Add parallel Print Page Options

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 took to wife Rebekah, the daughter of Bethu′el the Aramean of Paddan-aram, the sister of Laban the Aramean. 21 And Isaac prayed to the Lord for his wife, because she was barren; and the Lord granted his prayer, and Rebekah his wife conceived. 22 The children struggled together within her; and she said, “If it is thus, 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.”

24 When her days to be delivered were fulfilled, behold, there were twins in her womb. 25 The first came forth red, all his body like a hairy mantle; so they called his name Esau. 26 Afterward his brother came forth, and his hand had taken hold of Esau’s heel; so his name was called Jacob.[b] Isaac was sixty years old when she bore them.

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. Genesis 25:22 Syr: Heb obscure
  2. Genesis 25:26 That is He takes by the heel or He supplants

19 And these are the generations of Isaac, Abraham’s son: Abraham begat Isaac: 20 and Isaac was forty years old when he took Rebekah, the daughter of Bethuel the Syrian of Paddan-aram, the sister of Laban the [a]Syrian, to be his wife. 21 And Isaac entreated Jehovah for his wife, because she was barren: and Jehovah was entreated of him, and Rebekah his wife conceived. 22 And the children struggled together within her; and she said, If it be so, [b]wherefore do I live? And she went to inquire of Jehovah. 23 And Jehovah said unto her,

Two nations are in thy womb,
And two peoples shall be separated from thy bowels:
And the one people shall be stronger than the other people;
And the elder shall serve the younger.

24 And when her days to be delivered were fulfilled, behold, there were twins in her womb. 25 And the first came forth [c]red, all over like a hairy garment; and they called his name Esau. 26 And after that came forth his brother, and his hand had hold on Esau’s heel; and his name was called [d]Jacob: and Isaac was threescore years old when she bare them.

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. Genesis 25:20 Hebrew Aramean.
  2. Genesis 25:22 Or, wherefore am I thus?
  3. Genesis 25:25 Or, ruddy
  4. Genesis 25:26 That is, One that takes by the heel or supplants.