Genesis 25:19-26
New American Standard Bible
Isaac’s Sons
19 Now these are the records of (A)the generations of Isaac, Abraham’s son: Abraham fathered Isaac; 20 and Isaac was forty years old when he took (B)Rebekah, the (C)daughter of Bethuel the [a]Aramean of Paddan-aram, the (D)sister of Laban the [b]Aramean, to be his wife. 21 Isaac prayed to the Lord on behalf of his wife, because she was unable to have children; and (E)the Lord [c]answered him, and his wife Rebekah (F)conceived. 22 But the children struggled together within her; and she said, “If it is so, why am I in this condition?” So she went to (G)inquire of the Lord. 23 And the Lord said to her,
“(H)Two nations are in your womb;
(I)And two peoples will be separated from your body;
And one people will be stronger than the other;
And (J)the older will serve the younger.”
24 When her days leading to the delivery were at an end, behold, there were twins in her womb. 25 Now the first came out red, (K)all over like a hairy garment; and they named him Esau. 26 Afterward his brother came out with (L)his hand holding on to Esau’s heel, so (M)he was named [d]Jacob; and Isaac was (N)sixty years old when she gave birth to them.
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- Genesis 25:20 I.e., Syrian
- Genesis 25:20 I.e., Syrian
- Genesis 25:21 Lit was entreated of him
- Genesis 25:26 I.e., one who takes by the heel or supplants
Genesis 25:19-26
International Standard Version
The Births of Esau and Jacob
19 This is the account of Isaac, Abraham’s son. Abraham fathered Isaac. 20 Isaac was forty years old when he married[a] Rebekah, the daughter of Bethuel, the Aramean[b] from Paddan-aram[c] and sister of Laban the Aramean.[d] 21 Later, Isaac prayed to the Lord on behalf of his wife, since she was unable to conceive children, and the Lord responded to him—his wife Rebekah became pregnant.
22 But when the infants[e] kept on wrestling each other inside her womb,[f] she asked herself, “Why is this happening?”[g] So she asked the Lord for an explanation.[h]
23 “Two nations[i] are in your womb,” the Lord responded, “and two separate people will emerge. One people will be the stronger, and the older one will serve the younger.”
24 Sure enough, when her due date arrived, she delivered twin sons.[j] 25 The first son came out reddish—his entire body was covered with hair—so they named him Esau.[k] 26 After that, his brother came out with his hand clutching Esau’s heel, so they named him Jacob.[l] Isaac was 60 years old when they were born.
Read full chapterFootnotes
- Genesis 25:20 Lit. took
- Genesis 25:20 In later centuries this region would be called Syria
- Genesis 25:20 Paddan-aram was located in northwest Mesopotamia
- Genesis 25:20 In later centuries this region would be called Syria
- Genesis 25:22 Lit. sons
- Genesis 25:22 Or within her
- Genesis 25:22 Lit. If so . . . why this I?
- Genesis 25:22 The Heb. lacks for an explanation
- Genesis 25:23 Or two infants
- Genesis 25:24 Lit. twins from her womb
- Genesis 25:25 The Heb. name Esau means hairy
- Genesis 25:26 The Heb. name Jacob means heel grabber
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