Genesis 35:18

Genesis 35:18 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)And it came to pass, as her soul was in departing, (for she died) that she called his name Ben–oni: but his father called him Benjamin.
• English Standard Version (ESV)And as her soul was departing (for she was dying), she called his name Ben-oni; but his father called him Benjamin.
• New King James Version (NKJV)And so it was, as her soul was departing (for she died), that she called his name Ben-Oni; but his father called him Benjamin.
• New Living Translation (NLT)Rachel was about to die, but with her last breath she named the baby Ben-oni (which means “son of my sorrow”). The baby’s father, however, called him Benjamin (which means “son of my right hand”).

Context of Genesis 35:18

16Then they moved on from Bethel. While they were still some distance from Ephrath, Rachel began to give birth and had great difficulty. 17And as she was having great difficulty in childbirth, the midwife said to her, “Don’t despair, for you have another son.” As she breathed her last—for she was dying—she named her son Ben-Oni. But his father named him Benjamin. 19So Rachel died and was buried on the way to Ephrath (that is, Bethlehem). 20Over her tomb Jacob set up a pillar, and to this day that pillar marks Rachel’s tomb.

Genesis 35:18 word by word

וַיְהִ֞י בְּצֵ֤את נַפְשָׁהּ֙ כִּ֣י מֵ֔תָה וַתִּקְרָ֥א שְׁמ֖וֹ בֶּן־אוֹנִ֑י וְאָבִ֖יו קָֽרָא־ל֥וֹ בִנְיָמִֽין׃Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• And it came to pass, as her soulנֶ֫פֶשׁnephesh · soulH5315
• was in departingיָצָאyâtsâ' · to come out: comeH3318
• for she diedמוּתmûth · to dieH4191
• that she calledקָרָאqârâ' · to call: call byH7121
• his nameשֵׁםshêm · nameH8034
• Ben–oniבֶּן־אוֹנִ֑יben-'ônîy · Ben-oniH1126
• but his fatherאָב'âb · fatherH1
• him Benjaminבִּנְיָמִיןbinyâmîyn · BenjaminH1144

Cross-references for Genesis 35:18

• Genesis 30:1When Rachel saw that she was not bearing Jacob any children, she became jealous of her sister. So she said to Jacob, “Give me children, or I’ll die!”
• 1 Samuel 4:20As she was dying, the women attending her said, “Don’t despair; you have given birth to a son.” But she did not respond or pay any attention.
• Psalms 16:10because you will not abandon me to the realm of the dead, nor will you let your faithful one see decay.
• Exodus 12:7Then they are to take some of the blood and put it on the sides and tops of the doorframes of the houses where they eat the lambs.
• Lamentations 2:12They say to their mothers, “Where is bread and wine?” as they faint like the wounded in the streets of the city, as their lives ebb away in their mothers’ arms.
• Luke 12:20“But God said to him, ‘You fool! This very night your life will be demanded from you. Then who will get what you have prepared for yourself?’
• Luke 23:46Jesus called out with a loud voice, “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit.” When he had said this, he breathed his last.
• Acts 7:59While they were stoning him, Stephen prayed, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.”
• 1 Chronicles 4:9Jabez was more honorable than his brothers. His mother had named him Jabez, saying, “I gave birth to him in pain.”
• Genesis 42:4But Jacob did not send Benjamin, Joseph’s brother, with the others, because he was afraid that harm might come to him.
• Genesis 43:14And may God Almighty grant you mercy before the man so that he will let your other brother and Benjamin come back with you. As for me, if I am bereaved, I am bereaved.”
• Genesis 44:27“Your servant my father said to us, ‘You know that my wife bore me two sons.
• Psalms 80:17Let your hand rest on the man at your right hand, the son of man you have raised up for yourself.
• Genesis 44:20And we answered, ‘We have an aged father, and there is a young son born to him in his old age. His brother is dead, and he is the only one of his mother’s sons left, and his father loves him.’

Commentaries on Genesis 35:18

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 18As her soul was in departing - Is not this a proof that there is an immortal spirit in man, which can exist separate from and independent of the body? Of Rachel's death it is said, נפשה בצאת betseth naphshah, in the going away of her soul; her body did not go away, therefore her soul and body must have been distinct. If her breath only had been in tended, נשמה neshamah or רוח ruach would have rather been used, as the first means breath, the latter breath…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. 18Rachel felt that the name Ben-oni, meaning “son of my sorrow,” fit the moment. But Jacob did not want his son to carry such a sad name, so he changed it to Benjamin, meaning “son of my right hand.” In this way, Jacob changed a moment of sorrow into one of hope and gave his son a name that pointed to blessing and strength.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1818. She called his name Ben-oni--The dying mother gave this name to her child, significant of her circumstances; but Jacob changed his name into Benjamin. This is thought by some to have been originally Benjamin, "a son of days," that is, of old age. But with its present ending it means "son of the right hand," that is, particularly dear and precious.Read the comment

Topics related to Genesis 35:18

• Ben-Oni
• Benjamin
• Jacob
• Rachel

In the dictionaries

• Benjamin
• Benjamin, Benjaminite
• Ben-Oni
• Change
• Hard
• Pillar
• Pursue
• Travail
• Archaeology; Archaeology and Criticism
• Death

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