1 Chronicles 1 32

1 Chronicles 1:32 kjv

Now the sons of Keturah, Abraham's concubine: she bare Zimran, and Jokshan, and Medan, and Midian, and Ishbak, and Shuah. And the sons of Jokshan; Sheba, and Dedan.

1 Chronicles 1:32 nkjv

Now the sons born to Keturah, Abraham's concubine, were Zimran, Jokshan, Medan, Midian, Ishbak, and Shuah. The sons of Jokshan were Sheba and Dedan.

1 Chronicles 1:32 niv

The sons born to Keturah, Abraham's concubine: Zimran, Jokshan, Medan, Midian, Ishbak and Shuah. The sons of Jokshan: Sheba and Dedan.

1 Chronicles 1:32 esv

The sons of Keturah, Abraham's concubine: she bore Zimran, Jokshan, Medan, Midian, Ishbak, and Shuah. The sons of Jokshan: Sheba and Dedan.

1 Chronicles 1:32 nlt

The sons of Keturah, Abraham's concubine, were Zimran, Jokshan, Medan, Midian, Ishbak, and Shuah. The sons of Jokshan were Sheba and Dedan.

1 Chronicles 1 verses

1 Chronicles 1 32 Meaning

This verse continues the genealogical record of Abraham, specifically detailing the descendants born to him through his concubine, Keturah, and then further listing the sons of one of them, Jokshan. It serves as a historical and genealogical entry within the comprehensive lineage presented in 1 Chronicles, affirming the identities and connections of various peoples in relation to Abraham, the patriarch of the Israelites. While the primary focus of Chronicles is on the line of Judah and David, these "other" descendants of Abraham are noted to acknowledge their origin from the same significant ancestor.

1 Chronicles 1 32 Context

First Chronicles chapter 1 is foundational, establishing a sweeping genealogical record from Adam through the patriarchs, including Noah, Shem, Ham, Japheth, and eventually narrowing down to Abraham. Within this comprehensive ancestry, the chapter diligently lists the sons of Abraham not only through Isaac (the covenant line) but also through Ishmael and Keturah. This particular verse, 1 Chronicles 1:32, explicitly details the lineage of Keturah, one of Abraham's wives (or concubines), and her children: Zimran, Jokshan, Medan, Midian, Ishbak, and Shuah. It then further specifies the two sons of Jokshan: Sheba and Dedan. The Chronicler, compiling this work post-exile, emphasizes the continuity and identity of the returned exiles by meticulously linking them back to the original foundations of humanity and their own direct ancestral line, while also acknowledging the broader connections of Israel to surrounding nations, often showing both their shared ancestry and their distinct covenantal paths.

1 Chronicles 1 32 Word analysis

• The sons of Keturah (בְּנֵי קְטוּרָה - b'nei Qeturah):
  • Sons (b'nei): Signifies direct male descendants, important for establishing lineage and potential claims. In ancient societies, identity and status were intrinsically tied to one's patriarchal line.
  • Keturah (קְטוּרָה - Qeturah): Abraham’s third wife or concubine, as listed in Gen 25:1. Her name means "incense" or "perfume," possibly alluding to her being acceptable to Abraham, or hinting at the later prosperity associated with some of her descendants through trade routes (e.g., spices).
• Abraham's concubine (פִילֶגֶשׁ אַבְרָהָם - pilegesh Avraham):
  • Abraham (אַבְרָהָם - Avraham): The patriarch, recipient of God's covenant promises, whose numerous offspring symbolize the widespread blessings promised to him (Gen 12:2-3; Gen 17:5-6). His children through Keturah, while biologically his, are outside the covenantal promise that focused solely on Isaac (Gen 21:12; Rom 9:7).
  • Concubine (פִילֶגֶשׁ - pilegesh): In ancient Israel and the Near East, a legitimate, though secondary, wife. Her children were considered legitimate but usually did not share equally in the primary inheritance with the children of the chief wife (Gen 25:6, where Abraham gives them gifts and sends them away from Isaac). This distinction clarifies the legal and social standing of Keturah's descendants in relation to the main line of Isaac.
• Zimran, Jokshan, Medan, Midian, Ishbak, and Shuah:
  • Zimran, Medan, Ishbak, Shuah: Lesser-known tribal groups, possibly residing in regions to the south and east of Canaan, but with limited specific biblical interactions.
  • Midian (מִדְיָן - Midyan): This is the most significant name in the list, referencing a tribal confederation who became notable adversaries of Israel (e.g., in the time of Moses, Exod 2-4, and the Judges, Jdg 6-8). Their presence highlights how genealogies connect Israel to its broader regional context and explain historical encounters.
• The sons of Jokshan: Sheba and Dedan:
  • Jokshan (יָקְשָׁן - Yoqshan): One of Keturah’s sons, whose lineage is given prominence by having his own descendants listed, underscoring their significance.
  • Sheba (שְׁבָא - Sheva): A major trading people known for wealth, spices, and gold, often associated with the Arabian Peninsula (e.g., Ezek 27:22; Isa 60:6). Note that there are distinct 'Sheba' peoples mentioned in other biblical genealogies (e.g., a son of Raamah in Ham's line, Gen 10:7, and a descendant of Joktan in Shem's line, Gen 10:28); this specific Sheba descends from Keturah.
  • Dedan (דְּדָן - Dedan): Often linked with Sheba, a trading community and region (Ezek 27:15; Jer 25:23), geographically associated with north-western Arabia. Their inclusion explains historical commercial and geopolitical connections of later Israel.

1 Chronicles 1 32 Bonus section

The Chronicler's selective approach to genealogies is evident here. While providing comprehensive lists, he strategically highlights or abbreviates certain lines based on their relevance to the post-exilic community's identity, temple worship, and claim to the land. Including the Keturah line acknowledges the universal reach of Abraham's seed and divine providence, as God's dealings extended even to nations distant from the direct covenant line. This served as a historical grounding for the exilic returnees, reinforcing their past relationships (both amicable and adversarial) with neighboring groups who were, in a sense, distant relatives, reinforcing the idea of a shared but diversified human family tree.

1 Chronicles 1 32 Commentary

This concise verse, though a mere list of names, is far from inconsequential. Situated within the Chronicler's sweeping genealogies, it reinforces Israel's deep roots and connects them not just to the covenant line through Isaac, but also to a broader family of nations that share Abraham as a common ancestor. By carefully noting Keturah's status as a "concubine" and listing her children and grandchildren, the text establishes their legitimate connection to Abraham while subtly delineating their distinct status outside the primary covenantal inheritance. The inclusion of groups like Midian, Sheba, and Dedan is particularly telling, as these tribes feature prominently in Israel's later history, whether as formidable foes (Midianites) or prosperous trading partners (Sheba and Dedan). Thus, this seemingly dry list functions as a vital historical record, pre-empting and contextualizing future biblical narratives by revealing ancestral relationships and the interconnectedness of ancient peoples, all originating from a single chosen patriarch.