Bible Dictionary
Keturah
Keturah was Abraham’s wife after Sarah’s death and the mother of six sons. Her descendants became several peoples living to the south and east of Canaan.
Definition
Keturah, meaning “incense,” was Abraham’s wife after Sarah’s death. She bore him six sons, whose descendants became several peoples in the regions south and east of Canaan. She is also called Abraham’s concubine.
Biblical Usage
Keturah is presented as Abraham’s second wife and the mother of six sons. Her sons were sent toward the east, and through her descendants Abraham became the father of many nations. Her status is distinguished from Sarah’s, whose son was the son of promise.
Historical Background
The nationality of Keturah is not given. Her sons are associated with Arab tribes south and east of Palestine. The sources place the marriage after Sarah’s death and probably after Isaac’s marriage.
Scripture References
Related Figures
Historical Bible Dictionaries
Easton's Bible Dictionary
Incense, the wife of Abraham, whom he married probably after Sarah’s death (Gen. 25:1-6), by whom he had six sons, whom he sent away into the east country. Her nationality is unknown. She is styled “Abraham’s concubine” (1 Chr. 1:32). Through the offshoots of the Keturah line Abraham became the “father of many nations.”
Smith's Bible Dictionary
(incense), the wife of Abraham after the death of Sarah. (Genesis 25:1; 1 Chronicles 1:32) (B.C. 1860.)
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia (ISBE)
<p>ke-tu'-ra, ke-too'-ra (qeTurah; Chettoura, "incense"): The second wife of Abraham (Ge 25:1; 1Ch 1:32 f). According to the Biblical tradition, he contracted this second marriage after the death of Sarah (compare Ge 23), and very likely after the marriage of Isaac (compare Ge 24). It is not improbable that, as some writers have suggested, this change in the life of his son prompted Abraham to remarry in order to overcome the feeling of lonesomeness caused by Isaac's entering the state of matrimony.</p><p>1Ch 1:32 (and also Ge 25:6) shows us that Keturah was not considered to be of the same dignity as Sarah who, indeed, was the mother of the son of promise, and, for obvious reasons, the sons of Abraham's concubines were separated from Isaac. She was the mother of 6 sons representing Arab tribes South and East of Palestine (Ge 25:1-6), so that through the offspring of Keturah Abraham became "the father of many nations."</p><p>William Baur</p>