Genesis 25:1 kjv

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

Genesis 25:1 nkjv

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

Genesis 25:1 niv

Abraham had taken another wife, whose name was Keturah.

Genesis 25:1 esv

Abraham took another wife, whose name was Keturah.

Genesis 25:1 nlt

Abraham married another wife, whose name was Keturah.

Genesis 25 verses

Genesis 25 1 Meaning

Genesis 25:1 states that Abraham, following Sarah's passing and Isaac's marriage, "again took a wife," identified as Keturah. The Hebrew phrase "then again" (way-yō-sep̄), meaning "he continued to do" or "he added," implies a deliberate and renewed action after the pivotal events concerning the covenant line through Isaac had been secured. This verse initiates the account of Abraham's additional descendants, broadening his progeny beyond the specific covenantal seed but differentiating Keturah's children from Isaac, who was the heir of the promise. This event highlights Abraham's enduring vitality and commitment to expanding his family, reflecting the pervasive theme of God's blessing to make him the "father of many nations."

Genesis 25 1 Context

Genesis chapter 25, verse 1 immediately follows the account of two significant life events for Abraham: the death and burial of his primary wife, Sarah (Genesis 23), and the successful arranged marriage of his covenant heir, Isaac, to Rebekah (Genesis 24), thus ensuring the continuity of the promised lineage. This verse marks a distinct new phase in Abraham's life, with the primary task of securing the promised seed completed. Culturally, in the patriarchal societies of the Ancient Near East, it was customary and valued for prominent men to have multiple wives or concubines to ensure an abundant lineage, which was seen as a profound blessing and a source of power. Abraham, already elderly (likely over 140 years old at this point, as he was 100 when Isaac was born, and Isaac married at 40), still demonstrates remarkable vitality. This event fulfills the broader aspect of God's repeated promise to make Abraham the "father of many nations" (Gen 17:5), signifying that Abraham’s numerous descendants would extend far beyond the direct line of the covenant through Isaac.

Genesis 25 1 Word analysis

• Then again (וַיֹּסֶף, way-yō-sep̄):

  • This Hebrew verbal form literally means "and he added" or "he continued to do." It implies a further, ongoing action.
  • Significance: It indicates that Abraham did not cease his pursuit of expanding his family after Sarah's death and Isaac's marriage. It suggests a deliberate act, emphasizing his enduring vitality and commitment to increasing his progeny as a manifestation of God's blessings, even at an advanced age.

• Abraham (אַבְרָהָם, Aḇrāhām):

  • The celebrated patriarch, whose name divinely given means "father of a multitude."
  • Significance: His action here is directly tied to the divine promise inherent in his name. It highlights God's continuing faithfulness to fulfill that promise through Abraham, ensuring a vast number of descendants.

• took (וַיִּקַּח, way-yiq-qaḥ):

  • A common Hebrew verb for "and he took" or "he received." When used in reference to a wife, it denotes the establishment of a recognized marriage.
  • Significance: This signifies a legitimate marital union. While 1 Chronicles 1:32 identifies Keturah as Abraham's concubine, this does not negate the legitimacy of their relationship or children in ancient patriarchal society, where concubines often held specific rights as secondary wives and bore legitimate heirs.

• a wife (אִשָּׁה, ish·shāh):

  • The standard Hebrew word for "woman" or "wife."
  • Significance: The text's direct declaration as "a wife" suggests a formally recognized union, distinguishing her children as full sons of Abraham, even if their social or inheritance status might differ from Isaac's. This term, rather than "concubine," suggests an intentional marriage to bear more children.

• and her name was Keturah (וּשְׁמָהּ קְטוּרָה, ū-shə-māh Qəṭūrāh):

  • Keturah (Hebrew: Qəṭūrāh). The name's etymology is debated but possibly relates to "incense" or "fragrant." She is primarily known in the Bible for the six sons she bore to Abraham.
  • Significance: Her explicit naming introduces the maternal line for a distinct branch of Abraham's extensive family. Her sons became founders of prominent Arabian tribes (Zimran, Jokshan, Medan, Midian, Ishbak, Shuah), indicating the literal fulfillment of God's promise to make Abraham the father of many nations, which would later play a role in Israel's history.

• Words-group by words-group analysis:

  • "Then again Abraham took a wife": This phrase succinctly conveys Abraham's renewed commitment to procreation, a pivotal theme throughout his narrative. The timing after Isaac's secure marriage underscores that this action aims at broadening his physical lineage, not securing the covenant heir. It highlights God's ongoing blessing on Abraham even in his very old age.
  • "and her name was Keturah": The direct identification of Keturah is crucial. It sets the stage for the enumeration of Abraham's six additional sons, each the patriarch of various tribes. This ensures that these nations, who would eventually interact with the descendants of Isaac, are properly linked to their common ancestor Abraham.

Genesis 25 1 Bonus section

• Abraham's Advanced Age: Abraham was approximately 140 to 145 years old when he took Keturah, as he died at 175 and Isaac married at 40 (Abraham 140). This further emphasizes God's miraculous hand in his life, continuing to bless him with vitality and the ability to father children into extreme old age, mirroring the miraculous birth of Isaac himself.
• Wife vs. Concubine Distinction: Although Gen 25:1 calls Keturah a "wife," 1 Chron 1:32 refers to her as Abraham's "concubine." This reflects the ancient Near Eastern social custom where a concubine was a secondary wife with legal standing for her and her children, but with different inheritance rights. Gen 25:5-6 clarifies this distinction, noting that Isaac received "all that Abraham had," while the sons of his concubines, including Keturah's children, received only "gifts" and were sent away to the east. This shows that while all were Abraham's biological sons, only Isaac inherited the full covenant promise.
• Indirect Polemic against Pagan Fertility Cults: The narrative, by showing Abraham's continued fruitfulness directly tied to God's blessing and Abraham's advanced age, implicitly stands in contrast to ancient pagan beliefs that often attributed fertility to specific deities or human-contrived rituals. Here, procreation is consistently portrayed as God's sovereign gift and a fulfillment of His direct promises, not dependent on local cults.
• Geopolitical Impact: The nations descending from Keturah's sons (like Midian) eventually established distinct tribes that inhabited regions neighboring Israel. Their mention in Genesis lays the groundwork for understanding later biblical events involving these peoples, underscoring that the Bible connects them back to the Abrahamic lineage.

Genesis 25 1 Commentary

Genesis 25:1, though brief, provides essential insights into the broader scope of God's covenant with Abraham. After securing the primary covenant line through Isaac and Rebekah, Abraham’s decision to marry Keturah underscores his continuous fruitfulness, a sign of God’s blessing, and the extensive fulfillment of the promise that he would be "the father of many nations." This action, at Abraham's advanced age (likely over 140), highlights God’s power working through him. While Isaac was the exclusive heir of the covenant, Abraham’s union with Keturah (whether designated as wife or concubine in differing texts) established numerous other nations—such as the Midianites—who would feature significantly in later biblical history, demonstrating the vastness of Abraham's physical progeny. This shows that the divine promise of descendants had both a specific, covenantal dimension and a broader, numerical dimension that impacted the geopolitical landscape.