Genesis 25:22 kjv
And the children struggled together within her; and she said, If it be so, why am I thus? And she went to inquire of the LORD.
Genesis 25:22 nkjv
But the children struggled together within her; and she said, "If all is well, why am I like this?" So she went to inquire of the LORD.
Genesis 25:22 niv
The babies jostled each other within her, and she said, "Why is this happening to me?" So she went to inquire of the LORD.
Genesis 25:22 esv
The children struggled together within her, and she said, "If it is thus, why is this happening to me?" So she went to inquire of the LORD.
Genesis 25:22 nlt
But the two children struggled with each other in her womb. So she went to ask the LORD about it. "Why is this happening to me?" she asked.
Genesis 25 22 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Gen 3:16 | "...In pain you shall bring forth children..." | Foreshadows childbirth pain and suffering. |
| Gen 15:2 | "But Abram said, “O Lord God, what will You give me, since I am childless..?" | Similar questioning concerning childbearing. |
| Gen 16:11 | "Then the angel of the Lord said to her, 'Behold, you are with child...'" | God directly revealing details of pregnancy. |
| Gen 20:7 | "Now therefore, restore the man's wife... he is a prophet, and he will pray for you..." | Abraham as one who inquired of God for others. |
| Gen 24:62-63 | "Isaac went out to meditate in the field at the evening..." | Isaac's habit of devotion, connecting with prayer. |
| Gen 25:21 | "Now Isaac pleaded with the Lord for his wife, because she was barren..." | Immediate context; prayer preceding conception. |
| Gen 25:23 | "And the Lord said to her: 'Two nations are in your womb...'" | God's immediate prophetic response to Rebekah's inquiry. |
| Exod 33:7 | "Now Moses used to take the tent and pitch it outside the camp... And everyone who sought the Lord went out to the tent of meeting..." | Examples of seeking the Lord directly. |
| Num 27:21 | "He shall stand before Eleazar the priest, who shall inquire for him by the judgment of the Urim before the Lord..." | Ways of enquiring of the Lord in the Mosaic law. |
| Deut 18:10-12 | "...Let no one be found among you who practices divination or sorcery... inquires of the dead..." | Contrasts acceptable vs. unacceptable means of inquiry. |
| Judg 18:5 | "They said to him, 'Please inquire of God, that we may know whether the journey on which we are going will be prosperous.'" | People often sought divine guidance. |
| 1 Sam 9:9 | "(Formerly in Israel, when a man went to inquire of God, he spoke thus: 'Come, let us go to the seer'...)" | Describing the ancient practice of consulting prophets. |
| 1 Sam 10:22 | "Therefore they inquired of the Lord further, 'Has the man come here yet?'" | Example of the people and leaders seeking divine direction. |
| 1 Kgs 22:5-7 | "And Jehoshaphat said, 'Is there not yet a prophet of the Lord here, that we may inquire of Him?'" | Emphasizes the importance of prophets for divine inquiry. |
| Ps 73:1-3, 13-16 | "But as for me, my feet had almost stumbled... When I thought how to understand this, it was too painful for me—Until I went into the sanctuary of God..." | Addresses personal suffering and confusion, finding understanding in God's presence. |
| Ps 139:13-16 | "For You formed my inward parts; You covered me in my mother’s womb... Your eyes saw my substance, being yet unformed." | God's sovereign involvement in prenatal development. |
| Prov 3:5-6 | "Trust in the Lord with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding..." | Implies seeking God's guidance instead of relying on human logic. |
| Isa 8:19 | "And when they say to you, 'Consult those who are mediums and spiritists...' Should not a people inquire of their God?" | Exhortation to seek God, not forbidden practices. |
| Isa 46:10 | "Declaring the end from the beginning, And from ancient times things that are not yet done..." | God's sovereign foreknowledge and divine plan. |
| Jer 21:2 | "'Please inquire of the Lord for us, for Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon makes war against us...'" | Jeremiah's role as a prophet to be consulted. |
| Lam 3:37-39 | "Who is he who speaks and it comes to pass, When the Lord has not commanded it?... Why should a living man complain, A man for the punishment of his sins?" | Philosophical questioning of suffering and God's sovereignty. |
| Ezek 14:1-5 | "Then some of the elders of Israel came to me... and I, the Lord, will answer him by Myself." | God's response to those who seek Him properly. |
| Rom 9:10-13 | "And not only this, but when Rebekah also had conceived by one man, even by our father Isaac... as it is written, 'Jacob I have loved, but Esau I have hated.'" | Paul's theological interpretation of this prenatal struggle and God's elective purpose. |
| 1 Pet 5:7 | "casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you." | Encourages turning to God in distress. |
Genesis 25 verses
Genesis 25 22 Meaning
Genesis 25:22 describes Rebekah's experience during her pregnancy, as the twin children within her contended vigorously. Distressed and confused by this internal turmoil, she expressed her profound anguish, questioning the meaning or purpose of such a painful existence if this was her state. In her spiritual distress, she then actively sought a divine answer by consulting the Lord. This pivotal verse highlights her physical suffering, her existential struggle, and her commendable act of seeking God's will and understanding directly.
Genesis 25 22 Context
Genesis chapter 25 chronicles the continuation of God's covenant through Isaac and his descendants. Verses 19-21 establish the context: Isaac's wife Rebekah had been barren for twenty years. In response to Isaac's fervent prayer, the Lord opened her womb, and she conceived. Verse 22 then plunges into Rebekah's distressing experience during pregnancy. Following her inquiry to the Lord (verse 22), verse 23 reveals God's direct and prophetic answer concerning the nature of the twins—that two nations were within her, one stronger than the other, and the older would serve the younger. This prophecy, delivered directly to Rebekah, immediately clarifies the mysterious internal struggle. The birth of Esau and Jacob then immediately follows in verses 24-26. This verse is thus a pivot point between barrenness and birth, and importantly, between human confusion and divine revelation, establishing the pre-birth dynamic of the twin brothers whose future rivalry will define much of Israel's early history. Historically, children, especially sons, were vital for covenant continuation and family lineage in the ancient Near East, making Rebekah's pregnancy significant, yet also highlighting the perils and profound spiritual experiences associated with it.
Genesis 25 22 Word Analysis
And the children (וַיִּתְרֹצֲצוּ - wa·yyitrotzatzu) struggled together: The Hebrew verb is rāṣaṣ (רצץ), meaning "to crush," "to break," or "to press together." In the hitpa'el stem (as it appears here, yitrotzatzu), it suggests reciprocal or repeated action, an active, violent, and mutual contention or crushing of one another. This is not mere fetal movement but a fierce, almost combat-like struggle, profoundly disturbing to Rebekah. This pre-natal physical conflict prophetically foreshadows the lifelong rivalry between Jacob and Esau and the eventual geopolitical conflict between their respective nations, Israel and Edom.
within her (בְּקִרְבָּהּ - b'qirbah): This emphasizes the intimate, internal nature of the struggle. It signifies not only physical proximity in the womb but also the personal suffering and alarm Rebekah experienced as the conflict unfolded inside her own body.
and she said: A direct, spoken utterance reflecting deep internal distress. It shows Rebekah's candidness in her moment of despair.
If it be so, why am I thus?: This is an exclamation of profound anguish and existential questioning (אִם כֵּן לָמָּה זֶּה אָנֹכִי - im ken lammah zeh anochi). Rebekah questions the very purpose of her life or pregnancy if it is to bring such intense suffering and apparent ill omen. "Thus" implies the severe pain, the strange struggle, and potentially fear for her own life or the well-being of the children. It is a desperate cry for understanding in the face of physical and spiritual turmoil, reflecting a human tendency to question God's ways during tribulation.
And she went: A deliberate, purposeful action. Rebekah doesn't succumb to despair but takes proactive steps.
to enquire of the Lord (לִדְרֹשׁ אֶת יְהוָה - lidrosh et YHWH): The verb dārash (דרש) means "to seek," "to inquire," "to consult." It implies earnest, diligent seeking of counsel or knowledge, often in a spiritual or judicial context. This action highlights Rebekah's faith; instead of turning to divination or superstitious remedies, as was common in the surrounding pagan cultures, she sought divine counsel directly from the covenant God, Yahweh (YHWH). This term (YHWH) represents God's personal, covenant name, emphasizing a relationship. Her decision signifies a commendable model of seeking God's will and understanding in times of confusion and distress. This implies she either went to a prophet (like Abraham or Isaac), or a designated holy place, or experienced a direct revelation from God through prayer, as often happened with patriarchs.
Genesis 25 22 Bonus Section
The direct divine communication Rebekah receives in Genesis 25:23 is unique among the matriarchs; Sarah, Leah, and Rachel did not receive such personal prophetic revelations. This makes Rebekah a significant prophetic figure in her own right, indicating a strong personal relationship with the Lord and God's willingness to reveal His plan directly to her. The prenatal "struggle" can be understood on multiple levels: a physical reality, a prophetic symbol of future national conflict (Israel vs. Edom), and a spiritual battle over destiny and election, as later emphasized by Paul in Romans 9:10-13, who points to this very verse to demonstrate God's sovereign choice not based on works, but on His purpose. This episode reaffirms that God is deeply involved in human life, even before birth, and has a sovereign plan for individuals and nations.
Genesis 25 22 Commentary
Genesis 25:22 is a deeply poignant moment. Rebekah's harrowing experience of a prenatal struggle within her womb highlights not only the physical hardship of her pregnancy but also foreshadows the lifelong conflict between Jacob and Esau. Her cry, "If it be so, why am I thus?", resonates with the universal human experience of questioning suffering and searching for meaning in inexplicable pain. This raw expression of distress is met not with silent endurance but with a pivotal act of faith: "she went to enquire of the Lord." This demonstrates a commendable spiritual maturity, distinguishing her from many in that ancient world who might have resorted to pagan practices or given in to despair. Her decision to seek God directly underscores the relational aspect of the patriarchal faith. In doing so, she opened the door for God's direct revelation (in Gen 25:23), transforming her confusion into prophetic understanding. This incident thus serves as a powerful example of trusting God with our deepest uncertainties and acknowledging His sovereignty over all life, even from within the womb.Examples:
- When facing confusing or painful circumstances, follow Rebekah's example and turn to the Lord in prayer for understanding and guidance.
- Instead of complaining to others or dwelling on "why me," present your questions directly to God.
- Trust that God is able to speak into situations of physical and spiritual struggle.