Genesis 25:19-26
English Standard Version
The Birth of Esau and Jacob
19 These are the generations of Isaac, Abraham's son: (A)Abraham fathered Isaac, 20 and Isaac was forty years old when he took Rebekah, (B)the daughter of Bethuel the Aramean of (C)Paddan-aram, (D)the sister of Laban the Aramean, to be his wife. 21 And Isaac prayed to the Lord for his wife, because she was barren. And (E)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 is this happening to me?”[a] So she went (F)to inquire of the Lord. 23 And the Lord said to her,
(G)“Two nations are in your womb,
and two peoples from within you[b] shall be divided;
(H)the one shall be stronger than the other,
(I)the older shall serve the younger.”
24 When her days to give birth were completed, behold, there were twins in her womb. 25 The first came out red, (J)all his body like a hairy cloak, so they called his name Esau. 26 Afterward his brother came out with (K)his hand holding Esau's heel, so (L)his name was called Jacob.[c] Isaac was sixty years old when she bore them.
Read full chapterFootnotes
- Genesis 25:22 Or why do I live?
- Genesis 25:23 Or from birth
- Genesis 25:26 Jacob means He takes by the heel, or He cheats
Genesis 25:19-26
New Living Translation
The Births of Esau and Jacob
19 This is the account of the family of Isaac, the son of Abraham. 20 When Isaac was forty years old, he married Rebekah, the daughter of Bethuel the Aramean from Paddan-aram and the sister of Laban the Aramean.
21 Isaac pleaded with the Lord on behalf of his wife, because she was unable to have children. The Lord answered Isaac’s prayer, and Rebekah became pregnant with twins. 22 But the two children struggled with each other in her womb. So she went to ask the Lord about it. “Why is this happening to me?” she asked.
23 And the Lord told her, “The sons in your womb will become two nations. From the very beginning, the two nations will be rivals. One nation will be stronger than the other; and your older son will serve your younger son.”
24 And when the time came to give birth, Rebekah discovered that she did indeed have twins! 25 The first one was very red at birth and covered with thick hair like a fur coat. So they named him Esau.[a] 26 Then the other twin was born with his hand grasping Esau’s heel. So they named him Jacob.[b] Isaac was sixty years old when the twins were born.
Read full chapterThe Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
