King James Version:
(The Lord speaking is red text)
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.
Complete Jewish Bible:
Yitz'chak was forty years old when he took Rivkah, the daughter of B'tu'el the Arami from Paddan-Aram and sister of Lavan the Arami, to be his wife.
Berean Standard Bible:
and Isaac was forty years old when he married Rebekah, the daughter of Bethuel the Aramean from Paddan-aram and the sister of Laban the Aramean.
American Standard Version:
and Isaac was forty years old when he took Rebekah, the daughter of Bethuel the Syrian of Paddan-aram, the sister of Laban the Syrian, to be his wife.
KJV with Strong’s Numbers:
And Isaac{H3327} was forty{H705} years{H8141} old{H1121} when he took{H3947} Rebekah{H7259} to wife{H802}, the daughter{H1323} of Bethuel{H1328} the Syrian{H761} of Padanaram{H6307}, the sister{H269} to Laban{H3837} the Syrian{H761}.
Cross-References (KJV):
Genesis 24:29
- ¶ And Rebekah had a brother, and his name [was] Laban: and Laban ran out unto the man, unto the well.
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].
Genesis 22:23
- And Bethuel begat Rebekah: these eight Milcah did bear to Nahor, Abraham's brother.
Genesis 31:24
- And God came to Laban the Syrian in a dream by night, and said unto him, Take heed that thou speak not to Jacob either good or bad.
Deuteronomy 26:5
- And thou shalt speak and say before the LORD thy God, A Syrian ready to perish [was] my father, and he went down into Egypt, and sojourned there with a few, and became there a nation, great, mighty, and populous:
Genesis 31:20
- And Jacob stole away unawares to Laban the Syrian, in that he told him not that he fled.
Genesis 28:5
- And Isaac sent away Jacob: and he went to Padanaram unto Laban, son of Bethuel the Syrian, the brother of Rebekah, Jacob's and Esau's mother.
Explore This Verse Across Other Resources:
Commentary for Genesis 25:20
1. **Themes:**
- **Divine Providence:** The marriage of Isaac and Rebekah is arranged by Abraham's servant, under divine guidance, emphasizing God's role in their union.
- **Family and Lineage:** The verse underscores the importance of family connections and lineage, which are central themes in the book of Genesis.
- **Matrimony:** The mention of Isaac taking Rebekah as his wife highlights the significance of marriage as a foundational institution in biblical society.
2. **Historical Context:**
- **Patriarchal Era:** The events occur during the patriarchal period, where the narratives focus on the lives of the founding fathers of Israel, in this case, Abraham, Isaac, and later Jacob and Joseph.
- **Transition of Leadership:** Isaac's marriage marks a transition in leadership from his father Abraham to himself, as he takes on the role of the patriarch of the family.
- **Cultural Practices:** The verse reflects the customs of the time regarding marriage, including arranged marriages and the seeking of wives from one's own kin, as seen in Abraham's servant's journey to find a wife for Isaac from among his relatives.
- **Geographical Context:** "Padanaram" (or Paddan Aram) refers to the region of Aram, which is located in Mesopotamia, northwest of the land of Canaan. This area was inhabited by Arameans and was known to be the home of Abraham's brother Nahor and his descendants, including Rebekah.
- **Ethnic Identity:** The term "Syrian" here does not refer to the modern nation of Syria but rather to the region of Aram and its inhabitants, who were Semitic people related to the Hebrews.
In summary, Genesis 25:20 is situated within the broader narrative of the patriarchs and emphasizes themes of divine guidance in marriage, the importance of familial ties, and the continuation of the patriarchal line. It also provides insight into the marriage customs and geopolitical landscape of the ancient Near East during the time of the patriarchs.
*This commentary is produced by Microsoft/WizardLM-2-8x22B AI model
Strong's Numbers and Definitions:
Note: H = Hebrew (OT), G = Greek (NT)
- Strong's Number: H3327
There are 101 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: יִצְחָק
Transliteration: Yitschâq
Pronunciation: yits-khawk'
Description: from צָחַק; laughter (i.e. mochery); Jitschak (or Isaac), son of Abraham; Isaac. Compare יִשְׂחָק. - Strong's Number: H705
There are 178 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: אַרְבָּעִים
Transliteration: ʼarbâʻîym
Pronunciation: ar-baw-eem'
Description: multiple of אַרְבַּע; forty; -forty. - Strong's Number: H8141
There are 647 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: שָׁנֶה
Transliteration: shâneh
Pronunciation: shaw-neh'
Description: (in plural or (feminine) שָׁנָה; from שָׁנָה; a year (as a revolution of time); [phrase] whole age, [idiom] long, [phrase] old, year([idiom] -ly). - Strong's Number: H1121
There are 3654 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: בֵּן
Transliteration: bên
Pronunciation: bane
Description: from בָּנָה; a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative relationship, including grandson, subject, nation, quality or condition, etc., (like father or brother), etc.); [phrase] afflicted, age, (Ahoh-) (Ammon-) (Hachmon-) (Lev-) ite, (anoint-) ed one, appointed to, ([phrase]) arrow, (Assyr-) (Babylon-) (Egypt-) (Grec-) ian, one born, bough, branch, breed, [phrase] (young) bullock, [phrase] (young) calf, [idiom] came up in, child, colt, [idiom] common, [idiom] corn, daughter, [idiom] of first, [phrase] firstborn, foal, [phrase] very fruitful, [phrase] postage, [idiom] in, [phrase] kid, [phrase] lamb, ([phrase]) man, meet, [phrase] mighty, [phrase] nephew, old, ([phrase]) people, [phrase] rebel, [phrase] robber, [idiom] servant born, [idiom] soldier, son, [phrase] spark, [phrase] steward, [phrase] stranger, [idiom] surely, them of, [phrase] tumultuous one, [phrase] valiant(-est), whelp, worthy, young (one), youth. - Strong's Number: H3947
There are 909 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: לָקַח
Transliteration: lâqach
Pronunciation: law-kakh'
Description: a primitive root; to take (in the widest variety of applications); accept, bring, buy, carry away, drawn, fetch, get, infold, [idiom] many, mingle, place, receive(-ing), reserve, seize, send for, take (away, -ing, up), use, win. - 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. - Strong's Number: H802
There are 729 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: אִשָּׁה
Transliteration: ʼishshâh
Pronunciation: ish-shaw'
Description: feminine of אִישׁ or אֱנוֹשׁ; irregular plural, נָשִׁים;(used in the same wide sense as אֱנוֹשׁ); a woman; (adulter) ess, each, every, female, [idiom] many, [phrase] none, one, [phrase] together, wife, woman. Often unexpressed in English. - Strong's Number: H1323
There are 499 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: בַּת
Transliteration: bath
Pronunciation: bath
Description: from בָּנָה (as feminine of בֵּן); a daughter (used in the same wide sense as other terms of relationship, literally and figuratively); apple (of the eye), branch, company, daughter, [idiom] first, [idiom] old, [phrase] owl, town, village. - 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. - Strong's Number: H761
There are 164 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: אֲרַמִּי
Transliteration: ʼĂrammîy
Pronunciation: ar-am-mee'
Description: patrial from אֲרָם; an Aramite or Aramaean; Syrian, Aramitess. - Strong's Number: H6307
There are 11 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: פַּדָּן
Transliteration: Paddân
Pronunciation: pad-dawn'
Description: from an unused root meaning to extend; a plateau; or פַּדַּן אֲרָם; from the same and אֲרָם; the table-land of Aram; Paddan or Paddan-Aram, a region of Syria; Padan, Padan-aram. - Strong's Number: H269
There are 301 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: אָחוֹת
Transliteration: ʼâchôwth
Pronunciation: aw-khoth'
Description: irregular feminine of אָח; a sister (used very widely (like brother), literally and figuratively); (an-) other, sister, together. - Strong's Number: H3837
There are 47 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: לָבָן
Transliteration: Lâbân
Pronunciation: law-bawn'
Description: the same as לָבָן; Laban, a Mesopotamian; also a place in the Desert; Laban.