Genesis 35:16

Genesis 35:16 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)And they journeyed from Beth–el; and there was but a little way to come to Ephrath: and Rachel travailed, and she had hard labour.
• New International Version (NIV)Then they moved on from Bethel. While they were still some distance from Ephrath, Rachel began to give birth and had great difficulty.
• English Standard Version (ESV)Then they journeyed from Bethel. When they were still some distance from Ephrath, Rachel went into labor, and she had hard labor.
• New King James Version (NKJV)Then they journeyed from Bethel. And when there was but a little distance to go to Ephrath, Rachel labored in childbirth, and she had hard labor.

Context of Genesis 35:16

14Jacob set up a pillar (memorial, monument) in the place where he had talked with God, a pillar of stone, and he poured a drink offering [of wine] on it; he also poured oil on it [to declare it sacred for God’s purpose]. 15So Jacob named the place where God had spoken with him, Bethel (the House of God). Then they journeyed from Bethel; and when there was still some distance to go to Ephrath (Bethlehem), Rachel began to give birth and had difficulty and suffered severely. 17When she was in hard labor the midwife said to her, “Do not be afraid; you now have another son.” 18And as her soul was departing, (for she died), she named him Ben-oni (son of my sorrow); but his father called him Benjamin (son of the right hand).

Genesis 35:16 word by word

וַיִּסְעוּ֙ מִבֵּ֣ית אֵ֔ל וַֽיְהִי־ע֥וֹד כִּבְרַת־הָאָ֖רֶץ לָב֣וֹא אֶפְרָ֑תָה וַתֵּ֥לֶד רָחֵ֖ל וַתְּקַ֥שׁ בְּלִדְתָּֽהּ׃Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• And they journeyedנָסַעnâsa‛ · to set outH5265
• from Beth–elבֵּֽיתְ־אֵלbêyth-'êl · BethelH1008
• and there was butעוֹד‛ôd ‛ôd · stillH5750
• a littleכִּבְרָהkibrâh · distanceH3530
• wayאֶ֫רֶץ'erets · land: country/planetH776
• to comeבּוֹאbô' · to come (in): towardsH935
• to Ephrathאֶפְרָ֫תָה'ephrâth 'ephrâthâh · EphrathH672
• and Rachelרָחֵלrâchêl · RachelH7354
• travailedיָלַדyâlad · to begetH3205
• and she had hardקָשָׁהqâshâh · to hardenH7185

Cross-references for Genesis 35:16

• 2 Kings 5:19Elisha said to him, “Go in peace.” So Naaman departed and was a good distance away from him,
• Genesis 48:7Now as for me, when I came from Paddan [in Mesopotamia], Rachel died beside me in the land of Canaan on the journey, when there was still some distance to go to Ephrath; and I buried her there on the way to Ephrath (that is, Bethlehem).”
• Ruth 1:2The man’s name was Elimelech and his wife’s name was Naomi and his two sons were named Mahlon and Chilion. They were Ephrathites from Bethlehem in Judah. They went to the country of Moab and stayed there.
• 1 Chronicles 2:19Azubah died, and Caleb married Ephrath, who bore him Hur.
• Psalms 132:6Behold, we heard of it at Ephrathah; We found it in the field of Jaar.
• Micah 5:2But as for you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, Too little to be among the clans of Judah; From you One shall come forth for Me [who is] to be Ruler in Israel, His goings forth (appearances) are from long ago, From ancient days.”
• Matthew 2:1Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king (Herod the Great), magi (wise men) from the east came to Jerusalem, asking,
• Genesis 3:16To the woman He said, “I will greatly multiply Your pain in childbirth; In pain you will give birth to children; Yet your desire and longing will be for your husband, And he will rule [with authority] over you and be responsible for you.”
• 1 Timothy 2:15But women will be preserved (saved) through [the pain and dangers of] the bearing of children if they continue in faith and love and holiness with self-control and discretion.

Commentaries on Genesis 35:16

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 16There was but a little way to come to Ephrath - The word כברת kibrath, translated here a little way, has greatly perplexed commentators. It occurs only here, in Genesis 48:7, and 2 Kings 5:19; and it seems to have been some sort of measure applied to land, as we say a mile, an acre, a rood, a perch; but what the exact quantity of the kibrath was cannot be ascertained. Ephrath, called also Bethlehem, and Bethlehem Ephrata, was the birthplace of our blessed…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 1-29Verses 1-29 - The Death of Isaac 8. דברה deborâh Deborah, “bee.” בּכוּת אלּון 'alôn -bākût Allon-bakuth, “oak of weeping.” 16. כברה kı̂brâh “length stretch.” A certain but unknown distance, a stadium or furlong (Josephus) a hippodrome (Septuagint) which was somewhat longer, a mile (Kimchi). אפרת 'ephrâth Ephrath, “fruitful or ashy.” 18. בן־אוני ben -'ônı̂y Ben-oni, “son of my pain.” בנימין bı̂nyāmı̂yn Binjamin, “son of the right hand.” 19. לחם בית…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 16-20Verses 16-20 Rachel had passionately said, Give me children, or else I die; and now that she had children, she died! The death of the body is but the departure of the soul to the world of spirits. When shall we learn that it is God alone who really knows what is best for his people, and that in all worldly affairs the safest path for the Christian is to say from the heart, It is the Lord, let him do what seemeth him good. Here alone is our safety and our…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 16-20Benjamin's birth completed the family. But it was a sad event because Rachel died during childbirth (see study note on 31:32).Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 16-2716. And they journeyed from Beth-el--There can be no doubt that much enjoyment was experienced at Beth-el, and that in the religious observances solemnized, as well as in the vivid recollections of the glorious vision seen there, the affections of the patriarch were powerfully animated and that he left the place a better and more devoted servant of God. When the solemnities were over, Jacob, with his family, pursued a route directly southward, and they…Read the comment

Topics related to Genesis 35:16

• Bethlehem
• Ephratah
• Jacob
• Rachel

In the dictionaries

• Rachel
• Ephrath; Ephrathah
• Ephratah, or Ephrath
• Bethlehem
• Change
• Ephratah
• Hard
• Pillar
• Pursue
• Travail

Commentaries on Genesis 35

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Rashi on Tanakh
• Calvin’s Commentaries
• Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
• John Wesley’s Notes
• Darby Translation Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
• Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings