Ishmael, Ishmaelite

Definition

Ishmael was the son of Abraham and the Egyptian slave Hagar. There were several other men in the Old Testament named Ishmael.

• The name “Ishmael” means “God hears.”
• God promised to bless Abraham’s son Ishmael, but he was not the son with whom God had promised to establish his covenant.
• God protected Hagar and Ishmael when they were sent into the desert.
• While Ishmael was living in the desert of Paran, he married an Egyptian woman.
• Ishmael son of Nethaniah was an army officer from Judah who led a group of men to kill a governor who had been appointed by the Babylonian king, Nebuchadnezzar.
• There were also four other men named Ishmael in the Old Testament.

(Translation suggestions: How to Translate Names)

(See also: Abraham, Babylon, covenant, desert, Egypt, Hagar, Isaac, Nebuchadnezzar, Paran, Sarah)

Bible References

• 1 Chronicles 1:28-31
• 2 Chronicles 23:1
• Genesis 16:12
• Genesis 25:9-11
• Genesis 25:16
• Genesis 37:25-26

Examples from the Bible stories

• __5:2 So Abram married Hagar. Hagar had a baby boy, and Abram named him Ishmael__.
• __5:4 “I will make Ishmael__ a great nation, too, but my covenant will be with Isaac.”

Word Data

• Strong’s: H3458, H3459