Bible Glide

Genesis 25

Genesis 25 Summary, Context, and Full Chapter

Genesis 25 closes Abraham's story and begins the next generation. It traces the family lines of Keturah and Ishmael, then turns to Isaac, Rebekah, and their twin sons. The chapter shows God's promise moving forward through unexpected choices, family tension, and a birthright traded for a meal.

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What happens in Genesis 25?

Abraham takes Keturah as another wife and has several sons, but Isaac remains the heir of the promise. Abraham dies at 175 and is buried by Isaac and Ishmael in the cave of Machpelah. The chapter then summarizes Ishmael's descendants, their settlements, and his death. After that, the focus shifts to Isaac and Rebekah. God answers Isaac's prayer for a child, Rebekah gives birth to twins, and the younger, Jacob, is shown as the one who will receive the covenant line. The chapter ends with Esau giving up his birthright for stew.

This chapter moves the story from Abraham to Isaac and prepares the way for Jacob and Esau. It shows the closing of one generation and the start of another while keeping attention on the covenant family line. The promises given to Abraham continue through Isaac, even as family relationships become strained and the next major conflict is introduced.

Themes to notice

  • Promise lineGod's covenant purposes continue through Isaac rather than through the other sons of Abraham.
  • Family successionThe chapter marks the passing of one generation and the beginning of the next.
  • Birthright and choiceEsau's decision shows how quickly spiritual privilege can be treated as something small.

Questions for Genesis 25

  • What does this chapter show about how God preserves the promise made to Abraham?
  • Why is the birthright such an important part of the story of Jacob and Esau?
  • What stands out to you about the difference between Esau's immediate desire and Jacob's long-term focus?

Read the full text of Genesis 25 below, then open it in the reader to highlight, take notes, or ask follow-up Bible questions. No account is required to read.

Genesis 25

Abraham and Keturah

1Now Abraham had taken another wife, named Keturah,2and she bore him Zimran, Jokshan, Medan, Midian, Ishbak, and Shuah.3Jokshan was the father of Sheba and Dedan. And the sons of Dedan were the Asshurites, the Letushites, and the Leummites.4The sons of Midian were Ephah, Epher, Hanoch, Abida, and Eldaah. All these were descendants of Keturah.5Abraham left everything he owned to Isaac.6But 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.

The Death of Abraham

7Abraham lived a total of 175 years.8And at a ripe old age he breathed his last and died, old and contented, and was gathered to his people.9His sons Isaac and Ishmael buried him in the cave of Machpelah near Mamre, in the field of Ephron son of Zohar the Hittite.10This was the field that Abraham had bought from the Hittites. Abraham was buried there with his wife Sarah.11After Abraham’s death, God blessed his son Isaac, who lived near Beer-lahai-roi.

The Descendants of Ishmael

12This is the account of Abraham’s son Ishmael, whom Hagar the Egyptian, Sarah’s maidservant, bore to Abraham.13These are the names of the sons of Ishmael in the order of their birth: Nebaioth the firstborn of Ishmael, then Kedar, Adbeel, Mibsam,14Mishma, Dumah, Massa,15Hadad, Tema, Jetur, Naphish, and Kedemah.16These were the sons of Ishmael, and these were their names by their villages and encampments—twelve princes of their tribes.17Ishmael lived a total of 137 years. Then he breathed his last and died, and was gathered to his people.18Ishmael’s descendants settled from Havilah to Shur, which is near the border of Egypt as you go toward Asshur. And they lived in hostility toward all their brothers.

Jacob and Esau

19This is the account of Abraham’s son Isaac. Abraham became the father of Isaac,20and Isaac was forty years old when he married Rebekah, the daughter of Bethuel the Aramean from Paddan-aram and the sister of Laban the Aramean.21Later, Isaac prayed to the LORD on behalf of his wife, because she was barren. And the LORD heard his prayer, and his wife Rebekah conceived.22But the children inside her struggled with each other, and she said, “Why is this happening to me?” So Rebekah went to inquire of the LORD,

23and He declared to her:

“Two nations are in your womb,

and two peoples from within you will be separated;

one people will be stronger than the other,

and the older will serve the younger.”

24When her time came to give birth, there were indeed twins in her womb.25The first one came out red, covered with hair like a fur coat; so they named him Esau.26After this, his brother came out grasping Esau’s heel; so he was named Jacob. And Isaac was sixty years old when the twins were born.

27When the boys grew up, Esau became a skillful hunter, a man of the field, while Jacob was a quiet man who stayed at home.28Because Isaac had a taste for wild game, he loved Esau; but Rebekah loved Jacob.

Esau Sells His Birthright

29One day, while Jacob was cooking some stew, Esau came in from the field and was famished.30He said to Jacob, “Let me eat some of that red stew, for I am famished.” (That is why he was also called Edom.)

31“First sell me your birthright,” Jacob replied.

32“Look,” said Esau, “I am about to die, so what good is a birthright to me?”

33“Swear to me first,” Jacob said. So Esau swore to Jacob and sold him the birthright.34Then Jacob gave some bread and lentil stew to Esau, who ate and drank and then got up and went away. Thus Esau despised his birthright.

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