Medan
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Topical Encyclopedia
Medan is a biblical figure mentioned in the Old Testament as one of the sons of Abraham. He is a lesser-known character, but his lineage is significant in understanding the broader narrative of Abraham's descendants and their impact on the ancient Near East.

Biblical References:

Medan is first introduced in the Book of Genesis. According to Genesis 25:1-2 , "Now Abraham had taken another wife, named Keturah, and she bore him Zimran, Jokshan, Medan, Midian, Ishbak, and Shuah." Medan is listed as the third son of Abraham and Keturah, Abraham's wife after Sarah's death. This passage highlights the continuation of Abraham's lineage through Keturah, emphasizing God's promise to make Abraham the father of many nations.

Genealogical Significance:

The descendants of Medan, like those of his brothers, are believed to have formed various tribes and peoples in the region. While the Bible does not provide extensive details about Medan's descendants, it is understood that they, along with the descendants of his brothers, contributed to the population and cultural landscape of the Arabian Peninsula and surrounding areas. The genealogies in Genesis serve to trace the spread of Abraham's offspring and their fulfillment of God's covenant with him.

Cultural and Historical Context:

In the context of the ancient Near East, the descendants of Abraham through Keturah, including Medan, played a role in the complex tapestry of tribal relations and interactions. The Bible often uses genealogies to illustrate the interconnectedness of various peoples and to underscore the fulfillment of divine promises. Medan's inclusion in these genealogies reflects the broader theme of God's providence and the unfolding of His plan through Abraham's family.

Theological Implications:

From a theological perspective, the mention of Medan and his brothers underscores the faithfulness of God in fulfilling His promises to Abraham. Despite being a lesser-known figure, Medan's place in the biblical narrative serves as a reminder of the vastness of God's covenant and the diverse ways in which it was realized. The descendants of Keturah, including Medan, are part of the broader narrative of God's blessing to Abraham, which ultimately points to the coming of the Messiah through the line of Isaac and Jacob.

Conclusion:

While Medan himself does not play a prominent role in the biblical narrative, his inclusion in the genealogies of Genesis highlights the expansive nature of Abraham's legacy. Through Medan and his brothers, the promise of numerous descendants is partially fulfilled, setting the stage for the unfolding of God's redemptive plan throughout history.
Hitchcock's Bible Names Dictionary
Medan

judgment; process

Smith's Bible Dictionary
Medan

(contention), a son of Abraham and Keturah. (Genesis 23:5; 1 Chronicles 1:42)

ATS Bible Dictionary
Medan

A son of Abraham and Keturah, Genesis 25:2. He is supposed to have settled in Arabia, near Midian his brother.

Easton's Bible Dictionary
Contention, the third son of Abraham by Keturah (Genesis 25:2).
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia
MEDAN

me'-dan (medhan, "strife"): One of the sons of Abraham by Keturah (Genesis 25:2 1 Chronicles 1:32). The tribe and its place remain unidentified, and the conjecture that the name may be connected with the Midianites is unlikely from the fact that in the list of the sons of Abraham and Keturah Midian is mentioned alongside of Medan.

Strong's Hebrew
4091. Medan -- a son of Abraham and Keturah
... 4090, 4091. Medan. 4092 . a son of Abraham and Keturah. Transliteration:
Medan Phonetic Spelling: (med-awn') Short Definition: Medan. ...
/hebrew/4091.htm - 6k

4090. medan -- discord, strife
... 4089, 4090. medan. 4091 . discord, strife. Transliteration: medan Phonetic
Spelling: (med-awn') Short Definition: strife. ... 4089, 4090. medan. 4091 . ...
/hebrew/4090.htm - 6k

Library

Chapter xxv
... (KS361 a, 369 m). 2-4. And she bore to him Zimran and Jokshan and Medan and Midian
and Ishbak and Shuah. And Jokshan begat Sheba and Dedan. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/leupold/exposition of genesis volume 1/chapter xxv.htm

Litany for Children 368. Jesus, from Thy Throne on High
... SACRAMENTS AND RITES Litany for Children 368. Jesus, from thy throne on high.
7.7.7.6 [1397]St. Medan: Harm., William Henry Monk. Refrain. Thomas B. Pollock, ...
/.../litany for children 368 jesus.htm

Thesaurus
Medan (2 Occurrences)
...MEDAN. me'-dan (medhan, "strife"): One of the sons of Abraham by Keturah (Genesis
25:2 1 Chronicles 1:32). ... Multi-Version Concordance Medan (2 Occurrences). ...
/m/medan.htm - 7k

Zimran (2 Occurrences)
... Zimran (2 Occurrences). Genesis 25:2 She bore him Zimran, Jokshan, Medan, Midian,
Ishbak, and Shuah. (WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV). ...
/z/zimran.htm - 8k

Jokshan (3 Occurrences)
... Jokshan (3 Occurrences). Genesis 25:2 She bore him Zimran, Jokshan, Medan, Midian,
Ishbak, and Shuah. (WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV). ...
/j/jokshan.htm - 8k

Ishbak (2 Occurrences)
... Ishbak (2 Occurrences). Genesis 25:2 She bore him Zimran, Jokshan, Medan, Midian,
Ishbak, and Shuah. (WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV). ...
/i/ishbak.htm - 7k

Shuah (5 Occurrences)
... Shuah (5 Occurrences). Genesis 25:2 She bore him Zimran, Jokshan, Medan, Midian,
Ishbak, and Shuah. (WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV). ...
/s/shuah.htm - 9k

Medad (2 Occurrences)

/m/medad.htm - 8k

Mid'ian (47 Occurrences)
... sons, (See RSV). Genesis 25:2 And she bore him Zimran, and Jokshan, and Medan,
and Midian, and Ishbak, and Shuah. (See RSV). Genesis 25 ...
/m/mid'ian.htm - 20k

Keturah (4 Occurrences)
... 1 Chronicles 1:32 The sons of Keturah, Abraham's concubine: she bore Zimran,
and Jokshan, and Medan, and Midian, and Ishbak, and Shuah. ...
/k/keturah.htm - 9k

Ketu'rah (4 Occurrences)
... (See RSV). 1 Chronicles 1:32 And the sons of Keturah, Abraham's concubine: she bore
Zimran, and Jokshan, and Medan, and Midian, and Ishbak, and Shuah. ...
/k/ketu'rah.htm - 7k

Dedan (10 Occurrences)
... 1 Chronicles 1:32 The sons of Keturah, Abraham's concubine: she bore Zimran,
and Jokshan, and Medan, and Midian, and Ishbak, and Shuah. ...
/d/dedan.htm - 11k

Resources
What is the significance of Midian in the Bible? | GotQuestions.org

Who were the Midianites? | GotQuestions.org

How many sons did Abraham have? | GotQuestions.org

Bible ConcordanceBible DictionaryBible EncyclopediaTopical BibleBible Thesuarus
Concordance
Medan (2 Occurrences)

Genesis 25:2
She bore him Zimran, Jokshan, Medan, Midian, Ishbak, and Shuah.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

1 Chronicles 1:32
The sons of Keturah, Abraham's concubine: she bore Zimran, and Jokshan, and Medan, and Midian, and Ishbak, and Shuah. The sons of Jokshan: Sheba, and Dedan.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Subtopics

Medan

Medan: Son of Abraham and Keturah

Related Terms

Zimran (2 Occurrences)

Jokshan (3 Occurrences)

Ishbak (2 Occurrences)

Shuah (5 Occurrences)

Medad (2 Occurrences)

Mid'ian (47 Occurrences)

Keturah (4 Occurrences)

Ketu'rah (4 Occurrences)

Dedan (10 Occurrences)

Merran

Medanites (1 Occurrence)

Midian (60 Occurrences)

Shu'ah (1 Occurrence)

Servant-wife (12 Occurrences)

Beareth (108 Occurrences)

Concubine (21 Occurrences)

Abraham's (34 Occurrences)

Bare (250 Occurrences)

Bore (221 Occurrences)

Sheba (36 Occurrences)

Medad: One of the Seventy Elders Who did not Go to the Tabernacle With Moses, But Prophesied in the Camp
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