Ishmael

יִשְׁמָעֵאל · yish.ma.el · H3458Gיִשְׁמְעֵאלִי · yish.ma.e.li · H34591 other spelling“God that hears” Hitchcock's 186927 mentions in 5 books, most in Genesis (19)

Who he was

Ishmael was the first son of Abraham, born to him through Hagar, Sarah's Egyptian maidservant (Genesis 16:15). His birth came after Sarah, who was barren, had given Hagar to Abraham to bear a child on her behalf. God spoke to Hagar, telling her to name the child Ishmael, meaning "God hears" (Genesis 16:11).

As he grew, Ishmael became a skilled archer (Genesis 21:20). When Isaac was born to Sarah, she insisted that Abraham send Hagar and Ishmael away (Genesis 21:10). God confirmed this action but promised to make Ishmael a great nation (Gen.21.13,18). Ishmael settled in the wilderness of Paran and married an Egyptian woman (Genesis 21:21).

Ishmael had twelve sons who became tribal rulers (Genesis 17:20; 25.13-16). He lived to be 137 years old (Genesis 25:17). Ishmael and Isaac together buried their father Abraham (Genesis 25:9).

Ishmael's descendants, the Ishmaelites, are mentioned as traders who purchased Joseph from his brothers (Genesis 37:25–28; 39.1). They are also noted as skilled archers (Isaiah 21:17) and as enemies of Israel (Psalms 83:6). One of David's warriors, Zebadiah, was the son of an Ishmaelite (1 Chronicles 2:17; 27.30).

Ishmael represents the ancestors of various Arab tribes. His story illustrates God's faithfulness to His promises, even to those not chosen for the primary covenant line.

Article: STEPBible, Tyndale House Cambridge · CC BY 4.0

Family

FatherAbrahamMotherHagarSiblingsIsaac, Zimran, Jokshan, Medan, Midian, Ishbak, ShuahChildrenNebaioth, Kedar, Adbeel, Mibsam, Mishma, Dumah, Massa, Hadad, Tema, Jetur, Naphish, Kedemah, Mahalath

Family relations: STEPBible, Tyndale House Cambridge · CC BY 4.0

Every mention

27 references, counted from STEPBible, Tyndale House Cambridge · CC BY 4.0 · verse text: World English Bible (public domain)

Genesis19 mentions

Genesis 16:11Yahweh’s angel said to her, “Behold, you are with child, and will bear a son. You shall call his name Ishmael, because Yahweh has heard your affliction.Genesis 16:15Hagar bore a son for Abram. Abram called the name of his son, whom Hagar bore, Ishmael.Genesis 16:16Abram was eighty-six years old when Hagar bore Ishmael to Abram.Genesis 17:18Abraham said to God, “Oh that Ishmael might live before you!”Genesis 17:20As for Ishmael, I have heard you. Behold, I have blessed him, and will make him fruitful, and will multiply him exceedingly. He will become the father of twelve princes, and I will make…Genesis 17:23Abraham took Ishmael his son, all who were born in his house, and all who were bought with his money: every male among the men of Abraham’s house, and circumcised the flesh of their…Genesis 17:25Ishmael, his son, was thirteen years old when he was circumcised in the flesh of his foreskin.Genesis 17:26In the same day both Abraham and Ishmael, his son, were circumcised.Genesis 25:9Isaac and Ishmael, his sons, buried him in the cave of Machpelah, in the field of Ephron, the son of Zohar the Hittite, which is near Mamre,Genesis 25:12Now this is the history of the generations of Ishmael, Abraham’s son, whom Hagar the Egyptian, Sarah’s servant, bore to Abraham.Genesis 25:13These are the names of the sons of Ishmael, by their names, according to the order of their birth: the firstborn of Ishmael, Nebaioth, then Kedar, Adbeel, Mibsam,Genesis 25:16These are the sons of Ishmael, and these are their names, by their villages, and by their encampments: twelve princes, according to their nations.Genesis 25:17These are the years of the life of Ishmael: one hundred thirty-seven years. He gave up his spirit and died, and was gathered to his people.Genesis 28:9So Esau went to Ishmael, and took, in addition to the wives that he had, Mahalath the daughter of Ishmael, Abraham’s son, the sister of Nebaioth, to be his wife.Genesis 36:3and Basemath, Ishmael’s daughter, sister of Nebaioth.Genesis 37:25They sat down to eat bread, and they lifted up their eyes and looked, and saw a caravan of Ishmaelites coming from Gilead, with their camels bearing spices and balm and myrrh, going to…Genesis 37:27Come, and let’s sell him to the Ishmaelites, and not let our hand be on him; for he is our brother, our flesh.” His brothers listened to him.Genesis 37:28Midianites who were merchants passed by, and they drew and lifted up Joseph out of the pit, and sold Joseph to the Ishmaelites for twenty pieces of silver. The merchants brought Joseph…Genesis 39:1Joseph was brought down to Egypt. Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh’s, the captain of the guard, an Egyptian, bought him from the hand of the Ishmaelites that had brought him down there.

Judges1 mention

Judges 8:24Gideon said to them, “I do have a request: that you would each give me the earrings of his plunder.” (For they had golden earrings, because they were Ishmaelites.)

2 Samuel1 mention

2 Samuel 17:25Absalom set Amasa over the army instead of Joab. Now Amasa was the son of a man whose name was Ithra the Israelite, who went in to Abigail the daughter of Nahash, sister to Zeruiah, Joab’s…

1 Chronicles5 mentions

1 Chronicles 1:28The sons of Abraham: Isaac and Ishmael.1 Chronicles 1:29These are their generations: the firstborn of Ishmael, Nebaioth; then Kedar, Adbeel, Mibsam,1 Chronicles 1:31Jetur, Naphish, and Kedemah. These are the sons of Ishmael.1 Chronicles 2:17Abigail bore Amasa; and the father of Amasa was Jether the Ishmaelite.1 Chronicles 27:30Over the camels was Obil the Ishmaelite. Over the donkeys was Jehdeiah the Meronothite. Over the flocks was Jaziz the Hagrite.

Psalms1 mention

Psalms 83:6The tents of Edom and the Ishmaelites; Moab, and the Hagrites;

What the dictionary says

God hears.

Easton's Bible Dictionary (1897)

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Sources

STEPBible TIPNR · Translators Individualised Proper Names with all References · CC BY 4.0 · github.com/STEPBible/STEPBible-Data
Hitchcock's Bible Names Dictionary (1869) · Public domain