Genesis 35:17
“When she was in hard labor, the midwife said to her, “Don’t be afraid, for now you will have another son.””
What does Genesis 35:17 mean?
Rachel is in the midst of difficult childbirth, and the midwife speaks encouragement to her during those painful moments. The promise of "another son" offers Rachel something to hold onto, a reason to endure the suffering that's happening right now. This scene captures how we sometimes need reassurance from others during our hardest struggles, reminding us that there is something meaningful on the other side of the pain. There's also quiet tragedy woven through these words. Rachel does give birth to Benjamin, but the verse that follows tells us she dies from childbirth complications. So while the midwife's words were meant to comfort and give hope, they also mark Rachel's final moments. It's a tender reminder that sometimes our darkest seasons are real and serious, and that God's presence doesn't always mean suffering disappears, but it can mean we're not alone in it.