Genesis 25:19-26
Holman Christian Standard Bible
The Birth of Jacob and Esau
19 These are the family records of Isaac son of Abraham. Abraham fathered Isaac.(A) 20 Isaac was 40 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 heard 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 people 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 60 years old when they were born.
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- Genesis 25:22 Lit If thus, why this I
- Genesis 25:25 In Hb, the word red-looking sounds like “Edom”; Gn 32:3.
- Genesis 25:25 In Hb, the word hair sounds like “Seir”; Gn 32:3.
- Genesis 25:26 = He Grasps the Heel
Genesis 25:19-26
Common English Bible
Jacob and Esau are born
19 These are the descendants of Isaac, Abraham’s son. Abraham became the father of Isaac. 20 Isaac was 40 years old when he married Rebekah the daughter of Bethuel the Aramean and the sister of Laban the Aramean, from Paddan-aram. 21 Isaac prayed to the Lord for his wife, since she was unable to have children. The Lord was moved by his prayer, and his wife Rebekah became pregnant. 22 But the boys pushed against each other inside of her, and she said, “If this is what it’s like, why did it happen to me?”[a]
So she went to ask the Lord. 23 And the Lord said to her,
“Two nations are in your womb;
two different peoples will emerge from your body.
One people will be stronger than the other;
the older will serve the younger.”
24 When she reached the end of her pregnancy, she discovered that she had twins. 25 The first came out red all over, clothed with hair, and she named him Esau. 26 Immediately afterward, his brother came out gripping Esau’s heel, and she named him Jacob. Isaac was 60 years old when they were born.
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- Genesis 25:22 Heb uncertain
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