12 Bible Verses About Ishmael

Written by: Evelyn Johnson
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Bible verses about ishmael

Here are twelve powerful Bible verses about ishmael:

1. Genesis 16:11-12 – And the angel of the Lord said unto her, Behold, thou art with child, and shalt bear a son, and shalt call his name Ishmael; because the Lord hath heard thy affliction. And he will be a wild man; his hand will be against every man, and every man’s hand against him; and he shall dwell in the presence of all his brethren.
2. Genesis 17:20 – And as for Ishmael, I have heard thee: Behold, I have blessed him, and will make him fruitful, and will multiply him exceedingly; twelve princes shall he beget, and I will make him a great nation.
3. Genesis 21:17-18 – And God heard the voice of the lad; and the angel of God called to Hagar out of heaven, and said unto her, What aileth thee, Hagar? fear not; for God hath heard the voice of the lad where he is. Arise, lift up the lad, and hold him in thine hand; for I will make him a great nation.
4. Genesis 21:20 – And God was with the lad; and he grew, and dwelt in the wilderness, and became an archer.
5. Genesis 25:12-18 – Now these are the generations of Ishmael, Abraham’s son, whom Hagar the Egyptian, Sarah’s handmaid, bare unto Abraham: And these are the names of the sons of Ishmael, by their names, according to their generations: the firstborn of Ishmael, Nebajoth; and Kedar, and Adbeel, and Mibsam, And Mishma, and Dumah, and Massa, Hadar, and Tema, Jetur, Naphish, and Kedemah: These are the sons of Ishmael, and these are their names, by their towns, and by their castles; twelve princes according to their nations.
6. Galatians 4:22-23 – For it is written, that Abraham had two sons, the one by a bondmaid, the other by a freewoman. But he who was of the bondwoman was born after the flesh; but he of the freewoman was by promise.

7. Genesis 16:15 – And Hagar bare Abram a son: and Abram called his son’s name, which Hagar bare, Ishmael.
8. Genesis 25:9 – And his sons Isaac and Ishmael buried him in the cave of Machpelah, in the field of Ephron the son of Zohar the Hittite, which is before Mamre;
9. 1 Chronicles 1:28-31 – The sons of Abraham; Isaac, and Ishmael. These are their generations: The firstborn of Ishmael, Nebaioth; then Kedar, and Adbeel, and Mibsam, Mishma, and Dumah, Massa, Hadad, and Tema, Jetur, Naphish, and Kedemah. These are the sons of Ishmael.
10. 2 Chronicles 19:11 – And, behold, Amariah the chief priest is over you in all matters of the Lord; and Zebadiah the son of Ishmael, the ruler of the house of Judah, for all the king’s matters: also the Levites shall be officers before you. Deal courageously, and the Lord shall be with the good.
11. Jeremiah 40:8 – Then they came to Gedaliah to Mizpah, even Ishmael the son of Nethaniah, and Johanan and Jonathan the sons of Kareah, and Seraiah the son of Tanhumeth, and the sons of Ephai the Netophathite, and Jezaniah the son of a Maachathite, they and their men.
12. Jeremiah 41:1 – Now it came to pass in the seventh month, that Ishmael the son of Nethaniah the son of Elishama, of the seed royal, and the princes of the king, even ten men with him, came unto Gedaliah the son of Ahikam to Mizpah; and there they did eat bread together in Mizpah.

What does the bible say about ishmael?

The Bible portrays Ishmael as the son of Abraham and Hagar, who was born out of a lack of faith in God’s promise to provide a son for Abraham through Sarah.

Ishmael is seen as a symbol of the consequences of taking matters into one’s own hands instead of trusting in God’s plan.

Despite this, God still shows care and compassion towards Ishmael, promising to make him into a great nation.

Ishmael’s descendants are described as a people who will be in conflict with others, but also as a people who will be blessed by God.

Overall, the story of Ishmael serves as a reminder of the importance of faith and obedience in God’s plan.

What Bible chapters should you read if you want to learn more about ishmael?

1. Genesis 16 – This chapter tells the story of the birth of Ishmael to Hagar, the maidservant of Sarah. It explains the circumstances surrounding Ishmael’s birth and his relationship with his father, Abraham.

2. Genesis 21 – This chapter describes the events leading to Ishmael and Hagar being sent away by Abraham at Sarah’s insistence. It also details God’s promise to make a great nation out of Ishmael.

3. Genesis 25 – This chapter provides information about Ishmael’s descendants and the twelve princes who were born to him. It highlights the fulfillment of God’s promise to make Ishmael a great nation.

By reading these chapters, one can gain a better understanding of Ishmael’s background, his relationship with his family, and the significance of his role in biblical history. These chapters also shed light on the origins of the conflict between the descendants of Ishmael and Isaac, which continues to have implications in the present day.

Ideas and concepts related to ishmael that are also taught or mentioned in the Bible.’

1. Covenant: In the Bible, God makes a covenant with Abraham, promising to make him the father of many nations. Ishmael, Abraham’s son with Hagar, is also a part of this covenant, although it is ultimately through Isaac, Abraham’s son with Sarah, that the covenant is fulfilled. The concept of covenant is important in understanding Ishmael’s role in the biblical narrative.

2. Promise: God promises Abraham that he will have a son and that his descendants will be as numerous as the stars in the sky. Ishmael is born as a result of Abraham and Sarah’s impatience in waiting for this promise to be fulfilled. The concept of promise is central to Ishmael’s story as he is a reminder of the consequences of trying to fulfill God’s promises in our own way.

3. Hagar: Hagar is Ishmael’s mother and a key figure in the story of Ishmael in the Bible. She is a maidservant of Sarah who bears a son with Abraham when Sarah is unable to conceive. Hagar’s relationship with Abraham and Sarah, as well as her treatment by them, is an important aspect of Ishmael’s story.

4. Wilderness: After Ishmael is born, he and his mother Hagar are sent away into the wilderness by Sarah. This experience of being cast out into the wilderness is a defining moment in Ishmael’s life and is a theme that is echoed throughout the Bible in the stories of other figures who find themselves in the wilderness, such as Moses and the Israelites.

5. Conflict: The relationship between Ishmael and his half-brother Isaac is marked by conflict, as Ishmael is eventually sent away from Abraham’s household due to tensions between him and Isaac. This conflict between brothers is a recurring theme in the Bible, seen in the stories of Cain and Abel, Jacob and Esau, and Joseph and his brothers. It serves as a reminder of the consequences of jealousy, rivalry, and division within families.

Evelyn Johnson - Bible Verses
Written by Evelyn Johnson


Evelyn Johnson is a theologian, Bible expert, and the founder of EncouragingBibleVerses.org, a trusted resource for uplifting and empowering Bible verses.

With a Master's degree in Divinity, Evelyn is dedicated to studying and interpreting the Bible. Her website features curated collections of verses on various topics, along with insightful commentary and practical tips for everyday life.

Evelyn is also a sought-after speaker and author on matters of faith and spirituality. In her free time, she enjoys hiking and volunteering in her local church and community.

Learn more about her and read her other articles here.