Genesis 25:23

Covenant and promises God's will and calling

²¹ Later, Isaac prayed to the LORD on behalf of his wife, because she was barren. And the LORD heard his prayer, and his wife Rebekah conceived.

²² But the children inside her struggled with each other, and she said, “Why is this happening to me?” So Rebekah went to inquire of the LORD,

and He declared to her: “Two nations are in your womb, and two peoples from within you will be separated; one people will be stronger than the other, and the older will serve the younger.”

²⁴ When her time came to give birth, there were indeed twins in her womb.

²⁵ The first one came out red, covered with hair like a fur coat; so they named him Esau.

Here the Bible tells a story about someone else. Ask yourself what it can say to us today. Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.

Compare

BSB: and He declared to her: “Two nations are in your womb, and two peoples from within you will be separated; one people will be stronger than the other, and the older will serve the younger.”
KJV: And the LORD said unto her, Two nations are in thy womb, and two manner of people shall be separated from thy bowels; and the one people shall be stronger than the other people; and the elder shall serve the younger.
WEB: The LORD 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.”
ASV: And Jehovah said unto her, Two nations are in thy womb, And two peoples shall be separated from thy bowels. And the one people shall be stronger than the other people. And the elder shall serve the younger.
DARBY: And Jehovah said to her, Two nations are in thy womb, And two peoples shall be separated from thy bowels; And one people shall be stronger than the other people, And the elder shall serve the younger.
BLB: And YHWH said to her, “Two nations [are] in your womb, and two peoples from your bowels shall be separated; and one people shall be stronger than the other, and the older will serve the younger.”

ÅB: Og Herren sa til henne: I ditt liv er det to folk, og fra ditt skjød skal to folkeslag skille seg at; det ene folk skal være sterkere enn det andre, og den eldste skal tjene den yngste.
OTB: Herren sa til henne: "To nasjoner er i ditt liv, og to folk skal skilles fra din kropp; det ene folket skal være sterkere enn det andre, og den eldste skal tjene den yngste."
B1930: Og Herren sa til henne: I ditt liv er det to folk, og fra ditt skjød skal to folkeslag skille sig at; det ene folk skal være sterkere enn det andre, og den eldste skal tjene den yngste.

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

Romans 9:10–13
Not only that, but Rebecca’s children were conceived by one man, our father Isaac.
Read in context
Genesis 27:40
You shall live by the sword and serve your brother. But when you rebel, you will tear his yoke from your neck.”
Read in context
Genesis 27:29
May peoples serve you and nations bow down to you. May you be the master of your brothers, and may the sons of your mother bow down to you. May those who curse you be cursed, and those who bless you be blessed.”
Read in context
2 Samuel 8:14
He placed garrisons throughout Edom, and all the Edomites were subject to David. So the LORD made David victorious wherever he went.
Read in context
Malachi 1:2–5
“I have loved you,” says the LORD. But you ask, “How have You loved us?” “Was not Esau Jacob’s brother?” declares the LORD. “Yet Jacob I have loved,
Read in context
Genesis 24:60
And they blessed Rebekah and said to her, “Our sister, may you become the mother of thousands upon thousands. May your offspring possess the gates of their enemies.”
Read in context
Genesis 17:16
And I will bless her and will surely give you a son by her. I will bless her, and she will be the mother of nations; kings of peoples will descend from her.”
Read in context
1 Chronicles 18:13
He placed garrisons in Edom, and all the Edomites were subject to David. So the LORD made David victorious wherever he went.
Read in context