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Selected Verse: Genesis 25:21 - Strong Concordance

Verse	Translation	Text
Ge 25:21	Strong Concordance	And Isaac [03327] intreated [06279] the LORD [03068] for [05227] his wife [0802], because she was barren [06135]: and the LORD [03068] was intreated [06279] of him, and Rebekah [07259] his wife [0802] conceived [02029].
	King James	And Isaac intreated the LORD for his wife, because she was barren: and the LORD was intreated of him, and Rebekah his wife conceived.

Summary Of Commentaries Associated With The Selected Verse

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A Commentary, Critical, Practical, and Explanatory on the Old and New Testaments, by Robert Jamieson, A.R. Fausset and David Brown [1882]
Isaac entreated the Lord for his wife--Though tried in a similar way to his father, he did not follow the same crooked policy. Twenty years he continued unblessed with offspring, whose seed was to be "as the stars" [Gen 26:4]. But in answer to their mutual prayers (Pe1 3:7), Rebekah was divinely informed that she was to be the mother of twins, who should be the progenitors of two independent nations; that the descendants of the younger should be the more powerful and subdue those of the other (Rom 9:12; Ch2 21:8).

A Commentary, Critical, Practical, and Explanatory on the Old and New Testaments, by Robert Jamieson, A.R. Fausset and David Brown [1882]

Isaac entreated the Lord for his wife--Though tried in a similar way to his father, he did not follow the same crooked policy. Twenty years he continued unblessed with offspring, whose seed was to be "as the stars" [Gen 26:4]. But in answer to their mutual prayers (Pe1 3:7), Rebekah was divinely informed that she was to be the mother of twins, who should be the progenitors of two independent nations; that the descendants of the younger should be the more powerful and subdue those of the other (Rom 9:12; Ch2 21:8).

Commentary on the Old Testament, by Carl Friedrich Keil and Franz Delitzsch [1857-78]
Isaac's marriage, like Abraham's, was for a long time unfruitful; not to extreme old age, however, but only for 20 years. The seed of the promise was to be prayed for from the Lord, that it might not be regarded merely as a fruit of nature, but be received and recognised as a gift of grace. At the same time Isaac was to be exercised in the patience of faith in the promise of God. After this lengthened test, Jehovah heard his prayer in relation to his wife. לנוכח, Gen 25:21 and Gen 30:38, lit., opposite to, so that the object is before the eyes, has been well explained by Luther thus: quod toto pectore et intentus in calamitatem uxoris oraverit. Sicut quando oro pro aliquo, propono illum mihi in conspectum cordis mei, et nihil aliud video aut cogito; in eum solum animo intueor. Gen 25:22-23 When Rebekah conceived, the children struggled together in her womb. In this she saw an evil omen, that the pregnancy so long desired and entreated of Jehovah would bring misfortune, and that the fruit of her womb might not after all secure the blessing of the divine promise; so that in intense excitement she cried out, "If it be so, wherefore am I?" i.e., why am I alive? cf. Gen 27:46. But she sought counsel from God: she went to inquire of Jehovah. Where and how she looked for a divine revelation in the matter, is not recorded, and therefore cannot be determined with certainty. Some suppose that it was by prayer and sacrifice at a place dedicated to Jehovah. Others imagine that she applied to a prophet - to Abraham, Melchizedek, or Shem (Luther); a frequent custom in Israel afterwards (Sa1 9:9), but not probable in the patriarchal age. The divine answer, couched in the form of a prophetic oracle, assured her that she carried two nations in her womb, one stronger than the other; and that the greater (elder or first-born) should serve the less (younger). הפּרד ממּעיך: "proceeding from thy womb, are separated." Gen 25:24-26 When she was delivered, there were twins; the first-born was reddish, i.e., of a reddish-brown colour (Sa1 16:12; Sa1 17:42), and "all over like a hairy cloak," i.e., his whole body as if covered with a fur, with an unusual quantity of hair (hypertrichosis), which is sometimes the case with new-born infants, but was a sign in this instance of excessive sensual vigour and wildness. The second had laid hold of the heel of the first, i.e., he came into the world with his hand projected and holding the heel of the first-born, a sign of his future attitude towards his brother. From these accidental circumstances the children received their names. The elder they called Esau, the hairy one; the younger Jacob, heel-holder: יעקב from עקב (denom. of עקב heel, Hos 12:3), to hold the heel, then to outwit (Gen 27:36), just as in wrestling an attempt may be made to throw the opponent by grasping the heel.

Commentary on the Old Testament, by Carl Friedrich Keil and Franz Delitzsch [1857-78]

Isaac's marriage, like Abraham's, was for a long time unfruitful; not to extreme old age, however, but only for 20 years. The seed of the promise was to be prayed for from the Lord, that it might not be regarded merely as a fruit of nature, but be received and recognised as a gift of grace. At the same time Isaac was to be exercised in the patience of faith in the promise of God. After this lengthened test, Jehovah heard his prayer in relation to his wife. לנוכח, Gen 25:21 and Gen 30:38, lit., opposite to, so that the object is before the eyes, has been well explained by Luther thus: quod toto pectore et intentus in calamitatem uxoris oraverit. Sicut quando oro pro aliquo, propono illum mihi in conspectum cordis mei, et nihil aliud video aut cogito; in eum solum animo intueor.

Gen 25:22-23

When Rebekah conceived, the children struggled together in her womb. In this she saw an evil omen, that the pregnancy so long desired and entreated of Jehovah would bring misfortune, and that the fruit of her womb might not after all secure the blessing of the divine promise; so that in intense excitement she cried out, "If it be so, wherefore am I?" i.e., why am I alive? cf. Gen 27:46. But she sought counsel from God: she went to inquire of Jehovah. Where and how she looked for a divine revelation in the matter, is not recorded, and therefore cannot be determined with certainty. Some suppose that it was by prayer and sacrifice at a place dedicated to Jehovah. Others imagine that she applied to a prophet - to Abraham, Melchizedek, or Shem (Luther); a frequent custom in Israel afterwards (Sa1 9:9), but not probable in the patriarchal age. The divine answer, couched in the form of a prophetic oracle, assured her that she carried two nations in her womb, one stronger than the other; and that the greater (elder or first-born) should serve the less (younger). הפּרד ממּעיך: "proceeding from thy womb, are separated."

Gen 25:24-26

When she was delivered, there were twins; the first-born was reddish, i.e., of a reddish-brown colour (Sa1 16:12; Sa1 17:42), and "all over like a hairy cloak," i.e., his whole body as if covered with a fur, with an unusual quantity of hair (hypertrichosis), which is sometimes the case with new-born infants, but was a sign in this instance of excessive sensual vigour and wildness. The second had laid hold of the heel of the first, i.e., he came into the world with his hand projected and holding the heel of the first-born, a sign of his future attitude towards his brother. From these accidental circumstances the children received their names. The elder they called Esau, the hairy one; the younger Jacob, heel-holder: יעקב from עקב (denom. of עקב heel, Hos 12:3), to hold the heel, then to outwit (Gen 27:36), just as in wrestling an attempt may be made to throw the opponent by grasping the heel.

Explanatory Notes on the Whole Bible, by John Wesley [1754-65]
And Isaac intreated the Lord for his wife - Though God had promised to multiply his family, he prayed for it; for God's promises must not supersede but encourage our prayers, and be improved as the ground of our faith. Though he had prayed for this mercy many years, and it was not granted, yet he did not leave off praying for it.

Adam Clarke Commentary on the Whole Bible - Published 1810-1826
Isaac entreated the Lord for his wife - Isaac and Rebekah had now lived nineteen years together without having a child; for he was forty years old when he married Rebekah, Gen 25:20, and he was threescore years of age when Jacob and Esau were born, Gen 25:26. Hence it is evident they had lived nineteen years together without having a child. The form of the original in this place is worthy of notice: Isaac entreated Jehovah, לנכח אשתו lenochach ishto, directly, purposely, especially, for his wife. Ainsworth thinks the words imply their praying together for this thing; and the rabbins say that "Isaac and Rebekah went on purpose to Mount Moriah, where he had been bound, and prayed together there that they might have a son." God was pleased to exercise the faith of Isaac previous to the birth of Jacob, as he had exercised that of Abraham previous to his own birth.

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⁸ In his days [03117] the Edomites [0123] revolted [06586] from under the dominion [03027] of Judah [03063], and made [04427] themselves a king [04428].

¹² [3754] It was said [4483] unto her [846], The elder [3187] shall serve [1398] the younger [1640].

⁷ Likewise [3668], ye husbands [435], dwell with [4924] them according to [2596] knowledge [1108], giving [632] honour [5092] unto the wife [1134], as [5613] unto the weaker [772] vessel [4632], and [2532] as [5613] being heirs together [4789] of the grace [5485] of life [2222]; that [1519] your [5216] prayers [4335] be [1581] not [3361] hindered [1581].

⁴ And I will make [07235] thy seed [02233] to multiply [07235] as the stars [03556] of heaven [08064], and will give [05414] unto thy seed [02233] all these [0411] countries [0776]; and in thy seed [02233] shall all the nations [01471] of the earth [0776] be blessed [01288];

³⁶ And he said [0559], Is not he rightly [03588] named [07121] [08034] Jacob [03290]? for he hath supplanted me [06117] these [02088] two times [06471]: he took away [03947] my birthright [01062]; and, behold, now he hath taken away [03947] my blessing [01293]. And he said [0559], Hast thou not reserved [0680] a blessing [01293] for me?

³ He took his brother [0251] by the heel [06117] in the womb [0990], and by his strength [0202] he had power [08280] with God [0430]:

⁴² And when the Philistine [06430] looked about [05027], and saw [07200] David [01732], he disdained [0959] him: for he was but a youth [05288], and ruddy [0132], and of a fair [03303] countenance [04758].

¹² And he sent [07971], and brought him in [0935]. Now he was ruddy [0132], and withal [05973] of a beautiful [03303] countenance [05869], and goodly [02896] to look to [07210]. And the LORD [03068] said [0559], Arise [06965], anoint [04886] him: for this is he.

²⁴ And when her days [03117] to be delivered [03205] were fulfilled [04390], behold, there were twins [08380] in her womb [0990].
²⁵ And the first [07223] came out [03318] red [0132], all over like an hairy [08181] garment [0155]; and they called [07121] his name [08034] Esau [06215].
²⁶ And after [0310] that came [03318] his brother [0251] out [03318], and his hand [03027] took hold [0270] on Esau's [06215] heel [06119]; and his name [08034] was called [07121] Jacob [03290]: and Isaac [03327] was threescore [08346] years [08141] old [01121] when she bare [03205] them.

⁹ (Beforetime [06440] in Israel [03478], when a man [0376] went [03212] to enquire [01875] of God [0430], thus he spake [0559], Come [03212], and let us go [03212] to the seer [07200]: for he that is now [03117] called a Prophet [05030] was beforetime [06440] called [07121] a Seer [07200]

⁴⁶ And Rebekah [07259] said [0559] to Isaac [03327], I am weary [06973] of my life [02416] because [06440] of the daughters [01323] of Heth [02845]: if Jacob [03290] take [03947] a wife [0802] of the daughters [01323] of Heth [02845], such as these which are of the daughters [01323] of the land [0776], what good [04100] shall my life [02416] do me?

²² And the children [01121] struggled together [07533] within her [07130]; and she said [0559], If it be so, why am I thus [02088]? And she went [03212] to enquire [01875] of the LORD [03068].
²³ And the LORD [03068] said [0559] unto her, Two [08147] nations [01471] are in thy womb [0990], and two manner [08147] of people [03816] shall be separated [06504] from thy bowels [04578]; and the one people [03816] shall be stronger [0553] than the other people [03816]; and the elder [07227] shall serve [05647] the younger [06810].

³⁸ And he set [03322] the rods [04731] which he had pilled [06478] before [05227] the flocks [06629] in the gutters [07298] in the watering [04325] troughs [08268] when the flocks [06629] came [0935] to drink [08354], that they should conceive [03179] when they came [0935] to drink [08354].

²¹ And Isaac [03327] intreated [06279] the LORD [03068] for [05227] his wife [0802], because she was barren [06135]: and the LORD [03068] was intreated [06279] of him, and Rebekah [07259] his wife [0802] conceived [02029].

²⁶ And after [0310] that came [03318] his brother [0251] out [03318], and his hand [03027] took hold [0270] on Esau's [06215] heel [06119]; and his name [08034] was called [07121] Jacob [03290]: and Isaac [03327] was threescore [08346] years [08141] old [01121] when she bare [03205] them.

²⁰ And Isaac [03327] was forty [0705] years [08141] old [01121] when he took [03947] Rebekah [07259] to wife [0802], the daughter [01323] of Bethuel [01328] the Syrian [0761] of Padanaram [06307], the sister [0269] to Laban [03837] the Syrian [0761].