Keturah קְטוּרָה
Abraham's concubine after Sarah's death
Biography
Keturah is mentioned in Gen.25.1, 4 and 1Ch.1.32, 33 as the concubine Abraham took after the death of Sarah. She is described as Abraham's concubine, which in the context of the ancient Near East, was a secondary wife with legal rights and status.
Keturah bore Abraham six sons: Zimran, Jokshan, Medan, Midian, Ishbak, and Shuah (Gen.25.2; 1Ch.1.32). These sons became the ancestors of various tribes and nations, expanding Abraham's descendants beyond the primary line of Isaac and Ishmael.
Abraham gave gifts to the sons of Keturah and sent them away to the east, separating them from his son Isaac to avoid conflict over the inheritance (Gen.25.6). This action ensured that Isaac, the child of promise, would be the primary heir of Abraham's legacy and covenant blessings.
The mention of Keturah and her sons in the genealogies of Abraham demonstrates the fulfillment of God's promise to make Abraham a father of many nations (Gen.17.4-6). It also highlights the complexity of family relationships and the importance of preserving the line of Isaac as the chosen heir of the covenant promises.
Family
Offspring
- Zimran Early PatriarchSon of AbrahamSon of Abraham and KeturahView full profile →
- Jokshan Early PatriarchSon of AbrahamA son of Abraham and KeturahView full profile →
- Medan Early PatriarchSon of AbrahamSon of Abraham and Keturah.View full profile →
- Midian SinaiSon of AbrahamSon of Abraham and Keturah; father of the Midianites.View full profile →
- Ishbak Early PatriarchSon of AbrahamSon of Abraham and Keturah.View full profile →
- Shuah Early PatriarchSon of AbrahamSon of Abraham and Keturah, ancestor of a tribe.View full profile →
In Scripture
2 biblical books ; 1 with study contentGenesis 2 verses
- Genesis 25:1
"Abraham took another wife, and her name was Keturah."
Study Genesis → - Genesis 25:4
"The sons of Midian were Ephah, Epher, Hanoch, Abida, and Eldaah. All these were the children of Keturah."
Study Genesis →
1 Chronicles 2 verses
- 1 Chronicles 1:32
"The sons of Keturah, Abraham’s concubine: she bore Zimran, Jokshan, Medan, Midian, Ishbak, and Shuah. The sons of Jokshan: Sheba and Dedan."
- 1 Chronicles 1:33
"The sons of Midian: Ephah, Epher, Hanoch, Abida, and Eldaah. All these were the sons of Keturah."
Names & Aliases
| Form | Language | Script | Strong's |
|---|---|---|---|
| Named | Hebrew | קְטוּרָה | H6989 |
Keturah
contracted this second marriage after the death of Sarah (compare Ge 23), and very likely after the marriage of Isaac (compare Ge 24). It is not improbable that, as some writers have suggested, this change in the life of his son prompted Abraham to remarry in order to overcome the feeling of lonesomeness caused by Isaac's entering the state of matrimony.
1Ch 1:32 (and also Ge 25:6) shows us that Keturah was not considered to be of the same dignity as Sarah who, indeed, was the mother of the son of promise, and, for obvious reasons, the sons of Abraham's concubines were separated from Isaac. She was the mother of 6 sons representing Arab tribes South and East of Palestine (Ge 25:1-6), so that through the offspring of Keturah Abraham became "the father of many nations."
William Baur