Genesis 25:17
ESV
(These are the years of the life of Ishmael: 137 years. He breathed his last and died, and was gathered to his people.)
NIV
Ishmael lived a hundred and thirty-seven years. He breathed his last and died, and he was gathered to his people.
NASB
These are the years of the life of Ishmael, 137 years; and he breathed his last and died, and was gathered to his people.
CSB
This is the length of Ishmael’s life: 137 years. He took his last breath and died, and was gathered to his people.
NLT
Ishmael lived for 137 years. Then he breathed his last and joined his ancestors in death.
KJV
And these are the years of the life of Ishmael, an hundred and thirty and seven years: and he gave up the ghost and died; and was gathered unto his people.
NKJV
These were the years of the life of Ishmael: one hundred and thirty-seven years; and he breathed his last and died, and was gathered to his people.
What does Genesis 25:17 mean?
Ishmael's life is summed up here with his biographical information. He died at the age of 137, some 50 years or so after Abraham's death, allowing plenty of time to have seen God's blessing as his twelve sons began to establish their individual families and tribes. Though he was not the son given the promises of inheritance from Abraham (Genesis 17:18–19), Ishmael was given prosperity and success by God. This corresponds to the reassurance God gave to Ishmael's mother, Hagar (Genesis 16:10–12), long before she was evicted from the family at the request of Abraham's wife, Sarah (Genesis 21:8–14).Genesis 25:1–18 adds details before describing the deaths of Abraham and then Ishmael. Abraham has taken another wife, other than Sarah, and has six sons with her. He gives them gifts but sends them all away to the east. Isaac will be his sole true heir. Still, when Abraham dies and is buried at the age of 175, Ishmael joins Isaac for the funeral. Ishmael's 12 sons are listed, along with a description of the region their tribes settled in. Finally, Ishmael dies, as well, at the age of 137.
Genesis 25 is packed with information. Abraham marries another wife, most likely before Sarah died, and has six sons with her. Abraham dies at the age of 175 and is buried by both Isaac and Ishmael at the family-owned cave where Sarah was buried. Ishmael's 12 sons are listed, along with the region their tribes settled in, to the east of what would later become Israel. And, finally, God grants Isaac's prayer for Rebekah to become pregnant by giving the couple twins: the feuding Jacob and Esau.
