Ishmael
Bible Ishmael Family Tree
Abraham: Ishmael’s father, chosen by God to be the patriarch of many nations (Genesis 17:5).
Hagar: Ishmael’s mother, an Egyptian maidservant of Sarah, Abraham’s wife (Genesis 16:1-4).
Ishmael’s Lineage
Ishmael had twelve sons, who became the founders of the Ishmaelite tribes, fulfilling God’s promise to make him a great nation (Genesis 17:20; Genesis 25:13-16):
Nebaioth
Kedar
Adbeel
Mibsam
Mishma
Dumah
Massa
Hadad
Tema
Jetur
Naphish
Kedemah
Connection to Esau
Ishmael’s daughter, Mahalath (or Basemath), became Esau’s wife (Genesis 28:9), linking Ishmael’s line to Esau’s descendants.
This family tree highlights Ishmael as the progenitor of twelve tribes, fulfilling his role as a patriarch in the biblical narrative.
Scriptures about Ishmael
Genesis 16:10-12: “The angel of the Lord also said to her: ‘I will increase your descendants so much that they will be too numerous to count. You shall name him Ishmael, for the Lord has heard of your misery.’”
Genesis 16:15-16: “So Hagar bore Abram a son, and Abram gave the name Ishmael to the son she had borne. Abram was eighty-six years old when Hagar bore him Ishmael.”
Genesis 17:18-20: “And Abraham said to God, ‘If only Ishmael might live under your blessing!’ God replied, ‘As for Ishmael, I have heard you: I will surely bless him; I will make him fruitful and will greatly increase his numbers.'”
Genesis 17:23: “On that very day Abraham took his son Ishmael and circumcised him, as God told him.”
Genesis 21:9-10: “But Sarah saw that the son whom Hagar the Egyptian had borne to Abraham was mocking, and she said to Abraham, ‘Get rid of that slave woman and her son, for that woman’s son will never share in the inheritance with my son Isaac.’”
Genesis 21:14: “Early the next morning, Abraham took some food and a skin of water and gave them to Hagar. He set them on her shoulders and then sent her off with the boy.”
Genesis 21:17-18: “God heard the boy crying, and the angel of God called to Hagar from heaven and said, ‘What is the matter, Hagar? Do not be afraid; God has heard the boy crying as he lies there. Lift the boy up and take him by the hand, for I will make him into a great nation.’”
Genesis 21:20: “God was with the boy as he grew up. He lived in the desert and became an archer.”
Genesis 25:12: “This is the account of the family line of Abraham’s son Ishmael, whom Hagar, Sarah’s slave, bore to Abraham.”
Genesis 25:13-16: “These are the names of the sons of Ishmael, listed in the order of their birth: Nebaioth, the firstborn of Ishmael, Kedar, Adbeel, Mibsam, Mishma, Dumah, Massa, Hadad, Tema, Jetur, Naphish, and Kedemah.”
Genesis 25:17: “Ishmael lived a hundred and thirty-seven years. He breathed his last and died, and he was gathered to his people.”
Genesis 28:9: “So Esau went to Ishmael and married Mahalath, the sister of Nebaioth and daughter of Ishmael, son of Abraham, in addition to the wives he already had.”
Genesis 16:1: “Now Sarai, Abram’s wife, had borne him no children. But she had an Egyptian slave named Hagar.”
Isaiah 60:7: “All Kedar’s flocks will be gathered to you, the rams of Nebaioth will serve you; they will be accepted as offerings on my altar, and I will adorn my glorious temple.”
Jeremiah 41:10: “Ishmael son of Nethaniah took all the people who were left in Mizpah captive.”
Psalm 83:6: “The tents of Edom and the Ishmaelites, of Moab and the Hagrites.”
Story of Ishmael in the Bible
1. The Birth of Ishmael (Genesis 16:1–16)
Sarah, Abraham’s wife, was unable to bear children, and she suggested that Abraham have a child with her Egyptian maidservant, Hagar. Hagar conceived, and tension arose between her and Sarah. Hagar fled but was met by an angel of the Lord, who instructed her to return and submit to Sarah. The angel also prophesied Ishmael’s birth, declaring he would be “a wild donkey of a man” and the father of a great nation. Ishmael’s name, meaning “God hears,” reflects God’s response to Hagar’s plight.
2. The Covenant and Ishmael’s Role (Genesis 17:18–27)
When God promised Abraham a son through Sarah, Abraham expressed concern for Ishmael, asking, “If only Ishmael might live under your blessing!” God reassured Abraham that Ishmael would indeed be blessed and become the father of twelve rulers and a great nation. However, God clarified that the covenant would be established through Isaac, Sarah’s yet-to-be-born son.
3. The Mocking of Isaac and Ishmael’s Dismissal (Genesis 21:8–21)
When Isaac, the son of Sarah, was born, and later weaned, Sarah saw Ishmael mocking Isaac. She demanded that Abraham send Hagar and Ishmael away to prevent Ishmael from sharing in Isaac’s inheritance. Though troubled, Abraham complied after God reassured him that Ishmael would be cared for and become a great nation. In the wilderness, as their provisions ran out, Hagar despaired, but God heard Ishmael’s cries and provided a well of water. This episode underscores God’s protection over Ishmael.
4. Ishmael’s Marriage and Legacy (Genesis 21:21; 25:12–18)
After being cast out, Ishmael settled in the wilderness of Paran and became an archer. Hagar found him a wife from Egypt. Ishmael had twelve sons, who became tribal leaders of a great nation, fulfilling God’s promise. His descendants are later referred to as the Ishmaelites in the Bible, often associated with trade and caravan activity.
5. The Burial of Abraham (Genesis 25:9)
Despite their separation, Ishmael joined Isaac to bury their father, Abraham, in the cave of Machpelah. This moment signifies reconciliation and respect between the two sons of Abraham, highlighting Ishmael’s enduring connection to the family.
Ishmael In The Bible Meaning
Story of Ishmael in the Bible
1. What is Ishmael known for?
Ishmael is primarily known as the firstborn son of Abraham, born to Hagar, Sarah’s maidservant. His birth is significant because it occurred before Isaac, the child of promise. Ishmael’s story represents themes of God’s faithfulness even in difficult circumstances and the tension between divine promises and human actions. He is also recognized as the father of twelve tribes, fulfilling God’s promise of making him a great nation.
2. What does Ishmael symbolize?
Ishmael symbolizes both divine mercy and the complexities of God’s plan. His name means “God hears,” reflecting God’s attentiveness to human suffering. His life represents the idea that God hears the cries of those marginalized or cast out, offering hope even in difficult situations. In a broader sense, Ishmael also symbolizes the tension between the chosen line of Isaac and the other nations descending from Abraham.
3. What is the myth in Ishmael?
The myth surrounding Ishmael often centers on the idea of rivalry between him and Isaac, especially in terms of inheritance and blessing. However, this myth oversimplifies the biblical narrative. The truth is that God promises to bless Ishmael and his descendants despite the conflict with Isaac. The myth may also involve the assumption that Ishmael is excluded from God’s plan, when, in fact, God promises to make him a great nation.
4. How did Ishmael end?
Ishmael lived a long life, according to Genesis 25:17, dying at 137 years old. He was reconciled with Isaac at their father Abraham’s burial. Ishmael’s descendants, as promised by God, became twelve tribal leaders, marking the beginning of the Arab nations. His life ended in the wilderness of Paran, but his legacy continued through his twelve sons, fulfilling the divine promise made to him by God.
5. What does Christianity say about Ishmael?
In Christianity, Ishmael is viewed as part of God’s broader plan of salvation. While the primary covenant of promise is through Isaac, Ishmael is still considered blessed by God. The apostle Paul references Ishmael in Galatians 4:22-31, using the story of Hagar and Sarah as a metaphor for the two covenants—one of the flesh (Ishmael) and one of the promise (Isaac). Ishmael represents those who live according to the flesh, while Isaac symbolizes the fulfillment of God’s promises to Israel. Despite the theological differences, Christianity affirms God’s care and blessing for Ishmael and his descendants.