Lexical Definition
מִדְיָן Midyân (mid-yawn') Midian N:N-M-P
the same as מִדְיָן
Midian, Midianite.
- § Midian or Midianite = "strife"
- Midjan, a son of Abraham
- also his country and (collectively) his descendants
n pr m
1) son of Abraham by Keturah and progenitor of the tribe of Midianites or Arabians
2) the tribe descended from Midian
n pr loc
3) the territory of the tribe descended from Midian; located principally in the desert north of the Arabian peninsula; land to which Moses went when he fled from Pharaoh
See Greek: Μαδιάν
Extended Information
- A man living at the time of the Patriarchs, first mentioned at Gen.25.2
- son of: Abraham (אַבְרָהָם) and Keturah (קְטוּרָה)
- half-brother of: Ishmael (יִשְׁמָעֵאל) and Isaac (יִצְחָק)
- brother of: Zimran (זִמְרָן), Jokshan (יׇקְשָׁן), Medan (מְדָן), Ishbak (יִשְׁבָּק) and Shuah (שׁוּחַ)
- father of: Ephah (עֵיפָה), Epher (עֵפֶר), Hanoch (חֲנוֹךְ), Abida (אֲבִידָע) and Eldaah (אֶלְדָּעָה)
Brown-Driver-Briggs
מִדְיָן
proper name, masculine 1. son of Abraham and Keturah Gen 25:2; Gen 25:4 (J) 1Chr 1:32; 1Chr 1:33.
2. an Arabian tribe Gen 36:35 (= 1Chr 1:46) Num 31:3 (twice in verse); Num 31:7; Num 31:8 (twice in verse); Num 31:9 (P) Judg 6-9 (31 t.); having a כֹּהֵן (as chieftain?) Exod 2:16; Exod 3:1; Exod 18:1 (E); זקנים Num 22:4; Num 22:7 (JE), נשׂיא(יםׅ Num 25:18 (P) Josh 13:21 (P), שׂרים Judg 7:25; Judg 8:3, מלכים Num 31:8 (twice in verse); Judg 8:5; Judg 8:12; Judg 8:26 בִּכְרֵי מִדְיָן dromedaries of Midian Isa 60:6 יוֺם מִדְיָן day of Midian Isa 9:3* (the victory over Midian Judg 7-8) compare Judg 10:26; Ps 83:10*,
3. אֶרֶץ מִרְיָן the land of Midian Exod 2:15 (E) Hab 3:7 מִדְיָן Exod 4:19 (J) Num 25:15 (P) 1Kgs 11:18 land on Aelanitic gulf (where Arabic geographers still place town 
). compare on Midian, GlaserSkizze ii. 447 ff.; HomAufsätze i. (1892), 4f.
Brown-Driver-Briggs References
| Book | Refs |
|---|---|
| Genesis | 25:2 · 25:4 · 36:35 |
| Exodus | 2:15 · 2:16 · 3:1 · 4:19 · 18:1 |
| Numbers | 22:4 · 22:7 · 25:15 · 25:18 · 31:3 · 31:7 · 31:8 · 31:9 |
| Joshua | 13:21 |
| Judges | 7:25 · 8:3 · 8:5 · 8:12 · 8:26 · 10:26 |
| 1 Kings | 11:18 |
| 1 Chronicles | 1:32 · 1:33 · 1:46 |
| Psalms | 83:10* |
| Isaiah | 9:3* · 60:6 |
| Habakkuk | 3:7 |
Profile
Male • Son of Abraham • Son of Abraham and Keturah; father of the Midianites.
Man living at the time of the Patriarchs
Midian, a son of Abraham and Keturah, was the ancestor of the Midianite people (Gen.25.2,4; 1Ch.1.32,33).
- A man living at the time of the Patriarchs, first mentioned at Gen.25.2;
- only referred to as Midian מִדְיָן;
- son of Abraham אַבְרָהָם and Keturah קְטוּרָה;
- half-brother of: Ishmael יִשְׁמָעֵאל and Isaac יִצְחָק;
- a brother of Zimran זִמְרָן, Jokshan יׇקְשָׁן, Medan מְדָן, Ishbak יִשְׁבָּק and Shuah שׁוּחַ;
- father of Ephah עֵיפָה, Epher עֵפֶר, Hanoch חֲנוֹךְ, Abida אֲבִידָע and Eldaah אֶלְדָּעָה.
Midian was a son of Abraham and his second wife, Keturah (Gen.25.2; 1Ch.1.32). He was born after the death of Sarah and is listed among Abraham's sons by Keturah, along with Zimran, Jokshan, Medan, Ishbak, and Shuah. Midian had five sons: Ephah, Epher, Hanoch, Abida, and Eldaah (Gen.25.4; 1Ch.1.33). These sons became the ancestors of the Midianite tribes, who are mentioned throughout the Old Testament. The Midianites lived in the desert regions of the Arabian Peninsula and were known for their nomadic lifestyle and involvement in trade. They played a significant role in the stories of Joseph (Gen.37.28,36) and Moses (Ex.2.15-3.1). Later, the Midianites oppressed Israel during the time of the judges, until Gideon defeated them (Jdg.6-8). The descendants of Midian, the Midianites, were a prominent people group in the ancient Near East, and their interactions with the Israelites shaped various events in biblical history.
All entries for Midian: מִדְיָן