Who was Dumah in the Bible?

Dumah was one of the twelve sons of Ishmael and a grandson of Abraham, making him part of the lineage of Abraham's descendants through Hagar. He is mentioned only in the genealogical lists of Genesis 25:14 and 1 Chronicles 1:30.

What is the significance of Dumah in the Bible?

Dumah's primary significance is genealogical, establishing the fulfillment of God's promise to make Ishmael a great nation (Genesis 17:20). His inclusion in the chronicles shows the continuation of Abraham's lineage, though the covenant promise passed through Isaac.

Are there any key events in Dumah's life in the Bible?

The Bible records no specific events in Dumah's life. His mention is limited to his name in the lists of Ishmael's sons, indicating he was a tribal chieftain whose descendants likely formed an Arabian tribe, as prophesied for Ishmael's offspring.

Dumah

Old TestamentPatriarchsMaleSon

Dumah was a son of Ishmael and grandson of Abraham, mentioned in the genealogies of Genesis and Chronicles. (Gen.25.14; 1Ch.1.30)

Dumah

Biography

Dumah was one of the twelve sons of Ishmael, the son of Abraham and Hagar, as recorded in Genesis 25:14 and 1 Chronicles 1:30. Like his brothers, Dumah is understood to be the progenitor of an Arabian tribe or clan that settled in the region south and east of Canaan. The name Dumah has been linked to the ancient oasis settlement of Dumat al-Jandal in northern Arabia, known in Assyrian records as Adummatu, a significant caravan stop in the ancient world. Isaiah 21:11 contains an oracle concerning Dumah, suggesting the region remained a distinct entity in later centuries. As a grandson of Abraham through Ishmael, Dumah belongs to the wider family of peoples that trace their ancestry to the great patriarch, sharing in the blessing promised to Ishmael that he would become a great nation (Genesis 17:20).

Significance

Dumah's place in the Ishmaelite genealogy carries theological weight as a descendant of Abraham through Ishmael, within whom God fulfilled the promise that Ishmael would become the father of twelve princes and a great nation (Genesis 17:20). The prophetic oracle against Dumah in Isaiah 21 further demonstrates that the region's peoples did not escape the moral and political scrutiny of Israel's prophets, whose vision encompassed all the nations surrounding the covenant community. Dumah stands as a reminder that God's covenantal dealings extend beyond the line of Isaac, and that the wider family of Abraham encompasses peoples whose histories, though less central to the redemptive narrative, are nonetheless known and addressed by the God of all nations.

Verse Appearances (2)

Genesis

Genesis 25:14

1 Chronicles

1 Chronicles 1:30

References

Orr, J. (ed.) (1915) The International Standard Bible Encyclopedia. Chicago: Howard-Severance Company. [Public Domain]
Tyndale House, Cambridge (n.d.) Translators Individualised Proper Names with all References (TIPNR). STEPBible. Available at: https://www.stepbible.org. [CC BY 4.0]
Church of England (1769) The Holy Bible, Authorized (King James) Version. [Public Domain]

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