Genesis 25:23 kjv

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.

Genesis 25:23 nkjv

And the LORD said to her: "Two nations are in your womb, Two peoples shall be separated from your body; One people shall be stronger than the other, And the older shall serve the younger."

Genesis 25:23 niv

The LORD said 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."

Genesis 25:23 esv

And the LORD said to her, "Two nations are in your womb, and two peoples from within you shall be divided; the one shall be stronger than the other, the older shall serve the younger."

Genesis 25:23 nlt

And the LORD told her, "The sons in your womb will become two nations. From the very beginning, the two nations will be rivals. One nation will be stronger than the other; and your older son will serve your younger son."

Genesis 25 verses

Genesis 25 23 Meaning

Genesis 25:23 records a pivotal divine oracle delivered directly to Rebekah by the LORD, answering her distress concerning the struggle within her womb. It prophetically declares that she is carrying not just two sons, but two distinct nations (or peoples), signifying the birth of two powerful and enduring ethnic groups with differing destinies. The prophecy foretells inherent conflict and division between them ("shall be divided"), and explicitly states that the younger of the two will ultimately prevail over the older, reversing the cultural norm of primogeniture ("the older shall serve the younger"). This immediately foreshadows the long-standing and often antagonistic relationship between the descendants of Jacob (Israel) and Esau (Edom).

Genesis 25 23 Context

Genesis chapter 25 recounts the continued story of Isaac, the son of Abraham, and his wife Rebekah. After twenty years of barrenness, Isaac prayed for Rebekah, and she conceived twins. The pregnancy, however, was marked by an unusual and distressing internal struggle, causing Rebekah to inquire of the Lord. Genesis 25:23 is the direct divine response to her query, an oracle that not only explains the physical struggle in her womb but profoundly sets the future course for the descendants of her twin sons, Jacob and Esau. This verse provides the divine explanation for their individual natures and the geopolitical dynamics between the nations that would arise from them—Israel and Edom. Historically and culturally, primogeniture (the right of the firstborn son) was paramount in Ancient Near Eastern societies, conferring significant blessings, inheritance, and authority. The prophecy in Gen 25:23, declaring "the older shall serve the younger," directly subverts this deeply entrenched societal norm, highlighting God's sovereign choice and His prerogative to act according to His own purpose, independent of human custom or merit. This theme resonates throughout the biblical narrative, emphasizing that God's ways often transcend and sometimes defy human expectations and conventions.

Genesis 25 23 Word analysis

• And the LORD said (וַיֹּאמֶר יְהוָה - vayyōʾmer YHWH):
  • וַיֹּאמֶר (vayyōʾmer): "And he said." A common narrative formula, signifying a direct utterance. The 'waw-conversive' structure indicates a sequential action, emphasizing that this is God's response to Rebekah's seeking Him (v. 22).
  • יְהוָה (YHWH): The Tetragrammaton, God's covenant name. This emphasizes that it is the personal, redemptive, and active God of Abraham and Isaac who speaks, underscoring the reliability and authority of the prophecy.
• to her (לָהּ - lāh):
  • לָהּ (lāh): "To her." Indicates the specific recipient of the oracle, Rebekah. This is a personal and direct revelation, given in response to her unique distress and earnest prayer, showing God's attentiveness to her struggle.
• Two nations (שְׁנֵי גוֹיִם - šǝnê goyim):
  • שְׁנֵי (šǝnê): "Two of." A dual form, clearly indicating the precise number.
  • גוֹיִם (goyim): "Nations," "peoples." This word can refer to large ethnic groups or political entities. While often used for Gentile nations, its usage here is significant, predicting that her unborn children would grow to establish distinct national entities, not just families. It elevates the conflict beyond personal rivalry to geopolitical destiny.
• are in your womb (בְּבִטְנֵךְ - bəḇiṭnēḵ):
  • בְּ (bə): "In."
  • בִּטְנֵךְ (biṭnēḵ): "Your womb." A precise anatomical location. Emphasizes that the seeds of these future nations, along with their inherent division, are present and predetermined before birth. It points to divine foreknowledge and predestination.
• and two peoples (וּשְׁנֵי לְאֻמִּים - ûšǝnê ləʾummîm):
  • וּשְׁנֵי (ûšǝnê): "And two of." Continues the dual count.
  • לְאֻמִּים (ləʾummîm): "Peoples," "nations." A synonym or poetic parallel to goyim, reinforcing the message of two distinct national entities. Its use alongside goyim intensifies the sense of separate, powerful ethnic groups.
• from within you (מִמֵּעַיִךְ - mimēʿayiḵ):
  • מִן (min): "From."
  • מֵעַיִךְ (meʿayiḵ): "Your bowels," "your inner parts." Often used metaphorically for deep inner being, but here also points to literal physical origin, echoing "your womb." It signifies the internal, profound origin of this division within Rebekah herself.
• shall be divided (יִפָּרֵדוּ - yippārēdû):
  • יִפָּרֵדוּ (yippārēdû): "They shall be separated," "they shall be parted." A root word suggesting a breaking apart or disunion. This verb powerfully prefigures the intrinsic and unavoidable discord and antagonism between these two national lines.
• the one shall be stronger than the other (וּלְאֹם מִלְאֹם יֶאֱמָץ - ûləʾōm milləʾōm yeʾĕmāṣ):
  • וּלְאֹם (ûləʾōm): "And people." Refers to one of the two peoples.
  • מִלְאֹם (milləʾōm): "From people," implying one compared to or against the other. It sets up a dynamic of comparison and contrast.
  • יֶאֱמָץ (yeʾĕmāṣ): "He shall be stronger," "he shall be mighty." Foreshadows a power struggle and the eventual dominance of one over the other.
• the older (וְרַב - wəraḇ):
  • וְרַב (wəraḇ): "And the great one," "the elder." Refers to Esau as the firstborn. In ancient cultures, this denoted great respect, authority, and rights (primogeniture).
• shall serve the younger (יַעֲבֹד צָעִיר - yaʿăḇōḏ ṣāʿîr):
  • יַעֲבֹד (yaʿăḇōḏ): "He shall serve," "he shall labor for," "he shall be subjected to." This is the core revolutionary statement. It directly contradicts the societal norm of primogeniture.
  • צָעִיר (ṣāʿîr): "The younger." Refers to Jacob.
  • Words-Group Analysis: "Two nations are in your womb, and two peoples from within you shall be divided": This repetition and parallelism emphasizes the significant scope of the prophecy. It's not just a family squabble but a deep-seated, divinely ordained separation that will lead to geopolitical entities. The very essence of their existence is one of distinction and opposition.
  • Words-Group Analysis: "the one shall be stronger than the other, the older shall serve the younger": This part is the crux of the oracle's predictive power. It announces a complete reversal of established social order, signaling God's sovereignty over natural birthright. It means the established power and status would be subverted by divine will, demonstrating that God's choice is not bound by human tradition or expectation, but by His own mysterious purpose. This is key to understanding the nature of election in Scripture.

Genesis 25 23 Bonus section

• Polemics against Contemporary Beliefs: In a society that highly valued primogeniture, where the firstborn son had inherent social, economic, and religious advantages, this divine oracle ("the older shall serve the younger") was a powerful polemic against such human-centered hierarchical systems. It taught that God's election is not bound by human customs or natural advantages but by His sovereign will and divine purpose. This challenged the notion that God simply followed human conventions or that the most powerful/oldest by birth were inherently God's chosen.
• Prophetic Nature: This isn't merely a prediction of a family feud, but a geo-political prophecy of the relationship between two powerful, ethnically distinct nations: Israel and Edom. The repeated historical conflicts between the two peoples (e.g., during Saul, David, and subsequent Judahite kings, and their persistent animosity well into the intertestamental period) are direct fulfillments of this oracle. The language used, goyim and ləʾummîm, unmistakably points to large collective groups rather than just individuals.
• Theological Implication for God's Character: The oracle reveals God as:
  • Omniscient: He knows the destiny of two unborn children and the nations that will descend from them.
  • Sovereign: He acts according to His own will, capable of reversing natural order and human expectations.
  • Covenant-Keeping: While not explicitly mentioning Abraham's covenant here, it directly pertains to its continuation through a specific lineage (Jacob), setting the stage for the lineage of Christ.
• Troubled Births and God's Intervention: Rebekah's troubled pregnancy (v. 22) is similar to other matriarchs experiencing difficulties (Sarah, Rachel, Hannah). In each case, divine intervention through prayer leads to the birth of a child essential to God's plan, highlighting God's power over fertility and His direct involvement in human lives to accomplish His purposes.

Genesis 25 23 Commentary

Genesis 25:23 is a profound revelation from God that sets the stage for much of the subsequent biblical narrative. It addresses Rebekah's mysterious and painful pregnancy by unveiling a divine purpose: the struggle she felt was the pre-natal sparring of two distinct nations. The most radical aspect of this oracle is the pronouncement that "the older shall serve the younger." This directly contravenes the ancient Near Eastern cultural value of primogeniture, where the firstborn inherited the bulk of the estate and familial leadership. God's decree signifies His absolute sovereignty in choosing whom He will for His purposes, irrespective of human traditions or merit.

This verse clarifies that the eventual disparity and conflict between Esau's descendants (Edomites) and Jacob's descendants (Israelites) were part of God's pre-determined plan. It's not about pre-ordained personal salvation for Jacob and damnation for Esau as individuals (as both chose their paths), but about the choice of which lineage would carry the covenant promise through which the Messiah would come. God, in His omniscience, knew the paths both would take, yet His sovereign election for the covenant line rested on Jacob. This truth is further expounded by the Apostle Paul in Romans 9, where he uses this very verse to argue for God's freedom in electing individuals and nations for His particular purposes, emphasizing that it is "not because of works but because of his call." This oracle underscores the theme that God often chooses the unlikely, the less privileged, or the 'younger' to accomplish His greater purposes, demonstrating His power and grace.