Genesis 25:23

And the Lord said to her, “There are 2 boys inside you. One day, they will be 2 nations. And they will be against each other all the time. One nation will be stronger than the other, and the boy that is born second will be the boss over the boy that is born first.”

Barkly (portions)

In The King James Version

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.

In Context

22But she was going to have twins and they started to fight each other even before they were born. Rebekah was upset and said to herself, “Why is this happening to me?” Then she prayed to the Lord.

24On the day the twins were born, the first one was all red and had hair all over his body like a coat, and so they named him Esau.

Read all of Genesis 25

Cross References

Genesis 17:4“This is my side of the promise. You are going to be the father of many nations. A lot of people are going to come from you.

Genesis 27:29I ask God to make you strong so that you are boss over other nations, and they will bow down to show you respect. My son, I ask God to make you the boss over your brothers and that your brothers will bow down and show you respect too. I ask God that if anyone puts a curse on you, they will get a curse from God, but if anyone does good things for you, I ask God to do good things for them.” Isaac finished saying these words and Jacob went outside.

Genesis 27:40You will fight and steal from other people to get food all your life. Your brother will be your boss, but one day you will make up your mind to break free from him.”

Genesis 33:3Jacob went out the front and walked towards his brother. On the way, he stopped and bowed down to the ground 7 times to show respect for his brother.

Genesis 48:19But his father would not move his hand. He said to Joseph, “I know that he was born first. He will be a great man and a big family will come from him. But I tell you the younger brother will be more important than the older brother, and a group of nations will come from his family.”

Matthew Henry on Genesis 25:20-29

Birth of Esau and Jacob. ( b. c. 1837.) 19 And these are the generations of Isaac, Abraham's son: Abraham begat Isaac: 20 And Isaac was forty years old when he took Rebekah to wife, the daughter of Bethuel the Syrian of Padan-aram, the sister to Laban the Syrian. 21 And Isaac intreated the Lord for his wife, because she was barren: and the Lord was intreated of 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 enquire… Read the whole commentary →

This Verse In Other Editions

Study Genesis 25:23