Genesis 25:21

21 And Isaac entreated the LORD for his wife, because she was barren; and the LORD was entreated by him, and Rebekah his wife conceived.

Genesis 25:21 Meaning and Commentary

Genesis 25:21

And Isaac entreated the Lord for his wife
Was very earnest and constant in his supplications for her, as the word signifies, as is observed by Jarchi; or, "before his wife" F1, she being present, and joining with him in his prayers: the reason was, because she [was] barren;
which appeared by the length of time they had been married, which was near twenty years, see ( Genesis 25:26 ) . The Jewish writers F2 say, that, after twenty years, Isaac took her and went with her to Mount Moriah, to the place where he was bound, and prayed that she might conceive; putting the Lord in mind of the promise he there made of the multiplication of Abraham's seed, ( Genesis 22:17 Genesis 22:18 ) : and the Lord was entreated of him;
he granted him his request; for, though God has purposed and promised to do many things for his people, yet he will be sought unto by them to do them for them: and Rebekah his wife conceived;
two sons at once, as it follows.


FOOTNOTES:

F1 (wtva xknl) "praesente uxore sua", Munster, Fagins.
F2 Pirke Eliezer, c. 32. Targum. Jon. in loc. Shalshalet Hakabala, fol. 3. 1.

Genesis 25:21 In-Context

19 And these are the generations of Isaac, Abraham's son. Abraham begot Isaac.
20 And Isaac was forty years old when he took Rebekah for a wife, the daughter of Bethuel the Syrian of Padanaram, the sister of Laban the Syrian.
21 And Isaac entreated the LORD for his wife, because she was barren; and the LORD was entreated by him, and Rebekah his wife conceived.
22 And the children struggled together within her; and she said, "If it be so, why am I thus?" And she went to inquire of the LORD.
23 And the LORD said unto her, "Two nations are in thy womb, and two manner of people shall be separated from thy body; and the one people shall be stronger than the other people, and the elder shall serve the younger."
Third Millennium Bible (TMB), New Authorized Version, Copyright 1998 by Deuel Enterprises, Inc., Gary, SD 57237. All rights reserved.