Some translations set poetry farther to the right than the rest of the text to show that it is poetry. The ULB does this with the poetry in 25:23.
Abraham married another wife. This was sinful of him. Many other Hebrew leaders came to marry multiple wives. This is known as "polygamy." It has never been an acceptable practice. (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tw?section=kt#sin)
In the ancient Near East, inheritance was passed on through the eldest son. Even though Esau and Jacob were twins, it is very important that Esau was born first. It was his birthright to receive his inheritance, but he foolishly gave it up. (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tw?section=kt#inherit and /WA-Catalog/en_tw?section=kt#birthright and /WA-Catalog/en_tw?section=kt#foolish)
God begins to fulfill the promise he gave to Abraham about making his descendants numerous. Many of these children through his concubines would become large people groups. This may not be easy to understand without the remainder of the Old Testament and the history it records. (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-explicit)
See /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#translate-names.
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This refers to the people named in verses 2-4.
"Isaac inherited all that Abraham owned." It was normal for the father to divide his wealth when he was old and not leave that for others to do after he died.
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"These were ... he lived, one hundred and seventy-five years." Abraham lived 175 years. (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#translate-numbers)
"Abraham took his last breath and died." The phrases "breathed his last" and "died" mean basically the same thing. Alternate translation: "Abraham died" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-doublet)
This is a polite way of saying a person died. (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-euphemism)
These two phrases mean basically the same thing and emphasize that Abraham lived a very long time. Alternate translation: "when he had lived a very long time and was very old" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-doublet)
Living a long life is spoken of as if life were a container that becomes full. (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-metaphor)
This means that after Abraham died, his soul went to the same place as his relatives who died before him. This can be stated in active form. Alternate translation: "he joined his family members who had already died" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-idiom and /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-activepassive)
Ephron owned a field in Machpelah and the cave that was in that field. Abraham bought the field from Ephron.
Machpelah was the name of an area or region. See how you translated this in Genesis 23:9. (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#translate-names)
These are names of men. See how you translated these men's names in Genesis 23:8. (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#translate-names)
Machpela was near Mamre.
This was another name for the city of Hebron. It may have been named after Mamre, the friend of Abraham who lived there. See how you translated this place name in Genesis 23:17. (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#translate-names)
"Abraham had bought this field"
"the descendants of Heth" or "the Hittites." See how you translated this in Genesis 23:5.
This can be stated in active form. Alternate translation: "They buried Abraham" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-activepassive)
This name means "the well of the living one who sees me." See how you translated this place name in Genesis 16:14. (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#translate-names)
This word is used in English to introduce a new part of the story and information about Ishmael.
See /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#translate-names.
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This can be stated as two sentences. "These were the names of Ishmael's twelve sons. They led tribes that were named after them, and they each had their own villages and campsites"
"12" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#translate-numbers)
Here the word "princes" means that the men were leaders or rules of the tribes; it does not mean that they were the sons of a king.
"These were ... Ishmael, one hundred and thirty-seven years." Ishmael lived 137 years. (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#translate-numbers)
The terms "breathed his last" and "died" mean basically the same thing. Alternate translation: "died" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-doublet)
This means that after Ishmael died, his soul went to the same place as his relatives who died before him. This can be stated in active form. Alternate translation: "he joined his family members who had already died" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-idiom and /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-activepassive)
"His descendants settled"
"between Havilah and Ashhur"
Havilah was located somewhere in the Arabian Desert. See how you translated this in Genesis 2:11. (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#translate-names)
"in the direction of"
Possible meanings are 1) "they did not live in peace together," or 2) "they lived away from their other relatives."
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"40 years old" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#translate-numbers)
"when he married Rebekah"
Bethuel was Rebekah's father. See how you translated this name in Genesis 22:22. (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#translate-names)
This was another name for the region of Mesopotamia, which about the same location as modern Iraq. (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#translate-names)
"she was unable to become pregnant"
It can be made explicit that Rebekah was pregnant with two babies at the same time: "Rebekah, his wife, became pregnant with twins" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-explicit)
"the babies inside her kept bumping against each other" or "The babies pushed against each other within her"
Rebekah was pregnant with twins. (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-explicit)
"She went and asked Yahweh about this." It is not clear where she went. She may have gone somewhere private to pray, or she may have gone somewhere to offer a sacrifice.
"said to Rebekah"
This is poetic language. If your language has a way to indicate poetry, you could use it here. (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#writing-poetry)
Here "two nations" stands for the two children. Each child will be the father of a nation. Alternate translation: "Two nations will come from the twins within you" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-metonymy)
Here "two peoples" stands for the two children. Each child will be the father of a people. This can be translated with an active verb. Alternate translation: "when you give birth to these two children they will be rivals" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-metonymy and /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-activepassive)
Possible meanings are 1) "the older son will serve the younger son" or 2) "the descendants of the older son will serve the descendants of the younger son." If possible, translate it so that people could understand either meaning.
"she was surprised to learn that there"
Possible meanings are 1) his skin was red and he had a lot of hair on his body or 2) he had a lot of red hair on his body. Alternate translation: "red and hairy like a garment made of animal hair" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-simile)
Translators may add a footnote that says "The name Esau sounds like the word 'hairy.'"
"holding the back part of Esau's foot"
Translators may also add a footnote that says "The name Jacob means 'he grasps the heel.'"
"60 years old" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#translate-numbers)
"became good at hunting and killing animals for food"
"a peaceful man" or "a less active man"
This speaks about time as if it were a commodity that someone could spend. Alternate translation: "who remained in the tents much of the time" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-metaphor)
This word is used to mark a change in focus, shifting from the story to background information about Isaac and Rebekah. (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#writing-background)
Here the word "loved" means "favored" or "preferred."
"because he ate the animals that Esau had hunted" or "because he enjoyed eating the wild animal meat that Esau caught"
Since this is the beginning of a story about something that happened one time, some translators may want to start it with a phrase like "One day, Jacob cooked" in a similar manner to the UDB.
"boiled some food" or "cooked some soup." This stew was made of boiled lentils (Genesis 25:34).
"he was weak because he was very hungry" or "he was very hungry"
"I am weak from hunger" or "I am very hungry"
Translators may add a footnote that says "The name Edom means 'red.'"
right as firstborn to inherit most of the father's wealth
Esau was exaggerating to emphasize how hungry he was. Alternate translation: "I am so hungry I feel like I could die" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-hyperbole)
Esau used a question to emphasize that eating was more important than a birthright. This can be translated as a statement. Alternate translation: "My inheritance is no good to me if I die of hunger!" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-rquestion)
What Jacob wanted Esau to swear can be stated explicitly. Alternate translation: "First swear to me that you will sell me your birthright" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-explicit)
These are like beans, but their seeds are very small, round, and somewhat flat. (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#translate-unknown)
"Esau showed that he did not value his birthright"