Genesis 25:17 kjv
And these are the years of the life of Ishmael, an hundred and thirty and seven years: and he gave up the ghost and died; and was gathered unto his people.
Genesis 25:17 nkjv
These were the years of the life of Ishmael: one hundred and thirty-seven years; and he breathed his last and died, and was gathered to his people.
Genesis 25:17 niv
Ishmael lived a hundred and thirty-seven years. He breathed his last and died, and he was gathered to his people.
Genesis 25:17 esv
(These are the years of the life of Ishmael: 137 years. He breathed his last and died, and was gathered to his people.)
Genesis 25:17 nlt
Ishmael lived for 137 years. Then he breathed his last and joined his ancestors in death.
Genesis 25 17 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Gen 25:8 | And Abraham breathed his last and died...and was gathered to his people. | Abraham's death, similar phrase for patriarchs. |
| Gen 35:29 | And Isaac breathed his last and died and was gathered to his people... | Isaac's death, echoing the pattern. |
| Gen 49:29 | Then he commanded them and said to them, "I am to be gathered to my people..." | Jacob's expectation of a similar gathering. |
| Num 20:24 | "Aaron shall be gathered to his people, for he shall not enter the land..." | Aaron's impending death and gathering. |
| Num 27:13 | "...then you also shall be gathered to your people, as Aaron your brother was gathered." | Moses' prophesied death and gathering. |
| Gen 17:20 | As for Ishmael, I have heard you; behold, I will bless him...make him a great nation. | God's earlier promise of blessing for Ishmael. |
| Gen 21:13 | And also of the son of the bondwoman I will make a nation, because he is your offspring. | Further promise for Ishmael's descendants. |
| Gen 25:12-16 | These are the generations of Ishmael, Abraham's son...twelve princes. | Immediate context detailing Ishmael's sons. |
| Deut 32:50 | "And die on the mountain where you go up and be gathered to your people, as Aaron your brother died on Mount Hor and was gathered to his people." | Further use of the "gathered" phrase for Moses. |
| Job 14:1-2 | "Man, who is born of woman, is few of days and full of trouble...He flees like a shadow and does not continue." | Universal theme of human mortality. |
| Ps 90:10 | The years of our life are seventy, or even by reason of strength eighty; yet their span is but toil and trouble; soon it is gone, and we fly away. | Human lifespan and brevity of life. |
| Isa 57:1-2 | The righteous perish, and no one lays it to heart; devout men are taken away...those who walk in uprightness enter into peace... | Peaceful rest for the righteous after death. |
| Heb 11:13 | These all died in faith, not having received the things promised, but having seen them...and having acknowledged that they were strangers and exiles on the earth. | Dying in faith, an anticipation of spiritual home. |
| Rom 5:12 | Therefore, just as sin came into the world through one man, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men because all sinned— | Death as a consequence of sin. |
| Ecc 3:1-2 | For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven: a time to be born, and a time to die... | The cycle of life and death. |
| Ecc 9:5 | For the living know that they will die, but the dead know nothing, nor do they have any more reward, for the memory of them is forgotten. | The certainty of death. |
| Gen 11:11-26 | Accounts of various long lifespans of early patriarchs. | Contextualize Ishmael's longevity within ancient narratives. |
| 1 Pet 1:24 | For "All flesh is like grass and all its glory like the flower of grass; the grass withers, and the flower falls..." | The transient nature of human life. |
| 2 Sam 12:23 | But now that he is dead, why should I fast? Can I bring him back again? I shall go to him, but he will not return to me. | King David's reflection on going to the dead. |
| Luke 16:22 | The poor man died and was carried by the angels to Abraham's side. The rich man also died and was buried. | Illustrates an afterlife destination after death. |
Genesis 25 verses
Genesis 25 17 Meaning
This verse succinctly details the completion of Ishmael's life journey. It states his age at the time of his death, explicitly notes his passing, and importantly, declares that he was "gathered to his people." This phrase signifies a peaceful demise and a spiritual or communal reunion with his deceased ancestors, implying acceptance and a blessed end to his earthly life.
Genesis 25 17 Context
Genesis 25:17 appears within the broader historical narrative of Abraham's descendants. It concludes a section, often referred to as a toledot (generations) section, specifically focusing on "the generations of Ishmael, Abraham's son" (Gen 25:12). The verses preceding this record Ishmael's twelve sons, who became tribal chiefs, thereby demonstrating the fulfillment of God's promise to make Ishmael a great nation (Gen 17:20; 21:13). The immediate context shows the establishment of his lineage before his death is announced. Following Ishmael's death, the narrative shifts entirely to the "generations of Isaac," with particular emphasis on Jacob and Esau, who are the focus of the subsequent chapters. This verse thus serves as a natural transition point, efficiently concluding Ishmael's story and allowing the sacred history to progress to the line of covenant through Isaac.
Genesis 25 17 Word analysis
- These are the years: This phrasing establishes a formal, almost legal or genealogical record. It emphasizes the historical and chronological precision important in the biblical account, highlighting that these are recorded, definite periods.
- of the life: (Hebrew: chayyim - חַיִּים). The plural form often used in Hebrew to signify a complete, full life span. It points to the entirety of his existence.
- of Ishmael: The specific identification marks him as Abraham's firstborn son, though not the son of the covenant promise, yet still blessed by God with a numerous lineage.
- a hundred and thirty-seven years: This precise number is significant. It falls within the expected longevity for the patriarchs after the flood, though it's less than Abraham's (175) and Isaac's (180). This specific lifespan is presented as a completed existence, reflecting a degree of divine favor or at least a full course of natural life. It suggests the establishment of his family before his passing.
- He breathed his last: (Hebrew: wayyigwa' - וַיִּגְוַע). This verb means "to expire" or "to pass away." It often denotes a natural death, typically implying a peaceful or undisturbed passing, without violence.
- and died: (Hebrew: wayyāmōth - וַיָּמֹת). A straightforward and direct statement of physical cessation. It reinforces the reality of death, confirming the previous phrase, leaving no ambiguity.
- and was gathered: (Hebrew: wayyē’āsep̄ - וַיֵּאָסֶף). This passive verb means "to be collected" or "to be gathered." It is a key phrase used repeatedly in the Torah for the deaths of important figures (e.g., Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Aaron, Moses). It is distinct from merely "being buried" and implies more than just being physically reunited with buried family members. It can suggest a peaceful joining with one's ancestors in a spiritual realm or an accepted end of life within God's providence, indicative of a righteous or accepted status.
- to his people: (Hebrew: ’el-ʿammāw - אֶל־עַמָּיו). This refers not merely to his immediate living descendants, but to his deceased forefathers or lineage in the broadest sense. It signifies a reunion, an inclusion into the community of those who have passed before. For Ishmael, whose ancestors include Abraham, it highlights his continued connection to the broader family history, even outside the direct line of covenant. It assures the reader of a "good" end, irrespective of whether the individual received the full covenant blessing.
Genesis 25 17 Bonus section
The precise age given for Ishmael's death (137 years) underscores a meticulous approach to chronicling the patriarchal histories. This level of detail validates the ancient Near Eastern cultural value placed on lengthy lifespans as a sign of blessing and stability for the establishing of families and nations. The contrast between Ishmael's lineage being described in terms of "princes" (Gen 25:16) versus the "generations" of Isaac that follow, subtly prepares the reader for the divergent paths of their descendants—Ishmael's twelve tribes spreading geographically, while Isaac's line leads to a single chosen nation through Jacob. This verse demonstrates a divine sovereignty that extends to all of Abraham's seed, even outside the specific line of covenant blessing that will be elaborated in later chapters.
Genesis 25 17 Commentary
Genesis 25:17 succinctly marks the passing of Ishmael, Abraham's son, at the advanced age of 137 years. This verse concludes the brief account of his life and descendants, underscoring that his line, as prophesied, became a distinct "nation" (Gen 17:20; 21:13). The descriptive phrase "breathed his last and died" highlights a natural, unforced death. The significant statement, "and was gathered to his people," conveys more than just physical burial. It's a standard biblical idiom, used for numerous revered figures in the Torah, signifying a peaceful and honored departure from life, implying acceptance into the assembly of the departed righteous or simply a spiritual continuum with one's ancestors. This phrasing sets Ishmael's death within the same reverent narrative pattern as Abraham's and Isaac's, reinforcing that despite not being the heir of the primary covenant promise, he nonetheless received significant divine blessing in a full and apparently accepted life and death. The verse transitions the narrative focus cleanly from Ishmael to the primary line of covenant through Isaac, Jacob, and Esau, fulfilling a structural necessity in the toledot literary pattern.