Genesis 25:12

King James Version:

(The Lord speaking is red text)

Now these [are] the generations of Ishmael, Abraham's son, whom Hagar the Egyptian, Sarah's handmaid, bare unto Abraham:

Complete Jewish Bible:

Here is the genealogy of Yishma'el, Avraham's son, whom Hagar the Egyptian woman bore to Avraham.

Berean Standard Bible:

This is the account of Abraham’s son Ishmael, whom Hagar the Egyptian, Sarah’s maidservant, bore to Abraham.

American Standard Version:

Now these are the generations of Ishmael, Abraham’s son, whom Hagar the Egyptian, Sarah’s handmaid, bare unto Abraham:

KJV with Strong’s Numbers:

Now these are the generations^{H8435} of Ishmael^{H3458}, Abraham's^{H85} son^{H1121}, whom Hagar^{H1904} the Egyptian^{H4713}, Sarah's^{H8283} handmaid^{H8198}, bare^{H3205} unto Abraham^{H85}:

Cross-References (KJV):

Explore This Verse Across Other Resources:

BibleHub.com BibleRef.com

Commentary for Genesis 25:12

Genesis 25:12 serves as a pivotal verse in the narrative of the Bible, marking the transition from the story of Abraham, the patriarch of the Israelites, to the account of his son Ishmael, who is considered the progenitor of the Ishmaelites. This verse introduces the genealogy of Ishmael, highlighting his lineage as the son of Abraham and Hagar, Sarah's Egyptian handmaid. The mention of Hagar's Egyptian origin is significant, as it underscores the diverse ethnic backgrounds of the figures in the biblical narrative and reflects the broader historical context of the ancient Near East, where intercultural interactions and marriages were not uncommon.

The verse is situated within the broader context of the patriarchal narratives, which detail the lives and descendants of the founders of the Israelite people. Ishmael's birth and subsequent life events are part of a complex family dynamic involving Sarah, Abraham's primary wife, and Hagar, Sarah's maidservant. Sarah's inability to conceive led her to offer Hagar to Abraham as a concubine, which resulted in the birth of Ishmael, as narrated in Genesis 16. Despite being born of a servant, Ishmael was recognized by Abraham and was eventually blessed by God, who promised to make him a great nation (Genesis 21:18).

The themes present in Genesis 25:12 include God's providence in the lives of all individuals, regardless of their social status, and the fulfillment of divine promises across generations. The verse also touches on the themes of family dynamics, ancestry, and the importance of lineage in the cultural and religious identity of the Israelites. By tracing the descendants of Ishmael, the text acknowledges the existence of other nations and peoples who, while not the primary focus of the Israelite historical narrative, are nonetheless part of God's broader plan for humanity. This verse sets the stage for understanding the relationships between the Israelites and their neighboring tribes and nations, which will become significant in the ongoing biblical story.

*This commentary is produced by Microsoft/WizardLM-2-8x22B AI model

Strong's Numbers and Definitions:

Note: H = Hebrew (OT), G = Greek (NT)

1. Strong's Number: H8435
   There are 39 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: תּוֹלְדָה
   Transliteration: tôwlᵉdâh
   Pronunciation: to-led-aw'
   Description: or תֹּלְדָה; from יָלַד; (plural only) descent, i.e. family; (figuratively) history; birth, generations.
   
2. Strong's Number: H3458
   There are 44 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: יִשְׁמָעֵאל
   Transliteration: Yishmâʻêʼl
   Pronunciation: yish-maw-ale'
   Description: from שָׁמַע and אֵל; God will hear; Jishmael, the name of Abraham's oldest son, and of five Israelites; Ishmael.
   
3. Strong's Number: H85
   There are 1159 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: אַבְרָהָם
   Transliteration: ʼAbrâhâm
   Pronunciation: ab-raw-hawm'
   Description: contracted from אָב and an unused root (probably meaning to be populous); father of a multitude; Abraham, the later name of Abram; Abraham.
   
4. Strong's Number: H1121
   There are 3654 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: בֵּן
   Transliteration: bên
   Pronunciation: bane
   Description: from בָּנָה; a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative relationship, including grandson, subject, nation, quality or condition, etc., (like father or brother), etc.); [phrase] afflicted, age, (Ahoh-) (Ammon-) (Hachmon-) (Lev-) ite, (anoint-) ed one, appointed to, ([phrase]) arrow, (Assyr-) (Babylon-) (Egypt-) (Grec-) ian, one born, bough, branch, breed, [phrase] (young) bullock, [phrase] (young) calf, [idiom] came up in, child, colt, [idiom] common, [idiom] corn, daughter, [idiom] of first, [phrase] firstborn, foal, [phrase] very fruitful, [phrase] postage, [idiom] in, [phrase] kid, [phrase] lamb, ([phrase]) man, meet, [phrase] mighty, [phrase] nephew, old, ([phrase]) people, [phrase] rebel, [phrase] robber, [idiom] servant born, [idiom] soldier, son, [phrase] spark, [phrase] steward, [phrase] stranger, [idiom] surely, them of, [phrase] tumultuous one, [phrase] valiant(-est), whelp, worthy, young (one), youth.
   
5. Strong's Number: H1904
   There are 10 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: הָגָר
   Transliteration: Hâgâr
   Pronunciation: haw-gawr'
   Description: of uncertain (perhaps foreign) derivation; Hagar, the mother of Ishmael; Hagar.
   
6. Strong's Number: H4713
   There are 25 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: מִצְרִי
   Transliteration: Mitsrîy
   Pronunciation: mits-ree'
   Description: from מִצְרַיִם; a Mitsrite, or inhabitant of Mitsrajim; Egyptian, of Egypt.
   
7. Strong's Number: H8283
   There are 32 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: שָׂרָה
   Transliteration: Sârâh
   Pronunciation: saw-raw'
   Description: the same as שָׂרָה; Sarah, Abraham's wife; Sarah.
   
8. Strong's Number: H8198
   There are 58 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: שִׁפְחָה
   Transliteration: shiphchâh
   Pronunciation: shif-khaw'
   Description: feminine from an unused root meaning to spread out (as a family; see מִשְׁפָּחָה); a female slave (as a member of the household); (bond-, hand-) maid(-en, -servant), wench, bondwoman, womanservant.
   
9. Strong's Number: H3205
   There are 403 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: יָלַד
   Transliteration: yâlad
   Pronunciation: yaw-lad'
   Description: a primitive root; to bear young; causatively, to beget; medically, to act as midwife; specifically, to show lineage; bear, beget, birth(-day), born, (make to) bring forth (children, young), bring up, calve, child, come, be delivered (of a child), time of delivery, gender, hatch, labour, (do the office of a) midwife, declare pedigrees, be the son of, (woman in, woman that) travail(-eth, -ing woman).