And it came to pass, as her soul was in departing, (for she died) that she called his name Benoni: but his father called him Benjamin.
Parallel translations
- WEB As her soul was departing (for she died), she named him Benoni, but his father named him Benjamin.
- BSB And with her last breath—for she was dying—she named him Ben-oni. But his father called him Benjamin.
- NKJV And so it was, as her soul was departing (for she died), that she called his name Ben-Oni; but his father called him Benjamin.
- NASB And it came about, as her soul was departing (for she died), that she named him Ben-oni; but his father called him Benjamin.
- NLT Rachel was about to die, but with her last breath she named the baby Ben-oni (which means “son of my sorrow”). The baby’s father, however, called him Benjamin (which means “son of my right hand”).
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
Dying, Rachel names her son Benoni, 'son of my sorrow,' but Jacob names him Benjamin, 'son of the right hand.'
Overview
With her last breath Rachel names the child for her grief, but Jacob renames him Benjamin, a name of strength and favor. The contrast between the two names captures both the sorrow of her death and hope for the child's future. Benjamin becomes the twelfth son, completing the sons who father the tribes of Israel.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 14
- Luke 23:46And when Jesus had cried with a loud voice, he said, Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit: and having said thus, he gave up the ghost.
- Luke 12:20But God said unto him, Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided?
- Acts 7:59And they stoned Stephen, calling upon God, and saying, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.
- 1 Chr 4:9And Jabez was more honourable than his brethren: and his mother called his name Jabez, saying, Because I bare him with sorrow.
- 1 Sam 4:20–21And about the time of her death the women that stood by her said unto her, Fear not; for thou hast born a son. But she answered not, neither did she regard it.
- Gen 30:1And when Rachel saw that she bare Jacob no children, Rachel envied her sister; and said unto Jacob, Give me children, or else I die.
- Gen 44:27–31And thy servant my father said unto us, Ye know that my wife bare me two sons:
- Ps 16:10For thou wilt not leave my soul in hell; neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption.
- Exod 12:7And they shall take of the blood, and strike it on the two side posts and on the upper door post of the houses, wherein they shall eat it.
- Ps 80:17Let thy hand be upon the man of thy right hand, upon the son of man whom thou madest strong for thyself.
- Lam 2:12They say to their mothers, Where is corn and wine? when they swooned as the wounded in the streets of the city, when their soul was poured out into their mothers’ bosom.
- Gen 42:4But Benjamin, Joseph’s brother, Jacob sent not with his brethren; for he said, Lest peradventure mischief befall him.
- Gen 42:38And he said, My son shall not go down with you; for his brother is dead, and he is left alone: if mischief befall him by the way in the which ye go, then shall ye bring down my gray hairs with sorrow to the grave.
- Gen 43:14And God Almighty give you mercy before the man, that he may send away your other brother, and Benjamin. If I be bereaved of my children, I am bereaved.
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Christ at the center
From the first promise that the seed of the woman would crush the serpent (3:15), through Abraham's blessing to all nations and Judah's coming ruler, Genesis sows every seed that flowers in Christ — the true offspring, the better Adam, the ram caught for Isaac.
How Genesis 35:18 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
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