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 Living Translation (NLT)Leaving Bethel, Jacob and his clan moved on toward Ephrath. But Rachel went into labor while they were still some distance away. Her labor pains were intense.

Context of Genesis 35:16

14So Jacob set up a pillar in the place where He talked with him, a pillar of stone; and he poured a drink offering on it, and he poured oil on it. 15And Jacob called the name of the place where God spoke with him, Bethel. 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. 17Now it came to pass, when she was in hard labor, that the midwife said to her, “Do not fear; you will have this son also.” 18And so it was, as her soul was departing (for she died), that she called his name Ben-Oni; but his father called him Benjamin.

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 5:19Then he said to him, “Go in peace.” So he departed from him a short distance.
• Genesis 48:7But as for me, when I came from Padan, Rachel died beside me in the land of Canaan on the way, when there was but a little distance to go to Ephrath; and I buried her there on the way to Ephrath (that is, Bethlehem).”
• Ruth 1:2The name of the man was Elimelech, the name of his wife was Naomi, and the names of his two sons were Mahlon and Chilion—Ephrathites of Bethlehem, Judah. And they went to the country of Moab and remained there.
• 1 Chronicles 2:19When Azubah died, Caleb took Ephrath as his wife, who bore him Hur.
• Psalms 132:6Behold, we heard of it in Ephrathah; We found it in the fields of the woods.
• Micah 5:2“But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, Though you are little among the thousands of Judah, Yet out of you shall come forth to Me The One to be Ruler in Israel, Whose goings forth are from of old, From everlasting.”
• Matthew 2:1Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem,
• Genesis 3:16To the woman He said: “I will greatly multiply your sorrow and your conception; In pain you shall bring forth children; Your desire shall be for your husband, And he shall rule over you.”
• 1 Timothy 2:15Nevertheless she will be saved in childbearing if they continue in faith, love, and holiness, with self-control.

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
• Change
• Hard
• Pillar
• Pursue
• Travail
• Archaeology; Archaeology and Criticism
• Genealogy
• Genesis

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