What does it mean that “two nations are in your womb” in Genesis 25:23?

Answer  
  

Genesis 25:19–26 describes the birth of [Jacob and Esau](Jacob-and-Esau.html). Abraham’s son Isaac was forty years old when he married Rebekah, but they did not have children until he was sixty (verses 20, 26\). While Rebekah was pregnant, “the babies jostled each other within her” (verse 22\). The young mother was puzzled and asked the Lord why this was happening to her. He explained, “Two nations are in your womb, and two peoples from within you will be separated; one people will be stronger than the other, and the older will serve the younger” (verse 23\).  
  

God revealed to [Rebekah](Rebekah-in-the-Bible.html) that she was carrying twins in her womb—two sons who would each become the progenitor or father of a nation. These two nations would be rivals—they would be divided, and one would be stronger than the other. Contrary to the cultural norm of the day, the younger son (Jacob) would be favored, and the older son (Esau) would serve the younger.  
  

Through cunning and deception, Jacob, whose name means “deceiver” or “supplanter,” snatched for himself Esau’s birthright (Genesis 25:27–34\) and blessing (Genesis 27:1–45\). As the firstborn of the twins, according to custom, Esau should have held the “birthright,” or the position of head of the household with the right to inherit his father’s estate. Typically, he would have also been given a greater blessing at the time of his father’s passing. This blessing was akin to a last will and testament. But God had chosen Jacob over Esau to be heir to the covenant. Bible commentators note that this selection of Jacob instead of Esau was proof of God’s gracious and sovereign election in the lives of His people (see Romans 9:10–13\). He chooses people not according to their human merit or worthiness but for His own purposes.  
  

*Two nations are in your womb* was a prophetic announcement that Jacob was destined to become the father of the twelve tribes of Israel and patriarch of God’s chosen people. Conversely, Esau would become the progenitor of the nation of Edom (Genesis 25:30; 32:3; 36:1, 30\). The sibling rivalry that had begun with jostling in the womb would continue throughout their lives and be inherited by the nations these twins would father.  
  

[Edom](Edom-Obadiah.html) was Israel’s enemy throughout most of the nation’s history. King Saul and King David waged war against the Edomites, with David defeating them and pressing them into labor (1 Samuel 14:47–48; 2 Samuel 8:13–14\). During Jehoram’s reign, Edom revolted against Judah and installed an independent king (2 Kings 8:20–22\).  
  

The [Edomites](Edomites.html) continued to cause trouble for Israel, raiding Judah after it fell to the Babylonians (Ezekiel 25:12–14\). Here, and later in Ezekiel 35:1–15, Edom is portrayed as a prototype of all of Israel’s later adversaries. As a result, God pronounced judgment on Edom (Jeremiah 49:7–22\). Harking back to His love for Jacob and disapproval of Esau, God declared that Edom would become a wasteland left to desert jackals (Malachi 1:2–5\).  
  

God dealt harshly with the Edomites because of their pride (Obadiah 1:3\), violence (Obadiah 1:10\), and apathetic attitude toward Israel (Obadiah 1:11–12\). In Obadiah, God’s judgment on Edom becomes a picture of worldwide judgment, assuring Israel that He will avenge all the wrongs done to His people (Obadiah 1:15–17\).  
  

As Rebekah’s twins, Jacob and Esau were siblings. The two nations that came from her womb were related by blood, like brothers (Deuteronomy 2:4–5\). Because of their common ancestry, they should have been close and cared for one another, but they did not act like brothers. For this reason, God held Edom accountable for mistreating Israel, and His judgment on the nation was severe (see Amos 1:11\).  
  

As believers, we are members of God’s family—we are brothers and sisters in Christ. We are called to love one another and “lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters” (1 John 3:16–18\). The biblical account of two nations in one womb directs God’s family to the way of love (Leviticus 19:18; Romans 13:8; 1 Thessalonians 4:9; 1 Peter 1:22\). Whether friend or foe, relative or enemy, we are called to love (Matthew 5:43–44; John 13:34–35\).  
  

