A tragic intersection of birth and death marks Rachel's final moments, as new life enters the world just as her own comes to an end. She names her child in the throes of death, right before losing all hope and passing away [רד״ק, ביאור יש״ר]. The record of her passing confirms that she died immediately after this act [ביאור יש״ר]. Some commentators suggest a two-stage process occurred: she initially fainted and her soul began to depart, but she regained consciousness just long enough to name her son before finally dying [הטור הארוך, חזקוני, פענח רזא]. The description of her soul departing reveals a profound spiritual reality. Rather than an absolute end, death is presented as a transition of the soul from one state to another, pointing to its eternal nature and existence beyond physical life [ביאור יש״ר].
Through the agony of her final moments, Rachel chooses a name for the newborn. Commentators offer several perspectives on the meaning behind her choice. The primary approach understands the name as an expression of mourning and deep sorrow [רמב״ן, אבן עזרא, ביאור יש״ר]. Others interpret it as a reflection of the severe physical pain she endured during the difficult labor [רש״י, רד״ק, הטור הארוך]. A different perspective connects the name to strength and power, suggesting either that the infant drew away her life force, or that she was intentionally bequeathing her strength to him as she died [העמק דבר, מלבי״ם]. A unique view proposes that the name captures her fear and sadness over the possibility that she was dying as a punishment for marrying Jacob alongside her sister [חומת אנך].
Despite Rachel's dying wish, Jacob alters the child's name. He refuses to burden his son with a title that perpetuates mourning and death, yet he still wishes to honor his wife's final choice. To resolve this, he shifts the root of her chosen name from its association with sorrow to its positive meaning of strength and might [רמב״ן, בכור שור, ביאור יש״ר, אם למקרא]. Because the right hand symbolizes strength, success, and bravery, Jacob names him Benjamin, meaning the son of strength [רמב״ן, מלבי״ם, ביאור יש״ר].
Other commentators understand this new name through a geographic lens. The word for "right" also translates to "south." Since this was the only son born in the land of Canaan, which lies south of their previous home in Aram, he is called the son of the south [רש״י, רלב״ג, הטור הארוך], though some debate the exact geographical boundaries between these regions [רמב״ן, מזרחי]. A third approach suggests the name means "son of days," reflecting that he was a child born in Jacob's old age. In this view, the boy would become especially dear to his father, serving as his support and right hand in his later years [רשב״ם, רד״ק, רא״ש, חזקוני]. To emphasize the significance of this specific interpretation, the name is recorded with an unusually full spelling, highlighting the deep intention behind Jacob's choice [רש״י, תורה תמימה].