Genesis – Chapter 25

Old Testament34 Verses

Chapter Summary

Chapter 25 of Genesis begins: "And Abraham married another wife named Cetura:" The chapter centers on Isaac, Abraham and Jacob. Across its 34 verses, two threads run through the text: family and covenant relationships and love and charity. Taken as a whole, the chapter forms one movement in the account, preparing what follows and completing what came before.

1And Abraham married another wife named Cetura:

2Who bore him Zamram, and Jecsan, and Madan, and Madian, and Jesboc, and Sue.

3Jecsan also begot Saba, and Dadan. The children of Dadan were Assurim, and Latusim, and Loomim.

4But of Madian was born Epha, and Opher, and Henoch, and Abida, and Eldaa: all these were the children of Cetura.

5And Abraham gave all his possessions to Isaac:

6And to the children of the concubines he gave gifts, and separated them from Isaac his son, while he yet lived, to the east country.

7And the days of Abraham's life were a hundred and seventy-five years.

8And decaying he died in a good old age, and having lived a long time, and being full of days: and was gathered to his people.

9And Isaac and Ismael his sons buried him in the double cave, which was situated in the field of Ephron the son of Seor the Hethite, over against Mambre,

10Which he had bought of the children of Heth: there was he buried, and Sara his wife.

11And after his death, God blessed Isaac his son, who dwelt by the well named Of the living and seeing.

12These are the generations of Ismael the son of Abraham, whom Agar the Egyptian, Sara's servant, bore unto him:

13And these are the names of his children according to their calling and generations. The firstborn of Ismael was Nabajoth, then Cedar, and Adbeel, and Mabsam,

14And Masma, and Duma, and Massa,

15Hadar, and Thema, and Jethur, and Naphis, and Cedma.

16These are the sons of Ismael: and these are their names by their castles and towns, twelve princes of their tribes.

17And the years of Ismael's life were a hundred and thirty-seven, and decaying he died, and was gathered unto his people.

18And he dwelt from Hevila as far as Sur, which looketh towards Egypt, to them that go towards the Assyrians. He died in the presence of all his brethren.

19These also are the generations of Isaac the son of Abraham: Abraham begot Isaac:

20Who when he was forty years old, took to wife Rebecca the daughter of Bathuel the Syrian of Mesopotamia, sister to Laban.

21And Isaac besought the Lord for his wife, because she was barren: and he heard him, and made Rebecca to conceive.

22But the children struggled in her womb, and she said: If it were to be so with me, what need was there to conceive? And she went to consult the Lord.

23And he answering, said: Two nations are in thy womb, and two peoples shall be divided out of thy womb, and one people shall overcome the other, and the elder shall serve the younger.

24And when her time was come to be delivered, behold twins were found in her womb.

25He that came forth first was red, and hairy like a skin: and his name was called Esau. Immediately the other coming forth, held his brother's foot in his hand: and therefore he was called Jacob.

26Isaac was threescore years old when the children were born unto him.

27And when they were grown up, Esau became a skilful hunter, and a husbandman: but Jacob, a plain man, dwelt in tents.

28Isaac loved Esau, because he ate of his hunting: and Rebecca loved Jacob.

29And Jacob boiled pottage: to whom Esau, coming faint out of the field,

30Said: Give me of this red pottage, for I am exceeding faint. For which reason his name was called Edom.

31And Jacob said to him: Sell me thy first birthright.

32He answered: Lo I die, what will the first birthright avail me?

33Jacob said: Swear therefore to me. Esau swore to him, and sold his first birthright.

34And so taking bread and the pottage of lentils, he ate, and drank, and went on his way; making little account of having sold his first birthright.

Important Verses in Genesis 25

And Abraham married another wife named Cetura:

Genesis 25:1

And after his death, God blessed Isaac his son, who dwelt by the well named Of the living and seeing.

Genesis 25:11

And Isaac besought the Lord for his wife, because she was barren: and he heard him, and made Rebecca to conceive.

Genesis 25:21

Isaac loved Esau, because he ate of his hunting: and Rebecca loved Jacob.

Genesis 25:28

Historical Context

Genesis belongs to the Old Testament and was composed for the people of Israel, to root their identity in God's creation and the covenant with the patriarchs. Chapter 25 of 50 stands in the central portion of the book, where decisive events or teachings take shape. It is a genealogical record linking earlier promises to later generations with 34 verses in the Douay-Rheims translation. The chapter focuses on Isaac, Abraham, Jacob and Ishmael, whose actions and words drive the passage forward. The chapter begins: "And Abraham married another wife named Cetura:" The final verse reads: "And so taking bread and the pottage of lentils, he ate, and drank, and went on his way; making little account of having…" In terms of historical background, Genesis was composed to give Israel its foundational identity: one God created all things good, sin entered through human choice, and God responded with a plan of salvation beginning with Abraham. Catholic tradition dates the book to the period described in its introduction: Traditions reaching back to the 2nd millennium BC, compiled in final form between the 10th and 5th centuries BC.

Who Wrote It

Traditionally attributed to Moses; Catholic scholarship recognizes the work of inspired editors drawing on ancient oral and written traditions

When It Was Written

Traditions reaching back to the 2nd millennium BC, compiled in final form between the 10th and 5th centuries BC

Catholic Commentary

At the literal level, the genealogy establishes continuity between generations and validates the claims of later narratives. A pivotal line is verse 1: "And Abraham married another wife named Cetura:" The passage repeatedly touches on family and covenant relationships.

The Church teaches that every passage of Scripture must be read in light of Christ and the Magisterium (CIC 1700). Here, the Catechism teaches that Genesis reveals God's plan of salvation from the beginning (CIC 54-64). The spiritual sense invites believers to recognize family and covenant relationships as part of God's pedagogy of salvation.

For Christians today, the chapter's lesson is clear: The family is the first school of faith, where love, obedience, and forgiveness are learned.. The Church invites us to receive this word not as antiquarian information but as living Scripture proclaimed at Mass and prayed in lectio divina.

Main Teachings

  • The family is the first school of faith, where love, obedience, and forgiveness are learned.
  • Love of God and love of neighbor sum up the whole law and reveal the very nature of God.
  • The Lord is a refuge and deliverer for all who call upon Him in trouble.

People in This Chapter

Isaac9 mentionsAbraham6 mentionsJacob6 mentionsIshmael5 mentionsEsau5 mentionsRebekah3 mentions

Reflection for Today

Genesis Chapter 25 marks the transition from Abraham to the next generation, recounting Abraham's death and the birth of Jacob and Esau. The Catechism teaches that God's election of Jacob over Esau, the firstborn, demonstrates that salvation depends on God's grace, not human merit or natural precedence (CIC 60). St. Paul develops this theme extensively in Romans 9.

The struggle of the twins in Rebekah's womb and the oracle she receives—"the elder shall serve the younger"—introduces the theme of divine reversal that runs throughout Scripture. God consistently chooses the younger, the weaker, the unlikely, to accomplish His purposes. This pattern culminates in Christ, who though He was rich became poor for our sake.

Esau's sale of his birthright for a bowl of stew reveals his disregard for spiritual realities. The Letter to the Hebrews warns against being "irreligious like Esau, who sold his birthright for a single meal" (12:16). Catholic moral theology sees in this a warning against trading eternal goods for temporary satisfactions. This chapter reminds us that our choices have lasting consequences and that we must value spiritual inheritance above material comfort.

💡Catholic Reflection • Church Teachings

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Genesis Chapter 25 about?

Genesis 25 contains 34 verses. It opens with "And Abraham married another wife named Cetura:" and closes with "And so taking bread and the pottage of lentils, he ate, and drank, and went on his way; making little account of having…". The book as a whole is narrative with genealogies and covenant accounts.

What is a key verse in Genesis 25?

One of the most significant verses is verse 1: "And Abraham married another wife named Cetura:" It is often cited in Catholic teaching and preaching.

Who appears in Genesis Chapter 25?

This chapter mentions Isaac, Abraham, Jacob, Ishmael, Esau, among others.

Who wrote Genesis and when?

Traditionally attributed to Moses; Catholic scholarship recognizes the work of inspired editors drawing on ancient oral and written traditions. Traditions reaching back to the 2nd millennium BC, compiled in final form between the 10th and 5th centuries BC.

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