The answer Rebekah receives from the LORD is spoken in poetic form, and many translations indent the lines to show this. The Hebrew consists of two lines, in which the first line has three words followed by four, and the second has three words followed by another group of three.

Two nations are in your womb: nations refers to political states or countries, and the usage is figurative. The sense is that the two unborn infants will become the ancestors of two nations. In many languages it will not be possible to translate the text literally. However, we may often say, for example, “The two babies in your womb will become the ancestors of the people of two nations” or “The twins you will have will become two nations.”

Two peoples is in parallel with “two nations,” and born of you (literally “from your body”) is parallel with “in your womb.”

Shall be divided: divided translates the passive form of a verb meaning to be separated. The verb is used of a river dividing into branches in 2.10. In our context the separation is not just physical but emotional and social. Revised English Bible emphasizes the antagonism and enmity with “two peoples, going their own ways from birth.” Good News Translation expresses the element of opposition with “You will give birth to two rival peoples.” In some languages the figurative sense of giving birth to “peoples” may not be acceptable. In that case we may say, for example, “You will give birth to twins who will grow up to be rivals” or “… who will be enemies with each other.” Some translations express the element of opposition or rivalry as “… will compete with each other,” “… each will each try to be greater than the other,” “those two tribes won’t be able to live together as friends.”

The one shall be stronger than the other: this line is stated in a general way, and its content only becomes clear in the next line. Stronger refers to “power,” “force,” “strength,” not of one infant over the other so much as what the two peoples later will become. In some languages this kind of comparison is expressed as “the one will be strong. The other will surpass in strength.”

The elder shall serve the younger: the elder and the younger refer to the order of birth of the twins that Rebekah will have. The rights of the oldest son will be discussed in verse 31.

In translation it may be necessary to make clear that shall serve refers to the future. If this is not made clear, readers may think of one infant serving the other infant. The sense of serve here is not merely to work for but to be the servant or slave of. Moffatt says “reign” over. For languages that require considerable adapting in the translation of verse 23, here is a model that may be useful:

• The LORD said to Rebekah: “There are two babies [twins] in you, and they will become the ancestors of the people of two nations. The people of these nations will be rivals. One nation will be stronger than the other. The twin that is born first will grow up to become the servant of the twin born last.”

Quoted with permission from Reyburn, William D. and Fry, Euan McG. A Handbook on Genesis. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 1997. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .