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.

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}.

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.

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.

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.

Commentary

Genesis 25:20 marks a pivotal moment in the patriarchal narrative, succinctly detailing the marriage of Isaac, Abraham's heir, to Rebekah. This verse provides key biographical and geographical details about this union, which is foundational to the continuation of God's covenant with Abraham.

Context

This verse follows the account of Abraham's death and burial (Genesis 25:8). It serves as a concise summary of Isaac's marriage, the detailed narrative of which is found in the preceding chapter. Isaac was forty years old when he married Rebekah, highlighting a significant period of waiting after his mother Sarah's death and before the birth of his own children. The selection of Rebekah, from Abraham's relatives in Haran (Padanaram), was a deliberate act of faith and obedience to Abraham's instruction, ensuring that Isaac would not marry a Canaanite woman.

Rebekah is identified as "the daughter of Bethuel the Syrian of Padanaram" and "the sister to Laban the Syrian." This lineage firmly places her within Abraham's extended family, albeit from a region that would later be associated with Aramaean (Syrian) peoples. The term "Padanaram" (also rendered Paddan-Aram) literally means "the plain of Aram," emphasizing its geographical and cultural connection to the Arameans.

Key Themes and Messages

  • Divine Providence: The marriage of Isaac and Rebekah was not a chance encounter but a divinely guided event, meticulously orchestrated as seen in Genesis chapter 24. God's hand was evident in leading Abraham's servant directly to Rebekah and in the family's consent.
  • Covenant Continuity: This union was essential for the continuation of the Abrahamic covenant, particularly the promise of numerous descendants and a promised land. Isaac, as the son of promise, needed a wife through whom the lineage of blessing would flow.
  • Patience and Waiting: Isaac's age of forty at marriage underscores a significant period of waiting. This theme of patience and reliance on God's timing is further emphasized by Rebekah's initial barrenness, detailed in the very next verse (Genesis 25:21).

Linguistic Insights

The term "Syrian" used to describe Bethuel and Laban is a translation of the Hebrew word Arammi (ืึฒืจึทืžึผึดื™), referring to someone from Aram. This highlights their ethnic and geographical origin in Mesopotamia, specifically the region of Padanaram. While the term "Syrian" might conjure images of modern Syria, in biblical context, it refers to the Arameans, a people group with whom the Israelites shared some distant kinship and often interacted.

Practical Application

Genesis 25:20 reminds us of God's meticulous care in fulfilling His promises across generations. For believers today, it highlights the importance of seeking God's guidance in significant life decisions, such as marriage, trusting that His timing is perfect. Isaac's patient waiting for a wife, and the subsequent waiting for children, teaches us perseverance and faith in the face of delayed gratification. Just as God was faithful to Abraham and Isaac, He remains faithful to His people, orchestrating events to accomplish His divine purposes and maintain His covenant relationship.

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Cross-References

  • Genesis 24:29 (6 votes)

    ยถ And Rebekah had a brother, and his name [was] Laban: and Laban ran out unto the man, unto the well.

  • Genesis 24:67 (5 votes)

    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 (4 votes)

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

  • Genesis 31:24 (3 votes)

    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 (3 votes)

    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 (2 votes)

    And Jacob stole away unawares to Laban the Syrian, in that he told him not that he fled.

  • Genesis 28:5 (2 votes)

    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.