English Standard Version ESV
The Message Bible MSG
1 Abraham took another wife, whose name was Keturah.
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Abraham married a second time; his new wife was named Keturah.
2 She bore him Zimran, Jokshan, Medan, Midian, Ishbak, and Shuah.
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She gave birth to Zimran, Jokshan, Medan, Midian, Ishbak, and Shuah.
3 Jokshan fathered Sheba and Dedan. The sons of Dedan were Asshurim, Letushim, and Leummim.
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Jokshan had Sheba and Dedan. Dedan's descendants were the Asshurim, the Letushim, and the Leummim.
4 The sons of Midian were Ephah, Epher, Hanoch, Abida, and Eldaah. All these were the children of Keturah.
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Midian had Ephah, Epher, Hanoch, Abida, and Eldaah - all from the line of Keturah.
5 Abraham gave all he had to Isaac.
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But Abraham gave everything he possessed to Isaac.
6 But to the sons of his concubines Abraham gave gifts, and while he was still living he sent them away from his son Isaac, eastward to the east country.
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While he was still living, he gave gifts to the sons he had by his concubines, but then sent them away to the country of the east, putting a good distance between them and his son Isaac.
7 These are the days of the years of Abraham’s life, 175 years.
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Abraham lived 175 years.
8 Abraham breathed his last and died in a good old age, an old man and full of years, and was gathered to his people.
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Then he took his final breath. He died happy at a ripe old age, full of years, and was buried with his family.
9 Isaac and Ishmael his sons buried him in the cave of Machpelah, in the field of Ephron the son of Zohar the Hittite, east of Mamre,
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His sons Isaac and Ishmael buried him in the cave of Machpelah in the field of Ephron son of Zohar the Hittite, next to Mamre.
10 the field that Abraham purchased from the Hittites. There Abraham was buried, with Sarah his wife.
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It was the field that Abraham had bought from the Hittites. Abraham was buried next to his wife Sarah.
11 After the death of Abraham, God blessed Isaac his son. And Isaac settled at Beer-lahai-roi.
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After Abraham's death, God blessed his son Isaac. Isaac lived at Beer Lahai Roi. The Family Tree of Ishmael
12 These are the generations of Ishmael, Abraham’s son, whom Hagar the Egyptian, Sarah’s servant, bore to Abraham.
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This is the family tree of Ishmael son of Abraham, the son that Hagar the Egyptian, Sarah's maid, bore to Abraham.
13 These are the names of the sons of Ishmael, named in the order of their birth: Nebaioth, the firstborn of Ishmael; and Kedar, Adbeel, Mibsam,
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These are the names of Ishmael's sons in the order of their births: Nebaioth, Ishmael's first-born, Kedar, Adbeel, Mibsam,
14 Mishma, Dumah, Massa,
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Mishma, Dumah, Massa
15 Hadad, Tema, Jetur, Naphish, and Kedemah.
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, Hadad, Tema, Jetur, Naphish, and Kedemah -
16 These are the sons of Ishmael and these are their names, by their villages and by their encampments, twelve princes according to their tribes.
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all the sons of Ishmael. Their settlements and encampments were named after them. Twelve princes with their twelve tribes.
17 (These are the years of the life of Ishmael: 137 years. He breathed his last and died, and was gathered to his people.)
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Ishmael lived 137 years. When he breathed his last and died he was buried with his family.
18 They settled from Havilah to Shur, which is opposite Egypt in the direction of Assyria. He settled over against all his kinsmen.
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His children settled down all the way from Havilah near Egypt eastward to Shur in the direction of Assyria. The Ishmaelites didn't get along with any of their kin. Jacob and Rachel
19 These are the generations of Isaac, Abraham’s son: Abraham fathered Isaac,
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This is the family tree of Isaac son of Abraham: Abraham had Isaac.
20 and Isaac was forty years old when he took Rebekah, the daughter of Bethuel the Aramean of Paddan-aram, the sister of Laban the Aramean, to be his wife.
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Isaac was forty years old when he married Rebekah daughter of Bethuel the Aramean of Paddan Aram. She was the sister of Laban the Aramean.
21 And Isaac prayed to the Lord for his wife, because she was barren. And the Lord granted his prayer, and Rebekah his wife conceived.
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Isaac prayed hard to God for his wife because she was barren. God answered his prayer and Rebekah became pregnant.
22 The children struggled together within her, and she said, “If it is thus, why is this happening to me?” So she went to inquire of the Lord.
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But the children tumbled and kicked inside her so much that she said, "If this is the way it's going to be, why go on living?" She went to God to find out what was going on.
23 And the Lord said to her,“Two nations are in your womb,and two peoples from within you shall be divided;the one shall be stronger than the other,the older shall serve the younger.”
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God told her, Two nations are in your womb, two peoples butting heads while still in your body. One people will overpower the other, and the older will serve the younger.
24 When her days to give birth were completed, behold, there were twins in her womb.
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When her time to give birth came, sure enough, there were twins in her womb.
25 The first came out red, all his body like a hairy cloak, so they called his name Esau.
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The first came out reddish, as if snugly wrapped in a hairy blanket; they named him Esau (Hairy).
26 Afterward his brother came out with his hand holding Esau’s heel, so his name was called Jacob. Isaac was sixty years old when she bore them.
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His brother followed, his fist clutched tight to Esau's heel; they named him Jacob (Heel). Isaac was sixty years old when they were born.
27 When the boys grew up, Esau was a skillful hunter, a man of the field, while Jacob was a quiet man, dwelling in tents.
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The boys grew up. Esau became an expert hunter, an outdoorsman. Jacob was a quiet man preferring life indoors among the tents.
28 Isaac loved Esau because he ate of his game, but Rebekah loved Jacob.
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Isaac loved Esau because he loved his game, but Rebekah loved Jacob.
29 Once when Jacob was cooking stew, Esau came in from the field, and he was exhausted.
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One day Jacob was cooking a stew. Esau came in from the field, starved.
30 And Esau said to Jacob, “Let me eat some of that red stew, for I am exhausted!” (Therefore his name was called Edom.)
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Esau said to Jacob, "Give me some of that red stew - I'm starved!" That's how he came to be called Edom (Red).
31 Jacob said, “Sell me your birthright now.”
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Jacob said, "Make me a trade: my stew for your rights as the firstborn."
32 Esau said, “I am about to die; of what use is a birthright to me?”
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Esau said, "I'm starving! What good is a birthright if I'm dead?"
33 Jacob said, “Swear to me now.” So he swore to him and sold his birthright to Jacob.
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Jacob said, "First, swear to me." And he did it. On oath Esau traded away his rights as the firstborn.
34 Then Jacob gave Esau bread and lentil stew, and he ate and drank and rose and went his way. Thus Esau despised his birthright.
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Jacob gave him bread and the stew of lentils. He ate and drank, got up and left. That's how Esau shrugged off his rights as the firstborn.
The English Standard Version is published with the permission of Good News Publishers.
Published by permission. Originally published by NavPress in English as THE MESSAGE: The Bible in Contemporary Language copyright 2002 by Eugene Peterson. All rights reserved.