Genesis 25:15 kjv

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

Genesis 25:15 nkjv

Hadar, Tema, Jetur, Naphish, and Kedemah.

Genesis 25:15 niv

Hadad, Tema, Jetur, Naphish and Kedemah.

Genesis 25:15 esv

Hadad, Tema, Jetur, Naphish, and Kedemah.

Genesis 25:15 nlt

Hadad, Tema, Jetur, Naphish, and Kedemah.

Genesis 25 verses

Genesis 25 15 Meaning

This verse continues the enumeration of Ishmael's twelve sons, presenting the last five of these lineage heads: Hadad, Tema, Jetur, Naphish, and Kedemah. These names represent the tribal groups that descended from Ishmael and settled predominantly in the Arabian Desert region, signifying the fulfillment of God's promise to Abraham that Ishmael would become a great nation.

Genesis 25 15 Context

Genesis 25 provides the record of Abraham's death, Isaac and Ishmael's burial of their father, and then details the descendants of Ishmael, followed by the birth of Esau and Jacob from Isaac. This verse, Gen 25:15, is a continuation of the listing of Ishmael’s sons that began in Gen 25:13. These names complete the enumeration of the twelve princes promised to Ishmael in earlier divine declarations (Gen 17:20). Genealogies in ancient cultures were crucial for establishing identity, lineage, inheritance, and tribal or national boundaries. For the original audience, this list affirmed the widespread proliferation of Abraham's descendants through Ishmael, acknowledging their historical reality as prominent Arabian tribes. It also subtly prepares the reader for the shift of focus to Isaac's lineage, emphasizing that while Ishmael was blessed with a multitude, the specific covenant promise would be fulfilled through Isaac.

Genesis 25 15 Word analysis

• Hadad (חֲדַד, Ḥăḏaḏ): A Hebrew proper name. Its root might suggest "mighty" or be related to Hadad, a common Semitic deity name, but here it functions purely as the name of an individual, and thus, a tribal progenitor. The naming signifies a distinct family line.
• Tema (תֵּמָא, Têmā’): Meaning "south country" or "desert." This name corresponds to a historical and well-known oasis in northern Arabia, indicating a geographical and cultural significance for the descendants. This tribe became important in ancient trade routes, evidenced by biblical (Job 6:19, Isa 21:14) and extra-biblical sources.
• Jetur (יְטוּר, Yeṭūr): Meaning "enclosure" or "thorn fence." Later, the descendants were known as the Ituraeans, an Aramaic-speaking people who settled in a region northeast of the Sea of Galilee, in the Hermon mountains (mentioned in 1 Chron 5:19). This name rooted a specific regional identity for the tribe.
• Naphish (נָפִישׁ, Nāp̄îš): Meaning "refreshing" or "soul." This is another tribal progenitor (1 Chron 5:19). The name highlights individual existence and, collectively, a distinct tribal group with its own identity within the broader Ishmaelite nation.
• Kedemah (קֵדְמָה, Qeḏemâ): Meaning "eastward" or "ancient." This name likely indicates the geographical orientation or dwelling place of this particular tribe—in the eastern parts of the Arabian desert. The mention of "east" or "ancient" reinforces their nomadic or settled presence in the regions east of the Promised Land.

Words-group by words-group analysis

• "Hadad, Tema, Jetur, Naphish, and Kedemah": This list is a continuation of the previous verse (Gen 25:13-14) that presented the first seven sons. Together, these five names complete the enumeration of Ishmael's twelve sons. The very act of listing these names affirms the numerical fulfillment of God's promise to Abraham (Gen 17:20) that Ishmael would be blessed with twelve princes, signifying that God’s blessing extended even beyond the chosen line of Isaac. This genealogical list undergirds the historical existence and tribal proliferation of the Ishmaelite peoples, who occupied territories east and south of Canaan and significantly impacted ancient Near Eastern history and trade. The diversity of their names and potential regional connections reflects their formation into distinct, numerous, and widespread tribes as promised.

Genesis 25 15 Bonus section

The concept of "twelve princes" or "twelve tribes" for Ishmael parallels the later twelve tribes of Israel (from Jacob, also Abraham's grandson through Isaac). This structural parallelism highlights God's organizational principles and the widespread fulfillment of His promise of fruitfulness. While one line carries the unique covenant blessing leading to Christ, both lineages demonstrate God's capacity to bring about numerous descendants. Archaeological evidence and historical records support the existence and prominence of some of these Ishmaelite tribes (like the Ituraeans from Jetur or the Teimani from Tema) in ancient Near Eastern history, verifying the Bible's historical accounts.

Genesis 25 15 Commentary

Genesis 25:15 is a concise yet significant part of the Ishmaelite genealogy, completing the enumeration of Abraham's son Ishmael's twelve offspring. These aren't just names on a page; they represent the founders of distinct tribal groups who established a prominent presence in the ancient Arabian landscape. The detail of listing each son highlights the accuracy and scope of divine promise. God had guaranteed Abraham that Ishmael would become a "great nation" and father "twelve princes" (Gen 17:20, 21:13). This verse serves as tangible evidence of God's faithfulness, demonstrating His power to bless even the one not in the covenant line, simply because he was Abraham’s son. Though not the focus of the redemptive narrative that flows through Isaac, this detailed account shows God's broader sovereign plan and His intricate involvement in the establishment of all nations, as they originated from common patriarchal roots.