Introduction to Genesis 25:22: Prenatal Prophecy and Maternal Distress
Genesis 25:22 presents a moment of profound mystery: Rivqah experiences intense internal movement during pregnancy. The verb וַיִּתְרֹצֲצוּ describes what the unborn children are doing within her, and her response leads to a divine oracle that shapes biblical history. This analysis focuses on the verb וַיִּתְרֹצֲצוּ, a rare and expressive form, exploring its grammatical makeup, root meaning, and theological implications in the story of Yaʿaqov and ʿEsav.
וַיִּתְרֹֽצֲצ֤וּ הַבָּנִים֙ בְּקִרְבָּ֔הּ וַתֹּ֣אמֶר אִם־כֵּ֔ן לָ֥מָּה זֶּ֖ה אָנֹ֑כִי וַתֵּ֖לֶךְ לִדְרֹ֥שׁ אֶת־יְהוָֽה׃
Grammatical Analysis of וַיִּתְרֹצֲצוּ
The verb וַיִּתְרֹצֲצוּ is from the root רָצַץ (r-ts-ts), meaning “to crush, press, struggle.” In the Hitpaʿel stem, it conveys mutual or internal conflict, often implying agitation, jostling, or violent motion. The verb here is in wayyiqtol form, the standard form for narrative past tense.
- Root: רָצַץ (r-ts-ts) – “to crush, oppress, struggle”
- Stem: Hitpaʿel (reflexive/reciprocal)
- Form: Wayyiqtol (waw-consecutive imperfect), 3rd person plural
- Translation: “And they struggled,” or “they jostled each other”
The Hitpaʿel stem adds a dimension of mutuality—this is not simply movement, but conflict, with both parties contributing to the intensity of the action.
Lexical and Semantic Nuance
1. Rare and Graphic Usage
This form of the root רָצַץ is rare in the Hitpaʿel. The usage here is vivid and almost violent: the children are “crushing each other” inside the womb. This is not ordinary fetal movement—it is conflict before birth, symbolic of future political and spiritual opposition.
2. Symbolism of Internal Conflict
The struggle represents not just a biological event but a theological omen. The verb choice reflects the underlying cosmic tension between the two nations (later revealed in verse 23): Yisraʾel and Edom. What begins as womb-conflict becomes a world-historical rivalry.
Phrase-by-Phrase Commentary
וַיִּתְרֹצֲצוּ הַבָּנִים בְּקִרְבָּהּ
- וַיִּתְרֹצֲצוּ – “They struggled” (Hitpaʿel wayyiqtol, plural form).
- הַבָּנִים (habbānīm) – “the children,” emphasizing their identity even before birth.
- בְּקִרְבָּהּ (bəqirbah) – “within her,” a term used both physically and poetically in Hebrew for “inner being.”
וַתֹּאמֶר אִם־כֵּן לָמָּה זֶּה אָנֹכִי
Rivqah’s reaction is existential and cryptic: “If it is so, why am I thus?” Her question reveals both confusion and distress. The movement within is not natural—it signals something deeper.
וַתֵּלֶךְ לִדְרֹשׁ אֶת־יְהוָה
She responds not by consulting a midwife, but by seeking YHWH. This shows both the seriousness of the situation and her spiritual character. The verb לִדְרֹשׁ (“to seek”) often connotes a desire for divine insight or prophetic understanding.
Theological Implications of וַיִּתְרֹצֲצוּ
1. Pre-natal Providence
The use of וַיִּתְרֹצֲצוּ suggests that the conflict between Yaʿaqov and ʿEsav is divinely permitted or even predestined. The struggle begins before consciousness, pointing to God’s sovereign plan for nations and destinies.
2. Human Response to Divine Mystery
Rivqah’s disturbed state and her bold question—לָמָּה זֶּה אָנֹכִי—demonstrates the human wrestling with unexplained suffering. Her turning to YHWH is a model of seeking divine meaning in affliction.
3. Echoes of Later Conflict
This rare verb foreshadows the lifelong struggle between the brothers, and by extension, between their descendants. What is depicted here in the womb becomes a literary microcosm of centuries of tension, from Genesis to the prophets.
The Role of וַיִּתְרֹצֲצוּ in Genesis 25:22
The verb וַיִּתְרֹצֲצוּ is central to the theological drama of Genesis 25:22. It portrays more than physical movement—it represents:
- Cosmic conflict within the womb
- Foreordained opposition between two peoples
- Psychological disturbance leading to a divine encounter
In just one word, the narrative conveys pain, mystery, and divine orchestration. It invites the reader to recognize that even what happens unseen—within the depths of the body—may be the beginning of God’s world-changing plans.
