Genesis 35:16
in Genesis 35Later, they set out from Bethel, and while they were still some distance from Ephrath, Rachel began to give birth, and her labor was difficult.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
And they journeyed from Beth-el; and there was still some distance to come to Ephrath: and Rachel travailed, and she had hard labor.
KJV
And they journeyed from Beth–el; and there was but a little way to come to Ephrath: and Rachel travailed, and she had hard labour.
⋯
This verse in Genesis 35
Commentary
5 notes on this verseThere was but a little way to come to Ephrath - The word כברת kibrath, translated here a little way, has greatly perplexed commentators. It occurs only here, in Gen 48:7, and 2Ki 5:19; and it seems to have been some sort of measure applied to land, as we say a mile, an acre, a rood, a perch; but what the exact quantity of the kibrath was cannot be ascertained. Ephrath, called also Bethlehem, and Bethlehem Ephrata, was the birthplace of our blessed Redeemer. See its meaning Mat 2:6 (note).
This site's exposition
some distance from Ephrath
on Genesis 35:16-18
Rachel had asked God for another son at Genesis 30:24, and Benjamin is that son. Bearing him kills her, and with her last breath she names him Ben-oni, son of sorrow. His father calls him Benjamin, son of the right hand. He is the one child in Genesis whose mother's name for him is overruled by his father.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers1 voice
(Verse 16.)
The Puritans and the Awakening1 voice
And they journeyed from Bethel,....
The Nineteenth Century1 voice
A commentator
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown1802–1910
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
proposed
And they journeyed from Beth-el--There can be no doubt that much enjoyment was experienced at Beth-el, and that in the religious observances solemnized, as well as in the vivid recollections of the glorious vision seen there, the affections of the patriarch were powerfully animated and that he left the place a better and more devoted servant of God.
The words behind it
13 Hebrew wordsEvery Hebrew word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.
| Hebrew | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| וַיִּסְעוּ֙ | vaiyisu | and they set out | H5265 → | 146 times |
| מִבֵּ֣ית | mibeit | from Beth- | H1008 → | 142 times |
| אֵ֔ל | ʾel | -el | H1008 → | 142 times |
| וַֽיְהִי־ | vayhi- | and it was | H1961 → | 3559 times |
| ע֥וֹד | od | yet | H5750 → | 490 times |
| כִּבְרַת־ | kivrat- | [the] distance of | H3530 → | |
| הָאָ֖רֶץ | haaretz | the land | H776 → | 2504 times |
| לָב֣וֹא | lavo' | to go | H935 → | 2568 times |
| אֶפְרָ֑תָה | ʾefratah | Ephrathah | H672 → | 10 times |
| וַתֵּ֥לֶד | vateled | and she gave birth | H3205 → | 496 times |
| רָחֵ֖ל | rachel | Rachel | H7354 → | 47 times |
| וַתְּקַ֥שׁ | vatekash | and she had difficulties | H7185 → | 28 times |
| בְּלִדְתָּֽהּ׃ | belidtah | when gave birth she | H3205 → | 496 times |
וַיִּסְעוּ֙and they set out
vaiyisuH5265 →146 times
מִבֵּ֣יתfrom Beth-
mibeitH1008 →142 times
אֵ֔ל-el
ʾelH1008 →142 times
וַֽיְהִי־and it was
vayhi-H1961 →3559 times
ע֥וֹדyet
odH5750 →490 times
כִּבְרַת־[the] distance of
kivrat-H3530 →
הָאָ֖רֶץthe land
haaretzH776 →2504 times
לָב֣וֹאto go
lavo'H935 →2568 times
אֶפְרָ֑תָהEphrathah
ʾefratahH672 →10 times
וַתֵּ֥לֶדand she gave birth
vateledH3205 →496 times
רָחֵ֖לRachel
rachelH7354 →47 times
וַתְּקַ֥שׁand she had difficulties
vatekashH7185 →28 times
בְּלִדְתָּֽהּ׃when gave birth she
belidtahH3205 →496 times
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 stopsEach card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.
Through
Matthew 2:18“A voice is heard in Ramah, weeping and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children, and refusing to be comforted, because they are no more.”
it leads to
- Jeremiah 31:15
This is what the LORD says: “A voice is heard in Ramah, mourning and great weeping, Rachel weeping for her children, and refusing to be comforted, because they are no more.”
- Jeremiah 31:15
Through
Micah 5:2But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, who are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come forth for Me One to be ruler over Israel—One whose origins are of old, from the days…
it leads to
- Matthew 2:6
‘But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah, for out of you will come a ruler who will be the shepherd of My people…
- John 7:42
Doesn’t the Scripture say that the Christ will come from the line of David and from Bethlehem, the village where David lived?”
- Luke 1:31–33
Behold, you will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to give Him the name Jesus.
- Isaiah 9:6–7
For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given, and the government will be upon His shoulders. And He will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of…
- Matthew 2:6
Through
Genesis 3:16To the woman He said: “I will sharply increase your pain in childbirth; in pain you will bring forth children. Your desire will be for your husband, and he will rule over you.”
it leads to
- Titus 2:5
to be self-controlled, pure, managers of their households, kind, and submissive to their own husbands, so that the word of God will not be discredited.
- Colossians 3:18
Wives, submit to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord.
- 1 Corinthians 11:3
But I want you to understand that the head of every man is Christ, and the head of the woman is man, and the head of Christ is God.
- Titus 2:5
Where this verse is studied
On this page
About Genesis
Who and where
2 names in this verse with a page on the site.
- PersonPatriarchsRachelJacob's beloved wife; mother of Joseph and Benjamin, who dies on the road to Bethlehem — later wept for in the prophets (Jer 31:15…
- PlaceCentral hill countryBethelThe house of God, where Jacob saw the ladder and heard the promise, where he returned to raise an altar, and where Jeroboam’s gold…
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; Jerome, Hebrew Questions on Genesis; John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament (1748-1763) and John Wesley, Explanatory Notes upon the Old Testament.