King James Version:
(The Lord speaking is red text)
And it came to pass, when she was in hard labour, that the midwife said unto her, Fear not; thou shalt have this son also.
Complete Jewish Bible:
While she was undergoing this hard labor, the midwife said to her, "Don't worry, this is also a son for you."
Berean Standard Bible:
During her severe labor, the midwife said to her, “Do not be afraid, for you are having another son.”
American Standard Version:
And it came to pass, when she was in hard labor, that the midwife said unto her, Fear not; for now thou shalt have another son.
KJV with Strong’s Numbers:
And it came to pass, when she was in hard{H7185} labour{H3205}, that the midwife{H3205} said{H559} unto her, Fear{H3372} not; thou shalt have this son{H1121} also.
Cross-References (KJV):
Genesis 30:24
- And she called his name Joseph; and said, The LORD shall add to me another son.
1 Samuel 4:19
- ¶ And his daughter in law, Phinehas' wife, was with child, [near] to be delivered: and when she heard the tidings that the ark of God was taken, and that her father in law and her husband were dead, she bowed herself and travailed; for her pains came upon her.
1 Samuel 4:21
- And she named the child Ichabod, saying, The glory is departed from Israel: because the ark of God was taken, and because of her father in law and her husband.
Explore This Verse Across Other Resources:
Commentary for Genesis 35:17
Genesis 35:17 is part of the narrative concerning the life of Jacob, his family, and his relationship with God. The verse specifically references the birth of Jacob's son Benjamin, which occurs during a period of transition and fulfillment of God's promises to Jacob.
**Themes:**
1. **Divine Promises:** The verse reflects the theme of God's faithfulness to His promises. Jacob, formerly known as Israel, has been promised descendants as numerous as the stars (Genesis 26:4). The birth of Benjamin, despite the hardship of Rachel's labor, is a testament to the ongoing fulfillment of that promise.
2. **Suffering and Hope:** Rachel's difficult labor followed by the reassurance from the midwife underscores the theme of suffering followed by hope and deliverance. This motif is recurrent throughout the Bible, symbolizing the trials and tribulations that precede blessings.
3. **Transition and Naming:** The birth of Benjamin marks a significant transition in the family of Jacob. The naming of the child, with "Benjamin" meaning "son of the right hand," signifies a favored status and the continuation of the family line, which is crucial in the patriarchal society of the time.
**Historical Context:**
The event takes place after Jacob has returned to Canaan from his time with Laban in Haran. Jacob is on his way to Bethel, where God had previously appeared to him (Genesis 28:10-22), and this stop is part of his journey to fulfill a vow he made to God. The family's movement is indicative of the nomadic lifestyle common at the time, with the narrative reflecting the importance of progeny, tribal affiliation, and divine guidance in the ancient Near Eastern context.
Rachel's death in childbirth shortly after this verse (Genesis 35:18-19) also highlights the historical reality of the dangers associated with childbirth in the ancient world, a risk that was an ever-present part of life.
In summary, Genesis 35:17 encapsulates the themes of divine promise, the interplay of suffering and hope, and the significance of lineage in a patriarchal society, all set against the backdrop of Jacob's return to the Promised Land and the establishment of his family as the progenitors of the twelve tribes 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)
- Strong's Number: H7185
There are 28 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: קָשָׁה
Transliteration: qâshâh
Pronunciation: kaw-shaw'
Description: a primitive root; properly, to be dense, i.e. tough or severe (in various applications); be cruel, be fiercer, make grievous, be ((ask a), be in, have, seem, would) hard(-en, (labour), -ly, thing), be sore, (be, make) stiff(-en, (-necked)). - 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). - Strong's Number: H559
There are 4434 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: אָמַר
Transliteration: ʼâmar
Pronunciation: aw-mar'
Description: a primitive root; to say (used with great latitude); answer, appoint, avouch, bid, boast self, call, certify, challenge, charge, [phrase] (at the, give) command(-ment), commune, consider, declare, demand, [idiom] desire, determine, [idiom] expressly, [idiom] indeed, [idiom] intend, name, [idiom] plainly, promise, publish, report, require, say, speak (against, of), [idiom] still, [idiom] suppose, talk, tell, term, [idiom] that is, [idiom] think, use (speech), utter, [idiom] verily, [idiom] yet. - Strong's Number: H3372
There are 305 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: יָרֵא
Transliteration: yârêʼ
Pronunciation: yaw-ray'
Description: a primitive root; to fear; morally, to revere; caus. to frighten; affright, be (make) afraid, dread(-ful), (put in) fear(-ful, -fully, -ing), (be had in) reverence(-end), [idiom] see, terrible (act, -ness, thing). - 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.