and she bore him Zimran
Zimran is one of the sons of Abraham and Keturah. The name Zimran is not mentioned elsewhere in the Bible, and little is known about him. His inclusion in the genealogy highlights the fulfillment of God's promise to Abraham that he would be the father of many nations. This reflects the broader theme of God's covenant and the expansion of Abraham's lineage beyond Isaac and Ishmael.

Jokshan
Jokshan is another son of Abraham and Keturah. His descendants are mentioned later in Genesis, specifically his sons Sheba and Dedan. These names are associated with regions in Arabia, suggesting that Jokshan's lineage contributed to the population and development of the Arabian Peninsula. This connection emphasizes the spread of Abraham's descendants into various regions, fulfilling the promise of numerous offspring.

Medan
Medan is listed among the sons of Keturah and Abraham, but like Zimran, there is little additional biblical information about him. His name, however, is significant in demonstrating the diversity and reach of Abraham's descendants. The mention of Medan, along with his brothers, underscores the theme of God's blessing and the multiplication of Abraham's seed.

Midian
Midian is perhaps the most notable of Keturah's sons due to the later biblical references to the Midianites. The Midianites play a significant role in the story of Moses, as Moses flees to Midian and marries Zipporah, the daughter of Jethro, a priest of Midian. This connection highlights the ongoing interaction between the descendants of Abraham and the unfolding narrative of God's people. The Midianites are also involved in various conflicts with Israel, illustrating the complex relationships between Abraham's descendants.

Ishbak
Ishbak is another son of Keturah and Abraham, with limited biblical information available. His inclusion in the genealogy serves to emphasize the breadth of Abraham's progeny. The name Ishbak, like those of his brothers, contributes to the understanding of the diverse groups that emerged from Abraham's lineage, fulfilling God's promise of numerous descendants.

and Shuah
Shuah is the last of the sons listed from Keturah and Abraham. The name Shuah appears elsewhere in the Bible, notably in the Book of Job, where Bildad the Shuhite is one of Job's friends. This connection suggests that Shuah's descendants may have settled in regions that later interacted with other biblical figures. The mention of Shuah completes the list of Keturah's sons, reinforcing the theme of God's blessing and the expansion of Abraham's family.

1. Keturah
The wife of Abraham after Sarah's death. Her role is significant as she bore Abraham six sons, contributing to the fulfillment of God's promise to make Abraham a father of many nations.

2. Zimran
One of the sons of Abraham and Keturah. Little is known about him, but he represents the expansion of Abraham's lineage.

3. Jokshan
Another son of Abraham and Keturah. He is noted for being the father of Sheba and Dedan, linking to other significant biblical lineages.

4. Medan
A son of Abraham and Keturah. His descendants are not detailed in the Bible, but he is part of the broader account of Abraham's offspring.

5. Midian
A son of Abraham and Keturah, whose descendants, the Midianites, play a significant role in later biblical accounts, including interactions with Moses.

6. Ishbak
Another son of Abraham and Keturah. Like Medan, his specific descendants are not detailed, but he contributes to the fulfillment of God's promise.

7. Shuah
The last son of Abraham and Keturah mentioned in this verse. His lineage is not detailed, but he is part of the broader account of Abraham's descendants.God's Faithfulness to His Promises
God's promise to Abraham to make him a father of many nations is evident through the birth of these sons. This reminds us of God's faithfulness and the importance of trusting His promises.

The Importance of Lineage and Legacy
The genealogies in the Bible, including the sons of Keturah, highlight the importance of lineage and legacy. We are encouraged to consider the spiritual legacy we are leaving for future generations.

Diversity in God's Plan
The various descendants of Abraham through Keturah show the diversity in God's plan for humanity. This diversity is a reminder of the inclusivity of God's love and the call to embrace all people.

The Role of Lesser-Known Figures
Figures like Zimran, Medan, and Ishbak, though not prominent, played a role in God's plan. This teaches us that every person has a purpose in God's kingdom, even if it is not widely recognized.1. What is the meaning of Genesis 25:2?

2. How does Genesis 25:2 illustrate God's promise to Abraham regarding his descendants?

3. What significance do the names listed in Genesis 25:2 hold in biblical history?

4. How does Genesis 25:2 connect to God's covenant with Abraham in Genesis 17?

5. What can we learn about God's faithfulness from the lineage in Genesis 25:2?

6. How can understanding Genesis 25:2 deepen our trust in God's promises today?

7. How does Genesis 25:2 impact the understanding of Abraham's lineage and God's promises?

8. Why are the descendants of Keturah significant in biblical history and prophecy?

9. What theological implications arise from Abraham having children with Keturah in Genesis 25:2?

10. What are the top 10 Lessons from Genesis 25?

11. Who was Keturah in the Bible?

12. How could Abraham father additional children at such an advanced age (Genesis 25:1–6)?

13. Who are considered the descendants of Abraham?

14. What is the total number of Abraham's wives?Zimran

• “and she bore him Zimran” (Genesis 25:2) introduces the first son of Abraham and Keturah. The very next verse in the same chapter and 1 Chronicles 1:32 repeat his name, underscoring that God faithfully recorded every branch of Abraham’s offspring.

• While Scripture gives no further stories about Zimran, his name standing at the head of this list reminds us that the promise “I will make you the father of many nations” (Genesis 17:4) was already blooming beyond Isaac. Every child mattered to God’s plan, even those whose histories lie silent between the lines.

---

Jokshan

• Genesis 25:3 states that Jokshan fathered Sheba and Dedan—names later associated with caravan trade and vast deserts. The Queen of Sheba’s famed visit to Solomon (1 Kings 10:1) and Dedan’s trading reputation (Ezekiel 27:15) trace their roots to this branch.

• Through Jokshan, God’s blessing to Abraham touched bustling trade routes and distant courts, showing how spiritual promise and ordinary commerce can intertwine.

---

Medan

• Medan appears only in Genesis 25:2 and 1 Chronicles 1:32. The brevity is striking, yet purposeful: even the least-detailed life serves the unfolding narrative of redemption.

• By simply naming Medan, Scripture assures us that no child of promise is overlooked; Psalm 139:16 echoes that truth by celebrating God’s book that records every day ordained for each person.

---

Midian

• Midian’s descendants loom large in later history. Moses found refuge with Jethro, “the priest of Midian” (Exodus 3:1), marrying into that clan (Exodus 2:21). Generations later, Midianite oppression drove Gideon’s call (Judges 6–8).

• This mixed record fulfills both aspects of God’s word to Abraham: blessing for those who bless his line and trouble from those who stand against it (Genesis 12:3). Midian exemplifies how one family can alternately ally with and oppose the covenant people.

---

Ishbak

• Aside from Genesis 25:2 and 1 Chronicles 1:32, Scripture gives no additional narrative about Ishbak. Yet his presence in the list highlights the meticulous care God takes with genealogies—each name a testimony that His covenant promises spread wider than our spotlighted heroes.

• Romans 9:7 reminds us, “nor because they are Abraham’s descendants are they all his children,” signaling that physical lineage and spiritual inheritance are distinct, though both are tracked in God’s record.

---

Shuah

• Shuah’s line surfaces in the book of Job: “Bildad the Shuhite” (Job 2:11) likely hails from this ancestor. Job’s circle thus includes a voice rooted in Abraham’s wider family tree.

• Even in the midst of suffering dialogue, God’s larger story threads through. Abraham’s sixth son eventually contributes to one of Scripture’s most profound explorations of pain and faith, showing the far-reaching impact of a seemingly minor branch.

---

summary

Genesis 25:2 is more than a roll call; it is tangible proof that God’s pledge to make Abraham “exceedingly fruitful” (Genesis 17:6) was already unfolding. Each son—Zimran, Jokshan, Medan, Midian, Ishbak, and Shuah—represents nations, relationships, and storylines that ripple through the Old Testament. Some become allies, others adversaries, but all testify to the faithfulness of a God who keeps His word down to every recorded name.

(2) Zimran.--The home of Keturah's descendants is placed by Josephus and Jerome in Arabia-Felix; but the supposed traces of their names are untrustworthy.

Midian is the one son of Keturah who had a great future before him, for his race became famous traders (Genesis 37:28); and as they are called Meú danites there in the Hebrew, in Genesis 37:36, it is probable that Medan and Midian coalesced into one tribe. Jethro, the father-in-law of Moses, belonged to them (Exodus 2:15-16), and, enriched by commerce, they became so powerful as to be dangerous neighbours to the Israelites. (Judges 6, 7, 8)

Shuah.--From him perhaps descended Bildad the Shuhite, Job's friend (Job 2:11). The name in the Hebrew is different from that also rendered "Shuah" in Genesis 38:2. . . .

Verse 2. - And she bare him (since the patriarch's body at 100 years was practically dead, it is almost certain that his marriage with Keturah took place after the renewal of his powers; and it is easier to suppose that his physical vigor remained for some years after Sarah's death than that, with his former experience of concubinage, and his parental joy in the birth of Isaac, he should add a second wife while Sarah lived) Zimran, - identified with Zabram, west of Mecca, on the Red Sea (Knobel, Keil); or the Zimareni, in the interior of Arabia (Delitzsch, Kalisch) - and Jokshan, - the Kassamitae, on the Red Sea (Knobel); or the Himarytish tribe Jakish, in Southern Arabia (Keil) - and Medan, and Midian, - Modiana, on the east of the Elamitic Gulf, and Madiana, north of this (Rosenmüller, Keil, Knobel) - and Ishbak, - perhaps preserved in Schobeck, in the land of the Edomites (Knobel, Keil) - and Shuah - for which the epithet Shuhite (Job 2:11) may point to Northern Idumaea (Keil, Knobel, Kalisch).

Parallel Commentaries ...


and she bore
וַתֵּ֣לֶד (wat·tê·leḏ)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person feminine singular
Strong's 3205: To bear young, to beget, medically, to act as midwife, to show lineage

him Zimran,
זִמְרָן֙ (zim·rān)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 2175: Zimran -- a son of Abraham

Jokshan,
יָקְשָׁ֔ן (yā·qə·šān)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3370: Jokshan -- a son of Abraham and Keturah

Medan,
מְדָ֖ן (mə·ḏān)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 4091: Medan -- a son of Abraham and Keturah

Midian,
מִדְיָ֑ן (miḏ·yān)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 4080: Midian -- a son of Abraham and Keturah, also his descendants and the region where they settled

Ishbak,
יִשְׁבָּ֖ק (yiš·bāq)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3435: Ishbak -- a son of Abraham and Keturah

and Shuah.
שֽׁוּחַ׃ (šū·aḥ)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 7744: Shuah -- a son of Abraham and Keturah


Genesis 25:2 NIV
Genesis 25:2 NLT
Genesis 25:2 ESV
Genesis 25:2 NASB
Genesis 25:2 KJV

Genesis 25:2 BibleApps.com
Genesis 25:2 Biblia Paralela
Genesis 25:2 Chinese Bible
Genesis 25:2 French Bible
Genesis 25:2 Catholic Bible

OT Law: Genesis 25:2 She bore him Zimran Jokshan Medan Midian (Gen. Ge Gn)