Genesis 22:20 kjv

And it came to pass after these things, that it was told Abraham, saying, Behold, Milcah, she hath also born children unto thy brother Nahor;

Genesis 22:20 nkjv

Now it came to pass after these things that it was told Abraham, saying, "Indeed Milcah also has borne children to your brother Nahor:

Genesis 22:20 niv

Some time later Abraham was told, "Milkah is also a mother; she has borne sons to your brother Nahor:

Genesis 22:20 esv

Now after these things it was told to Abraham, "Behold, Milcah also has borne children to your brother Nahor:

Genesis 22:20 nlt

Soon after this, Abraham heard that Milcah, his brother Nahor's wife, had borne Nahor eight sons.

Genesis 22 verses

Genesis 22 20 Meaning

Genesis 22:20 marks a transition point in the narrative, following the intense trial of Abraham with Isaac. It informs Abraham that his brother Nahor's wife, Milcah, has given birth to children. This seemingly mundane genealogical detail serves a crucial purpose: it provides the lineage through which Isaac's future wife, Rebekah, will be introduced, ensuring that Abraham's heir will marry within his trusted kin, consistent with God's ongoing plan for his chosen line. The verse highlights divine providence in preparing the way for future generations.

Genesis 22 20 Context

Genesis 22:20 immediately follows the dramatic account of the "binding of Isaac" (Akedah), where Abraham demonstrated ultimate obedience to God by offering his son. The preceding verses (Gen 22:19) show Abraham returning from Moriah. This verse, therefore, acts as an unexpected but vital interlude, shifting the narrative focus from Abraham's immediate family crisis to the broader family of his brother, Nahor. Historically, in the patriarchal society, lineage and kinship were paramount for identity, inheritance, and marriage alliances. Marriage within one's family or tribe was highly preferred to maintain cultural purity and safeguard inheritances. The information provided in this verse sets the stage for the search for Isaac's wife in Genesis 24, assuring Abraham that a suitable, uncontaminated bride from his own background is available through his brother's flourishing household. This was crucial for continuing the promised seed in accordance with divine purpose, guarding against marriages that might lead to apostasy as later observed in the lives of some patriarchs.

Genesis 22 20 Word analysis

• "Now after these things": This temporal marker (Hebrew: וַיְהִי אַחֲרֵי הַדְּבָרִים הָאֵלֶּה, vay'hi acharei haddevarim ha'elleh) signifies a narrative break and a transition. It denotes that the events related to Nahor's family occurred after the intense experience on Mount Moriah, indicating divine activity behind the scenes following Abraham's faithful obedience. It emphasizes God's continuity in working out His plan despite life's profound moments.

• "it was told Abraham": (וַיֻּגַּד לְאַבְרָהָם, vayyuggad l'Avraham). This passive construction ("it was told") suggests a divine arrangement, or at least a highly significant communication. Information was often conveyed by travelers, traders, or even messengers, but in the biblical narrative, crucial details arriving at opportune times often hint at divine providence at work. This news is purposeful.

• "saying, 'Behold,'": (לֵאמֹר, הִנֵּה, lemor, hinneh). "Saying" introduces direct speech. "Behold" (הִנֵּה, hinneh) is an emphatic interjection, drawing Abraham's immediate attention. It signals that the following information is surprising, important, or revelation-like, not merely casual gossip. It is meant to capture full notice, setting up the significance of Milcah's progeny.

• "Milcah": (מִלְכָּה, Milkah). Nahor's wife, Abraham's niece (daughter of Haran, Gen 11:29) and also his brother Nahor's wife. Her name means "queen" or "counsel." She is significant because she is the grandmother of Rebekah (Gen 24:15, 24). This specific mention points to her key role in the forthcoming narrative concerning Isaac's marriage.

• "also": (גַּם, gam). This seemingly small word is significant. It might suggest that Milcah, like Sarah, has also become fruitful in old age, or it might simply mean "in addition" to Abraham's own flourishing household. It underscores that God is blessing the broader family unit, expanding the pool from which Abraham's seed will find a suitable partner. It subtly broadens the scope of God's blessing beyond Abraham's immediate line to include trusted kin.

• "has borne children": (יָלְדָה בָנִים, yaldah banim). This phrase highlights fruitfulness and progeny. In ancient Near Eastern cultures, childbearing was a divine blessing and crucial for family legacy. The mention of multiple children signifies a flourishing line, providing suitable options for alliance and continuity.

• "to your brother Nahor": (לְנָחוֹר אָחִיךָ, l'Nachor achichah). Explicitly names Nahor as Abraham's brother, reinforcing the familial connection. This reinforces the importance of the kinship ties for endogamous marriage practices—marrying within the family was paramount for purity of line and inheritance, especially in the context of the Abrahamic covenant. It ties Nahor directly into the broader covenantal network through his fraternal link to Abraham.

• "Now after these things it was told Abraham": This entire phrase acts as a pivot. It moves from Abraham's personal spiritual trial (Akedah) to the larger context of God's providential working in Abraham's extended family. The passive "it was told" implies divine orchestrating rather than accidental news. This news directly serves God's plan for Abraham's lineage.

• "Behold, Milcah also has borne children to your brother Nahor": This statement, conveyed with the exclamation "Behold," signals a divine gift of fertility and the provision of offspring within the kin group. It establishes a necessary link for the story to continue with the quest for Isaac's wife, Rebekah, who is later identified as Nahor's granddaughter (through Milcah's son Bethuel). This prepares for the strategic endogamous marriage that safeguards the covenant line.

Genesis 22 20 Bonus section

The genealogical information in this verse, extended through verse 24, serves not merely as a family tree but as a theological statement about divine forethought and detailed planning. It contrasts with pagan fertility cults prevalent in the ancient Near East, by emphasizing a structured, God-ordained fruitfulness within established kinship. While other nations may have engaged in promiscuous or polytheistic fertility rites, God is meticulously cultivating a specific lineage for His redemptive plan through ordered families. The inclusion of Nahor's line here highlights God's provision for the covenant seed even outside the immediate nuclear family of Abraham and Sarah. It shows that God can use the natural propagation of related families to serve His supernatural purposes. This subtle narrative shift from the sacrificial act to the mundane reality of childbirth underpins the grand scope of God's redemptive strategy, showcasing that both profound spiritual trials and everyday biological processes are orchestrated by His sovereign hand.

Genesis 22 20 Commentary

Genesis 22:20 functions as a concise yet pivotal genealogical note. Following the high point of Abraham's faith demonstrated on Mount Moriah, this verse grounds the narrative back in the practical realities of patriarchal life: the continuation of family lines. It directly prepares for the monumental task of finding a wife for Isaac, whose unique position as the promised heir necessitated a spouse from Abraham's kin rather than from the Canaanites.

The timing of this revelation is crucial. It informs Abraham, now older and having passed the test, that God has been working on another front. While Abraham was focused on the covenant through Isaac, God was providentially preparing the family branch that would supply Isaac's bride, ensuring the purity and faithfulness of the lineage chosen for the Messiah. The mention of "Milcah also has borne children" implies a parallel blessing of fruitfulness, reinforcing God's overarching plan for the multiplication of Abraham's extended family. This passage quietly but powerfully underscores divine providence, showing that God works not just through grand miracles but also through the seemingly mundane events of births and family networks, ensuring His purposes are meticulously fulfilled. The precise details presented are not trivial but foundational for understanding the source and nature of Isaac's future bride, Rebekah, and by extension, the ongoing Abrahamic covenant.