Genesis 35:17 Meaning: Don't Be Afraid, Even When It Ends in Death
When she was in hard labor, the midwife said to her, “Don’t be afraid, for now you will have another son.”
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.
And it came to pass, when she was in hard labor, that the midwife said unto her, Fear not; for now thou shalt have another son.
and it cometh to pass, in her being sharply pained in her bearing, that the midwife saith to her, `Fear not, for this also is a son for thee.'
And it came to pass when it went hard with her in her childbearing, that the midwife said to her, Fear not; for this also is a son for thee.
Meaning in one sentence
Why does the midwife say 'don't be afraid' when Rachel dies moments later? Discover the hope behind the words in Genesis 35:17.
Context
Jacob and his family are on the move from Bethel, heading toward Ephrath. Rachel, the wife he loved most, goes into labor that turns severe. The midwife, perhaps remembering Rachel's own words years earlier when Joseph was born, tries to comfort her: you will have this son also. But the birth is fatal. As Rachel's life slips away, she names the child Benoni, son of my sorrow. Jacob renames him Benjamin, son of my right hand. The scene is raw and honest: God's promise of another son arrives wrapped in grief. This verse sits within the larger story of Jacob's return to the land, a journey marked by both blessing and loss.
Key Words
The Hebrew behind "hard labor" comes from the root qashah (H7185), meaning severe, difficult, or harsh. It is the same word used elsewhere for a hardened heart, but here it describes the physical intensity of childbirth. This is not ordinary pain; it is life-threatening.
The midwife's command "fear not" translates two Hebrew words: al (H0408) and tira'i (H3372). This phrase appears often when God speaks to His people before a deliverance. But here it is a human voice, not a divine one. That matters. Sometimes encouragement comes through ordinary people who remind us of what God has said.
The words "also this son" echo Rachel's own hope from Genesis 30:24, where she named Joseph and prayed, "May the Lord add another son." The midwife reaches back to that moment and holds it up. The promise is being kept, even though the delivery is costing everything.
How Christians Read This Verse
Christians from different traditions have drawn varied lessons from this painful scene. Calvin, representing a Reformed perspective, observed that Rachel was so overwhelmed by pain she could not accept the comfort offered. He saw in this a warning against letting sorrow crowd out gratitude for God's kindness. Matthew Henry, from the same tradition but with a pastoral emphasis, noted that the midwife remembered Rachel's earlier words and used them to encourage her. Keil and Delitzsch, writing from a Protestant background, also stress the midwife's reference to Rachel's own wish for another son.
Both readings agree on one point: the promise of God stands firm even when the person receiving it cannot feel it. The midwife's words were true. The son came. The comfort was real, even if it did not change the outcome.
A common misunderstanding
A common misreading of this verse is that the midwife gave false comfort because Rachel died. In fact, her words were specifically about the birth of the son, not about Rachel's survival. The child was born alive. The promise "you will have this son also" was fulfilled. The "fear not" addresses the immediate agony of labor, not the longer outcome. This verse teaches us that God's word can be true even when our worst fears come true.
Living This Out
This verse asks you to hold two things at once: the pain and the promise. Maybe right now you are in a hard labor of your own, a medical diagnosis, a marriage under strain, a season of waiting that feels endless. Someone has told you "don't be afraid," and you want to believe them, but the fear is still real.
The midwife's words point to a deeper anchor: God keeps His word even when the outcome includes loss. The son came. The promise held. This week, when the weight presses down, let the memory of God's past faithfulness be the voice that speaks over you. You may not be spared the pain, but you will not be abandoned in it.
Main takeaway: The midwife's 'fear not' was true: the son came, though grief remained, showing God's faithfulness endures beyond death.
For Families
For ages 5, 8
A woman named Rachel was having a very hard time having her baby. A helper said, "Don't be scared! You're going to have another son." Rachel died, but her baby was safe. God kept His promise.
For ages 9, 12
This story is hard to understand. Rachel had wanted a second son for a long time. When the baby finally came, she died. The midwife's words "don't be afraid" remind us that even when things go terribly wrong, God is still working. The son was born, just as God promised. Benjamin became one of the twelve tribes of Israel. Sometimes God's promises come true in ways we don't expect. We can trust Him even when life is painful.
Questions People Ask
Why did Rachel die in childbirth?
The text does not give a specific cause, but it highlights the severity of her labor. Her death is one of the great tragedies of Genesis. She had earlier said "give me children or I die" (Genesis 30:1), and now she dies having her second son.
What do the names Benoni and Benjamin mean?
Rachel named him Benoni, which means "son of my sorrow." Jacob renamed him Benjamin, which can mean "son of my right hand" or "son of good fortune," showing that Jacob saw the birth as a blessing even in loss.
Was the midwife wrong to say 'don't be afraid'?
No. The midwife's encouragement was about the birth of the son, which happened. Rachel died, but the promise of a son was fulfilled. The words point to God's faithfulness, not a guarantee of physical safety.
How does this verse connect to Genesis 30:24?
In Genesis 30:24, Rachel names Joseph and says "May the Lord add another son." The midwife in 35:17 says "you will have this son also," echoing Rachel's own hope. God answered that prayer, but the answer came with great sorrow.
Why is Benjamin's birth significant for Israel's story?
Benjamin was the only one of Jacob's twelve sons born in the land of Canaan. This marks the completion of the family of Israel in the land where God would establish His covenant people.
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