Genesis 25:19-26
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
The Birth and Youth of Esau and Jacob
19 These are the descendants of Isaac, Abraham’s son: Abraham was the father of Isaac, 20 and Isaac was forty years old when he married Rebekah, daughter of Bethuel the Aramean of Paddan-aram, sister of Laban the Aramean.(A) 21 Isaac prayed to the Lord for his wife because she was barren, and the Lord granted his prayer, and his wife Rebekah conceived.(B) 22 The children struggled together within her, and she said, “If it is to be this way, why do I live?”[a] So she went to inquire of the Lord. 23 And the Lord said to her,
“Two nations are in your womb,
and two peoples born of you shall be divided;
the one shall be stronger than the other;
the elder shall serve the younger.”(C)
24 When her time to give birth was at hand, there were twins in her womb. 25 The first came out red, all his body like a hairy mantle, so they named him Esau.(D) 26 Afterward his brother came out, with his hand gripping Esau’s heel, so he was named Jacob.[b] Isaac was sixty years old when she bore them.(E)
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Genesis 25:19-26
International Standard Version
The Births of Esau and Jacob
19 This is the account of Isaac, Abraham’s son. Abraham fathered Isaac. 20 Isaac was forty years old when he married[a] Rebekah, the daughter of Bethuel, the Aramean[b] from Paddan-aram[c] and sister of Laban the Aramean.[d] 21 Later, Isaac prayed to the Lord on behalf of his wife, since she was unable to conceive children, and the Lord responded to him—his wife Rebekah became pregnant.
22 But when the infants[e] kept on wrestling each other inside her womb,[f] she asked herself, “Why is this happening?”[g] So she asked the Lord for an explanation.[h]
23 “Two nations[i] are in your womb,” the Lord responded, “and two separate people will emerge. One people will be the stronger, and the older one will serve the younger.”
24 Sure enough, when her due date arrived, she delivered twin sons.[j] 25 The first son came out reddish—his entire body was covered with hair—so they named him Esau.[k] 26 After that, his brother came out with his hand clutching Esau’s heel, so they named him Jacob.[l] Isaac was 60 years old when they were born.
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- Genesis 25:20 Lit. took
- Genesis 25:20 In later centuries this region would be called Syria
- Genesis 25:20 Paddan-aram was located in northwest Mesopotamia
- Genesis 25:20 In later centuries this region would be called Syria
- Genesis 25:22 Lit. sons
- Genesis 25:22 Or within her
- Genesis 25:22 Lit. If so . . . why this I?
- Genesis 25:22 The Heb. lacks for an explanation
- Genesis 25:23 Or two infants
- Genesis 25:24 Lit. twins from her womb
- Genesis 25:25 The Heb. name Esau means hairy
- Genesis 25:26 The Heb. name Jacob means heel grabber
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