Genesis 25:16 kjv

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

Genesis 25:16 nkjv

These were the sons of Ishmael and these were their names, by their towns and their settlements, twelve princes according to their nations.

Genesis 25:16 niv

These were the sons of Ishmael, and these are the names of the twelve tribal rulers according to their settlements and camps.

Genesis 25:16 esv

These are the sons of Ishmael and these are their names, by their villages and by their encampments, twelve princes according to their tribes.

Genesis 25:16 nlt

These twelve sons of Ishmael became the founders of twelve tribes named after them, listed according to the places they settled and camped.

Genesis 25 verses

Genesis 25 16 Meaning

Genesis 25:16 details the culmination of Ishmael’s family lineage, enumerating his twelve sons and describing their established domains. This verse signifies the fulfillment of God’s promise to Abraham regarding Ishmael, affirming that his descendants would become a great nation composed of twelve tribal leaders. It emphasizes their existence as distinct and organized peoples, dwelling in both fixed settlements and nomadic encampments across the Arabian Peninsula.

Genesis 25 16 Context

Genesis 25 primarily narrates Abraham’s final years, his descendants through Keturah, and crucially, the genealogical record of Ishmael’s family before introducing the lineage of Isaac, Jacob, and Esau. Verse 16 appears as the culmination of Ishmael's genealogy (Gen 25:12-16), a structured list vital in ancient Near Eastern texts for establishing identity, land rights, and tribal relationships. Historically, patrilineal genealogies were the bedrock of social organization, delineating political boundaries, trade routes, and military alliances among the diverse peoples of the Levant and Arabian Desert. This detailed enumeration of Ishmael’s twelve sons, who became princes over distinct nations, directly fulfills a specific divine promise made earlier to Abraham concerning Ishmael’s posterity, despite him not being the heir of the primary covenant.

Genesis 25 16 Word analysis

• These: (Heb. אֵלֶּה ʾēlleh) - A demonstrative pronoun, serving to introduce or refer back to the preceding list of Ishmael’s sons (Gen 25:13-15). It points directly to the named individuals as the subject of the ensuing description.
• were the sons: (בְנֵי v'nei) - Lit. "sons of." Emphasizes patrilineal descent, a foundational aspect of identity and inheritance in the ancient world.
• of Ishmael: (יִשְׁמָעֵאל Yishmael) - The name means "God hears" (Gen 16:11), a reminder of Hagar's prayer and God's attentiveness. He is Abraham's firstborn through Hagar, central to the initial expansion of Abraham’s seed.
• and these are their names: (וְאֵלֶּה שְׁמוֹתָם v'elleh shmotam) - Re-emphasizes the significance of naming in antiquity. Names held meaning and identified lineage, status, and destiny. The specificity points to the meticulous record-keeping of family lines.
• by their villages: (בְּחַצְרֵיהֶם bĕḥaṣrêhem) - From ḥaṣer (חָצֵר), meaning "courtyard," "enclosure," "settlement," or "village." This term suggests fixed, permanent dwellings or settlements, indicating that at least some of Ishmael’s descendants transitioned from purely nomadic to more settled agrarian or urban lifestyles over time. It shows established territoriality.
• and by their camps: (וּבְטִירוֹתָם ūvṭîrōtām) - From ṭîrah (טִירָה), meaning "encampment," "circle of tents," or "caravan camps." This denotes the mobile, temporary settlements of nomadic pastoralists. The combination of "villages" and "camps" highlights the mixed economic and residential patterns of Ishmael's descendants—some settling, others retaining a nomadic or semi-nomadic existence.
• twelve: (שְׁנֵים עָשָׂר shneim asar) - This specific number is numerically significant. It directly fulfills God’s promise to Abraham in Genesis 17:20 about Ishmael. The number twelve symbolizes completion and organization, parallel to the twelve tribes of Israel, indicating a parallel, albeit distinct, divine ordering for Ishmael's line.
• princes: (שָׂרִים śārîm) - From sar (שָׂר), meaning "chief," "prince," "leader," or "commander." This term signifies authority and rule. It suggests that these twelve sons founded independent tribal units or proto-states, each led by its respective chief.
• according to their nations: (לְאֻמֹּתָם lĕʾummōtām) - From leʾum (לְאֹם), meaning "people," "nation," or "group." This specifies that each of the twelve princes headed a distinct ethnic or tribal entity that developed into a recognized people group or nation, contributing to the demographic and political landscape of the region. It points to a widespread and impactful legacy.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• "These were the sons of Ishmael, and these are their names": This phrase introduces the patriarchal succession and underscores the identity of the descendants through naming, establishing legitimacy and historical record for Ishmael's line.
• "by their villages, and by their camps": This grouping depicts the diverse habitations and lifestyles of Ishmael’s descendants, indicating both established permanent settlements and continued nomadic practices, suggesting adaptation to varied geographic and economic conditions within the Arabian Desert.
• "twelve princes according to their nations": This climactic phrase highlights the direct fulfillment of divine prophecy regarding Ishmael's posterity. It emphasizes that his descendants achieved significant sociopolitical organization, becoming distinct, independent tribal nations led by recognized chiefs, establishing them as a major presence in the ancient world.

Genesis 25 16 Bonus section

The fulfillment of God's promise concerning Ishmael's "twelve princes" mirrors the structure of Israel's future "twelve tribes," underscoring a divine pattern of ordering human societies, even for those outside the direct covenant line of salvation through Isaac. The detailed account of Ishmael's sons' establishment provides vital historical and ethnographic context for understanding the Arabian peoples who later figure prominently in biblical narratives (e.g., Kedar, Nebaioth). It shows God’s comprehensive blueprint for human history, where diverse nations find their place and identity according to His sovereign plan, irrespective of their role in redemptive history. This inclusion confirms the Bible's historical accuracy regarding the origins of regional peoples and sets the stage for future interactions between Israel and these tribal groups.

Genesis 25 16 Commentary

Genesis 25:16 is a concise yet profoundly significant verse, marking the successful establishment of Ishmael's line as prophesied by God. The detailed listing of Ishmael’s twelve sons, culminating in their identification as “twelve princes according to their nations,” validates God’s faithfulness not only to Abraham, but also to Hagar and Ishmael (Gen 16:10, 21:13). This promise was specifically reiterated in Genesis 17:20, where God promised Abraham that Ishmael would be fruitful and father twelve princes, becoming a great nation. The verse’s structure, noting both “villages” (fixed settlements) and “camps” (nomadic habitations), accurately reflects the complex socio-economic patterns of ancient Arabian peoples, who often engaged in both pastoral nomadism and localized agriculture/trade. This highlights their adaptation and thriving presence across the desert. While the primary covenantal line would pass through Isaac, this verse demonstrates God’s broad care and providence over all peoples descended from Abraham. The reference to them as “princes” (sarim) over "nations" (le'ummot) signifies their political and ethnic distinction and authority, firmly planting them as recognizable entities within the historical and geopolitical landscape of the ancient Near East, entities with whom Israel would later interact, sometimes peacefully and sometimes in conflict.