Genesis 25:23

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

21And Isaac intreated Yhwh for his wife, because she was barren: And Yhwh was intreated of him, and Rebekah his wife conceived. 22And the children struggled together within her; and she said, If it be so, why am I thus? And she went to enquire of Yhwh. And Yhwh 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. 24And when her days to be delivered were fulfilled, behold, there were twins in her womb. 25And the first came out red, all over like an hairy garment; and they called his name Esau.

Genesis 25:23 word by word

וַיֹּ֨אמֶר יְהוָ֜ה לָ֗הּ שְׁנֵ֤י גוֹיִם֙ בְּבִטְנֵ֔ךְ וּשְׁנֵ֣י לְאֻמִּ֔ים מִמֵּעַ֖יִךְ יִפָּרֵ֑דוּ וּלְאֹם֙ מִלְאֹ֣ם יֶֽאֱמָ֔ץ וְרַ֖ב יַעֲבֹ֥ד צָעִֽיר׃Read the interlinear

• And Yhwhיְהֹוָהyehôvâh · 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 17:16And I will bless her, and give thee a son also of her: yea, I will bless her, and she shall be a mother of nations; kings of people shall be of her.
• Genesis 24:60And they blessed Rebekah, and said unto her, Thou art our sister, be thou the mother of thousands of tens of thousands, and let thy seed possess the gate of those which hate them.
• Genesis 25:27And the boys grew: and Esau was a cunning hunter, a man of the field; and Jacob was a plain man, dwelling in tents.
• Genesis 32:6And the messengers returned to Jacob, saying, We came to thy brother Esau, and also he cometh to meet thee, and four hundred men with him.
• Genesis 33:3And he passed over before them, and bowed himself to the ground seven times, until he came near to his brother.
• Genesis 36:31And these are the kings that reigned in the land of Edom, before there reigned any king over the children of Israel.
• Numbers 20:14And Moses sent messengers from Kadesh unto the king of Edom, Thus saith thy brother Israel, Thou knowest all the travail that hath befallen us:
• Genesis 27:29Let people serve thee, and nations bow down to thee: be lord over thy brethren, and let thy mother’s sons bow down to thee: cursed be every one that curseth thee, and blessed be he that blesseth thee.
• 2 Samuel 8:14And he put garrisons in Edom; throughout all Edom put he garrisons, and all they of Edom became David’s servants. And Yhwh preserved David whithersoever he went.
• 1 Kings 22:47There was then no king in Edom: a deputy was king.
• 1 Chronicles 18:13And he put garrisons in Edom; and all the Edomites became David’s servants. Thus Yhwh preserved David whithersoever he went.
• 2 Chronicles 25:11And Amaziah strengthened himself, and led forth his people, and went to the valley of salt, and smote of the children of Seir ten thousand.
• Psalms 60:8Moab is my washpot; over Edom will I cast out my shoe: Philistia, triumph thou because of me.
• Psalms 83:5For they have consulted together with one consent: they are confederate against thee:
• Isaiah 34:1Come near, ye nations, to hear; and hearken, ye people: let the earth hear, and all that is therein; the world, and all things that come forth of it.
• Isaiah 63:1Who is this that cometh from Edom, with dyed garments from Bozrah? this that is glorious in his apparel, travelling in the greatness of his strength? I that speak in righteousness, mighty to save.

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

• Edomites
• Esau
• Isaac
• Israel
• Jacob
• Prayer
• Quotations and Allusions
• Rebekah (Rebecca)

In the dictionaries

• Firstborn
• Rebekah
• Swear
• Atonement, Day of
• Esau
• Firstborn; Firstling
• Genealogy
• Genesis
• Jacob (1)
• Leviticus

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