Genesis 25:16

16 These are the sons of Ish'mael and these are their names, by their villages and by their encampments, twelve princes according to their tribes.

Genesis 25:16 Meaning and Commentary

Genesis 25:16

These [are] the sons of Ishmael
The twelve before mentioned, ( Genesis 25:13-15 ) : these [are] their names, by their towns and by their castles;
their towns and their castles being called after their names, some of which we are able to trace at this distance, as the above notes show: twelve princes according to their nations;
these were princes, or heads of tribes, and there were twelve of them, and continued so, see ( Genesis 17:20 ) ; where is the prophecy, and here an accomplishment of it.

Genesis 25:16 In-Context

14 Mishma, Dumah, Massa,
15 Hadad, Tema, Jetur, Naphish, and Ked'emah.
16 These are the sons of Ish'mael and these are their names, by their villages and by their encampments, twelve princes according to their tribes.
17 (These are the years of the life of Ish'mael, a hundred and thirty-seven years; he breathed his last and died, and was gathered to his kindred.)
18 They dwelt from Hav'ilah to Shur, which is opposite Egypt in the direction of Assyria; he settled over against all his people.
Revised Standard Version of the Bible, copyright 1952 [2nd edition, 1971] by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.