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 King James Version (NKJV)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.

Context of Genesis 35:16

14Jacob set up a memorial stone in the place where He had spoken with him—a stone pillar—and he poured a drink offering on it and poured oil on it. 15Jacob named the place where God spoke with him Beth-El. Then they traveled from Beth-El, and while they were still a distance from entering Ephrath, Rachel began to give birth, but her labor was difficult. 17While she was struggling to give birth, the midwife said to her, “Don’t be afraid, for this is also a son for you.” 18Now as her soul was departing (for she died), she named him Ben-Oni, but his father named 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 5:19Elisha said to him, “Go in peace.” So Naaman departed from him some distance.
• Genesis 48:7“Now as for me, when I came from Paddan, to my sorrow Rachel died along the way, in the land of Canaan, while we were still a distance from entering Ephrath. And I buried her there on the way to Ephrath (that is, Bethlehem).”
• Ruth 1:2The man’s name was Elimelech, his wife’s name was Naomi, and his two sons were named Mahlon and Chilion. They were Ephratites from Bethlehem in Judah. They came to the region of Moab and remained there.
• 1 Chronicles 2:19When Azubah died, Caleb married Ephrath, who bore him Hur.
• Psalms 132:6Behold, we heard of it in Ephratha, we found it in the fields of Joar.
• Micah 5:2Therefore He will give them up until the time when she who is in labor has given birth. Then the remnant of His brothers will return to Bnei-Yisrael.
• Matthew 2:1Now after Yeshua was born in Bethlehem of Judea, in the days of King Herod, magi from the east came to Jerusalem,
• Genesis 3:16To the woman He said, “I will greatly increase your pain from conception to labor. In pain will you give birth to children. Your desire will be toward your husband, yet he must rule over you.”
• 1 Timothy 2:15Nevertheless, she will be sustained through childbearing—if they continue in faithfulness and love and holiness, with sound judgment.

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
• Ephratah, or Ephrath
• Bethlehem
• Change
• Ephratah
• Hard
• Pillar
• Pursue
• Travail

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