The Bible — World English Bible
Genesis 25
In brief
Genesis 25 closes the story of Abraham and opens that of his grandsons. Abraham has other children with Keturah, leaves everything to Isaac and dies full of years. The Bible also lists the descendants of Ishmael. Then comes Isaac's family: Rebekah, who is barren, becomes pregnant after her husband's prayer and receives a word from God about two nations in her womb. The chapter ends with Esau selling his birthright to Jacob for a bowl of lentil stew.
The chapter in 5 parts
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.
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 like this, 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 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.
Key verses
Abraham gave up his spirit, and died at a good old age, an old man, and full of years, and was gathered to his people.
Abraham dies after a good old age, full of years. The text gives him a peaceful end, after a life marked by God's promise.
Isaac entreated Yahweh for his wife, because she was barren. Yahweh was entreated by him, and Rebekah his wife conceived.
Isaac pleads with the Lord for his barren wife and God answers him. This act of prayer comes before the birth of the twins.
Yahweh 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.”
God tells Rebekah that two nations are in her womb and that the older will serve the younger. This word announces that God's choice will not follow the usual order of birth.
Esau said, “Behold, I am about to die. What good is the birthright to me?” Jacob said, “Swear to me first.” He swore to him. He sold his birthright to Jacob. Jacob gave Esau bread and lentil stew. He ate and drank, rose up, and went his way. So Esau despised his birthright.
Esau, tired, wonders what his birthright is worth to him and gives it up for a meal. The text concludes that he despised it: he gave up a lasting good for an immediate need.
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Frequently asked questions about Genesis 25
Why did Esau sell his birthright?
Esau comes in from the fields exhausted and hungry, and Jacob offers him a bowl of lentil stew in exchange for his birthright. Esau tells himself that he is about to die and that the birthright is of no use to him. The text concludes that he despised it. The birthright carried the leading place in the family and the passing on of the promises.
What does God's word to Rebekah in Genesis 25:23 mean?
God tells Rebekah that two nations are in her womb, that one will be stronger than the other and that the older will serve the younger. The promise will not be carried by the firstborn but by the younger son. The later history of Edom, descended from Esau, and of Israel, descended from Jacob, will confirm it.
What does Genesis 25 say about the death of Abraham and his descendants?
Abraham dies at the age of one hundred seventy-five, full of years, and his sons Isaac and Ishmael bury him together in the cave of Machpelah. He had other sons with Keturah, but he leaves all his possessions to Isaac. After his death, God blesses Isaac, who receives the promise.
Articles quoting Genesis 25
World English Bible translation — public domain.