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.
And the LORD said to her, 'Two nations are in your womb, and two different kinds of people will come from you. These two peoples will be separated from each other, and one group will be stronger than the other. The older son will serve the younger son.'
God is telling Rebekah that her twin sons will become the fathers of two different nations, and surprisingly, the younger son will have authority over the older one.
📚 Historical Context
This is God's response to Rebekah's prayer when she felt her twins struggling violently in her womb during pregnancy. In ancient times, the firstborn son typically received the birthright and family leadership, so God's prophecy that the younger would rule over the elder was completely against cultural norms. This prophecy would later be fulfilled through Jacob (the younger) and Esau (the elder), whose descendants became the nations of Israel and Edom respectively.
Ask the AI Assistant
Have a question about this chapter or verse? Ask below for a clear explanation.