Who was Mishma in the Bible?

Mishma was one of the twelve sons of Ishmael, who was Abraham's son through Hagar. He is listed as a tribal chief among the Ishmaelites, signifying he was the founder of a clan (Genesis 25:13-16).

What is the significance of Mishma and the Ishmaelite tribes?

The listing of Mishma and his brothers fulfills God's promise to make Ishmael a great nation (Genesis 17:20). Their recorded lineages show how God's covenant with Abraham branched out, impacting the peoples of the surrounding regions.

Are there any stories about Mishma in the Bible?

No, there are no specific stories or key events recorded about Mishma's personal life. The Bible only mentions his name in genealogical lists that establish the origins of the Ishmaelite tribes (1 Chronicles 1:29-31).

Mishma

Old TestamentPatriarchsMaleSon

Mishma was one of the twelve sons of Ishmael, Abraham's son by Hagar, and is listed among the chiefs of the Ishmaelite tribes.

Mishma

Biography

Mishma was one of the twelve sons born to Ishmael, Abraham's firstborn through Hagar the Egyptian (Genesis 25:14; 1 Chronicles 1:30). Together with his brothers, Mishma became the progenitor of a tribal clan that settled in the Arabian region, fulfilling God's promise to Abraham that Ishmael too would father a great nation of twelve princes (Genesis 17:20; 25:16). The Ishmaelite tribes occupied territories stretching from Havilah to Shur, east of Egypt, and became prominent in the caravan trade routes of the ancient Near East. Mishma's name, which may derive from a root meaning "hearing" or "obedience," connects linguistically to the name Ishmael itself, meaning "God hears." His tribal descendants are sometimes associated with the Simeonite clan of the same name, though the connection remains debated among scholars.

Significance

Mishma's identity as a son of Ishmael (Genesis 25:14) places him within the fulfillment of God's promise that Ishmael would become a great nation (Genesis 17:20). Though Ishmael's line stood outside the covenant of promise given through Isaac, God's blessing upon Ishmael and his twelve sons demonstrates divine faithfulness extending beyond the elect line. The very name Mishma, echoing the root of Ishmael ("God hears"), reinforces the theme that God is attentive to all peoples. His story reminds readers that the Abrahamic promise was always intended to bless all nations (Genesis 12:3), and that God's providential care encompasses those beyond the immediate covenant community.

Authority Records

Wikidata

FatherIshmaelSiblingAdbeel

Verse Appearances (2)

Genesis

Genesis 25:14

1Chr

1Chr 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]
Wikidata contributors (n.d.) Wikidata. Available at: https://www.wikidata.org. [CC0]
Church of England (1769) The Holy Bible, Authorized (King James) Version. [Public Domain]

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