Genesis 35:18 NIV

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Genesis 35:16-20

We have here the story of the death of Rachel, the beloved wife of Jacob. 1. She fell in travail by the way, not able to reach to Bethlehem, the next town, though they were near it; so suddenly does pain sometimes come upon a woman in travail, which she cannot escape, or put off. We may suppose Jacob had soon a tent up, convenient enough for her reception. 2. Her pains were violent. She had hard labour, harder than usual: this was the effect of sin, Gen. 3:16. Note, Human life begins with... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 35:18

And it came to pass, as her soul was in departing, for she died ,.... In childbirth; she had most passionately desired children, without which she could not live with ease and peace of mind, and now she dies by having one; see Genesis 30:1 ; and by this account of her death it appears, that death is the separation and disunion of soul and body; that at death the soul departs from the body; that the soul does not die with it, but goes elsewhere, and lives in a separate state, and never... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 35:18

As her soul was in departing - Is not this a proof that there is an immortal spirit in man, which can exist separate from and independent of the body? Of Rachel's death it is said, נפשה בצאת betseth naphshah , in the going away of her soul; her body did not go away, therefore her soul and body must have been distinct. If her breath only had been in tended, נשמה neshamah or רוח ruach would have rather been used, as the first means breath, the latter breath or spirit indifferently.... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Genesis 35:16-29

These family records mingle well with the story of God's grace. The mothers " Ben-oni " is the father's " Benjamin ." Out of the pain and the bereavement sometimes comes the consolation. A strange blending of joy and sorrow is the tale of human love. But there is a higher love which may draw out the pure stream of peace and calm delight from that impure fountain. Jacob and Esau were separated in their lives, but they met at their father's grave. Death is a terrible divider, but a... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Genesis 35:18

And it came to pass, as her soul was in departing ,—literally, in the departing of her soul; not into annihilation, but into another (a disembodied) state of existence ( vide Genesis 25:3 )— for she died (a pathetic commentary on Genesis 30:1 ), that she called his name Ben-oni ("son of my sorrow,'' as a memorial of her anguish in bearing him, and of her death because of him): but his father called him Benjamin —"son of my right hand;" either "the son of my strength" (Clericus,... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Genesis 35:1-29

- The Death of Isaac8. דברה deborâh, Deborah, “bee.” בּכוּת אלּון 'alôn-bākût, Allon-bakuth, “oak of weeping.”16. כברה kı̂brâh, “length stretch.” A certain but unknown distance, a stadium or furlong (Josephus) a hippodrome (Septuagint) which was somewhat longer, a mile (Kimchi). אפרת 'ephrâth, Ephrath, “fruitful or ashy.”18. בן־אוני ben-'ônı̂y, Ben-oni, “son of my pain.” בנימין bı̂nyāmı̂yn, Binjamin, “son of the right hand.”19. לחם בית bēyt-lechem, Beth-lechem, “house of bread.”21. עדר... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Genesis 35:18

Genesis 35:18. As her soul was departing בצאת נפשׁה , when her soul was going out, namely, of the body: an argument this of the soul’s immortality, especially if compared with Ecclesiastes 12:7; from which places collated, we learn both whence it goes, and whither it goes. She called his name Benoni The son of my sorrow. Thus, by her own confession , the gaining her desire became her sorrow: a lively instance this of the folly of inordinately desiring any thing temporal: the object... read more

Donald C. Fleming

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - Genesis 35:16-29

Further details of Jacob’s family (35:16-29)This section of the history of Israel closes by recording the birth of Jacob’s last son (16-18), the death of Rachel (19-21), the sin of Reuben because of which he lost the birthright (22; cf. 49:4; 1 Chronicles 5:1), the names of Jacob’s twelve sons, who are listed in legal order according to their mothers (23-26), and the death of Isaac (27-29). read more

E.W. Bullinger

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - Genesis 35:18

her soul = her life. Hebrew. nephesh ( App-13 ), rendered "life" in Genesis 1:20 . in departing = ebbing away, or failing (Genesis 42:28 . Song of Solomon 5:6 ); or ending (Exodus 23:16 ). In Ezekiel 7:10 rendered "gone forth"; Exodus 23:26 . In Ezekiel 26:18 rendered "departure". Ben-oni = Son of my sorrow. Benjamin = Son of my right hand. The word rendered "sorrow" ( 'avon ) is a Homonym, the other meaning being "strength", and is so rendered in Genesis 49:3 .Deuteronomy 21:17 . Job... read more

James Burton Coffman

Coffman Commentaries on the Bible - Genesis 35:16-20

"And they journeyed from Bethel; and there was still some distance to come to Ephrath: and Rachel travailed, and she had hard labor. And it came to pass that when she was in hard labor, that the midwife said unto her, Fear not, for thou shalt have another son. And it came to pass, as her soul was departing (for she died), that she called his name Benoni: but his father called him Benjamin. And Rachel died, and was buried in the way to Ephrath (the same is Bethlehem). And Jacob set up a pillar... read more