Lexical Definition

‎יִשְׁמָעֵאל‎ Yishmâʻêʼl (yish-maw-ale') Ishmael ^N:N-M-P
from ‎שָׁמַע‎ and ‎אֵל‎; God will hear

Ishmael.

• § Ishmael = "God will hear"
• Jishmael, the name of Abraham's oldest son, and of five Israelites

1) son of Abraham and Sarah's handmaid Hagar and the progenitor of the Arabian peoples
2) son of Nethaniah and the murderer of Gedaliah
3) a Benjamite, one of the sons of Azel a descendant of Saul through Meribbaal or Mephibosheth
4) a Judaite, father of Zebadiah
5) a Judaite, son of Johanan and one of the captains who aided Jehoiada in restoring Joash to the throne
6) a priest of the family of Pashur with a foreign wife whom he was forced to put away by Ezra

Extended Information

• A man of Arabia living at the time of the Patriarchs, first mentioned at Gen.16.11
• son of: Abraham (אַבְרָהָם) and Hagar (הָגָר)
• half-brother of: Isaac (יִצְחָק), Zimran (זִמְרָן), Jokshan (יׇקְשָׁן), Medan (מְדָן), Midian (מִדְיָן), Ishbak (יִשְׁבָּק) and Shuah (שׁוּחַ)
• father of: Nebaioth (נְבָיוֹת), Kedar (קֵדָר), Adbeel (אַדְבְּאֵל), Mibsam (מִבְשָׂם), Mishma (מִשְׁמָע), Dumah (דּוּמָה), Massa (מַשָּׂא), Hadad (חֲדַד), Tema (תֵּימָא), Jetur (יְטוּר), Naphish (נָפִישׁ), Kedemah (קֵדְמָה) and Mahalath (מַחֲלַת)

Brown-Driver-Briggs

‎יִשְׁמָעֵאל‎₄₈ proper name, masculine El heareth; Sabean ‎יסמעאל‎ Hal¹⁸⁷; on from compare Lag^{BN 131}); —

1. son of Abraham and Hagar Gen 16:11 (name explanation ‎׳‎‎רגו‎ ‎׳‎‎שָׁמַע י‎), vGen 16:15. 16 + 11 t. Gen 17.25, Gen 28:9 (twice in verse); Gen 36:3; 1Chr 1:28; 1Chr 1:29; 1Chr 1:31 Ισμαηλ

2. usually Ισμαηλ: murderer of Gedaliah Jer 41:8; Jer 40:14; Jer 40:15; Jer 40:16 + 17 t. Jer 41; 2Kgs 25:23; 2Kgs 25:25 (ᵐ5^L Ισραηλ !).

3. in Benjamin 1Chr 8:38; 1Chr 9:44.

4. in Judah:
a. 2Chr 19:11.
b. 2Chr 23:1.

5. Jew with foreign wife Ezra 10:22, Σαμαηλ, A ᵐ5^L Ισμαηλ.

Brown-Driver-Briggs References

Profile

Male • Son of Abraham • Son of Abraham and Hagar; father of Arab tribes.

Abraham's son living at the time of the Patriarchs

Ishmael, the son of Abraham and Hagar, was the ancestor of various Arab tribes. Though not the chosen heir, he was still blessed by God (Gen.16; 17; 25).

• Abraham's son living at the time of the Patriarchs, first mentioned at Gen.16.11;
• referred to as Ishmael יִשְׁמָעֵאל, or Ishmaelite (KJV= Ishmeelite) or Ishmaelite יִשְׁמָעֵאלִי, or Ishmaelite יִשְׂרְאֵלִי;
• a son of Abraham אַבְרָהָם and Hagar הָגָר;
• half-brother of: Isaac יִצְחָק, Zimran זִמְרָן, Jokshan יׇקְשָׁן, Medan מְדָן, Midian מִדְיָן, Ishbak יִשְׁבָּק and Shuah שׁוּחַ;
• father of Nebaioth נְבָיוֹת, Kedar קֵדָר, Adbeel אַדְבְּאֵל, Mibsam מִבְשָׂם, Mishma מִשְׁמָע, Dumah דּוּמָה, Massa מַשָּׂא, Hadad חֲדַד, Tema תֵּימָא, Jetur יְטוּר, Naphish נָפִישׁ, Kedemah קֵדְמָה and Mahalath מַחֲלַת.

Ishmael was the first son of Abraham, born to him through Hagar, Sarah's Egyptian maidservant (Gen.16.15). His birth came after Sarah, who was barren, had given Hagar to Abraham to bear a child on her behalf. God spoke to Hagar, telling her to name the child Ishmael, meaning "God hears" (Gen.16.11).

As he grew, Ishmael became a skilled archer (Gen.21.20). When Isaac was born to Sarah, she insisted that Abraham send Hagar and Ishmael away (Gen.21.10). God confirmed this action but promised to make Ishmael a great nation (Gen.21.13,18). Ishmael settled in the wilderness of Paran and married an Egyptian woman (Gen.21.21).

Ishmael had twelve sons who became tribal rulers (Gen.17.20; 25.13-16). He lived to be 137 years old (Gen.25.17). Ishmael and Isaac together buried their father Abraham (Gen.25.9).

Ishmael's descendants, the Ishmaelites, are mentioned as traders who purchased Joseph from his brothers (Gen.37.25-28; 39.1). They are also noted as skilled archers (Isa.21.17) and as enemies of Israel (Psa.83.6). One of David's warriors, Zebadiah, was the son of an Ishmaelite (1Ch.2.17; 27.30).

Ishmael represents the ancestors of various Arab tribes. His story illustrates God's faithfulness to His promises, even to those not chosen for the primary covenant line.

All entries for Ishmael: יִשְׁמָעֵאל ☩ יִשְׁמָעֵאלִי ☩ יִשְׂרְאֵלִי

Related Profiles:

• Abraham (father)
• Hagar (mother)
• Isaac (sibling)
• Zimran (sibling)
• Jokshan (sibling)
• Medan (sibling)
• Midian (sibling)
• Ishbak (sibling)
• Shuah (sibling)
• Nebaioth (child)
• Kedar (child)
• Adbeel (child)
• Mibsam (child)
• Mishma (child)
• Dumah (child)
• Massa (child)
• Hadad (child)
• Tema (child)
• Jetur (child)
• Naphish (child)
• Kedemah (child)
• Mahalath (child)