EasyEnglish Bible 2018
Genesis 25:23
23The Lord said to Rebekah, ‘The two children who are in your body will become two separate nations of people. One group will be stronger than the other. The older son will become a servant to the younger son.’
Genesis 25:23 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)And the Lord said unto her, Two nations are in thy womb, and two manner of people shall be separated from thy bowels; and the one people shall be stronger than the other people; and the elder shall serve the younger.
- New International Version (NIV)The Lord said to her, “Two nations are in your womb, and two peoples from within you will be separated; one people will be stronger than the other, and the older will serve the younger.”
- English Standard Version (ESV)And the Lord said to her, "Two nations are in your womb, and two peoples from within you shall be divided; the one shall be stronger than the other, the older shall serve the younger."
- New King James Version (NKJV)And the Lord said to her: “Two nations are in your womb, Two peoples shall be separated from your body; One people shall be stronger than the other, And the older shall serve the younger.”
Context of Genesis 25:23
21Rebekah could not have children. So Isaac prayed to the Lord for Rebekah. The Lord did as Isaac asked. And Isaac's wife, Rebekah, became pregnant. 22The babies inside her were fighting with each other. Rebekah said, ‘Why is this happening to me?’ So Rebekah went to ask the Lord. The Lord said to Rebekah, ‘The two children who are in your body will become two separate nations of people. One group will be stronger than the other. The older son will become a servant to the younger son.’ 24The time came for Rebekah to give birth. There were two babies inside her. 25The first baby to come out had a red body. Hair covered the whole of his body. They called him Esau.
Read all of Genesis 25Genesis 25:23 word by word
וַיֹּ֨אמֶר יְהוָ֜ה לָ֗הּ שְׁנֵ֤י גוֹיִם֙ בְּבִטְנֵ֔ךְ וּשְׁנֵ֣י לְאֻמִּ֔ים מִמֵּעַ֖יִךְ יִפָּרֵ֑דוּ וּלְאֹם֙ מִלְאֹ֣ם יֶֽאֱמָ֔ץ וְרַ֖ב יַעֲבֹ֥ד צָעִֽיר׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- And the Lordיְהֹוָהyehôvâh · LORDH3068
- saidאָמַר'âmar · to sayH559
- unto her, Twoשְׁנַ֫יִםshenayim shettayim · twoH8147
- nationsגּוֹיgôy gôy · nationH1471
- in thy wombבֶּ֫טֶןbeţen · belly: wombH990
- of peopleלְאֹםle'ôm le'ôm · peopleH3816
- shall be separatedפָּרַדpârad · to separateH6504
- from thy bowelsמֵעֶהmê‛eh · bellyH4578
- shall be strongerאָמֵץ'âmats · to strengthenH553
- and the elderרַבrab · manyH7227
- shall serveעָבַד‛âbad · to serveH5647
- the youngerצָעִירtsâ‛îyr tsâ‛ôr · littleH6810
Cross-references for Genesis 25:23
- Genesis 17:16I will bless her. She will give birth to a son for you. Many nations of people will be her descendants. Some of them will become kings. That is how much I will bless her!’
- Genesis 24:60As Rebekah was leaving, her brother and her mother blessed her. They said, ‘Our sister, may you become the mother of millions of descendants. May your descendants win against their enemies, and may they go into their enemies' cities.’
- Genesis 25:27Time passed and the boys grew. Esau became a good hunter, out in the fields. Jacob was a quiet man. He stayed near to the tents.
- Genesis 32:6When the men returned, they said to Jacob, ‘We went to your brother Esau. Now he is coming to meet you and he has 400 men with him.’
- Genesis 33:3Jacob himself went in front of these groups. He bent down to the ground to respect Esau. He did this seven times as he came nearer to his brother.
- Genesis 36:31Before any kings ruled over the Israelites, these kings ruled in the land of Edom:
- Numbers 20:14From Kadesh, Moses sent men to the king of Edom with this message: ‘We are Israelites, your relatives. We should be friendly to each other. You know about all the troubles that have happened to us.
- Genesis 27:29May the people of many nations serve you. May they respect you as their master. You will rule over your brothers. Yes, your mother's sons will bend down to respect you. May God curse anyone who curses you. And may he bless anyone who blesses you.’
- 2 Samuel 8:14He put groups of his soldiers in every part of Edom's land, so that David had authority over all the Edomites. The Lord helped David to win all the battles that he fought.
- 1 Kings 22:47At this time there was no king who ruled Edom. Their ruler was an officer that King Jehoshaphat had chosen.
- 1 Chronicles 18:13He put groups of his soldiers in Edom, so that David had authority over all the Edomites. The Lord helped David to win all the battles that he fought.
- 2 Chronicles 25:11But Amaziah was brave. He led his army to Salt Valley. There they killed 10,000 soldiers from Edom.
- Psalms 60:8But Moab is the place where I wash my hands. Edom is my servant. I can throw my shoes at him! I will shout loudly, because I have won against the Philistines.’
- Psalms 83:5They agree together what they will do. They join one another to fight against you.
- Isaiah 34:1Come near to me, people of all nations. Listen carefully, everyone! All the earth, and everything that is in it, listen to me! Yes, the whole world, and all who live in it, listen carefully!
- Isaiah 63:1Who is this who is coming from Edom? He is coming from Bozrah and his clothes are bright red. He wears beautiful royal clothes, and he marches forward with great strength. He says, ‘It is me! I, the Lord, tell you that I have won the fight! I have the power to save you.’
Commentaries on Genesis 25:23
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 23Two nations are in thy womb - "We have," says Bishop Newton, "in the prophecies delivered respecting the sons of Isaac, ample proof that these prophecies were not meant so much of single persons as of whole nations descended from them; for what was predicted concerning Esau and Jacob was not verified in themselves, but in their posterity. The Edomites were the offspring of Esau, the Israelites were of Jacob; and who but the Author and Giver of life could…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 19-34Verses 19-34 - LIII. Birth of Esau and Jacob 20. פדן padān Paddan, “plowed field;” related: “cut, plow.” 25. עשׂי ‛êśâv Esaw, “hairy, or made.” 26. יעקב ya‛ăqôb Ja‘aqob, “he shall take the heel.” 27. תם tām “perfect, peaceful, plain.” The epithet refers to disposition, and contrasts the comparatively civilized character of Jacob with the rude temper of Esau. 30. אדים 'ědôm Edom, “red.” The ninth document here begins with the usual phrase, and…Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 19-26Verses 19-26 Isaac seems not to have been much tried, but to have spent his days in quietness. Jacob and Esau were prayed for; their parents, after being long childless, obtained them by prayer. The fulfilment of God's promise is always sure, yet it is often slow. The faith of believers is tried, their patience exercised, and mercies long waited for are more welcome when they come. Isaac and Rebekah kept in view the promise of all nations being blessed in…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 23nations: Jacob and Esau fought in the womb, and their descendants (Israel and Edom) fought continuously throughout their history. In their many conflicts, Israel achieved supremacy over Edom. the older will serve younger: God chose the younger son over the elder, which went against the usual order (compare 48:12–14; see Malachi 1:1–3; Romans 9:11–16).Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 19-3419. these are the generations--account of the leading events in his life.Read the comment
Topics related to Genesis 25:23
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Genesis 25
- 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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