Medan מְדָן
Son of Abraham and Keturah.
Who is Medan in the Bible?
Medan was a son of Abraham and his concubine Keturah, born after the death of Sarah (Genesis 25:2; 1 Chronicles 1:32). He was one of six sons from this union, alongside Zimran, Jokshan, Midian, Ishbak, and Shuah. Abraham sent Medan and his brothers away with gifts to the land of the east, separating them from Isaac, Abraham's son with Sarah, to preserve Isaac's inheritance (Genesis 25:1-6). Beyond these genealogical references, Medan receives no further mention in Scripture, leaving little historical detail about him or his descendants. His existence primarily serves to illustrate Abraham's large family and the distinction made between his children by Sarah and those by Keturah.
Biography
Medan was one of the sons born to Abraham and his concubine Keturah after the death of Sarah. Along with his brothers Zimran, Jokshan, Midian, Ishbak, and Shuah, Medan was sent away by Abraham with gifts to the land of the east, separating them from Isaac, Abraham's son with Sarah (Gen.25.1-6). Medan is also mentioned in the genealogy of Abraham's descendants in 1Ch.1.32. Little else is known about Medan or his descendants, as they are not mentioned further in the biblical narrative.
Family
Parents
Siblings
- Ishmael ArabiaSon of AbrahamSon of Abraham and Hagar; father of Arab tribes.View full profile →
- Isaac Early PatriarchSon of AbrahamSon of Abraham; father of Jacob and Esau.View full profile →
- Zimran Early PatriarchSon of AbrahamSon of Abraham and KeturahView full profile →
- Jokshan Early PatriarchSon of AbrahamA son of Abraham and KeturahView 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 1 verse
- Genesis 25:2
"and she bore him Zimran, Jokshan, Medan, Midian, Ishbak, and Shuah."
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1 Chronicles 1 verse
- 1 Chronicles 1:32
"The sons born to Keturah, Abraham’s concubine: Zimran, Jokshan, Medan, Midian, Ishbak, and Shuah. The sons of Jokshan: Sheba and Dedan."
Names & Aliases
| Form | Language | Script |
|---|---|---|
| Named | Hebrew | מְדָן |
Medan
ture that the name may be connected with the Midianites is unlikely from the fact that in the list of the sons of Abraham and Keturah Midian is mentioned alongside of Medan.
med'-e-ba (medhebha'; Maidaba, Medaba): The name may mean "gently flowing water," but the sense is doubtful. This city is first mentioned along with Heshbon and Dibon in an account of Israel's conquests (<ref osisRef="