Genesis 25:1-3
Abraham took another wife, whose name was Keturah. She bore him Zimran, Jokshan, Medan, Midian, Ishbak, and Shuah. Jokshan fathered Sheba and Dedan. The sons of Dedan were Asshurim, Letushim, and Leummim.
English Standard Version (ESV)
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This verse doesn't just introduce a new wife; it signals that Abraham, well past the age when anyone would expect children, still had the vitality to father six more sons, a testament to the ongoing faithfulness of God's promise to multiply his seed. The placement of this detail after Sarah's death and Isaac's marriage, despite potential chronological questions, serves to wrap up Abraham's life story by showing his lineage continued to expand.
After Sarah's death, Abraham, though an old man, took another wife named Keturah, and had six sons with her. The narrative places this marriage here to complete the account of Abraham's offspring before moving on to the important story of Isaac and his descendants.
The Bible says Abraham took another wife, Keturah, but when exactly did this happen? The answer impacts how we understand Abraham's faith and God's promises.
The placement of Genesis 25:1 in the biblical narrative has led to much discussion about when Abraham married Keturah.
Who was Keturah, and what was her role in Abraham's life and legacy? The Bible gives us clues, distinguishing her from Hagar and highlighting her unique place.
Keturah enters the biblical narrative as Abraham's second wife, but her identity and significance are worth exploring.
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.
ben · Hebrew Noun
The mention of Abraham taking Keturah as a wife, and the subsequent birth of their children, appears out of chronological order. This placement helps to complete the picture of Abraham's descendants before the narrative focuses on Isaac and Jacob, underscoring God's faithfulness in fulfilling His promise of a numerous offspring even in Abraham's old age.
c. 2091 BC
Sarah Dies
Sarah, Abraham's primary wife and mother of Isaac, dies at the age of 127.
c. 2087 BC
Isaac Marries Rebekah
Isaac, now 40 years old, marries Rebekah, fulfilling a key step in God's plan for Abraham's lineage.
c. 2070 BC— this verse
Abraham Marries Keturah
Abraham takes Keturah as a wife. The exact timing is debated, but it likely occurred after Sarah's death and Isaac's marriage, possibly to further fulfill God's promise of numerous descendants.
c. 2056 BC
Abraham Sends Away Keturah's Sons
Abraham provides for his sons by Keturah and sends them away to the east, ensuring Isaac remains the sole heir to the covenant promises.
This passage introduces Hagar, another wife/concubine taken by Abraham, highlighting the theme of Abraham having multiple partners in his life and fathering children outside of Sarah.
Genesis 25:5-6These verses show Abraham providing for his sons by Keturah and sending them away, distinguishing them from Isaac, which reinforces the idea of Isaac as the primary heir through Sarah.
1 Chronicles 1:32This passage explicitly calls Keturah a concubine and lists her sons, directly paralleling the information in Genesis 25:1-4 and reinforcing Keturah's secondary status compared to Sarah.
Galatians 4:22-31This New Testament passage uses the stories of Hagar and Sarah (and by implication, Keturah) to draw an allegorical distinction between those who are born of the flesh and those born of promise, providing theological depth to Abraham's family.
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…
This verse doesn't just introduce a new wife; it signals that Abraham, well past the age when anyone would expect children, still had the vitality to father six more sons, a testament to the ongoing faithfulness of God's promise to multiply his seed. The placement of this detail after Sarah's death and Isaac's marriage, despite potential chronological questions, serves to wrap up Abraham's life story by showing his lineage continued to expand.
After Sarah's death, Abraham, though an old man, took another wife named Keturah, and had six sons with her. The narrative places this marriage here to complete the account of Abraham's offspring before moving on to the important story of Isaac and his descendants.
After Sarah's death, Abraham, though an old man, took another wife named Keturah, and had six sons with her. The narrative places this marriage here to complete the account of Abraham's offspring before moving on to the important story of Isaac and his descendants.
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As Abraham's life draws to a close, he makes crucial decisions about his family and legacy. How does he ensure the continuation of God's covenant promises?
The final years of Abraham's life reveal his wisdom and obedience in securing the covenant line.
Male offspring; in biblical usage, it denotes genealogical succession and inheritance rights, particularly significant when distinguishing between the seed of promise and the seed of natural descent.
c. 2026 BC
Death of Abraham
Abraham dies at the age of 175, having lived a long life of faith and obedience, leaving behind a vast posterity and a rich legacy.
"Abraham took another wife, whose name was Keturah. She bore him Zimran, Jokshan, Medan, Midian, Ishbak, and Shuah. Jokshan fathered Sheba and Dedan. The sons of Dedan were Asshurim, Letushim, and Leummim." — This verse doesn't just introduce a new wife; it signals that Abraham, well past the age when anyone would expect children, still had the vitality to father six more sons, a testament to the ongoing…
