Zimran

Abraham's son by Keturah

The patriarchsPatriarchc. 1900 BC

Zimran was the firstborn son of Abraham and his other wife (or concubine) Keturah. He is mentioned in the genealogies in Genesis and 1 Chronicles. Zimran is regarded as the ancestor of an Arab people, although little is known about his later life beyond his place in Abraham's lineage.

Family

Key events

The birth of Zimran

Zimran was born as the firstborn son of Abraham and Keturah. He is the first mentioned in the list of their six sons.

1Abraham took another wife, whose name was Keturah.
וַיֹּ֧סֶף אַבְרָהָ֛ם וַיִּקַּ֥ח אִשָּׁ֖ה וּשְׁמָ֥הּ קְטוּרָֽה׃ ‬
2She bore him Zimran, Jokshan, Medan, Midian, Ishbak, and Shuah.
וַתֵּ֣לֶד ל֗וֹ אֶת־זִמְרָן֙ וְאֶת־יָקְשָׁ֔ן וְאֶת־מְדָ֖ן וְאֶת־מִדְיָ֑ן וְאֶת־יִשְׁבָּ֖ק וְאֶת־שֽׁוּחַ׃ ‬

Abraham's Inheritance Distribution

Abraham gave everything he owned to Isaac, but gave gifts to the sons of his concubines, including Zimran, and sent them eastward, away from Isaac.

5Abraham gave everything he owned to Isaac.
וַיִּתֵּ֧ן אַבְרָהָ֛ם אֶת־כָּל־אֲשֶׁר־ל֖וֹ לְיִצְחָֽק׃ ‬
6But to the sons of his concubines Abraham gave gifts, and while he was still alive he sent them away from his son Isaac, eastward to the land of the east.
וְלִבְנֵ֤י הַפִּֽילַגְשִׁים֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר לְאַבְרָהָ֔ם נָתַ֥ן אַבְרָהָ֖ם מַתָּנֹ֑ת וַֽיְשַׁלְּחֵ֞ם מֵעַ֨ל יִצְחָ֤ק בּנוֹ֙ בְּעוֹדֶ֣נּוּ חַ֔י קֵ֖דְמָה אֶל־אֶ֥רֶץ קֶֽדֶם׃ ‬

The Death and Burial of Abraham

After Abraham's death, he was buried by his sons Isaac and Ishmael. Zimran and the other sons with Keturah had already been sent away.

7This is the full span of Abraham's life: he lived a hundred and seventy-five years.
וְאֵ֗לֶּה יְמֵ֛י שְׁנֵֽי־חַיֵּ֥י אַבְרָהָ֖ם אֲשֶׁר־חָ֑י מְאַ֥ת שָׁנָ֛ה וְשִׁבְעִ֥ים שָׁנָ֖ה וְחָמֵ֥שׁ שָׁנִֽים׃ ‬
8Then Abraham breathed his last and died at a good old age, old and satisfied with life, and he was gathered to his people.
וַיִּגְוַ֨ע וַיָּ֧מָת אַבְרָהָ֛ם בְּשֵׂיבָ֥ה טוֹבָ֖ה זָקֵ֣ן וְשָׂבֵ֑עַ וַיֵּאָ֖סֶף אֶל־עַמָּֽיו׃ ‬
9His sons Isaac and Ishmael buried him in the cave of Machpelah, in the field of Ephron son of Zohar the Hittite, facing Mamre,
וַיִּקְבְּר֨וּ אֹת֜וֹ יִצְחָ֤ק וְיִשְׁמָעֵאל֙ בָּנָ֔יו אֶל־מְעָרַ֖ת הַמַּכְפֵּלָ֑ה אֶל־שְׂדֵ֞ה עֶפְרֹ֤ן בֶּן־צֹ֙חַר֙ הַֽחִתִּ֔י אֲשֶׁ֖ר עַל־פְּנֵ֥י מַמְרֵֽא׃ ‬
10the field Abraham had bought from the Hittites. There Abraham was buried with his wife Sarah.
הַשָּׂדֶ֛ה אֲשֶׁר־קָנָ֥ה אַבְרָהָ֖ם מֵאֵ֣ת בְּנֵי־חֵ֑ת שָׁ֛מָּה קֻבַּ֥ר אַבְרָהָ֖ם וְשָׂרָ֥ה אִשְׁתּֽוֹ׃ ‬

Zimran in the Genealogies of Chronicles

Zimran is mentioned again in 1 Chronicles as part of Abraham's lineage through Keturah, confirming his place in biblical history.

32Keturah, Abraham's concubine, bore Zimran, Jokshan, Medan, Midian, Ishbak, and Shuah. The sons of Jokshan: Sheba and Dedan.
וּבְנֵ֨י קְטוּרָ֜ה פִּילֶ֣גֶשׁ אַבְרָהָ֗ם יָלְדָ֞ה אֶת־זִמְרָ֧ן וְיָקְשָׁ֛ן וּמְדָ֥ן וּמִדְיָ֖ן וְיִשְׁבָּ֣ק וְשׁ֑וּחַ וּבְנֵ֥י יָקְשָׁ֖ן שְׁבָ֥א וּדְדָֽן׃ ס ‬
33The sons of Midian: Ephah, Epher, Hanoch, Abida, and Eldaah. All these were the sons of Keturah.
וּבְנֵ֣י מִדְיָ֗ן עֵיפָ֤ה וָעֵ֙פֶר֙ וַחֲנ֔וֹךְ וַאֲבִידָ֖ע וְאֶלְדָּעָ֑ה כָּל־אֵ֖לֶּה בְּנֵ֥י קְטוּרָֽה׃ ס ‬

Mentioned in the Bible (1)