Genesis 25:22

Genesis 25:22 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)And the children struggled together within her; and she said, If it be so, why am I thus? And she went to enquire of the Lord.
• New International Version (NIV)The babies jostled each other within her, and she said, “Why is this happening to me?” So she went to inquire of the Lord.
• English Standard Version (ESV)The children struggled together within her, and she said, "If it is thus, why is this happening to me?" So she went to inquire of the Lord.
• New King James Version (NKJV)But the children struggled together within her; and she said, “If all is well, why am I like this?” So she went to inquire of the Lord.

Context of Genesis 25:22

20When Isaac was forty years old, he married Rebekah, the daughter of Bethuel the Aramean from Paddan-aram and the sister of Laban the Aramean. 21Isaac pleaded with the Lord on behalf of his wife, because she was unable to have children. The Lord answered Isaac’s prayer, and Rebekah became pregnant with twins. But the two children struggled with each other in her womb. So she went to ask the Lord about it. “Why is this happening to me?” she asked. 23And the Lord told her, “The sons in your womb will become two nations. From the very beginning, the two nations will be rivals. One nation will be stronger than the other; and your older son will serve your younger son.” 24And when the time came to give birth, Rebekah discovered that she did indeed have twins!

Genesis 25:22 word by word

וַיִּתְרֹֽצֲצ֤וּ הַבָּנִים֙ בְּקִרְבָּ֔הּ וַתֹּ֣אמֶר אִם־כֵּ֔ן לָ֥מָּה זֶּ֖ה אָנֹ֑כִי וַתֵּ֖לֶךְ לִדְרֹ֥שׁ אֶת־יְהוָֽה׃Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• And the childrenבֵּןbên · son: childH1121
• struggled togetherרָצַץrâtsats · to crushH7533
• within herקֶ֫רֶבqereb · entrails: amongH7130
• and she saidאָמַר'âmar · to sayH559
• I thusזֶהzeh · thisH2088
• And she wentיָלַךְyâlak · to walkH3212
• to enquireדָּרַשׁdârash · to seekH1875
• of the Lordיְהֹוָהyehôvâh · LORDH3068

Cross-references for Genesis 25:22

• 1 Samuel 9:9(In those days if people wanted a message from God, they would say, “Let’s go and ask the seer,” for prophets used to be called seers.)
• 1 Samuel 10:22So they asked the Lord, “Where is he?” And the Lord replied, “He is hiding among the baggage.”
• 1 Samuel 22:15This was certainly not the first time I had consulted God for him! May the king not accuse me and my family in this matter, for I knew nothing at all of any plot against you.”
• 1 Samuel 28:6He asked the Lord what he should do, but the Lord refused to answer him, either by dreams or by sacred lots or by the prophets.
• 1 Samuel 30:8Then David asked the Lord, “Should I chase after this band of raiders? Will I catch them?” And the Lord told him, “Yes, go after them. You will surely recover everything that was taken from you!”
• Ezekiel 20:31For when you offer gifts to them and give your little children to be burned as sacrifices, you continue to pollute yourselves with idols to this day. Should I allow you to ask for a message from me, O people of Israel? As surely as I live, says the Sovereign Lord, I will tell you nothing.
• Ezekiel 36:37“This is what the Sovereign Lord says: I am ready to hear Israel’s prayers and to increase their numbers like a flock.

Commentaries on Genesis 25:22

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 22The children struggled together - יתרצצו yithrotsatsu, they dashed against or bruised each other, there was a violent agitation, so that the mother was apprehensive both of her own and her children's safety; and, supposing this was an uncommon case, she went to inquire of the Lord, as the good women in the present day would go to consult a surgeon or physician; for intercourse with God is not so common now, as it was in those times of great primitive…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. 22When Rebekah’s pregnancy was difficult, she went to ask the LORD about it. She likely did this by visiting a prophet (a person who speaks God’s message), possibly Abraham (20:7; see study note on 25:7–8).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 25:22

• Esau
• Isaac
• Prayer
• Rebekah (Rebecca)

In the dictionaries

• Rebekah
• Swear
• Atonement, Day of
• Genealogy
• Genesis
• Law in the Old Testament
• Leviticus
• Obadiah, Book of

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