Genesis 25:19 - Printer Friendly

ESV: These are the generations of Isaac, Abraham’s son: Abraham fathered Isaac,

NIV: This is the account of the family line of Abraham's son Isaac. Abraham became the father of Isaac,

NASB: Now these are the records of the generations of Isaac, Abraham’s son: Abraham fathered Isaac;

CSB: These are the family records of Isaac son of Abraham. Abraham fathered Isaac.

NLT: This is the account of the family of Isaac, the son of Abraham.

KJV: And these are the generations of Isaac, Abraham's son: Abraham begat Isaac:

NKJV: This is the genealogy of Isaac, Abraham’s son. Abraham begot Isaac.

Having concluded a summary describing the sons and descendants of Ishmael, Genesis 25 begins the much longer telling of the "generations of Isaac." After formally establishing that Abraham fathered Isaac, Isaac's story officially begins with his marriage to Rebekah and the birth of his twin sons Jacob and Esau.

Genesis 25:19–28 describes the birth of Isaac and Rebekah's twin boys. After marrying when Isaac is 40, Rebekah does not become pregnant for 20 years, and only in response to Isaac's prayer to the Lord. Her pregnancy is so difficult that she approaches the Lord to ask why. His response is a prophecy about the divided nations that will come from her. That makes more sense when two children are born, one red and hairy, the other grabbing his brother's heel. The first is named Esau, who becomes a hunter loved by his father. The second is Jacob, a quiet, stay-at-home man favored by his mother.

Genesis 25 is packed with information. Abraham marries another wife, most likely before Sarah died, and has six sons with her. Abraham dies at the age of 175 and is buried by both Isaac and Ishmael at the family-owned cave where Sarah was buried. Ishmael's 12 sons are listed, along with the region their tribes settled in, to the east of what would later become Israel. And, finally, God grants Isaac's prayer for Rebekah to become pregnant by giving the couple twins: the feuding Jacob and Esau.

The previous chapter tells the story of how Abraham's servant found a wife for Isaac from among Abraham's people. This chapter rushes to fill in the details of the end of Abraham's life before beginning the story of Isaac's years as patriarch. Abraham marries another woman and has six sons with her, eventually sending them all away from Isaac. Abraham dies and is buried with Sarah. Ishmael's 12 sons are listed, and then his death is recorded, as well. Finally, Isaac's twin boys are born in response to his prayer to the Lord.

The book of Genesis establishes fundamental truths about God. Among these are His role as the Creator, His holiness, His hatred of sin, His love for mankind, and His willingness to provide for our redemption. We learn not only where mankind has come from, but why the world is in its present form. The book also presents the establishment of Israel, God's chosen people. Many of the principles given in other parts of Scripture depend on the basic ideas presented here in the book of Genesis. Within the framework of the Bible, Genesis explains the bare-bones history of the universe leading up to the captivity of Israel in Egypt, setting the stage for the book of Exodus.

Accessed 5/3/2024 6:33:23 PM