Boy Old Testament Rare
Medan
judgment; process
מְדָן me.dan
Medan (Hebrew: מְדָן, me.dan) means “judgment; process”, by traditional interpretation. It appears in 2 verses across 2 books of the Bible. In United States birth records the name is below the reporting threshold. Appears with Dedan in 1 Chronicles 1.
The bearer in scripture
One person in scripture bears this name.
-
Medan
son of Abraham
Scripture against society
The two measures, side by side
At a glance
- Verses
- 2 across 2 books
- Bearers
- 1 one person only
- Testament
- Old
- Era
- Patriarchal
Using it today
In United States birth records this name is below the reporting threshold. The Social Security Administration does not publish counts under five, so a name given to four children looks the same as one given to none.
In scripture
| Fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| First appears | Genesis 25:2 |
| Last appears | 1 Chronicles 1:32 |
| Cross-references | 43 linked passages |
Names connected to this one
- Isaac attested sibling Attested sibling — both named as children of Abraham.
- Ishbak attested sibling Attested sibling — both named as children of Abraham.
- Ishmael attested sibling Attested sibling — both named as children of Abraham.
- Midian attested sibling Attested sibling — both named as children of Abraham.
- Mishma attested sibling Attested sibling — both named as children of Abraham.
- Ephah attested sibling Attested sibling — both named as children of Abraham.
- Epher attested sibling Attested sibling — both named as children of Abraham.
- Shuah attested sibling Attested sibling — both named as children of Abraham.
Origin & meaning
A man living at the time of the Patriarchs, first mentioned at Gen.25.2;
son of: Abraham (H0085) and Keturah (H6989);
half-brother of: Ishmael (H3458) and Isaac (H3327);
brother of: Zimran (H2175), Jokshan (H3370), Midian (H4080), Ishbak (H3435) and Shuah (H7744); also called Mede frequently
§ Medan = "contention"
a son of Abraham by Keturah
Medan was a son of Abraham and his concubine Keturah.
The biblical story
Medan was one of the sons born to Abraham and his concubine Keturah after the death of Sarah. Along with his brothers Zimran, Jokshan, Midian, Ishbak, and Shuah, Medan was sent away by Abraham with gifts to the land of the east, separating them from Isaac, Abraham's son with Sarah (Gen.25.1-6). Medan is also mentioned in the genealogy of Abraham's descendants in 1Ch.1.32. Little else is known about Medan or his descendants, as they are not mentioned further in the biblical narrative.
Key verses
Medan appears in 2 verses. Here are some of the most notable:
-
And she bare him Zimran, and Jokshan, and Medan, and Midian, and Ishbak, and Shuah.
Genesis 25:2 -
Now the sons of Keturah, Abraham’s concubine: she bare Zimran, and Jokshan, and Medan, and Midian, and Ishbak, and Shuah. And the sons of Jokshan; Sheba, and Dedan.
1 Chronicles 1:32
Show all 2 references
Genesis (1)
- Genesis 25:2
1 Chronicles (1)
- 1 Chronicles 1:32