Genesis 25:1-2
Abraham took another wife, whose name was Keturah. She bore him Zimran, Jokshan, Medan, Midian, Ishbak, and Shuah.
English Standard Version (ESV)
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While it's easy to skim past this verse, the word "again" (or "added") hints at something non-obvious. It suggests Abraham didn't just have one wife after Sarah, but that this marriage followed earlier relationships, prompting questions about his family's complex structure and the timing of these events.
The narrative shifts to Abraham's later life after Sarah's death, focusing on the completion of his family lineage. This passage introduces Keturah as another wife, by whom Abraham had several sons, before detailing Abraham's final years, his death, and his burial alongside Sarah. The text then transitions to the generations of Ishmael and Isaac, setting the stage for the unfolding story of Isaac's descendants.
Abraham was advanced in years when he married Keturah. When exactly did this happen, and why does the Bible tell us about it here?
The Bible doesn't give an exact date for Abraham's marriage to Keturah. However, the wording "Then again Abraham took a wife" can mean "Abraham added to himself a wife" or "Abraham took yet another wife." This suggests it might have happened sometime after Sarah's death, potentially when Abraham was around 140 years old.
Scholars debate the exact timing. Some think it was after Sarah died, while others suggest it might have been earlier. Regardless of the precise timeline, the placement of this event in Genesis is significant. It serves to "complete the account of his descendants" before the narrative focuses on Isaac and Jacob. The purpose seems to be to show the ongoing fulfillment of God's promise to Abraham for a greatly multiplied posterity, even in his later years.
Was Keturah just another name for Hagar? The text gives us clues that suggest otherwise.
Some ancient Jewish traditions and early commentators suggested that Keturah was actually Hagar. However, the text itself presents strong reasons to distinguish them.
First, Genesis 25:6 speaks of Abraham giving gifts to the "sons of the concubines" (plural), implying more than one secondary wife besides Isaac. Second, 1 Chronicles 1:32 clearly lists the children of Hagar (Ishmael) and then separately lists the children of Keturah. These distinct genealogies show they were different individuals.
The role of Keturah and her children also differed from Hagar's. Hagar's son, Ishmael, was initially seen as the heir before Isaac's miraculous birth. Keturah, however, is identified as a concubine, and her sons were provided for with gifts and sent away during Abraham's lifetime, distinguishing them from Isaac, who inherited the primary estate. This highlights the unique, God-ordained line of descent through Isaac.
Abraham's promise of numerous descendants was vast. How did his children by Keturah fit into this picture?
Understand the original words
'ish · Hebrew Noun
A male human being or person, often used in a patriarchal context to designate a family head or progenitor. In biblical genealogy, it implies lineage, inheritance, and the passing of covenantal or tribal identity.
'ishshah · Hebrew Noun
A partner in marriage; the term signifies a legal and covenantal union between a man and a woman, established or recognized before God, often implying domestic stability and the bearing of children.
yalad · Hebrew Verb
To bring forth children; the act of giving birth, which in Scripture is often viewed as a divine blessing and the mechanism by which the covenantal promises and generational lines are fulfilled.
c. 2090 BC
Sarah Dies
Sarah, Abraham's wife and mother of Isaac, dies at 127 years old. This marks a significant moment in Abraham's life, leaving him widowed.
c. 2080 BC
Isaac Marries Rebekah
Abraham's son Isaac, now 40 years old, marries Rebekah. This event consolidates the lineage through which God's promises will continue.
c. 2075 BC— this verse
Abraham Marries Keturah
Abraham takes Keturah as a wife, likely after Sarah's death and Isaac's marriage. This union results in six sons and fulfills God's promise of a greatly multiplied seed.
c. 2070 BC
Abraham Provides for Sons
Abraham gives gifts to the sons of his concubines, including Keturah's children, and sends them away to establish their own lives, while Isaac remains the primary heir.
c. 2065 BC
Abraham Dies
Abraham dies at the age of 175, after a long life of faith and obedience. His sons Isaac and Ishmael bury him.
This passage explicitly lists the sons of Keturah, distinguishing them from Ishmael, reinforcing that Keturah was a separate wife and mother of Abraham's descendants.
Genesis 24:1This verse immediately precedes the account of Isaac's marriage to Rebekah, setting the stage for Abraham's later life and remarriage after his primary heir was settled.
Genesis 17:17Abraham's own astonishment at his and Sarah's ability to have a child at their advanced age highlights the miraculous nature of his later offspring, including those by Keturah, as discussed in the commentaries.
Galatians 4:22-26This New Testament passage contrasts Sarah (representing freedom) with Hagar (representing bondage), providing a theological framework for understanding the different roles and inheritances of Abraham's children.
Romans 4:19Paul's description of Abraham considering his body 'as good as dead' further emphasizes the miraculous aspect of his later fatherhood, including with Keturah, and the strength of his faith.
clarkeGenesis 25:1: "Then again Abraham took a wife, and her name was Keturah."
Then again Abraham took a wife - When Abraham took Keturah we are not informed; it might have been in the lifetime of Sarah; and the original ויסף vaiyoseph, and he added, etc., seems to give some countenance to this opinion. Indeed it is not very likely that he had the children mentioned here after the death of Sarah; and from the circumstances of his age, feebleness, etc., at the birth of Isaac, it is still more improb…
ellicottGenesis 25:1: "Then again Abraham took a wife, and her name was Keturah."
XXV. ABRAHAM’S MARRIAGE WITH KETURAH. (1) Then again Abraham took a wife.—This rendering implies that Abraham’s marriage with Keturah did not take place until after Sarah’s death; but this, though probable, is far from certain, as the Hebrew simply says, And Abraham added and took a wife. This statement is altogether indefinite; but as Abraham was 137 years of age at Sarah’s death, and lived to be 175, it is quite possibl…
While it's easy to skim past this verse, the word "again" (or "added") hints at something non-obvious. It suggests Abraham didn't just have one wife after Sarah, but that this marriage followed earlier relationships, prompting questions about his family's complex structure and the timing of these events.
The narrative shifts to Abraham's later life after Sarah's death, focusing on the completion of his family lineage. This passage introduces Keturah as another wife, by whom Abraham had several sons, before detailing Abraham's final years, his death, and his burial alongside Sarah. The text then transitions to the generations of Ishmael and Isaac, setting the stage for the unfolding story of Isaac's descendants.
The narrative shifts to Abraham's later life after Sarah's death, focusing on the completion of his family lineage. This passage introduces Keturah as another wife, by whom Abraham had several sons, before detailing Abraham's final years, his death, and his burial alongside Sarah. The text then transitions to the generations of Ishmael and Isaac, setting the stage for the unfolding story of Isaac's descendants.
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God's promise to Abraham was not just about one chosen line but about a vast multiplication of his seed. Abraham's marriage to Keturah and the birth of their six sons (Genesis 25:2-4) demonstrate the expansive fulfillment of this promise.
These sons, though not in the direct line of the covenant inheritance that passed through Isaac, were significant. They became progenitors of various tribes and peoples, particularly in the regions to the east and south of Canaan. Their existence showcases God's faithfulness in blessing Abraham abundantly, not only with the promised spiritual lineage but also with numerous earthly descendants who would spread far and wide.
Even though Abraham sent them away with gifts while he was yet alive, ensuring Isaac received the main inheritance, this act also fulfilled God's plan by establishing these other branches of Abraham's family, preventing conflict and ensuring their own distinct place in history. It illustrates that God's promises can encompass both a specific, chosen path and a broader, abundant blessing.
"Abraham took another wife, whose name was Keturah. She bore him Zimran, Jokshan, Medan, Midian, Ishbak, and Shuah." — While it's easy to skim past this verse, the word "again" (or "added") hints at something non-obvious. It suggests Abraham didn't just have one wife after Sarah, but that this marriage followed ear…
