Genesis 25:4 meaning summary explained with word-by-word analysis enriched with context, commentary and Cross References from KJV, NIV, ESV and NLT.
Genesis 25:4 kjv
And the sons of Midian; Ephah, and Epher, and Hanoch, and Abidah, and Eldaah. All these were the children of Keturah.
Genesis 25:4 nkjv
And the sons of Midian were Ephah, Epher, Hanoch, Abidah, and Eldaah. All these were the children of Keturah.
Genesis 25:4 niv
The sons of Midian were Ephah, Epher, Hanok, Abida and Eldaah. All these were descendants of Keturah.
Genesis 25:4 esv
The sons of Midian were Ephah, Epher, Hanoch, Abida, and Eldaah. All these were the children of Keturah.
Genesis 25:4 nlt
Midian's sons were Ephah, Epher, Hanoch, Abida, and Eldaah. These were all descendants of Abraham through Keturah.
Genesis 25 4 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Gen 12:2 | I will make you a great nation; I will bless you and make your name great... | God's promise of numerous offspring. |
| Gen 13:16 | And I will make your descendants as the dust of the earth; so that if a man can number the dust of the earth, then your descendants also can be numbered. | Promise of uncountable seed. |
| Gen 15:5 | Then He brought him outside and said, "Look now toward heaven and count the stars if you are able to number them." And He said to him, "So shall your descendants be." | Heavenly scope of Abraham's descendants. |
| Gen 17:4-6 | As for Me, behold, My covenant is with you, and you shall be a father of many nations... I will make you exceedingly fruitful... | Abraham, father of many nations. |
| Gen 22:17-18 | ...I will multiply your descendants as the stars of the heaven and as the sand which is on the seashore... | Blessings of multiplied seed. |
| Gen 25:1-3 | Abraham again took a wife, and her name was Keturah... And Jokshan begot Sheba and Dedan. The sons of Dedan were Asshurim, Letushim, and Leummim. The sons of Midian were Ephah, Epher, Hanoch, Abida, and Eldaah... | Context of Keturah's family members. |
| Gen 25:6 | But Abraham gave gifts to the sons of his concubines... and sent them away from Isaac... to the east country. | Keturah's sons given gifts and sent away. |
| 1 Chr 1:32-33 | The sons of Keturah, Abraham’s concubine... The sons of Midian: Ephah, Epher, Hanoch, Abida, and Eldaah. All these were the children of Keturah. | Parallel genealogy confirming this list. |
| Exod 2:15-21 | Moses fled from Pharaoh and stayed in the land of Midian... He lived with the priest of Midian... and he gave Moses his daughter Zipporah. | Midian's role in Moses' life. |
| Num 22:4,7 | So the elders of Moab and the elders of Midian departed with the diviner’s fees in their hand... | Midianite alliance against Israel. |
| Num 25:16-18 | Then the LORD spoke to Moses, saying: "Hassle the Midianites, and attack them..." | Divine command for war against Midian. |
| Num 31:1-20 | The LORD spoke to Moses, saying, "Execute the Lord’s vengeance on Midian for the children of Israel"... | Israelites wage war and defeat Midian. |
| Jdg 6:1-6 | Then the children of Israel did evil in the sight of the LORD. So the LORD delivered them into the hand of Midian for seven years... | Midianite oppression of Israel. |
| Jdg 7:12 | Now the Midianites and Amalekites... lay in the valley like locusts in abundance... | Description of Midian's vast numbers. |
| Isa 60:6 | The multitude of camels shall cover your land, the dromedaries of Midian and Ephah; all those from Sheba shall come... | Prophecy of Midian and Ephah's future tribute to Zion. |
| Hab 3:7 | I saw the tents of Cushan in affliction; the curtains of the land of Midian trembled. | Prophetic imagery of Midian's judgment. |
| Psa 83:9 | Do to them as you did to Midian, as to Sisera, as to Jabin, at the Brook Kishon... | Prayer for Midian's defeat. |
| Rom 4:16-18 | ...the promise might be sure to all the seed, not only to those who are of the law, but also to those who are of the faith of Abraham... for he is the father of us all... | Abraham's fatherhood beyond physical descent. |
| Acts 7:8-9 | And so Abraham begot Isaac, and gave him the covenant of circumcision... the patriarchs, becoming envious, sold Joseph into Egypt. | Recounts patriarchal lineage (contrast). |
| Gal 3:7-9 | Therefore know that only those who are of faith are sons of Abraham... those who are of faith are blessed with Abraham, the believing Abraham. | Spiritual sons of Abraham. |
| Gal 3:29 | And if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise. | Believers are Abraham's seed in Christ. |
| Heb 11:8-12 | By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called... through whom even Sarah herself received strength to conceive seed, and she bore a child when she was past the age... | Faith of Abraham in bearing seed. |
Genesis 25 verses
Genesis 25 4 meaning
The verse meticulously lists the five sons of Midian: Ephah, Epher, Hanoch, Abida, and Eldaah, emphasizing that these individuals, representing distinct tribal lines, were all direct descendants of Keturah, one of Abraham's wives. This serves to expand on the enumeration of Abraham's prodigious offspring, demonstrating the fulfillment of God's promise regarding his countless descendants.
Genesis 25 4 Context
Genesis chapter 25 begins by documenting Abraham's later life, including his marriage to Keturah and the births of their children (vv. 1-4) and grandchildren. This particular verse (v. 4) specifically lists the direct male descendants of Abraham's son, Midian. The overarching context of Genesis 25 is the meticulous recounting of Abraham's expansive lineage, both through Isaac (the covenant line) and through his other sons, highlighting the widespread fulfillment of God's promise to make Abraham a "father of many nations." This listing clarifies the origin of the Midianites, a significant people group who would frequently interact with the Israelites in later biblical history, providing a genealogical and historical foundation for understanding future narratives, alliances, and conflicts.
Genesis 25 4 Word analysis
- And: Hebrew waw conjunction (וְ - vĕ), indicating continuation from the previous verse, linking the discussion of Midian directly to his descendants.
- the sons: Hebrew בְּנֵי (bᵊnê), meaning "sons of" but often extending to "descendants of" or "tribes of." This implies not just individual biological children but the founding individuals of tribal groups or clans.
- of Midian: Hebrew מִדְיָן (Miḏyān), the fifth son born to Abraham through Keturah, as mentioned in Gen 25:2. This names the patriarchal head of the lineage that follows.
- Ephah: Hebrew עֵיפָה (ʿÊyphâ). A personal name which later became the name of a Midianite clan/territory, known for their camels (Isa 60:6). Its inclusion signifies a distinct tribal branch.
- and Epher: Hebrew וְעֵפֶר (vĕʿÊpher). Another son of Midian, also found in the parallel genealogy of 1 Chr 1:33. Represents a specific family line.
- and Hanoch: Hebrew וַחֲנוֹךְ (vaḤănôḵ). A common biblical name (e.g., Enoch, son of Cain; Enoch, son of Jared). Here, it identifies another distinct lineage of Midian.
- and Abida: Hebrew וַאֲבִידָע (vaʾĂḇîḏāʿ). Unique to Keturah's lineage. Identifies another tribal branch.
- and Eldaah: Hebrew וְאֶלְדָּעָה (vĕʾEldāʿâ). The final son listed, confirming the five direct descendants. Also found in 1 Chr 1:33.
- All these: Emphasizes the preceding enumeration, acting as a concluding summary for this specific subset of Abraham's lineage.
- were the children: Hebrew בְּנֵי (bᵊnê), repeating the same term for "sons" or "descendants" from the beginning of the verse. Reinforces their familial relationship and distinct identity.
- of Keturah: Hebrew קְטוּרָה (Qṭûrâ). Reiteration of their ultimate matriarchal origin, ensuring clarity that these Midianite lines stem from Abraham through Keturah, distinct from Isaac's lineage but still connected to Abraham.
Genesis 25 4 Bonus section
- The biblical record meticulously tracing lineages, even those not directly in the Messianic line, underscores the idea that God is the God of all history and all nations, not just Israel.
- Abraham explicitly "gave gifts" to the sons of Keturah and sent them "eastward, away from Isaac his son" (Gen 25:6), marking their distinction from the covenant heir but acknowledging their legitimate status as Abraham's progeny, sharing in his material blessings.
- The detailed enumeration provides critical background for understanding the various tribal groups and regional dynamics that would affect ancient Israel throughout its history.
Genesis 25 4 Commentary
Genesis 25:4 is more than a mere list of names; it serves significant theological and historical purposes. It reinforces the theme of God's faithfulness to Abraham by showing the tangible fulfillment of His promise to make Abraham the "father of many nations" (Gen 17:4), even beyond the primary covenant line through Isaac. By meticulously detailing the descendants of Midian, the text establishes the genealogical origins of a powerful nation, the Midianites, who would later play pivotal roles in Israel's history – from providing refuge for Moses (Exod 2) to becoming formidable adversaries (Num 25, 31; Jdg 6-8). The inclusion of specific names like Ephah, Epher, Hanoch, Abida, and Eldaah highlights the precision and rootedness of the biblical narrative in historical realities, demonstrating how seemingly minor details about family trees are foundational for understanding God's providential work across generations and His sovereign interaction with various nations on earth. This detail assures us of the divine orchestration behind the grand narrative of salvation history.