Genesis 25:20
New International Version
and Isaac was forty years old when he married Rebekah daughter of Bethuel the Aramean from Paddan Aram and sister of Laban the Aramean.

New Living Translation
When Isaac was forty years old, he married Rebekah, the daughter of Bethuel the Aramean from Paddan-aram and the sister of Laban the Aramean.

English Standard Version
and Isaac was forty years old when he took Rebekah, the daughter of Bethuel the Aramean of Paddan-aram, the sister of Laban the Aramean, to be his wife.

Berean Standard Bible
and Isaac was forty years old when he married Rebekah, the daughter of Bethuel the Aramean from Paddan-aram and the sister of Laban the Aramean.

King James Bible
And Isaac was forty years old when he took Rebekah to wife, the daughter of Bethuel the Syrian of Padanaram, the sister to Laban the Syrian.

New King James Version
Isaac was forty years old when he took Rebekah as wife, the daughter of Bethuel the Syrian of Padan Aram, the sister of Laban the Syrian.

New American Standard Bible
and Isaac was forty years old when he took Rebekah, the daughter of Bethuel the Aramean of Paddan-aram, the sister of Laban the Aramean, to be his wife.

NASB 1995
and Isaac was forty years old when he took Rebekah, the daughter of Bethuel the Aramean of Paddan-aram, the sister of Laban the Aramean, to be his wife.

NASB 1977
and Isaac was forty years old when he took Rebekah, the daughter of Bethuel the Aramean of Paddan-aram, the sister of Laban the Aramean, to be his wife.

Legacy Standard Bible
and Isaac was forty years old when he took Rebekah, the daughter of Bethuel the Aramean of Paddan-aram, the sister of Laban the Aramean, to be his wife.

Amplified Bible
Isaac was forty years old when he married Rebekah, the daughter of Bethuel the Aramean (Syrian) of Paddan-aram, the sister of Laban the Aramean.

Christian Standard Bible
Isaac was forty years old when he took as his wife Rebekah daughter of Bethuel the Aramean from Paddan-aram and sister of Laban the Aramean.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Isaac was 40 years old when he took as his wife Rebekah daughter of Bethuel the Aramean from Paddan-aram and sister of Laban the Aramean.

American Standard Version
and Isaac was forty years old when he took Rebekah, the daughter of Bethuel the Syrian of Paddan-aram, the sister of Laban the Syrian, to be his wife.

Contemporary English Version
and he was 40 years old when he married Rebekah, the daughter of Bethuel. She was also the sister of Laban, the Aramean from northern Syria. Almost 20 years later,

English Revised Version
and Isaac was forty years old when he took Rebekah, the daughter of Bethuel the Syrian of Paddan-aram, the sister of Laban the Syrian, to be his wife.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Isaac was 40 years old when he married Rebekah, daughter of Bethuel the Aramean from Paddan Aram and sister of Laban the Aramean.

Good News Translation
Isaac was forty years old when he married Rebecca, the daughter of Bethuel (an Aramean from Mesopotamia) and sister of Laban.

International Standard Version
Isaac was forty years old when he married Rebekah, the daughter of Bethuel, the Aramean from Paddan-aram and sister of Laban the Aramean.

Majority Standard Bible
and Isaac was forty years old when he married Rebekah, the daughter of Bethuel the Aramean from Paddan-aram and the sister of Laban the Aramean.

NET Bible
When Isaac was forty years old, he married Rebekah, the daughter of Bethuel the Aramean from Paddan Aram and sister of Laban the Aramean.

New Heart English Bible
Isaac was forty years old when he took Rebekah, the daughter of Bethuel the Aramean of Paddan Aram, the sister of Laban the Aramean, to be his wife.

Webster's Bible Translation
And Isaac was forty years old when he took Rebekah to wife, the daughter of Bethuel the Syrian of Padan-aram, the sister to Laban the Syrian.

World English Bible
Isaac was forty years old when he took Rebekah, the daughter of Bethuel the Syrian of Paddan Aram, the sister of Laban the Syrian, to be his wife.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
and Isaac is a son of forty years in his taking Rebekah, daughter of Bethuel the Aramean, from Padan-Aram, sister of Laban the Aramean, to him for a wife.

Young's Literal Translation
and Isaac is a son of forty years in his taking Rebekah, daughter of Bethuel the Aramaean, from Padan-Aram, sister of Laban the Aramaean, to him for a wife.

Smith's Literal Translation
And Isaak shall be the son of forty years in his taking Rebekah, daughter of Bethuel the Syrian of Padan Aram, sister of Laban the Syrian, to him for a wife.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
Who when he was forty years old, took to wife Rebecca the daughter of Bathuel the Syrian of Mesopotamia, sister to Laban.

Catholic Public Domain Version
who, when he was forty years old, took Rebekah, the sister of Laban, the daughter of Bethuel the Syrian from Mesopotamia, as a wife.

New American Bible
Isaac was forty years old when he married Rebekah, the daughter of Bethuel the Aramean of Paddan-aram and the sister of Laban the Aramean.

New Revised Standard Version
and Isaac was forty years old when he married Rebekah, daughter of Bethuel the Aramean of Paddan-aram, sister of Laban the Aramean.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
And Isaac was forty years old when he took Rebekah to wife, the daughter of Bethuel the Aramean of Padan-aram, the sister of Laban, the Aramean (Syrian).

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And Isaaq was a son of forty years when he took Raphqa, the daughter of Bethuyel, the Aramaean, from Padan d'Aram, the sister of Laban the Aramaean, a wife for himself.
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
And Isaac was forty years old when he took Rebekah, the daughter of Bethuel the Aramean, of Paddan-aram, the sister of Laban the Aramean, to be his wife.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
Abraam begot Isaac. And Isaac was forty years old when he took to wife Rebecca, daughter of Bathuel the Syrian, out of Syrian Mesopotamia, sister of Laban the Syrian.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Jacob and Esau
19This is the account of Abraham’s son Isaac. Abraham became the father of Isaac, 20and Isaac was forty years old when he married Rebekah, the daughter of Bethuel the Aramean from Paddan-aram and the sister of Laban the Aramean. 21Later, Isaac prayed to the LORD on behalf of his wife, because she was barren. And the LORD heard his prayer, and his wife Rebekah conceived.…

Cross References
Genesis 24:67
And Isaac brought her into the tent of his mother Sarah and took Rebekah as his wife. And Isaac loved her and was comforted after his mother’s death.

Genesis 28:2
“Go at once to Paddan-aram, to the house of your mother’s father Bethuel, and take a wife from among the daughters of Laban, your mother’s brother.

Genesis 24:3-4
and I will have you swear by the LORD, the God of heaven and the God of earth, that you will not take a wife for my son from the daughters of the Canaanites among whom I am dwelling, / but will go to my country and my kindred to take a wife for my son Isaac.”

Genesis 26:34-35
When Esau was forty years old, he took as his wives Judith daughter of Beeri the Hittite and Basemath daughter of Elon the Hittite. / And they brought grief to Isaac and Rebekah.

Genesis 29:1-30
Jacob resumed his journey and came to the land of the people of the east. / He looked and saw a well in the field, and near it lay three flocks of sheep, because the sheep were watered from this well. And a large stone covered the mouth of the well. / When all the flocks had been gathered there, the shepherds would roll away the stone from the mouth of the well and water the sheep. Then they would return the stone to its place over the mouth of the well. ...

Genesis 21:21
And while he was dwelling in the Wilderness of Paran, his mother got a wife for him from the land of Egypt.

Genesis 22:23
And Bethuel became the father of Rebekah. Milcah bore these eight sons to Abraham’s brother Nahor.

Genesis 11:29
And Abram and Nahor took wives for themselves. Abram’s wife was named Sarai, and Nahor’s wife was named Milcah; she was the daughter of Haran, who was the father of both Milcah and Iscah.

Genesis 12:1-3
Then the LORD said to Abram, “Leave your country, your kindred, and your father’s household, and go to the land I will show you. / I will make you into a great nation, and I will bless you; I will make your name great, so that you will be a blessing. / I will bless those who bless you and curse those who curse you; and all the families of the earth will be blessed through you.”

Genesis 17:19
But God replied, “Your wife Sarah will indeed bear you a son, and you are to name him Isaac. I will establish My covenant with him as an everlasting covenant for his descendants after him.

Genesis 24:15
Before the servant had finished praying, Rebekah came out with her jar on her shoulder. She was the daughter of Bethuel son of Milcah, the wife of Abraham’s brother Nahor.

Genesis 27:46
Then Rebekah said to Isaac, “I am weary of my life because of these Hittite women. If Jacob takes a Hittite wife from among them, what good is my life?”

Genesis 28:5
So Isaac sent Jacob to Paddan-aram, to Laban son of Bethuel the Aramean, the brother of Rebekah, who was the mother of Jacob and Esau.

Genesis 35:23-26
The sons of Leah were Reuben the firstborn of Jacob, Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, and Zebulun. / The sons of Rachel were Joseph and Benjamin. / The sons of Rachel’s maidservant Bilhah were Dan and Naphtali. ...

Genesis 36:2-3
Esau took his wives from the daughters of Canaan: Adah daughter of Elon the Hittite, Oholibamah daughter of Anah and granddaughter of Zibeon the Hivite, / and Basemath daughter of Ishmael and sister of Nebaioth.


Treasury of Scripture

And Isaac was forty years old when he took Rebekah to wife, the daughter of Bethuel the Syrian of Padanaram, the sister to Laban the Syrian.

A.

Genesis 22:23
And Bethuel begat Rebekah: these eight Milcah did bear to Nahor, Abraham's brother.

Genesis 24:67
And Isaac brought her into his mother Sarah's tent, and took Rebekah, and she became his wife; and he loved her: and Isaac was comforted after his mother's death.

the Syrian.

Genesis 24:29
And Rebekah had a brother, and his name was Laban: and Laban ran out unto the man, unto the well.

Genesis 28:5,6
And Isaac sent away Jacob: and he went to Padanaram unto Laban, son of Bethuel the Syrian, the brother of Rebekah, Jacob's and Esau's mother…

Genesis 31:18,20,24
And he carried away all his cattle, and all his goods which he had gotten, the cattle of his getting, which he had gotten in Padanaram, for to go to Isaac his father in the land of Canaan…

Jump to Previous
Aram Aramaean Aramean Bethuel Bethu'el Daughter Forty Isaac Laban Married Padanaram Padan-Aram Paddan Paddan-Aram Rebecca Rebekah Sister Syrian Wife
Jump to Next
Aram Aramaean Aramean Bethuel Bethu'el Daughter Forty Isaac Laban Married Padanaram Padan-Aram Paddan Paddan-Aram Rebecca Rebekah Sister Syrian Wife
Genesis 25
1. The sons of Abraham by Keturah.
5. The division of his goods.
7. His age, death, and burial.
11. God blesses Isaac.
12. The generations of Ishmael.
17. His age and death.
19. Isaac prays for Rebekah, being barren.
22. The children strive in her womb.
24. The birth of Esau and Jacob.
27. Their different characters and pursuits.
29. Esau sells his birthright.














And Isaac was forty years old
The age of Isaac at the time of his marriage is significant. In Hebrew culture, the number forty often symbolizes a period of testing, trial, or preparation. Isaac's age suggests maturity and readiness for the responsibilities of marriage and family. This period of waiting can be seen as a time of preparation ordained by God, reflecting the importance of divine timing in fulfilling His promises.

when he married Rebekah
The marriage of Isaac and Rebekah is a pivotal moment in the Abrahamic narrative. The Hebrew word for "married" here is "laqach," which means to take or receive. This implies not just a legal union but a divinely orchestrated covenant relationship. Rebekah's selection as Isaac's wife was guided by God's providence, emphasizing the importance of seeking God's will in marital relationships.

the daughter of Bethuel the Aramean
Bethuel, Rebekah's father, is identified as an Aramean, indicating the family's origin from the region of Aram. This highlights the continuation of Abraham's lineage through a family that, while not Canaanite, shares a common ancestry with Abraham. The Arameans were known for their nomadic lifestyle, which aligns with the patriarchal narratives of sojourning and reliance on God's guidance.

from Paddan-aram
Paddan-aram, also known as Mesopotamia, is a region that holds significant historical and theological importance. It is the land from which Abraham originally came, symbolizing a return to the roots of the Abrahamic covenant. This geographical reference underscores God's faithfulness in preserving the covenant line through specific, divinely chosen locations and people.

and the sister of Laban the Aramean
Laban, Rebekah's brother, plays a crucial role in later narratives, particularly in the life of Jacob. Mentioning Laban here foreshadows future interactions and the continuation of God's plan through familial relationships. The repetition of "the Aramean" emphasizes the ethnic and cultural background of Rebekah's family, which, while distinct from the Canaanites, is integral to the unfolding of God's redemptive history.

Verse 20. - And Isaac was forty years old when he took Rebekah to wife, - the valuable chronological fact here stated for the first time proves that Isaac was married three years after his mother's death (cf. Genesis 23:1) - the daughter of Bethuel the Syrian of Padan-aram, the sister to Laban the Syrian (vide on Genesis 22:23; 24:29). Though a descendant of Arphaxad (Genesis 10:24), Bethuel is styled a Syrian, or Aramaean, from the country of his adoption. On Padanaram vide Genesis 24:10.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
and Isaac
יִצְחָק֙ (yiṣ·ḥāq)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3327: Isaac -- 'he laughs', son of Abraham and Sarah

was
וַיְהִ֤י (way·hî)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 1961: To fall out, come to pass, become, be

forty
אַרְבָּעִ֣ים (’ar·bā·‘îm)
Number - common plural
Strong's 705: Forty

years old
בֶּן־ (ben-)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 1121: A son

when he married
בְּקַחְתּ֣וֹ (bə·qaḥ·tōw)
Preposition-b | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct | third person masculine singular
Strong's 3947: To take

Rebekah,
רִבְקָ֗ה (riḇ·qāh)
Noun - proper - feminine singular
Strong's 7259: Rebekah -- wife of Isaac

the daughter
בַּת־ (baṯ-)
Noun - feminine singular construct
Strong's 1323: A daughter

of Bethuel
בְּתוּאֵל֙ (bə·ṯū·’êl)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 1328: Bethuel -- perhaps 'man of God', a nephew of Abraham

the Aramean
הָֽאֲרַמִּ֔י (hā·’ă·ram·mî)
Article | Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 761: Aramean -- an inhabitant of Aram (Syria)

from
מִפַּדַּ֖ן (mip·pad·dan)
Preposition
Strong's Hebrew

Paddan-aram
אֲרָ֑ם (’ă·rām)
Preposition | Noun - proper - feminine singular
Strong's 6307: Paddan-aram -- the place where Rachel died

and the sister
אֲח֛וֹת (’ă·ḥō·wṯ)
Noun - feminine singular construct
Strong's 269: Sister -- a sister

of Laban
לָבָ֥ן (lā·ḇān)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3837: Laban -- father-in-law of Jacob

the Aramean.
הָאֲרַמִּ֖י (hā·’ă·ram·mî)
Article | Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 761: Aramean -- an inhabitant of Aram (Syria)


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OT Law: Genesis 25:20 Isaac was forty years old when he (Gen. Ge Gn)
Genesis 25:19
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