The Meaning of Genesis 25:23 Explained

Genesis 25:23

KJV: And the LORD said unto her, Two nations are in thy womb, and two manner of people shall be separated from thy bowels; and the one people shall be stronger than the other people; and the elder shall serve the younger.

YLT: And Jehovah saith to her, 'Two nations are in thy womb, and two peoples from thy bowels are parted; and the one people than the other people is stronger; and the elder doth serve the younger.'

Darby: And Jehovah said to her, Two nations are in thy womb, And two peoples shall be separated from thy bowels; And one people shall be stronger than the other people, And the elder shall serve the younger.

ASV: And Jehovah said unto her, Two nations are in thy womb, And two peoples shall be separated from thy bowels. And the one people shall be stronger than the other people. And the elder shall serve the younger.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

And the LORD  said  unto her, Two  nations  [are] in thy womb,  and two manner  of people  shall be separated  from thy bowels;  and [the one] people  shall be stronger  than [the other] people;  and the elder  shall serve  the younger. 

What does Genesis 25:23 Mean?

Context Summary

Genesis 25:19-34 - Jacob And Esau, Twin Brothers
In the thought of that age, the birthright carried with it the spiritual leadership of the tribe. To be the priest of the family, to stand between the Most High and the rest of the household, to receive divine communications and execute the divine will, and to be in the direct line of the Messiah-such were some of the privileges that gathered around this position. They were nought in Esau's estimation, and he was quite content to part with all they implied, if only he might have the immediate gratification of appetite. The steaming fragrance of the lentil pottage was sweet in the nostrils of the hungry hunter. We have all passed through such an experience. On the one hand, our self-respect, our true advantage, our God; on the other, passionate desire crying, "Give, give." In days and hours like that, beware: for you may say a word or do an act that shall determine your future, and, like Esau, you will find no loophole for altering the cast of the die. See Hebrews 12:16. [source]

Chapter Summary: Genesis 25

1  The sons of Abraham by Keturah
5  The division of his goods
7  His age, death, and burial
11  God blesses Isaac
12  The generations of Ishmael
17  His age and death
19  Isaac prays for Rebekah, being barren
22  The children strive in her womb
24  The birth of Esau and Jacob
27  Their different characters and pursuits
29  Esau sells his birthright

What do the individual words in Genesis 25:23 mean?

And said Yahweh to her two - nations [are] in your womb and two peoples from your body shall be separated and [one] people than the other shall be stronger and the older shall serve the younger
וַיֹּ֨אמֶר יְהוָ֜ה לָ֗הּ שְׁנֵ֤י [גיים] (גוֹיִם֙) בְּבִטְנֵ֔ךְ וּשְׁנֵ֣י לְאֻמִּ֔ים מִמֵּעַ֖יִךְ יִפָּרֵ֑דוּ וּלְאֹם֙ מִלְאֹ֣ם יֶֽאֱמָ֔ץ וְרַ֖ב יַעֲבֹ֥ד צָעִֽיר

וַיֹּ֨אמֶר  And  said 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: אָמַר 
Sense: to say, speak, utter.
יְהוָ֜ה  Yahweh 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יהוה 
Sense: the proper name of the one true God.
לָ֗הּ  to  her 
Parse: Preposition, third person feminine singular
שְׁנֵ֤י  two 
Parse: Number, mdc
Root: שְׁנַיִם  
Sense: two.
[גיים]  - 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural
(גוֹיִם֙)  nations  [are] 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural
Root: גֹּוי 
Sense: nation, people.
בְּבִטְנֵ֔ךְ  in  your  womb 
Parse: Preposition-b, Noun, feminine singular construct, second person feminine singular
Root: בֶּטֶן  
Sense: belly, womb, body.
וּשְׁנֵ֣י  and  two 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Number, mdc
Root: שְׁנַיִם  
Sense: two.
לְאֻמִּ֔ים  peoples 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural
Root: לְאֹם  
Sense: a people, nation.
מִמֵּעַ֖יִךְ  from  your  body 
Parse: Preposition-m, Noun, masculine plural construct, second person feminine singular
Root: מֵעֶה  
Sense: internal organs, inward parts, bowels, intestines, belly.
יִפָּרֵ֑דוּ  shall  be  separated 
Parse: Verb, Nifal, Imperfect, third person masculine plural
Root: פָּרַד  
Sense: to separate, divide.
וּלְאֹם֙  and  [one]  people 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Noun, masculine singular
Root: לְאֹם  
Sense: a people, nation.
מִלְאֹ֣ם  than  the  other 
Parse: Preposition-m, Noun, masculine singular
Root: לְאֹם  
Sense: a people, nation.
יֶֽאֱמָ֔ץ  shall  be  stronger 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: אָמֵץ  
Sense: to be strong, alert, courageous, brave, stout, bold, solid, hard.
וְרַ֖ב  and  the  older 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Adjective, masculine singular
Root: רַב 
Sense: much, many, great.
יַעֲבֹ֥ד  shall  serve 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: עָבַד  
Sense: to work, serve.
צָעִֽיר  the  younger 
Parse: Adjective, masculine singular
Root: צָעִיר  
Sense: little, insignificant, young.