The Meaning of Genesis 25:18 Explained

Genesis 25:18

KJV: And they dwelt from Havilah unto Shur, that is before Egypt, as thou goest toward Assyria: and he died in the presence of all his brethren.

YLT: and they tabernacle from Havilah unto Shur, which is before Egypt, in thy going towards Asshur; in the presence of all his brethren hath he fallen.

Darby: And they dwelt from Havilah to Shur, which is opposite to Egypt, as one goes towards Assyria. He settled before the face of all his brethren.

ASV: And they dwelt from Havilah unto Shur that is before Egypt, as thou goest toward Assyria. He abode over against all his brethren.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

And they dwelt  from Havilah  unto Shur,  that [is] before  Egypt,  as thou goest  toward Assyria:  [and] he died  in the presence  of all his brethren. 

What does Genesis 25:18 Mean?

Context Summary

Genesis 25:1-18 - Abraham's Death And Burial
After being for sixteen years contemporary with his grandsons, Esau and Jacob, Abraham died without owning a foot of land except the cave for which he had paid, as a stranger might. But all was his. He was persuaded of God's faithfulness, and earnestly reached out his hands toward the City with foundations. See Hebrews 11:13. He was full. Those who had known him in Ur might have looked on his life as a huge failure, and have spoken of him as a fanatic who had sacrificed all for nothing. But he was satisfied. He was gathered to his people, a phrase which does not refer to the body, for his people were far away across the desert, but to the recognition and welcome that awaited him on the other side of death. His sons, Isaac and Ishmael, differed widely. The one dwelled by the well, engaged in pastoral pursuits, while the other lived by his own strong hand, in the desert expanse. But they met in their common respect and grief. Births and deaths unite families. We all stand today in thankfulness at Lincoln's cradle. [source]

Chapter Summary: Genesis 25

1  The sons of Abraham by Keturah
5  The division of his goods
7  His age, death, and burial
11  God blesses Isaac
12  The generations of Ishmael
17  His age and death
19  Isaac prays for Rebekah, being barren
22  The children strive in her womb
24  The birth of Esau and Jacob
27  Their different characters and pursuits
29  Esau sells his birthright

What do the individual words in Genesis 25:18 mean?

And they dwelt from Havilah as far as Shur which [is] upon the face of Egypt as you go toward Assyria against of all his brothers He died -
וַיִּשְׁכְּנ֨וּ מֵֽחֲוִילָ֜ה עַד־ שׁ֗וּר אֲשֶׁר֙ עַל־ פְּנֵ֣י מִצְרַ֔יִם בֹּאֲכָ֖ה אַשּׁ֑וּרָה עַל־ כָל־ אֶחָ֖יו נָפָֽל פ

וַיִּשְׁכְּנ֨וּ  And  they  dwelt 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine plural
Root: שָׁכַן  
Sense: to settle down, abide, dwell, tabernacle, reside.
מֵֽחֲוִילָ֜ה  from  Havilah 
Parse: Preposition-m, Proper Noun, feminine singular
Root: חֲוִילָה  
Sense: a part of Eden through which flowed the river Pison (Araxes); was probably the Grecian Colchis, in the northeast corner of Asia Minor, near the Caspian Sea.
עַד־  as  far  as 
Parse: Preposition
Root: עַד  
Sense: as far as, even to, until, up to, while, as far as.
שׁ֗וּר  Shur 
Parse: Proper Noun, feminine singular
Root: שׁוּר  
Sense: a place southwest of Palestine on the eastern border or within the border of Egypt; the Israelites passed through the wilderness of Shur after crossing the Red Sea.
אֲשֶׁר֙  which  [is] 
Parse: Pronoun, relative
Root: אֲשֶׁר 
Sense: (relative part.).
עַל־  upon 
Parse: Preposition
Root: עַל 
Sense: upon, on the ground of, according to, on account of, on behalf of, concerning, beside, in addition to, together with, beyond, above, over, by, on to, towards, to, against.
פְּנֵ֣י  the  face 
Parse: Noun, common plural construct
Root: לִפְנֵי 
Sense: face.
מִצְרַ֔יִם  of  Egypt 
Parse: Proper Noun, feminine singular
Root: מִצְרַיִם  
Sense: a country at the northeastern section of Africa, adjacent to Palestine, and through which the Nile flows adj Egyptians = “double straits”.
בֹּאֲכָ֖ה  as  you  go 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Infinitive construct, second person masculine singular
Root: בֹּוא 
Sense: to go in, enter, come, go, come in.
אַשּׁ֑וּרָה  toward  Assyria 
Parse: Proper Noun, feminine singular, third person feminine singular
Root: אַשּׁוּר  
Sense: the second son of Shem, eponymous ancestor of the Assyrians.
עַל־  against 
Parse: Preposition
Root: עַל 
Sense: upon, on the ground of, according to, on account of, on behalf of, concerning, beside, in addition to, together with, beyond, above, over, by, on to, towards, to, against.
כָל־  of  all 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: כֹּל  
Sense: all, the whole.
אֶחָ֖יו  his  brothers 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural construct, third person masculine singular
Root: אָח  
Sense: brother.
נָפָֽל  He  died 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, third person masculine singular
Root: נָפַל  
Sense: to fall, lie, be cast down, fail.
פ  - 
Parse: Punctuation