Bible Strands
Genesis 25:22
But the children inside her struggled with each other, and she said, “Why is this happening to me?” So Rebekah went to inquire of the LORD,
Berean Standard Bible
Follow its threads on the canvas →
Study note
Setting — Rebekah acts during her pregnancy, immediately after Isaac’s prayer secured her conception. She reacts to the violent movement within her womb and turns to the LORD for explanation.
The words — The Hebrew וַ/יִּתְרֹֽצֲצ֤וּ (va/yit.ro.tza.Tzu) literally means “they struggled together,” describing the physical conflict inside Rebekah. The phrase אִם\־ כֵ֔ן לָ֥/מָּה (im Ken La/mah zeh) translates to “if thus, why this,” capturing her direct question about the unexplained suffering.
The thread — The pattern of seeking divine guidance through established channels appears in 1 Samuel 9:9 and 1 Samuel 10:22, where individuals pursue prophetic direction. 1 Samuel 28:6 marks a departure from this pattern by recording the LORD’s explicit refusal to answer through dreams, Urim, or prophets.
Why it lands — The text requires readers to direct unexplained distress to God rather than relying on human interpretation or premature conclusions. It asks whether you will respond to hidden purposes with active inquiry or with resignation.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Hebrew words
King James Version
And the children struggled together within her; and she said, If it be so, why am I thus? And she went to enquire of the Lord.
Cross-references
- 1 Samuel 9:9 (Formerly in Israel, a man on his way to inquire of God would say, “Come, let us go to the seer.” For the prophet of today was formerly called the seer.)
- 1 Samuel 10:22 So again they inquired of the LORD, “Has the man come here yet?” And the LORD replied, “Behold, he has hidden himself among the baggage.”
- 1 Samuel 28:6 He inquired of the LORD, but the LORD did not answer him by dreams or Urim or prophets.
- 1 Samuel 30:8 and David inquired of the LORD: “Should I pursue these raiders? Will I overtake them?” “Pursue them,” the LORD replied, “for you will surely overtake them and rescue the captives.”
- Ezekiel 20:31 When you offer your gifts, sacrificing your sons in the fire, you continue to defile yourselves with all your idols to this day. So should I be consulted by you, O house of Israel? As surely as I live, declares the Lord GOD, I will not be consulted by you!
- Ezekiel 36:37 This is what the Lord GOD says: Once again I will hear the plea of the house of Israel and do for them this: I will multiply their people like a flock.
- 1 Samuel 22:15 Was that day the first time I inquired of God for him? Far be it from me! Let not the king accuse your servant or any of my father’s household, for your servant knew nothing of this whole affair—not in part or in whole.”