What Does Genesis 25:16 Mean in the King James?
These are the sons of Ishmael, and these are their names, by their towns, and by their castles; twelve princes according to their nations.
The analysis reads the King James wording.
King James Version The King James Version, first published in 1611. Selah Verse shows the standard text.
THE KEY
The genealogy places a people beneath Ishmael’s name: “God hears” now stands over descendants, settlements, and twelve princes.
THE MEANING
Ishmael, “God hears”, stands at the head of descendants counted through their names, towns, strongholds, and twelve princes. A name moves outward here, taking shape in kinship, place, and public identity.
THE ROOT
יִשְׁמָעֵאל
Yishmaʿel
GROWS FROM
שמע
sh-m-ʿ
Hear, listen
“Ishmael” in this verse is Yishmaʿel. The name combines שָׁמַע (shamaʿ), “hear,” with אֵל (El), “God”: “God hears.” The verse places that name over a whole lineage, so the hearing carried in it extends through the people and places named beneath it.
ALSO GROWS
shamaʿ: Hear, listen
שָׁמַע
This verb supplies the hearing at the heart of Ishmael’s name.
shemuʿah: Report, tidings
שְׁמוּעָה
What is heard can become a report that travels, echoing how Ishmael’s name continues through descendants.
נְשִׂיאִים
nesiʾim
GROWS FROM
נשא
nasaʾ
Lift, carry, bear
The English title marks rank; the Hebrew form also carries the root image of lifting or carrying. Beside the towns and strongholds, the princes appear as figures raised within a people, with the sense of bearing still audible beneath the title.
ALSO GROWS
nasaʾ: Lift, carry, bear
נָשָׂא
This verb gives the root image that remains inside the word for prince.
massaʾ: Burden, load
מַשָּׂא
A burden is what is carried, letting the root’s sense of bearing resonate alongside the title of leadership.
THE PATTERN
A name can preserve a story that unfolds in the life and identity of a people.
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.Let not my lord, I pray thee, regard this man of Belial, even Nabal: for as his name is, so is he; Nabal is his name, and folly is with him: but I thine handmaid saw not the young men of my lord, whom thou didst send.And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins.THE THREAD
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.Here, Ishmael’s name stands at the head of a lineage. Genesis 16:11 speaks its root aloud: the LORD hears Hagar’s affliction, so the descendants’ roll call carries the memory of being heard.
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