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BOOK 1 OF 66 · LAW · KING JAMES BIBLE

Genesis 25

Genesis book home•Chapter 25 of 50•34 verses
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REVIEWED OVERVIEW

Genesis 25 Overview

Genesis 25 closes Abraham’s life and moves the covenant story into the next generation. Abraham has additional descendants through Keturah but gives his chief inheritance to Isaac, dies at 175, and is buried by Isaac and Ishmael. Ishmael’s twelve princes fulfill earlier promises. Rebekah is barren until Isaac prays, then conceives twins who struggle within her. God announces that two nations are present and that the elder will serve the younger. Esau later sells his birthright to Jacob for food.

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25Chapter
34Verses
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Before you read Genesis 25

Coming from

Genesis 24 brings Rebekah into the family as Isaac’s wife.

In this chapter

The chapter closes Abraham’s era, records fulfillment concerning Ishmael, and introduces the divinely announced reversal between Esau and Jacob.

Leads into

Genesis 26 focuses on Isaac in the land, covenant reaffirmation, conflicts over wells, and God’s provision.

Key understanding

Genesis 25 closes Abraham’s life and moves the covenant story into the next generation. Abraham has additional descendants through Keturah but gives his chief inheritance to Isaac, dies at 175, and is buried by Isaac and Ishmael. Ishmael’s twelve princes fulfill earlier promises. Rebekah is barren until Isaac prays, then conceives twins who struggle within her. God announces that two nations are present and that the elder will serve the younger. Esau later sells his birthright to Jacob for food.

Major truths in this chapterExplore deeper

Truth 1

God’s promises continue beyond Abraham’s death.

Truth 2

Ishmael’s twelve princes fulfill Genesis 17.

Truth 3

Isaac responds to Rebekah’s barrenness with prayer.

Truth 4

God reveals the twins’ future before their birth.

Truth 5

Esau despises the birthright by trading it for immediate appetite.

Connections to the rest of ScriptureExplore deeper

Connection 1

Romans 9 cites the oracle concerning Jacob and Esau in a larger argument about God’s purpose.

Connection 2

Hebrews 12:16–17 uses Esau as a warning about profane disregard for the birthright.

Connection 3

Genesis 27 continues the struggle over blessing.

Connection 4

1 Chronicles preserves genealogical lines from Abraham’s family.

What is clear, and where care is neededExplore deeper

Keep this clear 1

The oracle about elder and younger is given before the birth; later deception does not create God’s announced purpose.

Keep this clear 2

Esau’s sale is voluntary and morally evaluated by the text as despising the birthright.

Keep this clear 3

Jacob’s acquisition of the birthright here should be distinguished from the later deception over Isaac’s blessing.

Keep this clear 4

Keturah’s descendants receive gifts and territories, but Isaac remains the covenant heir.

Read Genesis 25 watching for…Explore deeper

Who buries Abraham together.

Fulfillment of the twelve-prince promise to Ishmael.

Isaac’s prayer for Rebekah.

God’s explanation of the struggling twins.

The shocking smallness of the price Esau accepts for his birthright.

TWBC REVIEW STANDARD

Plain language. Scripture first. Fact distinguished from inference. No filler. No fake certainty. Designed to help you read the Bible itself.

Chapter outline5 sections
1-6Abraham's sons by Keturah7-11Abraham dies and is buried12-18The generations of Ishmael19-26Esau and Jacob are born27-34Esau sells his birthright
1

Then again Abraham took a wife, and her name was Keturah.

2

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

3

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

4

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

5

And Abraham gave all that he had unto Isaac.

6

But 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.

7

And these are the days of the years of Abraham's life which he lived, an hundred threescore and fifteen years.

8

Then 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.

9

And 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;

10

The 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.

12

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

13

And 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,

14

And Mishma, and Dumah, and Massa,

15

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

16

These are the sons of Ishmael, and these are their names, by their towns, and by their castles; twelve princes according to their nations.

17

And 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.

18

And 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:

20

And 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.

21

And Isaac intreated the LORD for his wife, because she was barren: and the LORD was intreated of him, and Rebekah his wife conceived.

22

And 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

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.

24

And when her days to be delivered were fulfilled, behold, there were twins in her womb.

25

And the first came out red, all over like an hairy garment; and they called his name Esau.

26

And 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.

27

And the boys grew: and Esau was a cunning hunter, a man of the field; and Jacob was a plain man, dwelling in tents.

28

And 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:

30

And Esau said to Jacob, Feed me, I pray thee, with that same red pottage; for I am faint: therefore was his name called Edom.

31

And Jacob said, Sell me this day thy birthright.

32

And Esau said, Behold, I am at the point to die: and what profit shall this birthright do to me?

33

And Jacob said, Swear to me this day; and he sware unto him: and he sold his birthright unto Jacob.

34

Then 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.

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Genesis 25:30

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