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Kedemah

biblical_person theological_term standard

A son of Ishmael named in the Old Testament genealogies.

At a Glance

A descendant of Ishmael, remembered in the genealogies of Genesis and 1 Chronicles.

Key Points

Description

Kedemah appears in the Old Testament as one of the sons of Ishmael. The name is included in the genealogical lists of Genesis 25 and 1 Chronicles 1, where Ishmael’s descendants are named as tribes or clan founders. Scripture provides no additional story, role, or theological teaching about Kedemah himself. The entry is therefore best treated as a biblical person-name tied to the broader Ishmaelite genealogy rather than as a standalone theological concept.

Biblical Context

Kedemah is listed among the twelve sons of Ishmael, Abraham’s son by Hagar. These genealogies show the fulfillment of God’s word that Ishmael would become a great nation and that his descendants would multiply. Kedemah’s name appears only in the genealogical setting and is not attached to any recorded event.

Historical Context

In the ancient Near Eastern world, genealogies often identified clan founders, tribal ancestors, or people groups. Kedemah likely functioned in that way within the Ishmaelite lineage, though the biblical text does not supply historical details about the individual beyond the name.

Jewish and Ancient Context

Jewish readers have traditionally understood Kedemah as part of the Ishmael genealogy preserved in Scripture. The list of Ishmael’s sons helps explain related peoples or clans connected with Abraham’s wider family line.

Primary Key Texts

Secondary Key Texts

Original Language Note

A Hebrew proper name in the Ishmaelite genealogy. The name may be related to a root associated with 'east' or 'front,' but the exact etymology is not certain from the biblical text alone.

Theological Significance

Kedemah has limited direct theological significance, but his inclusion in Scripture supports the historical reliability of the genealogies and the fulfillment of God’s promise concerning Ishmael’s descendants.

Philosophical Explanation

As a biblical name, Kedemah is significant not for abstract doctrine but for how Scripture preserves real persons and family lines within redemptive history.

Interpretive Cautions

Do not confuse Kedemah with a theological term or with unrelated Hebrew words that sound similar. The Bible gives no separate teaching about him beyond his place in Ishmael’s genealogy.

Major Views

There is no major interpretive debate about Kedemah himself; the main question is simply his identification as one of Ishmael’s sons and the likely ethnic or clan significance of the name.

Doctrinal Boundaries

Kedemah should be treated as a biblical proper name, not as a doctrine, symbol, or canonical teaching topic. Any etymological suggestion should remain tentative.

Practical Significance

Kedemah reminds readers that Scripture records ordinary names and family lines as part of God’s unfolding historical plan. Even brief genealogical notices contribute to the Bible’s larger narrative of promise and fulfillment.

Related Entries

See Also

Data

Machine-readable JSON for Kedemah

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