Genesis 35:18

ESV And as her soul was departing (for she was dying), she called his name Ben-oni; but his father called him Benjamin.

NIV As she breathed her last—for she was dying—she named her son Ben-Oni. But his father named him Benjamin.

NASB And it came about, as her soul was departing (for she died), that she named him Ben-oni; but his father called him Benjamin.

CSB With her last breath—for she was dying—she named him Ben-oni, but his father called him Benjamin.

NLT Rachel was about to die, but with her last breath she named the baby Ben-oni (which means 'son of my sorrow'). The baby’s father, however, called him Benjamin (which means 'son of my right hand').

KJV And it came to pass, as her soul was in departing, (for she died) that she called his name Benoni: but his father called him Benjamin.

NKJV And so it was, as her soul was departing (for she died), that she called his name Ben-Oni; but his father called him Benjamin.

What does Genesis 35:18 mean?

Rachel was the woman Jacob desperately loved and worked hard for, though he was tricked into also marrying her sister, Leah (Genesis 29:30). After years of being barren, Rachel finally gave birth to a son, who she named Joseph (Genesis 30:24). That name, itself, was a prayer for more sons. Whether or not Rachel gave birth to any daughters after Joseph, Scripture does not say. Years later, as Jacob's family relocates, Rachel goes into a state of extremely intense, difficult labor. The midwife is able to reassure Rachel that she's just had another son (Genesis 35:16–17).

Sadly, the birth of this boy will end Rachel's life. With her dying breath, she imparts a name on the boy: Ben-oni, which most likely means "son of my sorrow" or "son of my pain." Jacob rejects this name, choosing instead the name Binyāmin', transliterated in English as Benjamin, meaning "son of the right hand." The exact reason why Jacob rejects his wife's dying words is not stated. Perhaps he didn't wish to leave the reference to sorrow in his son's name.

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Context Summary
Genesis 35:16–29 describes Jacob's painful losses following God's great blessing at Bethel. His beloved wife Rachel dies giving birth to his twelfth son, Benjamin. Jacob buries her and builds a stone pillar to mark her tomb. Next, his firstborn son, Reuben, defiles the family by sleeping with one of Jacob's servant-wives. Though Jacob seems to do nothing, at first, Reuben will lose his birthright as a result. Finally, Jacob's father Isaac dies at 180 years old. Jacob and Esau reunite to lay their father to rest at the family burial cave at Mamre. The rest of Genesis will explain how the people of Israel came to live in Egypt.

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Chapter Summary
God commands Jacob to build an altar to Him at Bethel. This will fulfill vows Jacob made after encountering the Lord for the first time, as he was fleeing for his life from Esau. Jacob rids his family of all their false idols and travels to Bethel. God appears to him again, reaffirming all the covenant promises. As they travel away, Rachel dies giving birth to Jacob's twelfth son. His first son, Reuben, sleeps with Jacob's servant-wife Bilhah, losing his birthright as a result. Finally, Jacob's father Isaac dies at 180 years old.

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