Genesis 35 · Verse 18

Genesis 35:18

And it came to pass, as her soul was in departing, (for she died) that she called his name Ben–oni: but his father called him Benjamin.
Genesis 35:18, King James Version

Genesis 35:18 in other translations

BSBAnd with her last breath—for she was dying—she named him Ben-oni. But his father called him Benjamin.
WEBAs her soul was departing (for she died), she named him Benoni, but his father named him Benjamin.
ASVAnd it came to pass, as her soul was departing (for she died), that she called his name Ben-oni: but his father called him Benjamin.
YLTAnd it cometh to pass in the going out of her soul (for she died), that she calleth his name Ben-Oni; and his father called him Benjamin;
DARBYAnd it came to pass as her soul was departing — for she died — that she called his name Benoni; but his father called him Benjamin.
BBEAnd in the hour when her life went from her (for death came to her), she gave the child the name Ben-oni: but his father gave him the name of Benjamin.
WebsterAnd it came to pass as her soul was in departing (for she died) that she called his name Ben-oni: but his father called him Benjamin.

What does Genesis 35:18 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
18. She called his name Ben-oni--The dying mother gave this name to her child, significant of her circumstances; but Jacob changed his name into Benjamin. This is thought by some to have been originally Benjamin, "a son of days," that is, of old age. But with its present ending it means "son of the right hand," that is, particularly dear and precious.

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 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, בצאת נפשה 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. She called his name Ben-oni - בן אני the Son of my sorrow or affliction, because of the hard labor she had in bringing him into the world; but his father called him Benjamin, בנימין the son of my right hand, i.e., the son peculiarly dear to me. So man of the right hand, Psa 80:17, signifies one much loved and regarded of God. The Samaritan has Benyamin, the son of days; i.e., the son of his old age, as Judah calls him, Gen 44:20; and Houbigant contends that this is the true reading, and that the Chaldee termination in for im is a corruption. If it be a corruption, it is as old as the days of St. Jerome, who translated the place Benjamin, id est, filius dextrae; Benjamin, that is, the son of the right hand.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Genesis 35:16-20

Rachel had passionately said, Give me children, or else I die; and now that she had children, she died! The death of the body is but the departure of the soul to the world of spirits. When shall we learn that it is God alone who really knows what is best for his people, and that in all worldly affairs the safest path for the Christian is to say from the heart, It is the Lord, let him do what seemeth him good. Here…

Read the full comment on Genesis 35:16-20 →

Genesis 35:18 in the original Hebrew

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

וַיְהִ֞יvay.Hiand it wasH1961
בְּצֵ֤אתbe.Tzetwhen went outH3318
נַפְשָׁהּ֙naf.Shahlife herH5315
כִּ֣יkiforH3588
מֵ֔תָהMe.tahshe diedH4191
וַתִּקְרָ֥אva.tik.Ra'and she calledH7121
שְׁמ֖וֹshe.Moname hisH8034
בֶּן\־ben-Ben-H1126
אוֹנִ֑י'o.NiOniH1126
וְאָבִ֖יוve.'a.Vivand father hisH1
קָֽרָא\־ka.ra'-he calledH7121
ל֥וֹlo<to> <the> him
בִנְיָמִֽין\׃vin.ya.MinBenjaminH1144

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Genesis 35:18

  • 1 Chronicles 4:9

    And Jabez was more honourable than his brethren: and his mother called his name Jabez, saying, Because I bare him with sorrow.

  • Luke 23:46

    And when Jesus had cried with a loud voice, he said, Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit: and having said thus, he gave up the ghost.

  • 1 Samuel 4:20-21

    And about the time of her death the women that stood by her said unto her, Fear not; for thou hast born a son. But she answered not, neither did she regard it. And she named the child I–chabod, saying, The glory is departed from Israel: because the ark of God was taken, and because of her father in law and her husband.

  • Acts 7:59

    And they stoned Stephen, calling upon God, and saying, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.

  • Luke 12:20

    But God said unto him, Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided?

  • Lamentations 2:12

    They say to their mothers, Where is corn and wine? when they swooned as the wounded in the streets of the city, when their soul was poured out into their mothers’ bosom.

  • Genesis 44:27-31

    And thy servant my father said unto us, Ye know that my wife bare me two sons: And the one went out from me, and I said, Surely he is torn in pieces; and I saw him not since: And if ye take this also from me, and mischief befall him, ye shall bring down my gray hairs with sorrow to the grave. Now therefore when I come to thy servant my father, and the lad be not with us; seeing that his life is bound up in the lad’s life; …

  • Psalms 80:17

    Let thy hand be upon the man of thy right hand, upon the son of man whom thou madest strong for thyself.

  • Exodus 12:7

    And they shall take of the blood, and strike it on the two side posts and on the upper door post of the houses, wherein they shall eat it.

  • Genesis 43:14

    And God Almighty give you mercy before the man, that he may send away your other brother, and Benjamin. If I be bereaved of my children, I am bereaved.

  • Genesis 42:4

    But Benjamin, Joseph’s brother, Jacob sent not with his brethren; for he said, Lest peradventure mischief befall him.

  • Genesis 30:1

    And when Rachel saw that she bare Jacob no children, Rachel envied her sister; and said unto Jacob, Give me children, or else I die.

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
A.M. cir. 2275. B.C. cir. 1729. her soul.
30:1; 1Sa 4:20,21; Ps 16:10; Ex 12:7; La 2:12; Lu 12:20; 23:46
Ac 7:59
Ben-oni. i.e., the son of my sorrow.
1Ch 4:9
Benjamin. i.e., the son of my right hand.
42:4,38; 43:14; 44:27-31; Ps 80:17The Samaritan has {ben yamim,} "the son of days," i.e., of his old age, (ch. 44:20,) which Jerome renders Benjamin, {id est, filius dextrae, Benjamin,} that is, "the son of the right hand."

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • Genesis 35:17

    And it came to pass, when she was in hard labour, that the midwife said unto her, Fear not; thou shalt have this son also.

  • Genesis 35:18

    And it came to pass, as her soul was in departing, (for she died) that she called his name Ben–oni: but his father called him Benjamin.

  • Genesis 35:19

    And Rachel died, and was buried in the way to Ephrath, which is Beth–lehem.

Read all of Genesis 35

Genesis 35:18 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Y acaeció que al salírsele el alma, (pues murió) llamó su nombre Benoni; mas su padre lo llamó Benjamín.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Et il arriva, comme son âme s’en allait (car elle mourut), qu’elle appela le nom du fils Ben-oni; et son père l’appela Benjamin.
German
Elberfelder 1871		Und es geschah, als ihre Seele ausging, da gab sie ihm den Namen Benoni; sein Vater aber nannte ihn Benjamin.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Egrediente autem anima præ dolore, et imminente jam morte, vocavit nomen filii sui Benomi, id est, Filius doloris mei: pater vero appellavit eum Benjamin, id est, Filius dextræ.