Genesis 22:23

King James Version:

(The Lord speaking is red text)

And Bethuel begat Rebekah: these eight Milcah did bear to Nahor, Abraham's brother.

Complete Jewish Bible:

B'tu'el fathered Rivkah. These eight Milkah bore to Nachor Avraham's brother.

Berean Standard Bible:

And Bethuel became the father of Rebekah. Milcah bore these eight sons to Abraham’s brother Nahor.

American Standard Version:

And Bethuel begat Rebekah: these eight did Milcah bear to Nahor, Abraham’s brother.

KJV with Strong’s Numbers:

And Bethuel{H1328} begat{H3205} Rebekah{H7259}: these eight{H8083} Milcah{H4435} did bear{H3205} to Nahor{H5152}, Abraham's{H85} brother{H251}.

Cross-References (KJV):

Genesis 24:15

  • And it came to pass, before he had done speaking, that, behold, Rebekah came out, who was born to Bethuel, son of Milcah, the wife of Nahor, Abraham's brother, with her pitcher upon her shoulder.

Genesis 28:2

  • Arise, go to Padanaram, to the house of Bethuel thy mother's father; and take thee a wife from thence of the daughters of Laban thy mother's brother.

Genesis 24:67

  • And Isaac brought her into his mother Sarah's tent, and took Rebekah, and she became his wife; and he loved her: and Isaac was comforted after his mother's [death].

Romans 9:10

  • And not only [this]; but when Rebecca also had conceived by one, [even] by our father Isaac;

Genesis 24:47

  • And I asked her, and said, Whose daughter [art] thou? And she said, The daughter of Bethuel, Nahor's son, whom Milcah bare unto him: and I put the earring upon her face, and the bracelets upon her hands.

Genesis 24:51

  • Behold, Rebekah [is] before thee, take [her], and go, and let her be thy master's son's wife, as the LORD hath spoken.

Genesis 25:20

  • And Isaac was forty years old when he took Rebekah to wife, the daughter of Bethuel the Syrian of Padanaram, the sister to Laban the Syrian.

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Commentary for Genesis 22:23

Genesis 22:23 is a part of the narrative concerning the family of Abraham, specifically detailing the lineage of his brother Nahor. The verse lists the children born to Nahor by his wife Milcah, with Rebekah being one of the most significant figures mentioned due to her future role as Isaac's wife.

**Themes:**
1. **Divine Providence and Lineage:** The genealogy presented in this verse underscores the theme of God's providential guidance over the patriarchal lineage, ensuring the continuity of the covenantal family through which God's promises will be fulfilled.
2. **Family and Relationships:** The verse highlights the importance of familial relationships and intermarriage within the clan, setting the stage for the union of Isaac and Rebekah, which will perpetuate the line of Abraham.
3. **Covenant and Promise:** By tracing the descendants of Nahor, the narrative reinforces the idea that God's covenant with Abraham extends to his extended family, and it is through these carefully documented lineages that the covenant promises will unfold.

**Historical Context:**
- **Patriarchal Era:** Genesis 22:23 is set in the era of the patriarchs, a time when the family of Abraham was establishing itself in the land of Canaan, as described in the Book of Genesis.
- **Nahor's Family in Haran:** Nahor, Abraham's brother, settled in Haran after the family's initial migration from Ur. Haran becomes an important location for the family, as it is also where Abraham's servant will later find Rebekah to become Isaac's wife (Genesis 24).
- **Cultural Context:** The listing of children, especially daughters, was not common in ancient Near Eastern genealogies unless they held significant roles. Rebekah's mention here foreshadows her importance in the biblical narrative.

In summary, Genesis 22:23 provides a snapshot of the family line of Nahor, Abraham's brother, emphasizing the significance of Rebekah within the broader context of God's covenantal promises and the establishment of the chosen lineage that will lead to the nation of Israel.

*This commentary is produced by Microsoft/WizardLM-2-8x22B AI model

Strong's Numbers and Definitions:

Note: H = Hebrew (OT), G = Greek (NT)

  1. Strong's Number: H1328
    There are 10 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: בְּתוּאֵל
    Transliteration: Bᵉthûwʼêl
    Pronunciation: beth-oo-ale'
    Description: apparently from the same as בָּתָה and אֵל; destroyed of God; Bethuel, the name of a nephew of Abraham, and of a place in Palestine; Bethuel. Compare בְּתוּל.
  2. Strong's Number: H3205
    There are 403 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: יָלַד
    Transliteration: yâlad
    Pronunciation: yaw-lad'
    Description: a primitive root; to bear young; causatively, to beget; medically, to act as midwife; specifically, to show lineage; bear, beget, birth(-day), born, (make to) bring forth (children, young), bring up, calve, child, come, be delivered (of a child), time of delivery, gender, hatch, labour, (do the office of a) midwife, declare pedigrees, be the son of, (woman in, woman that) travail(-eth, -ing woman).
  3. Strong's Number: H7259
    There are 29 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: רִבְקָה
    Transliteration: Ribqâh
    Pronunciation: rib-kaw'
    Description: from an unused root probably meaning to clog by tying up the fetlock; fettering (by beauty); Ribkah, the wife of Isaac; Rebekah.
  4. Strong's Number: H8083
    There are 105 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: שְׁמֹנֶה
    Transliteration: shᵉmôneh
    Pronunciation: shem-o-neh'
    Description: or שְׁמוֹנֶה; feminine שְׁמֹנָה; or שְׁמוֹנָה; apparently from שָׁמֵן through the idea of plumpness; a cardinal number, eight (as if a surplus above the 'perfect' seven); also (as ordinal) eighth; eight(-een, -eenth), eighth.
  5. Strong's Number: H4435
    There are 10 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: מִלְכָּה
    Transliteration: Milkâh
    Pronunciation: mil-kaw'
    Description: a form of מַלְכָּה; queen; Milcah, the name of a Hebrewess and of an Israelite; Milcah.
  6. Strong's Number: H5152
    There are 17 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: נָחוֹר
    Transliteration: Nâchôwr
    Pronunciation: naw-khore'
    Description: from the same as נַחַר; snorer; Nochor, the name of the grandfather and a brother of Abraham; Nahor.
  7. Strong's Number: H85
    There are 1159 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: אַבְרָהָם
    Transliteration: ʼAbrâhâm
    Pronunciation: ab-raw-hawm'
    Description: contracted from אָב and an unused root (probably meaning to be populous); father of a multitude; Abraham, the later name of Abram; Abraham.
  8. Strong's Number: H251
    There are 636 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: אָח
    Transliteration: ʼâch
    Pronunciation: awkh
    Description: a primitive word; a brother (used in the widest sense of literal relationship and metaphorical affinity or resemblance (like father)); another, brother(-ly); kindred, like, other. Compare also the proper names beginning with 'Ah-' or 'Ahi-'.