Genesis 25:21

21 Isaac prayed hard to God for his wife because she was barren. God answered his prayer and Rebekah became pregnant.

Genesis 25:21 Meaning and Commentary

Genesis 25:21

And Isaac entreated the Lord for his wife
Was very earnest and constant in his supplications for her, as the word signifies, as is observed by Jarchi; or, "before his wife" F1, she being present, and joining with him in his prayers: the reason was, because she [was] barren;
which appeared by the length of time they had been married, which was near twenty years, see ( Genesis 25:26 ) . The Jewish writers F2 say, that, after twenty years, Isaac took her and went with her to Mount Moriah, to the place where he was bound, and prayed that she might conceive; putting the Lord in mind of the promise he there made of the multiplication of Abraham's seed, ( Genesis 22:17 Genesis 22:18 ) : and the Lord was entreated of him;
he granted him his request; for, though God has purposed and promised to do many things for his people, yet he will be sought unto by them to do them for them: and Rebekah his wife conceived;
two sons at once, as it follows.


FOOTNOTES:

F1 (wtva xknl) "praesente uxore sua", Munster, Fagins.
F2 Pirke Eliezer, c. 32. Targum. Jon. in loc. Shalshalet Hakabala, fol. 3. 1.

Genesis 25:21 In-Context

19 This is the family tree of Isaac son of Abraham: Abraham had Isaac.
20 Isaac was forty years old when he married Rebekah daughter of Bethuel the Aramean of Paddan Aram. She was the sister of Laban the Aramean.
21 Isaac prayed hard to God for his wife because she was barren. God answered his prayer and Rebekah became pregnant.
22 But the children tumbled and kicked inside her so much that she said, "If this is the way it's going to be, why go on living?" She went to God to find out what was going on.
23 God told her, Two nations are in your womb, two peoples butting heads while still in your body. One people will overpower the other, and the older will serve the younger.
Published by permission. Originally published by NavPress in English as THE MESSAGE: The Bible in Contemporary Language copyright 2002 by Eugene Peterson. All rights reserved.