Genesis 25

Genesis 25 General Notes

Structure and formatting

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.

Special concepts in this chapter

Polygamy

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)

Inheritance

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)

Other possible translation difficulties in this chapter

God fulfills his promise

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)

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Genesis 25:1

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See /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#translate-names.

Genesis 25:2

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Genesis 25:3

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Genesis 25:4

All these

This refers to the people named in verses 2-4.

Genesis 25:5

Abraham gave all that he owned to Isaac

"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.

Genesis 25:6

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Genesis 25:7

These were the days of the years of Abraham's life which he lived, 175 years

"These were ... he lived, one hundred and seventy-five years." Abraham lived 175 years. (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#translate-numbers)

Genesis 25:8

Abraham breathed his last and died

"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)

breathed his last

This is a polite way of saying a person died. (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-euphemism)

at a good old age, an old man with a full life

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)

an old man with a full life

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)

he was gathered to his people

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)

Genesis 25:9

the cave of Machpelah, in the field of Ephron

Ephron owned a field in Machpelah and the cave that was in that field. Abraham bought the field from Ephron.

Machpelah

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)

Ephron ... Zohar

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)

which is near Mamre

Machpela was near Mamre.

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)

Genesis 25:10

This field Abraham had bought

"Abraham had bought this field"

sons of Heth

"the descendants of Heth" or "the Hittites." See how you translated this in Genesis 23:5.

Abraham was buried

This can be stated in active form. Alternate translation: "They buried Abraham" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-activepassive)

Genesis 25:11

Beer Lahai Roi

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)

Genesis 25:12

Now

This word is used in English to introduce a new part of the story and information about Ishmael.

Genesis 25:13

General Information:

See /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#translate-names.

Genesis 25:14

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Genesis 25:15

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Genesis 25:16

These were Ishmael's sons, and these were their names, by their villages, and by their encampments; twelve princes according to their tribes

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"

twelve

"12" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#translate-numbers)

princes

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.

Genesis 25:17

These were the years of the life of Ishmael, 137 years

"These were ... Ishmael, one hundred and thirty-seven years." Ishmael lived 137 years. (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#translate-numbers)

breathed his last and died

The terms "breathed his last" and "died" mean basically the same thing. Alternate translation: "died" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-doublet)

was gathered to his people

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)

Genesis 25:18

They lived

"His descendants settled"

from Havilah to Ashhur

"between Havilah and Ashhur"

Havilah

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)

as one goes toward

"in the direction of"

They lived in hostility with each other

Possible meanings are 1) "they did not live in peace together," or 2) "they lived away from their other relatives."

Genesis 25:19

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Genesis 25:20

forty years old

"40 years old" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#translate-numbers)

when he took as his wife Rebekah

"when he married Rebekah"

Bethuel

Bethuel was Rebekah's father. See how you translated this name in Genesis 22:22. (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#translate-names)

Paddan Aram

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)

Genesis 25:21

she was barren

"she was unable to become pregnant"

Rebekah his wife conceived

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)

Genesis 25:22

The children struggled together within her

"the babies inside her kept bumping against each other" or "The babies pushed against each other within her"

The children ... within her

Rebekah was pregnant with twins. (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-explicit)

She went to ask Yahweh about this

"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.

Genesis 25:23

said to her

"said to Rebekah"

Two nations ... serve the younger

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)

Two nations are in your womb

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)

two peoples will be separated from within you

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)

the older will serve the younger

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.

Genesis 25:24

behold, there

"she was surprised to learn that there"

Genesis 25:25

red all over like a hairy garment

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)

Esau

Translators may add a footnote that says "The name Esau sounds like the word 'hairy.'"

Genesis 25:26

grasping Esau's heel

"holding the back part of Esau's foot"

Jacob

Translators may also add a footnote that says "The name Jacob means 'he grasps the heel.'"

sixty years old

"60 years old" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#translate-numbers)

Genesis 25:27

became a skillful hunter

"became good at hunting and killing animals for food"

a quiet man

"a peaceful man" or "a less active man"

who spent his time in the tents

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)

Genesis 25:28

Now

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)

Isaac loved

Here the word "loved" means "favored" or "preferred."

because he ate the animals that he had hunted

"because he ate the animals that Esau had hunted" or "because he enjoyed eating the wild animal meat that Esau caught"

Genesis 25:29

Jacob cooked

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.

cooked some stew

"boiled some food" or "cooked some soup." This stew was made of boiled lentils (Genesis 25:34).

he was weak from hunger

"he was weak because he was very hungry" or "he was very hungry"

Genesis 25:30

I am exhausted

"I am weak from hunger" or "I am very hungry"

Edom

Translators may add a footnote that says "The name Edom means 'red.'"

Genesis 25:31

birthright

right as firstborn to inherit most of the father's wealth

Genesis 25:32

I am about to die

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)

What good is the birthright to me?

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)

Genesis 25:33

First swear to me

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)

Genesis 25:34

lentils

These are like beans, but their seeds are very small, round, and somewhat flat. (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#translate-unknown)

Esau despised his birthright

"Esau showed that he did not value his birthright"