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.
• New International Version (NIV)As she breathed her last—for she was dying—she named her son Ben-Oni. But his father named 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 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 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.” 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. 19So Rachel died and was buried on the way to Ephrath (that is, Bethlehem). 20And Jacob set a pillar on her grave, which is the pillar of Rachel’s grave to this day.

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 30:1Now when Rachel saw that she bore Jacob no children, Rachel envied her sister, and said to Jacob, “Give me children, or else I die!”
• 1 Samuel 4:20And about the time of her death the women who stood by her said to her, “Do not fear, for you have borne a son.” But she did not answer, nor did she regard it.
• Psalms 16:10For You will not leave my soul in Sheol, Nor will You allow Your Holy One to see corruption.
• Exodus 12:7And they shall take some of the blood and put it on the two doorposts and on the lintel of the houses where they eat it.
• Lamentations 2:12They say to their mothers, “Where is grain and wine?” As they swoon like the wounded In the streets of the city, As their life is poured out In their mothers’ bosom.
• Luke 12:20But God said to him, ‘Fool! This night your soul will be required of you; then whose will those things be which you have provided?’
• Luke 23:46And when Jesus had cried out with a loud voice, He said, “Father, ‘into Your hands I commit My spirit.’ ” Having said this, He breathed His last.
• Acts 7:59And they stoned Stephen as he was calling on God and saying, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.”
• 1 Chronicles 4:9Now Jabez was more honorable than his brothers, and his mother called his name Jabez, saying, “Because I bore him in pain.”
• Genesis 42:4But Jacob did not send Joseph’s brother Benjamin with his brothers, for he said, “Lest some calamity befall him.”
• Genesis 43:14And may God Almighty give you mercy before the man, that he may release your other brother and Benjamin. If I am bereaved, I am bereaved!”
• Genesis 44:27Then your servant my father said to us, ‘You know that my wife bore me two sons;
• Psalms 80:17Let Your hand be upon the man of Your right hand, Upon the son of man whom You made strong for Yourself.
• Genesis 44:20And we said to my lord, ‘We have a father, an old man, and a child of his old age, who is young; his brother is dead, and he alone is left of his mother’s children, 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
• Ben-Oni
• Change
• Hard
• Pillar
• Pursue
• Travail
• Archaeology; Archaeology and Criticism
• Death
• Genealogy

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