Bible Strands
Genesis 25:13
These are the names of the sons of Ishmael in the order of their birth: Nebaioth the firstborn of Ishmael, then Kedar, Adbeel, Mibsam,
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — The narrator records this genealogy immediately after introducing the account of Abraham’s son Ishmael in Genesis 25:12. It functions as a direct continuation of the patriarchal records, listing the sons before moving to the next names in Genesis 25:14.
The words — The term בֲּכֹ֤ר (be.Khor) literally denotes the firstborn, establishing Nebaioth’s primogeniture. The phrase לְ/תוֹלְדֹתָ֑/ם (le./tol.do.Ta/m) translates to "according to their descendants," structuring the list as a genealogical record rather than a simple roster.
The thread — The identical sequence of names reappears in 1 Chronicles 1:29 as a parallel genealogical record. Later passages treat these names as tribal or geographic markers, such as Isaiah 60:7 and Psalms 120:5.
Why it lands — The text establishes Ishmael’s lineage through a formal, ordered list without elaboration or evaluation. It requires the reader to recognize the documented continuity of Abraham’s offspring and to treat the subsequent biblical references to these names as historical tribal identifiers.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Hebrew words
King James Version
And these are the names of the sons of Ishmael, by their names, according to their generations: the firstborn of Ishmael, Nebajoth; and Kedar, and Adbeel, and Mibsam,
Cross-references
- 1 Chronicles 1:29 These are their genealogies: Nebaioth the firstborn of Ishmael, then Kedar, Adbeel, Mibsam,
- Isaiah 60:7 All the flocks of Kedar will be gathered to you; the rams of Nebaioth will serve you and go up on My altar with acceptance; I will adorn My glorious house.
- Psalms 120:5 Woe to me that I dwell in Meshech, that I live among the tents of Kedar!
- Song of Solomon 1:5 I am dark, yet lovely, O daughters of Jerusalem, like the tents of Kedar, like the curtains of Solomon.
- Isaiah 42:11 Let the desert and its cities raise their voices; let the villages of Kedar cry aloud. Let the people of Sela sing for joy; let them cry out from the mountaintops.
- Genesis 36:3 and Basemath daughter of Ishmael and sister of Nebaioth.
- Isaiah 21:16 For this is what the Lord says to me: “Within one year, as a hired worker would count it, all the glory of Kedar will be gone.