Genesis 25:21

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.

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.

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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 This is the account of Abraham’s son Isaac. Abraham became the father of Isaac,

20 and Isaac was forty years old when he married Rebekah, the daughter of Bethuel the Aramean from Paddan-aram and the sister of Laban the Aramean.

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,

23 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.”