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19 This is the history of the generations of Isaac, Abraham’s son. Abraham became the father of Isaac. 20 Isaac was forty years old when he took Rebekah, the daughter of Bethuel the Syrian of Paddan Aram, the sister of Laban the Syrian, to be his wife. 21 Isaac entreated Yahweh for his wife, because she was barren. Yahweh was entreated by him, and Rebekah his wife conceived. 22 The children struggled together within her. She said, “If it is like this, why do I live?” She went to inquire of Yahweh. 23 Yahweh said to her,

“Two nations are in your womb.
Two peoples will be separated from your body.
The one people will be stronger than the other people.
The elder will serve the younger.”

24 When her days to be delivered were fulfilled, behold, there were twins in her womb. 25 The first came out red all over, like a hairy garment. They named him Esau. 26 After that, his brother came out, and his hand had hold on Esau’s heel. He was named Jacob. Isaac was sixty years old when she bore them.

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The Birth of Jacob and Esau

19 These are the family records of Isaac son of Abraham. Abraham fathered Isaac.(A) 20 Isaac was forty years old when he took as his wife Rebekah(B) daughter of Bethuel the Aramean from Paddan-aram(C) and sister of Laban the Aramean.(D) 21 Isaac prayed to the Lord on behalf of his wife because she was childless.(E) The Lord was receptive to his prayer, and his wife Rebekah conceived.(F) 22 But the children inside her struggled with each other, and she said, “Why is this happening to me?” [a] So she went to inquire of the Lord.(G) 23 And the Lord said to her:

Two nations are in your womb;
two peoples will come from you and be separated.
One people will be stronger than the other,(H)
and the older will serve the younger.(I)

24 When her time came to give birth, there were indeed twins in her womb. 25 The first one came out red-looking,[b] covered with hair[c] like a fur coat, and they named him Esau.(J) 26 After this, his brother came out grasping Esau’s heel with his hand.(K) So he was named Jacob.[d](L) Isaac was sixty years old when they were born.

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Footnotes

  1. 25:22 Lit said, “If thus, why this I?”
  2. 25:25 In Hb, red-looking sounds like “Edom”; Gn 32:3.
  3. 25:25 In Hb, hair sounds like “Seir”; Gn 32:3.
  4. 25:26 = He Grasps the Heel