went to inquire of the LORD,

23and He declared to her: “Two nations are in your womb, and two peoples from within you will be separated; one people will be stronger than the other, and the older will serve the younger.”

24When her time came to give birth, there were indeed twins in her womb.

25The first one came out red, covered with hair like a fur coat; so they named him Esau.

26After this, his brother came out grasping Esau’s heel; so he was named Jacob. And Isaac was sixty years old when the twins were born.

27When the boys grew up, Esau became a skillful hunter, a man of the field, while Jacob was a quiet man who stayed at home.

28Because Isaac had a taste for wild game, he loved Esau; but Rebekah loved Jacob.

29One day, while Jacob was cooking some stew, Esau came in from the field and was famished.

30He said to Jacob, “Let me eat some of that red stew, for I am famished.” (That is why he was also called Edom.)

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

32“Look,” said Esau, “I am about to die, so what good is a birthright to me?”

33“Swear to me first,” Jacob said. So Esau swore to Jacob and sold him the birthright.

34Then Jacob gave some bread and lentil stew to Esau, who ate and drank and then got up and went away. Thus Esau despised his birthright.

1Then 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 Abidah, 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.

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

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.

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 Bethuel the Syrian of Padan-aram, 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.

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.

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.

1And Abraham took another 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, that Abraham had, Abraham gave gifts. And he 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, a hundred threescore and fifteen years.

8And 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 Isaac and Ishmael his sons 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 children of Heth. There was Abraham buried, and Sarah his wife.

11And it came to pass after the death of Abraham, that God blessed Isaac his son. And Isaac dwelt by Beer-lahai-roi.

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 first-born of Ishmael, Nebaioth, and Kedar, and Adbeel, and Mibsam,

14and Mishma, and Dumah, and Massa,

15Hadad, and 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.

17And these are the years of the life of Ishmael, 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 Havilah unto Shur that is before Egypt, as thou goest toward Assyria. He abode over against all his brethren.

19And these are the generations of Isaac, Abraham`s son. Abraham begat Isaac.

20And Isaac 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.

21And Isaac entreated Jehovah for his wife, because she was barren. And Jehovah was entreated of him, and Rebekah his wife conceived.

22And the children struggled together within her. And she said, If it be so, wherefore do I live? And she went to inquire of Jehovah.

23And Jehovah said unto her, Two nations are in thy womb, And two peoples 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 forth red, all over like a hairy garment. And they called his name Esau.

26And after that came forth his brother, and his hand had 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 skilful hunter, a man of the field. And Jacob was a quiet man, dwelling in tents.

28Now Isaac loved Esau, because he did eat of his venison. And Rebekah loved Jacob.

29And Jacob boiled pottage. And Esau came in 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 first thy birthright.

32And Esau said, Behold, I am about to die. And what profit shall the birthright do to me?

33And Jacob said, Swear to me first. And he sware unto him. And he sold his birthright unto Jacob.

34And Jacob gave Esau bread and pottage of lentils. And he did eat and drink, and rose up, and went his way. So Esau despised his birthright.

1Abraham had taken another wife, named Keturah.

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

3Jokshan became the father of Sheba and Dedan. The descendants of Dedan were the Asshurites, Letushites, and Leummites.

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

5Everything he owned Abraham left to his son Isaac.

6But while he was still alive, Abraham gave gifts to the sons of his concubines and sent them off to the east, away from his son Isaac.

7Abraham lived a total of 175 years.

8Then Abraham breathed his last and died at a good old age, an old man who had lived a full life. He joined his ancestors.

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

10This was the field Abraham had purchased from the sons of Heth. There Abraham was buried with his wife Sarah.

11After Abraham’s death, God blessed his son Isaac. Isaac lived near Beer Lahai Roi.

12This is the account of Abraham’s son Ishmael, whom Hagar the Egyptian, Sarah’s servant, bore to Abraham.

13These are the names of Ishmael’s sons, by their names according to their records: Nebaioth (Ishmael’s firstborn), 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 settlements and their camps—twelve princes according to their clans.

17Ishmael lived a total of 137 years. He breathed his last and died; then he joined his ancestors.

18His descendants settled from Havilah to Shur, which runs next to Egypt all the way to Asshur. They settled away from all their relatives.

19This is the account of Isaac, the son of Abraham.Abraham became the father of Isaac.

20When Isaac was forty years old, he married Rebekah, the daughter of Bethuel the Aramean from Paddan Aram and sister of Laban the Aramean.

21Isaac prayed to the Lord on behalf of his wife because she was childless. The Lord answered his prayer, and his wife Rebekah became pregnant.

22But the children struggled inside her, and she said, “Why is this happening to me?” So she asked the Lord,

23and the Lord said to her, “Two nations are in your womb, and two peoples will be separated from within you. One people will be stronger than the other, and the older will serve the younger.”

24When the time came for Rebekah to give birth, there were twins in her womb.

25The first came out reddish all over, like a hairy garment, so they named him Esau.

26When his brother came out with his hand clutching Esau’s heel, they named him Jacob. Isaac was sixty years old when they were born.

27When the boys grew up, Esau became a skilled hunter, a man of the open fields, but Jacob was an even-tempered man, living in tents.

28Isaac loved Esau because he had a taste for fresh game, but Rebekah loved Jacob.

29Now Jacob cooked some stew, and when Esau came in from the open fields, he was famished.

30So Esau said to Jacob, “Feed me some of the red stuff—yes, this red stuff—because I’m starving!” (That is why he was also called Edom.)

31But Jacob replied, “First sell me your birthright.”

32“Look,” said Esau, “I’m about to die! What use is the birthright to me?”

33But Jacob said, “Swear an oath to me now.” So Esau swore an oath to him and sold his birthright to Jacob.

34Then Jacob gave Esau some bread and lentil stew; Esau ate and drank, then got up and went out. So Esau despised his birthright.

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 to the sons of Abraham’s concubines, Abraham gave gifts. He sent them away from Isaac his son, while he yet lived, 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 in 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 before Mamre,

10the field which Abraham purchased of 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 so, 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 that same 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 stew of lentils. He ate and drank, rose up, and went his way. So Esau despised his birthright.

Summary
Authorship & Background
Map & Geography
Commentary
Videos
Articles
Reflection

Summary

Abraham takes another wife, Keturah, and fathers more children before sending them away from Isaac with gifts; he dies at 175 and is buried by Isaac and Ishmael in the cave of Machpelah (vv. 1-11). Ishmael's twelve sons are listed before the narrative turns to Isaac, whose wife Rebekah remains childless until Isaac prays for her (vv. 12-21). The twins struggle within her, and God tells her two nations are in her womb, with the older destined to serve the younger (vv. 22-26). Esau is born first, red and hairy, followed by Jacob, gripping his brother's heel; Esau grows into a skilled hunter favored by Isaac, while Jacob is a quieter man favored by Rebekah (vv. 27-28). The chapter ends with Esau, famished, selling his birthright to Jacob for a meal of stew and bread (vv. 29-34).

Authorship & Background

Author: Moses (see Chapter 1 notes for full authorship details).
Historical Context: Chapter 25 is a transition chapter — closing Abraham's story and opening Isaac's and Jacob's. It records Abraham's later life and death (vv.1-11), Ishmael's descendants (vv.12-18), and the birth of Jacob and Esau with the birthright sale (vv.19-34). The chapter marks the passing of the baton from the first patriarch to the second and third generations. The theme of divine election emerges strongly: "the elder shall serve the younger" (v.23).
Classification: Historical Narrative
Key Themes: Abraham's death recorded at a hundred seventy-five in a good old age, an old man, and full of years, with Isaac and Ishmael burying him together despite the family's earlier rupture, twins struggling inside Rebekah before either is even born, a divine oracle declaring the elder shall serve the younger well before either child has done anything to deserve it, and a birthright traded away for a bowl of stew in a single sentence that calls it Esau's own despising of what he sold
Abraham's Later Years and Death (vv.1-11): Abraham marries Keturah; has six more sons (vv.1-4). He gives everything to Isaac; sends other sons away (vv.5- 6). Dies at 175 — "in a good old age, an old man, and full of years" (v.8). Isaac and Ishmael bury him together at Machpelah (v.9). God blesses Isaac (v.11).
Ishmael's Descendants (vv.12-18): Twelve princes as promised (17:20) (vv.13- 16). Ishmael dies at 137 (v.17). His descendants settle from Havilah to Shur (v.18).
Jacob and Esau (vv.19-34): Isaac prays for barren Rebekah; she conceives twins (vv.20-21). The babies struggle in the womb (v.22). God's oracle: "Two nations... the elder shall serve the younger" (v.23). Esau born first — red, hairy (v.25). Jacob born grasping Esau's heel (v.26). Isaac is 60 (v.26). The boys grow: Esau the hunter, Jacob the quiet tent-dweller (v.27). Parental favoritism: Isaac loves Esau; Rebekah loves Jacob (v.28). Esau sells his birthright for stew — "thus Esau despised his birthright" (vv.29-34).

Map & Geography

  • Beer-lahai-roi (v.11) — Isaac settles near this well in the Negev after Abraham's death. The same site associated with Hagar's encounter with God.
  • The Gerar area — where Isaac and Esau's families interact. Located in the southern coastal lowlands near Philistine territory.
  • Abraham is buried at Machpelah/Hebron (v.9) — the family burial cave.

Places on this map

  • HebronHebron, West BankThe highest town in the Judean hills at about 3,000 feet, 19 miles south of Jerusalem. Abraham bought a burial cave here, and David reigned from it for seven years before moving north, so it carries both the patriarchal and the royal claim to the land. Wikipedia
  • Negevsouthern IsraelThe arid triangle south of the Judean hills, grazing land in a good year and desert in a bad one. Hebrew uses the same word for it as for the direction south. Wikipedia
  • Philistiasouthern coastal Israel and GazaThe coastal plain south of Joppa, held by a league of five cities: Gaza, Ashkelon, Ashdod, Gath and Ekron. Flat, fertile and on the trade road, it gave the Philistines chariots and iron while Israel held the hills above them. Wikipedia

Towns sit on their excavated or traditional site. Regions, rivers and seas are ringed rather than dotted, because for those a single point is only an anchor. Coastlines from Natural Earth.

Commentary

  • Enduring Word (David Guzik): enduringword.com Guzik covers Abraham's death, the twins' birth, divine election, and Esau's despising of the birthright.
  • Jamieson-Fausset-Brown (1871): blueletterbible.org A critical and explanatory commentary on the whole Bible, more concise than Matthew Henry and closer to the Hebrew and Greek, with attention to historical and geographical detail. Public domain.
  • Matthew Henry's Exposition (1710): blueletterbible.org A devotional verse-by-verse commentary in the Puritan tradition, still among the most widely read three centuries on. Public domain.

Videos

Genesis 25 Summary in 5 Minutes - 5MBS
2BeLikeChrist

Genesis 25-27 | Esau & Jacob | Bible Study
Spoken Gospel

Abraham's Death; Birth of Jacob & Esau – Genesis 25
David Guzik

Articles

  • BibleProject: bibleproject.com On the whole book: how its opening chapters work as literature and how they set up everything that follows.
  • GotQuestions.org: gotquestions.org On the whole book: an overview of the book of Genesis -- who wrote it, when, why, and how it fits the rest of Scripture.

Links open on the publisher's own site. Nothing here is reproduced on this page.

Reflection

  • Finishing Life Full and Faithful (v.8) — Abraham dies at a good old age, described as an old man full of years, having lived out a life of faith to its completion. Are you living in a way that will let your life be described as "full" when it ends, not just long?
  • Persevering in Prayer for Decades (v.21) — Isaac prays for Rebekah's barrenness for roughly twenty years before God answers with twins. What have you been praying for so long that you're tempted to give up, and can you keep persevering instead?
  • God's Choices Reverse Expectations (v.23) — God announces before the twins are even born that the older will serve the younger, overturning the cultural expectation of firstborn privilege. If you feel overlooked or unlikely by the world's standards, does it encourage you that God often chooses exactly those kinds of people?
  • The Damage of Playing Favorites (v.28) — Isaac favors Esau and Rebekah favors Jacob, and that favoritism sets up years of family division and manipulation. If you're a parent or leader, where might you be showing favoritism that's quietly doing damage?
  • Trading the Eternal for the Immediate (v.34) — Esau gives up his birthright for a single bowl of stew, treating a lasting inheritance as less valuable than momentary satisfaction. What lasting blessing are you tempted to trade away for something that only feels good right now?