Genesis 35:19Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

Douay-RheimsHebrew (Masoretic text)

So Rachel died, and was buried in the highway that leadeth to Ephrata, this is Bethlehem.
Douay-Rheims

וַתָּ֖מָת רָחֵ֑ל וַתִּקָּבֵר֙ בְּדֶ֣רֶךְ אֶפְרָ֔תָה הִ֖וא בֵּ֥ית לָֽחֶם׃
Hebrew (Masoretic text)

The Church Fathers on this verse

One Church Father comments on this verse

John Chrysostom

4th centuryChurch Father

After Rachel gave birth to her son, she ‘died’ and was laid to rest on the path to Ephrathah, which is Bethlehem. Jacob erected a pillar in memory of her grave. The sorrow caused by Rachel's death was eased by the joy of the new life, allowing the righteous man to accept Rachel's loss with a sense of peace.

Cross references

Passages read together with this verse.

Mic 5:2And thou Bethlehem Ephrata, art a little one among the thousands of Juda, out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be the ruler in Israel: and his going forth is from the beginning, from the days of eternity.
Gen 48:7For, when I came out of Mesopotamia, Rachel died from me in the land of Chanaan in the very journey, and it was spring time: and I was going to Ephrata, and I buried her near the way of Ephrata, which by another name is called Bethlehem.
Ruth 4:11Then all the people that were in the gate, and the ancients, answered: We are witnesses: The Lord make this woman who cometh into thy house, like Rachel, and Lia, who built up the house of Israel: that she may be an example of virtue in Ephrata, and may have a famous name in Bethlehem:
Ruth 1:2He was named Elimelech, and his wife Noemi: and his two sons, the one Mahalon, and the other Chelion, Ephrathites of Bethlehem Juda. And entering into the country of Moab, they abode there.
Matt 2:6And thou Bethlehem the land of Juda art not the least among the princes of Juda: for out of thee shall come forth the captain that shall rule my people Israel.
Matt 2:1When Jesus therefore was born in Bethlehem of Juda, in the days of king Herod, behold, there came wise men from the East to Jerusalem,
Josh 19:15And Cateth and Naalol and Semeron and Jedala and Bethlehem: twelve cities and their villages.
Matt 2:16Then Herod perceiving that he was deluded by the wise men, was exceeding angry: and sending killed all the menchildren that were in Bethlehem, and in all the borders thereof, from two years old and under, according to the time which he had diligently inquired of the wise men.