Genesis

Genesis 25:21–28

²¹Later, Isaac prayed to the LORD on behalf of his wife, because she was barren. And the LORD heard his prayer, and his wife Rebekah conceived.

²²But the children inside her struggled with each other, and she said, “Why is this happening to me?” So Rebekah went to inquire of the LORD, ²³and He declared 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.”^c

²⁴When her time came to give birth, there were indeed twins in her womb. ²⁵The first one came out red, covered with hair like a fur coat; so they named him Esau.^d ²⁶After this, his brother came out grasping Esau’s heel; so he was named Jacob.^e And Isaac was sixty years old when the twins were born.

²⁷When the boys grew up, Esau became a skillful hunter, a man of the field, while Jacob was a quiet man who stayed at home. ²⁸Because Isaac had a taste for wild game, he loved Esau; but Rebekah loved Jacob.

Footnotes

c 25:23 Cited in Romans 9:12|ROM 9:12
d 25:25 Esau sounds like a Hebrew term that means hairy.
e 25:26 Jacob means he grasps the heel or he deceives.

Read all of Genesis 25

Word by word

Each English word or phrase beside the Hebrew it translates, in the order of the English. Choose a number to open that word’s study.

Genesis 25:21

English	Hebrew	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
Later	יִצְחָ֤ק	yiṣ·ḥāq	Noun - proper - masculine singular	H3327 Isaac
Isaac	יִצְחָ֤ק	yiṣ·ḥāq	Noun - proper - masculine singular	H3327 Isaac
prayed	וַיֶּעְתַּ֨ר	way·ye‘·tar	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular	H6279 pray, supplicafe
to the LORD	לַֽיהוָה֙	Yah·weh	Preposition-l; Noun - proper - masculine singular	H3068 Yahweh
on behalf of	לְנֹ֣כַח	lə·nō·ḵaḥ	Preposition-l	H5227 front
his wife	אִשְׁתּ֔וֹ	’iš·tōw	Noun - feminine singular construct; third person masculine singular	H802 woman, wife, female
because	כִּ֥י	kî	Conjunction	H3588 burning, branding
she	הִ֑וא	hî	Pronoun - third person feminine singular	H1931 he, she
barren	עֲקָרָ֖ה	‘ă·qā·rāh	Adjective - feminine singular	H6135 barren
And the LORD	יְהוָ֔ה	Yah·weh	Noun - proper - masculine singular	H3068 Yahweh
heard his prayer	וַיֵּעָ֤תֶר	way·yê·‘ā·ṯer	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Nifal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular	H6279 pray, supplicafe
and his wife	אִשְׁתּֽוֹ׃	’iš·tōw	Noun - feminine singular construct; third person masculine singular	H802 woman, wife, female
Rebekah	רִבְקָ֥ה	riḇ·qāh	Noun - proper - feminine singular	H7259 Rebekah
conceived	וַתַּ֖הַר	wat·ta·har	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person feminine singular	H2029 conceive, become pregnant

Genesis 25:22

English	Hebrew	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
But the children	הַבָּנִים֙	hab·bā·nîm	Article; Noun - masculine plural	H1121 son
inside her	בְּקִרְבָּ֔הּ	bə·qir·bāh	Preposition-b; Noun - masculine singular construct; third person feminine singular	H7130 inward part, midst
struggled with each other	וַיִּתְרֹֽצֲצ֤וּ	way·yiṯ·rō·ṣă·ṣū	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Hitpael - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural	H7533 crush
and she said	וַתֹּ֣אמֶר	wat·tō·mer	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person feminine singular	H559 utter, say
Why	לָ֥מָּה	lām·māh	Interrogative	H4100 what? how? aught
is this	זֶּ֖ה	zeh	Pronoun - masculine singular	H2088 this, that
happening to me	אָנֹ֑כִי	’ā·nō·ḵî	Pronoun - first person common singular	H595 I
So	וַתֵּ֖לֶךְ	wat·tê·leḵ	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person feminine singular	H1980 go, come, walk
to inquire	לִדְרֹ֥שׁ	liḏ·rōš	Preposition-l; Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct	H1875 resort to, seek
of the LORD	יְהוָֽה׃	Yah·weh	Noun - proper - masculine singular	H3068 Yahweh

Genesis 25:23

English	Hebrew	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
and	יְהוָ֜ה	Yah·weh	Noun - proper - masculine singular	H3068 Yahweh
declared	לָ֗הּ	lāh	Preposition; third person feminine singular
to her	וַיֹּ֨אמֶר	way·yō·mer	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular	H559 utter, say
Two	שְׁנֵ֤י	šə·nê	Number - masculine dual construct	H8147 two
nations	גֹיִים	ḡō·yīm	Noun - masculine plural	H1471 nation, people
are in your womb	בְּבִטְנֵ֔ךְ	bə·ḇiṭ·nêḵ	Preposition-b; Noun - feminine singular construct; second person feminine singular	H990 belly, body, womb
and two	וּשְׁנֵ֣י	ū·šə·nê	Conjunctive waw; Number - masculine dual construct	H8147 two
peoples	לְאֻמִּ֔ים	lə·’um·mîm	Noun - masculine plural	H3816 people
from within you	מִמֵּעַ֖יִךְ	mim·mê·‘a·yiḵ	Preposition-m; Noun - masculine plural construct; second person feminine singular	H4578 internal organs, inward parts (intestines, bowels), belly
will be separated	יִפָּרֵ֑דוּ	yip·pā·rê·ḏū	Verb - Nifal - Imperfect - third person masculine plural	H6504 divide
one people	וּלְאֹם֙	ū·lə·’ōm	Conjunctive waw; Noun - masculine singular	H3816 people
will be stronger	יֶֽאֱמָ֔ץ	ye·’ĕ·māṣ	Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular	H553 be alert
than the other	מִלְאֹ֣ם	mil·’ōm	Preposition-m; Noun - masculine singular	H3816 people
and the older	וְרַ֖ב	wə·raḇ	Conjunctive waw; Adjective - masculine singular	H7227 much, many, great
will serve	יַעֲבֹ֥ד	ya·‘ă·ḇōḏ	Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular	H5647 work, serve
the younger	צָעִֽיר׃	ṣā·‘îr	Adjective - masculine singular	H6810 little, insignificant, young

Genesis 25:24

English	Hebrew	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
When her time	יָמֶ֖יהָ	yā·me·hā	Noun - masculine plural construct; third person feminine singular	H3117 day
came	וַיִּמְלְא֥וּ	way·yim·lə·’ū	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural	H4390 be full, fill
to give birth	לָלֶ֑דֶת	lā·le·ḏeṯ	Preposition-l; Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct	H3205 bear, bring forth, beget
there were indeed	וְהִנֵּ֥ה	wə·hin·nêh	Conjunctive waw; Interjection	H2009 lo! behold!
twins	תוֹמִ֖ם	ṯō·w·mim	Noun - masculine plural	H8380 twin
in her womb	בְּבִטְנָֽהּ׃	bə·ḇiṭ·nāh	Preposition-b; Noun - feminine singular construct; third person feminine singular	H990 belly, body, womb

Genesis 25:25

English	Hebrew	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
The first	הָרִאשׁוֹן֙	hā·ri·šō·wn	Article; Adjective - masculine singular	H7223 former, first, chief
one came out	וַיֵּצֵ֤א	way·yê·ṣê	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular	H3318 go or come out
red	אַדְמוֹנִ֔י	’aḏ·mō·w·nî	Adjective - masculine singular	H132 red, ruddy
covered with hair	שֵׂעָ֑ר	śê·‘ār	Noun - masculine singular	H8181 hair
like a fur coat	כְּאַדֶּ֣רֶת	kə·’ad·de·reṯ	Preposition-k; Noun - feminine singular construct	H155 glory, cloak
so they named him	וַיִּקְרְא֥וּ	way·yiq·rə·’ū	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural	H7121 call, proclaim, read
Esau	עֵשָֽׂו׃	‘ê·śāw	Noun - proper - masculine singular	H6215 Esau

Genesis 25:26

English	Hebrew	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
After	וְאַֽחֲרֵי־	wə·’a·ḥă·rê-	Conjunctive waw; Preposition	H310 behind
this	כֵ֞ן	ḵên	Adverb	H3651 right, veritable, honest
his brother	אָחִ֗יו	’ā·ḥîw	Noun - masculine singular construct; third person masculine singular	H251 brother
came out	יָצָ֣א	yā·ṣā	Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular	H3318 go or come out
grasping	אֹחֶ֙זֶת֙	’ō·ḥe·zeṯ	Verb - Qal - Participle - feminine singular	H270 grasp, take hold, take possession
Esau’s	עֵשָׂ֔ו	‘ê·śāw	Noun - proper - masculine singular	H6215 Esau
heel	בַּעֲקֵ֣ב	ba·‘ă·qêḇ	Preposition-b; Noun - masculine singular construct	H6119 heel, footprint, hinderpart
so he was named	וַיִּקְרָ֥א	way·yiq·rā	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular	H7121 call, proclaim, read
Jacob	יַעֲקֹ֑ב	ya·‘ă·qōḇ	Noun - proper - masculine singular	H3290 Jacob
And Isaac	וְיִצְחָ֛ק	wə·yiṣ·ḥāq	Conjunctive waw; Noun - proper - masculine singular	H3327 Isaac
was sixty	שִׁשִּׁ֥ים	šiš·šîm	Number - common plural	H8346 sixty
years old	בֶּן־	ben-	Noun - masculine singular construct	H1121 son
when	בְּלֶ֥דֶת	bə·le·ḏeṯ	Preposition-b; Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct	H3205 bear, bring forth, beget

Genesis 25:27

English	Hebrew	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
When the boys	הַנְּעָרִ֔ים	han·nə·‘ā·rîm	Article; Noun - masculine plural	H5288 a shaking, scattering
grew up	וַֽיִּגְדְּלוּ֙	way·yiḡ·də·lū	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural	H1431 grow up, become great
Esau	עֵשָׂ֗ו	‘ê·śāw	Noun - proper - masculine singular	H6215 Esau
became	וַיְהִ֣י	way·hî	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular	H1961 fall out, come to pass, become, be
a skillful	יֹדֵ֥עַ	yō·ḏê·a‘	Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular	H3045 know
hunter	צַ֖יִד	ṣa·yiḏ	Noun - masculine singular	H6718 hunting, game
a man	אִ֛ישׁ	’îš	Noun - masculine singular	H376 man
of the field	שָׂדֶ֑ה	śā·ḏeh	Noun - masculine singular	H7704 id.
while Jacob	וְיַעֲקֹב֙	wə·ya·‘ă·qōḇ	Conjunctive waw; Noun - proper - masculine singular	H3290 Jacob
was a quiet	תָּ֔ם	tām	Adjective - masculine singular	H8535 complete
man	אִ֣ישׁ	’îš	Noun - masculine singular	H376 man
who stayed	יֹשֵׁ֖ב	yō·šêḇ	Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular	H3427 sit, remain, dwell
at home	אֹהָלִֽים׃	’ō·hā·lîm	Noun - masculine plural	H168 tent

Genesis 25:28

English	Hebrew	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
Because	כִּי־	kî-	Conjunction	H3588 burning, branding
Isaac	יִצְחָ֛ק	yiṣ·ḥāq	Noun - proper - masculine singular	H3327 Isaac
had a taste	בְּפִ֑יו	bə·p̄îw	Preposition-b; Noun - masculine singular construct; third person masculine singular	H6310 mouth
for wild game	צַ֣יִד	ṣa·yiḏ	Noun - masculine singular	H6718 hunting, game
he loved	וַיֶּאֱהַ֥ב	way·ye·’ĕ·haḇ	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular	H157 love
Esau	עֵשָׂ֖ו	‘ê·śāw	Noun - proper - masculine singular	H6215 Esau
but Rebekah	וְרִבְקָ֖ה	wə·riḇ·qāh	Conjunctive waw; Noun - proper - feminine singular	H7259 Rebekah
loved	אֹהֶ֥בֶת	’ō·he·ḇeṯ	Verb - Qal - Participle - feminine singular	H157 love
Jacob	יַעֲקֹֽב׃	ya·‘ă·qōḇ	Noun - proper - masculine singular	H3290 Jacob