Ishmael's Descendants and Skin Color Variations in Scripture
Ishmael, the son of Abraham and Hagar, was born when Abraham was eighty-six years old [1, 3]. He was Abraham's firstborn and was circumcised at the age of thirteen, as recorded in Genesis 17:25 [3, 4]. Ishmael grew up in Abraham's household in Mamre [3]. The descendants of Ishmael are referred to as Ishmaelites or Ishmeelites in Scripture [7].
The Bible does not describe the skin color of Ishmael or his descendants. However, some of Ishmael's descendants are associated with terms that relate to color. Kedar, the second son of Ishmael, is described in Smith's Bible Dictionary as meaning "dark-skinned" [8]. The tribe of Kedar settled northwest of the Arabian peninsula and on the borders of Palestine [8]. They were known for their pastoral lifestyle, their archers, and their "mighty men" [8]. The "glory of Kedar" is mentioned by the prophet Isaiah [8].
While the Bible does not explicitly discuss skin color variations among Ishmael's descendants, it does refer to colors in other contexts. For instance, various colors are mentioned for garments, such as white, blue, purple, and scarlet [5]. The covering of the tabernacle included rams' skins dyed red [6]. In prophetic literature, colors are used metaphorically. Isaiah 1:18 speaks of sins being "like scarlet" or "red like crimson," which can be made "white as snow" or "white as wool" through divine cleansing [12, 13]. This imagery emphasizes spiritual transformation rather than physical appearance [13]. Similarly, Ezekiel describes figures with the "colour of amber" or "vermilion," referring to the appearance of divine glory or the colors used in Chaldean art [9, 10].
The Ishmaelites were organized into twelve tribes, as prophesied, and their territories were established "in the presence of his brethren" [2, 11]. They were known as merchants of the East, traveling in large caravans, and were also described as dwelling in tents and being rich in cattle [2].
Sources
- Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Ishmael — God hears. (1.) Abraham's eldest son, by Hagar the concubine (Gen. 16:15; 17:23). He was born at Mamre, when Abraham was eighty-six years of age, eleven years after his arrival in Canaan (16:3; 21:5). At the age of thirteen he was circumcised (17:25). He grew up a true child of the desert, wild and wayward. On the occasion of the weaning of Isaac his rude and wayward spirit broke out in expressions of insult and mockery (21:9, 10); and Sarah, discovering this, said to Abraham, "Expel this slave and her son." Influenced by a divine admonition, Abraham dismis”
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Ishmaelites, The — Descended from Abraham's son, Ishmael -- Ge 16:15,16; 1Ch 1:28. Divided into twelve tribes -- Ge 25:16. Heads of tribes -- Ge 25:13-15; 1Ch 1:29-31. Called Hagarites. -- 1Ch 5:10. Hagarenes. -- Ps 83:6. Arabians. -- Isa 13:20. Original possessions of -- Ge 25:18. Governed by kings -- Jer 25:24. Dwelt in tents -- Isa 13:20. Rich in cattle -- 1Ch 5:21. Wore ornaments of gold -- Jdj 8:24. Were the merchants of the east -- Ge 37:25; Eze 27:20,21. Travelled in large companies or caravans -- Ge 37:25; Job 6:19. Waylaid and plundered travellers -- Jer 3:2”
- Smith's Bible Dictionary “Smith's Bible Dictionary: Ishmael — (whom God hears). + The son of Abraham by Hagar the Egyptian his concubine; born when Abraham was fourscore and six years old. (Genesis 16:15,16) (B.C. 1910.) Ishmael was the first-born of his father. He was born in Abraham's house when he dwelt in the plain of Mamre; and on the institution of the covenant of circumcision, was circumcised, he being then thirteen years old (Genesis 17:26) With the institution of the covenant, God renewed his promise respecting Ishmael. He does not again appear in the narrative until the weaning of Isaac. At the great feast ma”
- Genesis “Genesis 17:25 (YLT) — and Ishmael his son <FI>is<Fi> a son of thirteen years in the flesh of his foreskin being circumcised;”
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Garments — Origin of -- Ge 3:7,21. Called Raiment. -- Ge 28:20; De 8:4. Clothes. -- Pr 6:27; Eze 16:39. Clothing. -- Job 22:6; 31:19. Vesture. -- Ge 41:42; Re 19:16. Materials used for Wool. -- Pr 27:26; Eze 34:3. Silk. -- Pr 31:22. Linen. -- Le 6:10; Es 8:15. Camel's hair. -- Mt 3:4. Skins. -- Heb 11:37. Sackcloth. -- 2Sa 3:31; 2Ki 19:1. Not to be made of mixed materials -- De 22:11. Of the sexes, not to be interchanged -- De 22:5. Colours of, mentioned White. -- Ec 9:8. Blue. -- Eze 23:6. Purple. -- Eze 7:27; Lu 16:19. Scarlet. -- 2Sa 1:24; Da 5:7. Different colour”
- Exodus “Exodus 39:34 (ASV) — and the covering of rams’ skins dyed red, and the covering of sealskins, and the veil of the screen;”
- Smith's Bible Dictionary “Smith's Bible Dictionary: Ishmeelite — (1 Chronicles 2:17) and Ish'me-elites (descendants of Ishmael), (Genesis 37:25,27,28; 39:1) the form in which the descendants of Ishmael are given in a few places in the Authorized Version.”
- Smith's Bible Dictionary “Smith's Bible Dictionary: Kedar — (dark-skinned), the second in order of the sons of Ishmael, (Genesis 25:13; 1 Chronicles 1:29) and the name of a great tribe of Arabs settled on the northwest of the peninsula and on the confines of Palestine. The "glory of Kedar" is recorded by the prophet Isaiah, (Isaiah 21:13-17) in the burden upon Arabia; and its importance may also be inferred from the "princes of Kedar" mentioned by Ezekiel, (Ezekiel 27:21) as well as the pastoral character of the tribe. They appear also to have been, like the wandering tribes of the present day, "archers" and "mighty me”
- Ezekiel (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Ezekiel 8:2: likeness--understand, "of a man," that is, of Messiah, the Angel of the covenant, in the person of whom alone God manifests Himself (Eze 1:26; Joh 1:18). The "fire," from "His loins downward," betokens the vengeance of God kindled against the wicked Jews, while searching and purifying the remnant to be spared. The "brightness . . . upward" betokens His unapproachable majesty (Ti1 6:16). For Hebrew, eesh, "fire," the Septuagint, &c., read ish, "a man." colour of amber--the glitter of chasmal [FAIRBAIRN], (see on Eze 1:4, "polished brass").”
- Ezekiel (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Ezekiel 23:14: vermilion--the peculiar color of the Chaldeans, as purple was of the Assyrians. In striking agreement with this verse is the fact that the Assyrian sculptures lately discovered have painted and colored bas-reliefs in red, blue, and black. The Jews (for instance Jehoiakim, Jer 22:14) copied these (compare Eze 8:10).”
- Genesis (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Genesis 25:18: DESCENDANTS OF ISHMAEL. Before passing to the line of the promised seed, the historian gives a brief notice of Ishmael, to show that the promises respecting that son of Abraham were fulfilled--first, in the greatness of his posterity (compare Gen 17:20); and, secondly, in their independence. (Gen 25:12-18) he died--rather, "it [their lot] fell" in the presence of his brethren (compare Gen 16:12).”
- Sefaria (Jewish (Rationalist)) “Abraham Ibn Ezra on Isaiah 1:18: Though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool. A repetition of the same idea.”
- Isaiah (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Isaiah 1:18: 1:18 God called his people to come and settle their dispute so that he could restore his covenant relationship with them. This required Judah to make a decision between obeying or turning away (1:19-20). Isaiah says their sins are like scarlet . . . they are red like crimson, the color of blood, which Judah had unjustly shed (1:15). • white as snow . . . white as wool: The people would be radically transformed—cleansed, purified, and made holy (see also Ps 51:7; Dan 7:9).”