Genesis 25:19-26

Jacob and Esau

19 This is the account of Abraham’s son Isaac. Abraham became the father of Isaac, ¹

20 and Isaac was forty years old when he married Rebekah, the daughter of Bethuel the Aramean from Paddan-aram ^[a] 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.” ^[b]

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. ^[c]

26 After this, his brother came out grasping Esau’s heel; so he was named Jacob. ^[d] And Isaac was sixty years old when the twins were born.

Genesis 25:19-26 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO GENESIS 25

This chapter contains an account of Abraham's marriage with another woman, and of the children he had by her and of their posterity Ge 25:1-4; of Abraham's disposal of his substance; and his sons, Ge 25:5,6; of the years of his life, his death and burial, Ge 25:7-11; of the children of Ishmael, and of the years of his life, and of his death, Ge 25:12-18; and of the sons of Isaac the fruit of prayer, and of the oracle concerning them before they were born, and of their temper and disposition, conduct and behaviour, Ge 25:19-34.

Cross References

• 1. (Malachi 1:1–5; Romans 9:6–29)

Footnotes

• [a] That is, northwest Mesopotamia
• [b] Cited in Romans 9:12
• [c] Esau sounds like a Hebrew term that means hairy.
• [d] Jacob means he grasps the heel or he deceives.