Genesis 25:20 Meaning and Explanation
“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.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →Isaac marries Rebekah at forty years old; she is the daughter of Bethuel from Padanaram.
The Context of Genesis 25:20
At age forty, Isaac marries Rebekah, daughter of Bethuel from Padanaram.
What Does Genesis 25:20 Mean?
Isaac's marriage to Rebekah at forty represents a deliberate, intentional covenant union. The specific age emphasizes that this is not a youthful impulse but a mature, purposeful choice. Rebekah is identified not only as Bethuel's daughter but as Laban's sister—details that root her in the family line through which God's covenant had begun to unfold, back in Abraham's homeland of Mesopotamia.
The connection to Padanaram ('field of Aram') and to Laban's family is significant. It recalls Abraham's own commitment to find a wife for Isaac from his kindred rather than from the Canaanite peoples around them. This choice reflects the family's faith that their identity and blessing are bound to God's covenant promise, not to the surrounding culture.
Genesis 25:20 in the Original Language
took...to wife (לָקַח...לְאִשָּׁה), 'took as wife' — the Hebrew phrase for formal marriage union, emphasizing covenant commitment.
Frequently Asked Questions About Genesis 25:20
What does Genesis 25:20 mean?
Isaac marries Rebekah at forty years old; she is the daughter of Bethuel from Padanaram.
What is the context of Genesis 25:20?
At age forty, Isaac marries Rebekah, daughter of Bethuel from Padanaram.