Who was Eldaah in the bible?

Eldaah is named in biblical genealogies as one of the sons of Midian, within the family lines associated with Keturah. The name is explained in lexicon tradition as meaning “God of knowledge,” derived from Hebrew elements for “God” and “to know.”

Eldaah in Scripture

Eldaah appears twice, each time in a list of Midian’s sons, first in Genesis and then in a parallel genealogy in 1 Chronicles.

Genesis places Eldaah within the offspring born through Keturah, moving from Keturah’s sons to Midian’s sons.

“She bore him Zimran, Jokshan, Medan, Midian, Ishbak, and Shuah.” (Genesis 25:2, WEB)

“Jokshan became the father of Sheba, and Dedan. The sons of Dedan were Asshurim, Letushim, and Leummim.” (Genesis 25:3, WEB)

“The sons of Midian were Ephah, Epher, Hanoch, Abida, and Eldaah. All these were the children of Keturah.” (Genesis 25:4, WEB)

In this context, Eldaah is presented not in an independent narrative but as part of a structured family record: Keturah bears sons including Midian, and Midian in turn has sons including Eldaah. The chapter continues by noting how Abraham’s inheritance and gifts were distributed among his children.

“Abraham gave all that he had to Isaac,” (Genesis 25:5, WEB)

“but Abraham gave gifts to the sons of Abraham’s concubines. While he still lived, he sent them away from Isaac his son, eastward, to the east country.” (Genesis 25:6, WEB)

Later, 1 Chronicles repeats Eldaah’s name in a genealogy that again situates him as a son of Midian and explicitly frames Midian as belonging to Keturah’s line. The surrounding context in Chronicles shows this genealogy moving through multiple branches (including Ishmael’s sons, then Keturah’s descendants, then Isaac’s line), with Eldaah embedded in the Keturah/Midian segment.

“Jetur, Naphish, and Kedemah. These are the sons of Ishmael.” (1 Chronicles 1:31, WEB)

“The sons of Keturah, Abraham’s concubine: she bore Zimran, Jokshan, Medan, Midian, Ishbak, and Shuah. The sons of Jokshan: Sheba and Dedan.” (1 Chronicles 1:32, WEB)

“The sons of Midian: Ephah, Epher, Hanoch, Abida, and Eldaah. All these were the sons of Keturah.” (1 Chronicles 1:33, WEB)

“Abraham became the father of Isaac. The sons of Isaac: Esau and Israel.” (1 Chronicles 1:34, WEB)

Together, Genesis 25:2–6 and 1 Chronicles 1:32–34 present Eldaah as a descendant within a genealogical sequence that connects Keturah’s offspring to Abraham’s wider household and then continues on to Isaac’s line.

Name and Meaning

The name is written in Hebrew as אֶלְדָּעָה, transliterated ‘Elda’ah, and pronounced el-daw-aw’. Lexicon tradition derives it from Hebrew components meaning “God” (’el) and “to know” (yada‘), yielding the sense “God of knowledge.”

Observation

Eldaah is remembered in Scripture through these genealogical lists, where he is consistently grouped with Midian’s sons—“Ephah, Epher, Hanoch, Abida, and Eldaah”—and identified among “the children of Keturah” (Genesis 25:4).

Frequently Asked Questions

Who was Eldaah in the Bible?

Eldaah is named as a son of Midian. He is listed among “the children of Keturah” in Genesis 25:4.

What does the name Eldaah mean?

Eldaah means “God of knowledge.”

How many times does Eldaah appear in the Bible?

Eldaah appears 2 times.

Where is Eldaah listed among Midian’s sons?

He is listed with Ephah, Epher, Hanoch, and Abida as “The sons of Midian” in 1 Chronicles 1:33 and Genesis 25:4.

Explore Further

If you found this page about Eldaah interesting and would like to discover more about other biblical characters, explore our comprehensive Encyclopedia of Biblical Characters. For those looking to delve deeper into the Greek origins of these names and terms, our Greek Lexicon is an invaluable resource.

Sources: Name and occurrence data from Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance and STEPBible reference data (CC BY). Scripture quotations from the World English Bible (public domain).