Kedma

Ishmael's son

Also known as: Kedemah

The patriarchsPatriarchc. 1900 BC

Kedma was the youngest of Ishmael's twelve sons and thus a grandson of Abraham. He became the ancestor of an Arab tribe, and his name is mentioned in the genealogies in Genesis and 1 Chronicles. As one of Ishmael's twelve sons, he fulfilled God's promise that Ishmael would become the father of twelve princes.

Family

FatherIshmael SiblingNebaioth SiblingKedar SiblingAdbeel SiblingMibsam SiblingMishma SiblingDuma SiblingMassa SiblingHadad SiblingTheme SiblingJetur SiblingNaphish

Key events

God's Promise of Ishmael's Twelve Sons

God promised Abraham that Ishmael would be fruitful and become the father of twelve princes, which was fulfilled through Kedmah and his eleven brothers.

Gen 17:20 Show in context →

20As for Ishmael, I have heard you. I will surely bless him; I will make him fruitful and multiply him greatly. He will father twelve princes, and I will make him into a great nation.

וּֽלְיִשְׁמָעֵאל֘ שְׁמַעְתִּיךָ֒ הִנֵּ֣ה ׀ בֵּרַ֣כְתִּי אֹת֗וֹ וְהִפְרֵיתִ֥י אֹת֛וֹ וְהִרְבֵּיתִ֥י אֹת֖וֹ בִּמְאֹ֣ד מְאֹ֑ד שְׁנֵים־עָשָׂ֤ר נְשִׂיאִם֙ יוֹלִ֔יד וּנְתַתִּ֖יו לְג֥וֹי גָּדֽוֹל׃ ‬

Kedmah Mentioned in Ishmael's Genealogy

Kedmah is listed as the twelfth and last of Ishmael's sons in the genealogy found in Genesis.

Gen 25:15 Show in context →

15Hadad, Tema, Jetur, Naphish, and Kedemah.

חֲדַ֣ד וְתֵימָ֔א יְט֥וּר נָפִ֖ישׁ וָקֵֽדְמָה׃ ‬

Ishmael's Sons as Twelve Princes

Ishmael's twelve sons, including Kedmah, are described as twelve princes over their respective tribes and settlements.

Gen 25:16 Show in context →

16These were the sons of Ishmael, and these were their names according to their settlements and encampments—twelve princes, each with his own tribe.

אֵ֣לֶּה הֵ֞ם בְּנֵ֤י יִשְׁמָעֵאל֙ וְאֵ֣לֶּה שְׁמֹתָ֔ם בְּחַצְרֵיהֶ֖ם וּבְטִֽירֹתָ֑ם שְׁנֵים־עָשָׂ֥ר נְשִׂיאִ֖ם לְאֻמֹּתָֽם׃ ‬

Kedmah in the Genealogies of Chronicles

Kedmah is also mentioned in the great genealogy in 1 Chronicles as one of Ishmael's sons.

1 Chr 1:31 Show in context →

31Jetur, Naphish, and Kedemah. These were the sons of Ishmael.

יְט֥וּר נָפִ֖ישׁ וָקֵ֑דְמָה אֵ֥לֶּה הֵ֖ם בְּנֵ֥י יִשְׁמָעֵֽאל׃ ס ‬

The Death and Descendants of Ishmael

After Ishmael died at the age of 137, his descendants, including Kedmah's tribe, settled in the region east of Egypt toward Assyria.

Gen 25:17 Show in context →

17Ishmael lived a hundred and thirty-seven years. Then he breathed his last and died, and he was gathered to his people.

וְאֵ֗לֶּה שְׁנֵי֙ חַיֵּ֣י יִשְׁמָעֵ֔אל מְאַ֥ת שָׁנָ֛ה וּשְׁלֹשִׁ֥ים שָׁנָ֖ה וְשֶׁ֣בַע שָׁנִ֑ים וַיִּגְוַ֣ע וַיָּ֔מָת וַיֵּאָ֖סֶף אֶל־עַמָּֽיו׃ ‬

Gen 25:18 Show in context →

18His descendants settled from Havilah as far as Shur, near the border of Egypt, in the direction of Asshur; and they lived in hostility toward all their kindred.

וַיִּשְׁכְּנ֨וּ מֽ͏ֵחֲוִילָ֜ה עַד־שׁ֗וּר אֲשֶׁר֙ עַל־פְּנֵ֣י מִצְרַ֔יִם בֹּאֲכָ֖ה אַשּׁ֑וּרָה עַל־פְּנֵ֥י כָל־אֶחָ֖יו נָפָֽל׃ פ ‬

Mentioned in the Bible (2)

Genesis 25:15 1 Chronicles 1:31