Genesis 25:6
in Genesis 25But while he was still alive, Abraham gave gifts to the sons of his concubines and sent them away from his son Isaac to the land of the east.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
But unto the sons of the concubines, that Abraham had, Abraham gave gifts; and he sent them away from Isaac his son, while he yet lived, eastward, unto the east country.
KJV
But unto the sons of the concubines, which Abraham had, Abraham gave gifts, and sent them away from Isaac his son, while he yet lived, eastward, unto the east country.
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This verse in Genesis 25
Commentary
12 notes on this verseUnto the sons of the concubines - Viz., Hagar and Keturah, Abraham gave gifts. Cattle for breed, seed to sow the land, and implements for husbandry, may be what is here intended. And sent them away - while he yet lived - Lest after his death they should dispute a settlement in the Land of Promise with Isaac; therefore he very prudently sent them to procure settlements during his lifetime, that they might be under no temptation to dispute the settlement with Isaac in Canaan.
This site's exposition
Abraham left everything he owned to Isaac
on Genesis 25:5-6
The whole estate goes to one son, and the rest are given gifts and sent away while their father is alive to see it done. Clarke reads the timing as deliberate, so that no one could contest a settlement in Canaan with Isaac after the funeral. They go east. Genesis has moved men east before, Cain to a land east of Eden and Lot toward the plain, each time away from the promise.
This site's exposition
the sons of his concubines
The concubines are plural, and Adam Clarke named them as Hagar and Keturah, so Ishmael is among the sons sent east. John Wesley thought Ishmael received a portion now, though he had been sent away empty at first, and held that justice required it. Clarke guessed the gifts were breeding cattle, seed and tools.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers1 voice
If then we are the sons of the free Jerusalem, let us realize that some gifts belong to those who are disinherited; others, to the heirs. For they are heirs to whom it is said, "You have not received a spirit of bondage so as to be again in fear, but you have received a spirit of adoption as sons, by virtue of which we cry: 'Abba! Father!'
The Puritans and the Awakening4 voices
He gave gifts - Or portions to the rest of his children, both to Ishmael, though at first he was sent empty away, and to his sons by Keturah. It was justice to provide for them; parents that do not that, are worse than infidels.
In this all, which he settled upon Isaac, are perhaps included the promise of the land of Canaan, and the entail of the covenant. Or, God having already made him the heir of the promise, Abraham therefore made him heir of his estate.
He gave gifts - Or portions to the rest of his children, both to Ishmael, though at first he was sent empty away, and to his sons by Keturah. It was justice to provide for them; parents that do not that, are worse than infidels.
But unto the sons of the concubines which Abraham had,....
4 more voices on this verse
The Puritans and the Awakening1 voice
But unto the sons of the concubines which Abraham had,....
The Nineteenth Century3 voices
A commentator
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown1802–1910
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
Abraham gave gifts--While the chief part of the inheritance went to Isaac; the other sons (Ishmael included) migrated to "the East country," that is, Arabia, but received each a portion of the patrimony, perhaps in cattle and other things; and this settlement of Abraham's must have given satisfaction, since it is still the rule followed among the pastoral tribes.
A commentator
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown1802–1910
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
proposed
Abraham gave gifts--While the chief part of the inheritance went to Isaac; the other sons (Ishmael included) migrated to "the East country," that is, Arabia, but received each a portion of the patrimony, perhaps in cattle and other things; and this settlement of Abraham's must have given satisfaction, since it is still the rule followed among the pastoral tribes.
Unto the sons of the concubines - Viz., Hagar and Keturah, Abraham gave gifts. Cattle for breed, seed to sow the land, and implements for husbandry, may be what is here intended. And sent them away - while he yet lived - Lest after his death they should dispute a settlement in the Land of Promise with Isaac; therefore he very prudently sent them to procure settlements during his lifetime, that they might be under no temptation to dispute the settlement with Isaac in Canaan.
The words behind it
17 Hebrew wordsEvery Hebrew word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.
| Hebrew | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| וְלִבְנֵ֤י | velivnei | and to [the] sons of | H1121 → | 4930 times |
| הַפִּֽילַגְשִׁים֙ | hapilagshim | the concubines | H6370 → | 37 times |
| אֲשֶׁ֣ר | ʾasher | who | H834 → | 5497 times |
| לְאַבְרָהָ֔ם | leavraham | [belonged] to Abraham | H85 → | 175 times |
| נָתַ֥ן | natan | he gave | H5414 → | 2011 times |
| אַבְרָהָ֖ם | ʾavraham | Abraham | H85 → | 175 times |
| מַתָּנֹ֑ת | matanot | gifts | H4979 → | |
| וַֽיְשַׁלְּחֵ֞ם | vayshalechem | and he sent away them | H7971 → | 845 times |
| מֵעַ֨ל | meal | from with | H5921 → | 5755 times |
| יִצְחָ֤ק | yitzchak | Isaac | H3327 → | 108 times |
| בְּנוֹ֙ | beno | son his | H1121 → | 4930 times |
| בְּעוֹדֶ֣נּוּ | beodenu | while still [was] he | H5750 → | 490 times |
| חַ֔י | chai | alive | H2416 → | 498 times |
| קֵ֖דְמָה | kedemah | east -ward | H6924 → | 87 times |
| אֶל־ | ʾel- | to | H413 → | 5510 times |
| אֶ֥רֶץ | ʾeretz | [the] land of | H776 → | 2504 times |
| קֶֽדֶם׃ | kedem | [the] east | H6924 → | 87 times |
וְלִבְנֵ֤יand to [the] sons of
velivneiH1121 →4930 times
הַפִּֽילַגְשִׁים֙the concubines
hapilagshimH6370 →37 times
אֲשֶׁ֣רwho
ʾasherH834 →5497 times
לְאַבְרָהָ֔ם[belonged] to Abraham
leavrahamH85 →175 times
נָתַ֥ןhe gave
natanH5414 →2011 times
אַבְרָהָ֖םAbraham
ʾavrahamH85 →175 times
מַתָּנֹ֑תgifts
matanotH4979 →
וַֽיְשַׁלְּחֵ֞םand he sent away them
vayshalechemH7971 →845 times
מֵעַ֨לfrom with
mealH5921 →5755 times
יִצְחָ֤קIsaac
yitzchakH3327 →108 times
בְּנוֹ֙son his
benoH1121 →4930 times
בְּעוֹדֶ֣נּוּwhile still [was] he
beodenuH5750 →490 times
חַ֔יalive
chaiH2416 →498 times
קֵ֖דְמָהeast -ward
kedemahH6924 →87 times
אֶל־to
ʾel-H413 →5510 times
אֶ֥רֶץ[the] land of
ʾeretzH776 →2504 times
קֶֽדֶם׃[the] east
kedemH6924 →87 times
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 stopsEach card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.
Through
Acts 14:17Yet He has not left Himself without testimony to His goodness: He gives you rain from heaven and fruitful seasons, filling your hearts with food and gladness.”
it leads to
- Romans 1:19–20
For what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them.
- Joel 2:23
Be glad, O children of Zion, and rejoice in the LORD your God, for He has given you the autumn rains for your vindication. He sends you showers, both autumn and spring rains, as…
- Job 5:10
He gives rain to the earth and sends water upon the fields.
- Deuteronomy 11:14
then I will provide rain for your land in season, the autumn and spring rains, that you may gather your grain, new wine, and oil.
- Isaiah 5:6
I will make it a wasteland, neither pruned nor cultivated, and thorns and briers will grow up. I will command the clouds that rain shall not fall on it.”
- Romans 1:19–20
Through
Genesis 35:22While Israel was living in that region, Reuben went in and slept with his father’s concubine Bilhah, and Israel heard about it. Jacob had twelve sons:
it leads to
- 1 Chronicles 5:1
These were the sons of Reuben the firstborn of Israel. Though he was the firstborn, his birthright was given to the sons of Joseph son of Israel, because Reuben defiled his father’s bed. So…
- 1 Chronicles 5:1
Through
Judges 6:3Whenever the Israelites would plant their crops, the Midianites, Amalekites, and other people of the east would come up and invade them,
it leads to
- Judges 7:12
Now the Midianites, Amalekites, and all the other people of the east had settled in the valley like a swarm of locusts, and their camels were as countless as the sand on the seashore.
- Judges 3:13
After enlisting the Ammonites and Amalekites to join forces with him, Eglon attacked and defeated Israel, taking possession of the City of Palms.
- Judges 7:12
Where this verse is studied
About Genesis
Who and where
2 names in this verse with a page on the site.
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Augustine of Hippo, On Patience 28; Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament (1748-1763); John Wesley, Explanatory Notes upon the Old Testament and Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible.