The Meaning of Genesis 25:6 Explained

Genesis 25:6

KJV: But unto the sons of the concubines, which Abraham had, Abraham gave gifts, and sent them away from Isaac his son, while he yet lived, eastward, unto the east country.

YLT: and to the sons of the concubines whom Abraham hath, Abraham hath given gifts, and sendeth them away from Isaac his son (in his being yet alive) eastward, unto the east country.

Darby: And to the sons of the concubines that Abraham had, Abraham gave gifts, and, while he yet lived, sent them away from Isaac his son, eastward to the east country.

ASV: But unto the sons of the concubines, that Abraham had, Abraham gave gifts. And he sent them away from Isaac his son, while he yet lived, eastward, unto the east country.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

But unto the sons  of the concubines,  which Abraham  had, Abraham  gave  gifts,  and sent them away  from Isaac  his son,  while he yet lived,  eastward,  unto the east  country. 

What does Genesis 25:6 Mean?

Context Summary

Genesis 25:1-18 - Abraham's Death And Burial
After being for sixteen years contemporary with his grandsons, Esau and Jacob, Abraham died without owning a foot of land except the cave for which he had paid, as a stranger might. But all was his. He was persuaded of God's faithfulness, and earnestly reached out his hands toward the City with foundations. See Hebrews 11:13. He was full. Those who had known him in Ur might have looked on his life as a huge failure, and have spoken of him as a fanatic who had sacrificed all for nothing. But he was satisfied. He was gathered to his people, a phrase which does not refer to the body, for his people were far away across the desert, but to the recognition and welcome that awaited him on the other side of death. His sons, Isaac and Ishmael, differed widely. The one dwelled by the well, engaged in pastoral pursuits, while the other lived by his own strong hand, in the desert expanse. But they met in their common respect and grief. Births and deaths unite families. We all stand today in thankfulness at Lincoln's cradle. [source]

Chapter Summary: Genesis 25

1  The sons of Abraham by Keturah
5  The division of his goods
7  His age, death, and burial
11  God blesses Isaac
12  The generations of Ishmael
17  His age and death
19  Isaac prays for Rebekah, being barren
22  The children strive in her womb
24  The birth of Esau and Jacob
27  Their different characters and pursuits
29  Esau sells his birthright

What do the individual words in Genesis 25:6 mean?

But to the sons of the concubines unto Abraham gave Abraham gifts and he sent them away from Isaac his son while [he was] still living eastward to the country of the east
וְלִבְנֵ֤י הַפִּֽילַגְשִׁים֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר לְאַבְרָהָ֔ם נָתַ֥ן אַבְרָהָ֖ם מַתָּנֹ֑ת וַֽיְשַׁלְּחֵ֞ם מֵעַ֨ל יִצְחָ֤ק בְּנוֹ֙ בְּעוֹדֶ֣נּוּ חַ֔י קֵ֖דְמָה אֶל־ אֶ֥רֶץ קֶֽדֶם

וְלִבְנֵ֤י  But  to  the  sons 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Preposition-l, Noun, masculine plural construct
Root: בֵּן 
Sense: son, grandson, child, member of a group.
הַפִּֽילַגְשִׁים֙  of  the  concubines 
Parse: Article, Noun, feminine plural
Root: פִּלֶגֶשׁ  
Sense: concubine, paramour.
אֲשֶׁ֣ר  unto 
Parse: Pronoun, relative
Root: אֲשֶׁר 
Sense: (relative part.).
לְאַבְרָהָ֔ם  Abraham 
Parse: Preposition-l, Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: אַבְרָהָם  
Sense: friend of God and founder of Hebrew nation via God’s elective covenant.
נָתַ֥ן  gave 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, third person masculine singular
Root: יָתַן 
Sense: to give, put, set.
אַבְרָהָ֖ם  Abraham 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: אַבְרָהָם  
Sense: friend of God and founder of Hebrew nation via God’s elective covenant.
מַתָּנֹ֑ת  gifts 
Parse: Noun, feminine plural
Root: מַתָּנָה  
Sense: gift.
וַֽיְשַׁלְּחֵ֞ם  and  he  sent  them  away 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Piel, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine singular, third person masculine plural
Root: שָׁלַח  
Sense: to send, send away, let go, stretch out.
יִצְחָ֤ק  Isaac 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יִצְחָק  
Sense: son of Abraham by Sarah his wife and father of Jacob and Esau.
בְּנוֹ֙  his  son 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct, third person masculine singular
Root: בֵּן 
Sense: son, grandson, child, member of a group.
בְּעוֹדֶ֣נּוּ  while  [he  was]  still 
Parse: Preposition-b, Adverb, third person masculine singular
Root: עֹוד  
Sense: a going round, continuance adv.
חַ֔י  living 
Parse: Adjective, masculine singular
Root: חַי 
Sense: living, alive.
קֵ֖דְמָה  eastward 
Parse: Adverb, third person feminine singular
Root: קֶדֶם 
Sense: east, antiquity, front, that which is before, aforetime.
אֶ֥רֶץ  the  country 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular construct
Root: אֶרֶץ  
Sense: land, earth.
קֶֽדֶם  of  the  east 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: קֶדֶם 
Sense: east, antiquity, front, that which is before, aforetime.