Christian Standard Bible
Genesis 35:16
16They set out from Bethel. When they were still some distance from Ephrath, Rachel began to give birth, and her labor was difficult.
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 marker at the place where he had spoken to him — a stone marker. He poured a drink offering on it and poured oil on it. 15Jacob named the place where God had spoken with him Bethel. They set out from Bethel. When they were still some distance from Ephrath, Rachel began to give birth, and her labor was difficult. 17During her difficult labor, the midwife said to her, “Don’t be afraid, for you have another son.” 18With her last breath — for she was dying — she named him Ben-oni, but his father called him Benjamin.
Read all of Genesis 35Genesis 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 5:19So he said to him, “Go in peace.” After Naaman had traveled a short distance from Elisha,
- Genesis 48:7When I was returning from Paddan, to my sorrow Rachel died along the way, some distance from Ephrath in the land of Canaan. I buried her there along the way to Ephrath” (that is, Bethlehem).
- Ruth 1:2The man’s name was Elimelech, and his wife’s name was Naomi. The names of his two sons were Mahlon and Chilion. They were Ephrathites from Bethlehem in Judah. They entered the fields of Moab and settled there.
- 1 Chronicles 2:19When Azubah died, Caleb married Ephrath, and she bore Hur to him.
- Psalms 132:6We heard of the ark in Ephrathah; we found it in the fields of Jaar.
- Micah 5:2Bethlehem Ephrathah, you are small among the clans of Judah; one will come from you to be ruler over Israel for me. His origin is from antiquity, from ancient times.
- Matthew 2:1After Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of King Herod, wise men from the east arrived in Jerusalem,
- Genesis 3:16He said to the woman: I will intensify your labor pains; you will bear children with painful effort. Your desire will be for your husband, yet he will rule over you.
- 1 Timothy 2:15But she will be saved through childbearing, if they continue in faith, love, and holiness, with good sense.
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
In the dictionaries
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
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