Hadad, Tema, Jetur, Naphish, and Kedemah.
English Standard Version (ESV)
The names of Ishmael's descendants here aren't just a lineage list; they represent distinct Arab tribes, many of whom settled in specific regions, laying the groundwork for the diverse peoples of the Arabian peninsula. This detail highlights how God's promise to Abraham concerning Ishmael's descendants wasn't just about quantity, but also about their geographical and cultural establishment.
Hadad, Tema, Jetur, Naphish, and Kedemah.
English Standard Version (ESV)
This list of names immediately follows the account of Abraham's death and the burial of his sons, Isaac and Ishmael, together. It continues the genealogy of Ishmael, Abraham's firstborn through Hagar, detailing his descendants as a fulfillment of God's promise that Ishmael would father twelve princes.
Abraham's story doesn't end with Isaac. After Isaac's birth and Sarah's death, Abraham took another wife, Keturah, and fathered more sons. What does this tell us about God's generosity and Abraham's legacy?
While Isaac was the son of the promise, Abraham had other children after Isaac.
The names listed in Genesis 25:15 – Hadar, Tema, Jetur, Naphish, and Kedemah – might seem obscure. But who were these descendants of Abraham, and where did they settle?
These names represent the beginnings of distinct peoples and regions, showing the far-reaching impact of Abraham's lineage.
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This verse lists names that represent tribal groups originating from Abraham's lineage through Ishmael and Keturah. These groups became established populations in Arabia, interacting with other peoples and appearing in historical and prophetic records, illustrating the fulfillment of God's promise of numerous descendants for Abraham.
c. 1800 BC— this verse
Abraham's children by Keturah born
Abraham, after the death of Sarah and the establishment of Isaac, takes Keturah as a wife, and they have six sons, including Ishmael's grandsons Tema and Jetur, who become progenitors of Arabian tribes.
c. 1770 BC
Abraham dies
Abraham dies at a great age, and his sons Isaac and Ishmael bury him. The sons of Abraham's concubines, including Ishmael's sons and grandsons, are sent east, settling in various regions.
c. 1500 BC - 1000 BC
Tribes of Tema and Jetur flourish
The descendants of Tema become known as a people in northern Arabia, mentioned in prophetic writings. The descendants of Jetur, known as Itureans, inhabit areas near the Lebanon mountains and become known for their archery.
c. 8th Century BC
Naphish and Hagarenes conflict
The descendants of Naphish, along with other Hagarene tribes, engage in conflict with the Reubenites and Gadites east of the Jordan River, demonstrating the presence and interactions of these Ishmaelite branches.
This verse speaks of God's promise that Ishmael would become 'twelve princes' and a 'great nation,' directly correlating with the list of Ishmael's sons in Genesis 25:15 and highlighting the fulfillment of God's word.
Genesis 25:1-6This passage details Abraham sending his sons by concubines, including those by Keturah (from whom Ishmael's line descended), eastward. This contextualizes the settlement and identity of these tribes as distinct from Isaac's line.
1 Chronicles 5:19This verse explicitly mentions Jetur and Naphish (two of the sons listed in Genesis 25:15) as participants in a war against the Hagarenes, identifying them as distinct tribal groups of that era.
Jeremiah 49:28This prophecy directly names Kedar (another of Ishmael's sons, though not listed in this specific verse) and discusses their dwellings and invasion by Babylon, showing the historical impact and geographical location of Ishmael's descendants.
Psalm 83:6This psalm lists various peoples who plotted against Israel, including 'the tents of Edom' and 'Ishmaelites,' grouping them together as historical adversaries and underscoring the ongoing significance of these descendants of Abraham.
clarkeGenesis 25:15: "Hadar, and Tema, Jetur, Naphish, and Kedemah:"
Hadar - This name should be read Hadad as in 1 Chronicles 1:30 . This reading is supported by more than three hundred MSS., versions, and printed editions. See Clarke at Genesis 25:18 (note). Tema - Supposed to be a place in Arabia Deserta, the same of which Job speaks, Job 6:19. Jetur - From whom came the Itureans, who occupied a small tract of country beyond Jordan, which was afterwards possessed by the half-tribe of Manasseh. Nap…
calvinGenesis 25:1-34: "Then again Abraham took a wife, and her name was Keturah."
And Jokshan begat Sheba, and Dedan. And the sons of Dedan were Asshurim, and Letushim, and Leummim.
Et Iocsan genuit Seba, et Dedan. Filii autem Dedan fuerunt Assurim, et Letusim, et Leummin.
And the sons of Midian; Ephah, and Epher, and Hanoch, and Abida, and Eldaah. All these were the children of Keturah.
Filii vero Midian, Hephah, et Hepher, et Hanoch, et Abidah, et Eldaah: omnes isti, filii Ceturae.…
The names of Ishmael's descendants here aren't just a lineage list; they represent distinct Arab tribes, many of whom settled in specific regions, laying the groundwork for the diverse peoples of the Arabian peninsula. This detail highlights how God's promise to Abraham concerning Ishmael's descendants wasn't just about quantity, but also about their geographical and cultural establishment.
This list of names immediately follows the account of Abraham's death and the burial of his sons, Isaac and Ishmael, together. It continues the genealogy of Ishmael, Abraham's firstborn through Hagar, detailing his descendants as a fulfillment of God's promise that Ishmael would father twelve princes.
This list of names immediately follows the account of Abraham's death and the burial of his sons, Isaac and Ishmael, together. It continues the genealogy of Ishmael, Abraham's firstborn through Hagar, detailing his descendants as a fulfillment of God's promise that Ishmael would father twelve princes.
"Hadad, Tema, Jetur, Naphish, and Kedemah." — The names of Ishmael's descendants here aren't just a lineage list; they represent distinct Arab tribes, many of whom settled in specific regions, laying the groundwork for the diverse peoples of the…
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Last reviewed October 2026