Keturah was one of the wives of Abraham in the Bible. She is first mentioned in Genesis 25:1 which states, “Abraham took another wife, whose name was Keturah.” This verse comes after the account of Sarah’s death in Genesis 23 and before the account of Abraham’s death in Genesis 25:7-11.
Not much is known about Keturah from Scripture. Genesis 25:1 simply identifies her as another wife of Abraham after Sarah died. Some key points about Keturah from the Bible include:
- She bore Abraham six sons – Zimran, Jokshan, Medan, Midian, Ishbak and Shuah (Genesis 25:2).
- Abraham gave gifts to the sons of his concubines and sent them away while he was still living. However, Isaac was the son of promise through Sarah who received Abraham’s inheritance (Genesis 25:5-6).
- Keturah’s son Midian became the father of the Midianites who lived in the desert areas near Canaan (Genesis 25:2, 4; 37:28).
Some scholars believe Keturah was possibly the same person as Hagar, Sarah’s maidservant who bore Abraham’s first son Ishmael (Genesis 16). However, Genesis 25:1 distinguishes Keturah as “another wife” implying she was a different person from Hagar. There is also no biblical evidence directly identifying Keturah as Hagar.
The time period when Abraham married Keturah is also uncertain. Based on the order of events in Genesis, it seems Abraham took Keturah as a wife after Sarah died which would place it around 2065 B.C. However, some propose Abraham married Keturah earlier while Sarah was still living since she bore him six sons.
Here is a summary of key facts about Keturah from Scripture:
- She was one of Abraham’s wives after the death of Sarah.
- She bore Abraham six sons who became founders of Arabian tribes.
- Her son Midian fathered the Midianites who lived near Canaan.
- Abraham provided gifts for Keturah’s sons but sent them away so that Isaac would receive the inheritance.
- The exact time period when Abraham married her is uncertain.
In addition to the Genesis account, Keturah is also mentioned in 1 Chronicles 1:32-33 which records the family line from Abraham. This passage names the six sons Keturah bore and confirms Abraham sent them away while he was still living. Her lineage is also referenced in passing in the New Testament (Hebrews 11:11-12).
While minimal biblical information is given about Keturah, some Jewish traditional sources outside Scripture provide additional speculation about her identity. Some traditions suggest she was a wife who Abraham took after Sarah’s death who bore him six sons. Others propose she was the same person as Hagar and that she became Abraham’s concubine after Sarah’s death. However, these traditional sources come centuries later and their reliability is questionable.
In summary, here are some key insights into who Keturah was according to the Bible:
- She was one of Abraham’s wives who he married after the death of Sarah.
- She bore Abraham six sons who became founders of Arabian tribes.
- Her identity as possibly the same person as Hagar comes from tradition, not Scripture.
- Keturah’s sons did not receive Abraham’s inheritance, only Isaac did.
- Not much detail is given about her, but she played a role in Abraham’s later life after Sarah died.
Keturah’s Sons and Descendants
While Scripture does not provide many details about Keturah herself, more information is given about the six sons she bore to Abraham:
- Zimran – His identity is unclear other than being Keturah’s firstborn son according to Genesis 25:2.
- Jokshan – He was the father of Sheba and Dedan (Genesis 25:3). The people of Sheba settled in the southwestern part of the Arabian peninsula in what is now Yemen and southwestern Saudi Arabia. The Dedanites likely lived in the northwestern part of Arabia.
- Medan – Little is known about him other than being a son of Keturah (Genesis 25:2).
- Midian – He fathered the Midianites who were a nomadic people living in desert areas near Canaan. They were involved in various interactions with the Israelites in the Old Testament books of Exodus, Numbers, Judges, and 1 Kings.
- Ishbak – He is listed as a son of Keturah but no other biblical information is provided (Genesis 25:2).
- Shuah – He is also simply listed as a son with no further details given (Genesis 25:2).
Genesis 25:6 mentions that while Abraham was still living he sent gifts to the “sons of his concubines.” This likely included Keturah’s sons as well as Ishmael, Abraham’s son through Hagar (Genesis 25:12-18). Abraham gave them gifts but sent them away from Isaac to make clear that Isaac would be the heir to the promise.
The descendants of Keturah played an important role in the early history of the Arabian tribes. However, the Genesis account emphasizes that it was only through Isaac and his offspring that the covenant promises to Abraham would be fulfilled, not through Keturah’s sons (Genesis 17:19-21). Still, her sons grew to become tribes that inhabited various parts of the Arabian peninsula.
Keturah in the Book of Jasher
The Book of Jasher is an extra-biblical book that dates back to the mid-1600s. It is considered an original Hebrew text purported to be referenced in Joshua 10:13 and 2 Samuel 1:18, although these biblical references are disputed. While not regarded as Scripture, the book does provide some traditional insights into biblical figures not contained in the Bible. In the Book of Jasher there are additional details presented about Abraham and Keturah.
According to the Book of Jasher, after the sacrifice of Isaac in Genesis 22, Sarah became ill from grief at the event. She died soon after. After mourning her death, Abraham went to the land of the Philistines and stayed there for a period of time. The king of the Philistines gave his servant Zepho, also known as Keturah, to Abraham as a wife. Abraham then took Keturah as a wife and she bore him six sons (Jasher 25:1).
While providing some additional context, the Book of Jasher agrees with and reinforces elements of the Genesis account. Key similarities include Abraham marrying Keturah after Sarah’s death, Keturah bearing six sons who are founders of Arabian tribes, and Abraham giving gifts to these sons while sending them away since Isaac was the heir.
However, as a later non-biblical text, the Book of Jasher cannot be used as the primary basis for understanding Keturah. But it does provide some interesting extra-biblical traditions surrounding Keturah that expanded on the minimal Genesis account.
Keturah as a Concubine and Wife
There is some uncertainty among Bible scholars as to whether Keturah was Abraham’s wife or concubine. She is referred to as Abraham’s “wife” in Genesis 25:1. However, in 1 Chronicles 1:32 Keturah is called the “concubine of Abraham.”
In the biblical world, wives clearly differed from concubines in terms of social status. Wives held special priority and their children were legitimate heirs. Concubines had lower status than wives and their purpose was bearing children for a husband who could not legally marry additional wives. The children of concubines were seen as inferior in status to the wife’s offspring.
However, the difference between wives and concubines was still fluid in Old Testament times. The same woman could be referred to as either a man’s wife or concubine at different times based on her status. Some propose this might explain why Keturah is referred to as both Abraham’s “wife” and “concubine.”
Another possibility is that Abraham married Keturah as a secondary wife of lower status after Sarah’s death. This would fit the pattern of other biblical patriarchs like Jacob taking concubines in addition to their wives (Genesis 30:4, 9; 35:22). So Keturah’s status as a secondary, lower-status wife may account for being called Abraham’s concubine.
In ancient Hebrew culture, it was common and acceptable for a man to take a concubine or secondary wife, especially if his wife was unable to bear children. So Abraham’s marriage to Keturah after Sarah’s death would not have been out of the ordinary based on standard practices of the time. Keturah’s status as a concubine-wife allowed her to provide additional offspring for Abraham after he lost Sarah.
Keturah as Representing the Abrahamic Covenant
While Keturah bore Abraham six sons who became tribal leaders, the Abrahamic covenant passed exclusively through Isaac and his offspring. This was in fulfillment of God’s promise that only through Isaac would Abraham’s descendants be reckoned (Genesis 21:12).
Though not the covenant heir, Keturah and her sons still benefited from being connected to Abraham and the covenant blessings. Abraham provided gifts for Keturah’s sons before he sent them away to establish their own territories (Genesis 25:6). So they were able to share in Abraham’s wealth and prosperity as offspring of the covenant patriarch.
Keturah’s lineage also received the distinction of tracing their ancestry back to Abraham as the father of many nations. Through Keturah, Abraham became the progenitor of several Arabian tribes as God said he would be (Genesis 17:5-6). So Keturah did contribute to the fulfillment of God’s promise to make Abraham the father of many nations.
It has been proposed by some Bible teachers that Keturah metaphorically represents the Old Covenant and the law, while Sarah represents the New Covenant through grace and promise. However, little biblical support exists for this view other than the contrast between Hagar and Sarah in Galatians 4:21-31. Scripture does not directly draw this parallel between Keturah and the Abrahamic Covenant.
A more consistent scriptural perspective is that Keturah and her offspring were beneficiaries of the blessings God gave to Abraham. But the fulfillment of the covenant promises was specifically passed to Isaac as God intended.
Lessons from Keturah’s Life
While minimal information is given about Keturah in Scripture, some key lessons emerge from what is revealed:
- God’s plans prevail – Despite Abraham’s marriage to Keturah and her bearing him six sons, God’s plan was for the covenant promises to pass through Isaac, not Keturah’s sons. This emphasizes God’s sovereignty in fulfilling His plans.
- God can redeem barrenness – Like Sarah before her, Keturah was able to conceive and bear Abraham children in her old age. This shows God’s grace in overcoming barrenness.
- God blesses obedience – Abraham was blessed with additional children through Keturah in his old age because he trusted in God’s promise.
- Wisdom in family matters – Abraham showed wisdom in providing for Keturah’s sons but separating them from Isaac to avoid conflict over the inheritance.
- Every family is important – While Keturah’s lineage did not inherit the covenant promise, they still had value as offspring of Abraham.
Keturah highlighted God’s mercy and family blessings despite not being the wife of the covenant. Her hope and example remains relevant for families today.
Keturah in the New Testament
While Keturah’s story is only recounted in Genesis, she is mentioned briefly in the New Testament book of Hebrews:
By faith Sarah herself received power to conceive, even when she was past the age, since she considered him faithful who had promised. Therefore from one man, and him as good as dead, were born descendants as many as the stars of heaven and as many as the innumerable grains of sand by the seashore.
(Hebrews 11:11-12)
Here the writer alludes to the faith of Abraham and Sarah in God’s promise that they would conceive an heir in their old age. The reference to descendants as numerous as “the stars” and “sand” points back to Genesis 22:17 where God promises Abraham innumerable offspring.
While not directly stated, this promise would encompass Abraham’s children through Keturah as well as Isaac and Ishmael. So the New Testament affirmation of Abraham’s faith hints at God’s fulfillment in the children of Keturah, even though she is not directly named.
Beyond this reference, the New Testament does not provide any additional information about Keturah herself. The focus instead is on Sarah as the mother of the promised son Isaac through whom the covenant with Abraham was established and fulfilled in Christ (Galatians 3:16). Keturah’s story falls into the background of God’s redemptive plan through Sarah and Isaac.
So in the New Testament, Keturah serves as part of the larger tapestry of God’s faithfulness in fulfilling the Abrahamic promise. But the emphasis clearly falls on the covenant line through Sarah, Isaac, and Jacob that set the stage for the coming of the Messiah Jesus Christ.
Keturah’s Place in Bible History
Keturah occupies a small but notable place in the Genesis narrative as the wife of Abraham who bore him six sons following Sarah’s death. While Scripture does not record many details about her, some key insights can be gleaned:
- She became part of the Abraham story late in his life after he lost Sarah.
- She gave birth to descendants who helped fulfill God’s promise to make Abraham the father of many nations.
- Her sons also benefited from Abraham’s blessing even though they were not the inheritors of the covenant promises.
- She fills out the picture of Abraham’s family tree and the people groups that came from him.
So although Keturah was not the prominent matriarch Sarah was, she contributed to the Genesis narrative in a supporting role:
- She expanded Abraham’s family line when he thought that opportunity had passed.
- She helped set the stage for the growth of the Arabian tribes through her children.
- She underscores God’s faithfulness to give Abraham more children in old age.
- Her existence adds texture to the description of the Abrahamic clan.
Viewed from the big picture of Scripture, Keturah’s small role served a greater purpose. Her brief presence helped set in motion key peoples and events to advance God’s redemptive plan through Abraham for blessing all the families of the earth (Genesis 12:1-3).