Genesis 25:23

23 which answered, and said, Two folks be in thy womb, and two peoples shall be separated from thy womb, and one people shall overturn a people, and the more shall serve the less. (who answered, and said, Two nations be in thy womb, and two peoples shall be taken from thy womb, and one nation shall be stronger than the other nation, and the older shall serve the younger.)

Genesis 25:23 Meaning and Commentary

Genesis 25:23

And the Lord said unto her
Either by one or other of the above persons she acquainted with this affair, and entreated to seek the Lord for her; or by an impulse upon her own mind: two nations [are] in thy womb;
or two persons, from whom two nations will spring, the Edomites and Israelites, the one from Esau, the other from Jacob: and two manner of people shall be separated from thy bowels;
different in their bodies, complexions, manner of life, religion, as well as place of abode: and [the one] people shall be stronger than [the other] people:
the Edomites, the posterity of Esau, were a very potent people, and had a succession of dukes and kings, before the Israelites, the posterity of Jacob, made any figure in the world, and while they were slaves in Egypt, see ( Genesis 36:1-43 ) ; though in later times the Israelites became the stronger: and the elder,
or "greater", shall serve the younger,
or "lesser": the offspring of Esau, the eldest, should become tributary to the posterity of Jacob, the younger; which was verified in the times of David, when the Edomites were subdued by him, ( 2 Samuel 8:14 ) ; and still more in the times of Hyrcanus, when the Edomites or Idumeans became one people with the Jews, and embraced their religion F5, rather than to be dispossessed of their country; and will have a further accomplishment in the latter day, when the prophecies in ( Obadiah 1:18-21 ) shall be fulfilled. Of the use which the Apostle Paul makes of this passage, (See Gill on Romans 9:11), (See Gill on Romans 9:12).


FOOTNOTES:

F5 Joseph. Antiqu. l. 13. c. 9. sect. 1.

Genesis 25:23 In-Context

21 And Isaac besought the Lord for his wife, for she was barren; and the Lord heard him, and gave conceiving to Rebecca.
22 But the little children were hurtled together in her womb; and she said, If it was so to coming to me, what need was it to conceive? (and she said, If such was to come to me, what meaneth it?) And she went to ask (the) counsel of the Lord,
23 which answered, and said, Two folks be in thy womb, and two peoples shall be separated from thy womb, and one people shall overturn a people, and the more shall serve the less. (who answered, and said, Two nations be in thy womb, and two peoples shall be taken from thy womb, and one nation shall be stronger than the other nation, and the older shall serve the younger.)
24 Then the time of child-bearing came, and lo! two children were found in her womb.
25 He that went out first was red, and all rough in the manner of a skin; and his name was called Esau.
Copyright © 2001 by Terence P. Noble. For personal use only.