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Jacob and Esau

19 Now these are the generations[a] of Isaac, the son of Abraham. Abraham fathered Isaac, 20 And Isaac was forty years old[b] when he took Rebekah, the daughter of Bethuel the Aramean of Paddan-Aram, the sister of Laban the Aramean, as his wife. 21 And Isaac prayed to Yahweh on behalf of his wife, for she was barren. And Yahweh responded to his prayer, and Rebekah his wife conceived. 22 And the children in her womb jostled each other, and she said, “If it is going to be like this, why be pregnant?”[c] And she went to inquire of Yahweh. 23 And Yahweh said to her, “Two nations are in your womb, and two peoples from birth[d] shall be divided. And one people shall be stronger than the other.[e] And the elder shall serve the younger.” 24 And when her days to give birth were completed,[f] then—behold—twins were in her womb. 25 And the first came out red, all his body[g] was like a hairy coat, so they called his name Esau. 26 And afterward his brother came out, and his hand grasped the heel of Esau, so his name was called Jacob. And Isaac was sixty years old[h] at their birth.

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Footnotes

  1. Genesis 25:19 Or “family records”
  2. Genesis 25:20 Literally “a son of forty years”
  3. Genesis 25:22 Literally “if so, why this I?”
  4. Genesis 25:23 Literally “from your bowels”
  5. Genesis 25:23 Literally “people than people shall be stronger”
  6. Genesis 25:24 Or “full”
  7. Genesis 25:25 Literally “of him”
  8. Genesis 25:26 Literally “a son of sixty years”

19 This is the (A)genealogy of Isaac, Abraham’s son. (B)Abraham begot Isaac. 20 Isaac was forty years old when he took Rebekah as wife, (C)the daughter of Bethuel the Syrian of Padan Aram, (D)the sister of Laban the Syrian. 21 Now Isaac pleaded with the Lord for his wife, because she was barren; (E)and the Lord granted his plea, (F)and Rebekah his wife conceived. 22 But the children struggled together within her; and she said, “If all is well, why am I like this?” (G)So she went to inquire of the Lord.

23 And the Lord said to her:

(H)“Two nations are in your womb,
Two peoples shall be separated from your body;
One people shall be stronger than (I)the other,
(J)And the older shall serve the younger.”

24 So when her days were fulfilled for her to give birth, indeed there were twins in her womb. 25 And the first came out red. He was (K)like a hairy garment all over; so they called his name [a]Esau. 26 Afterward his brother came out, and (L)his hand took hold of Esau’s heel; so (M)his name was called [b]Jacob. Isaac was sixty years old when she bore them.

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Footnotes

  1. Genesis 25:25 Lit. Hairy
  2. Genesis 25:26 Supplanter or Deceitful, lit. One Who Takes the Heel