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26 Next his brother came out, gripping Esau’s heel;[a] so he was named Jacob. Isaac was sixty years old when they were born.(A)

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Footnotes

  1. 25:26 Heel: in Hebrew ‘aqeb, a wordplay on the name Jacob; cf. 27:36. The first of three scenes of striving with Esau. The second is vv. 27–34, and the third, chap. 27. In all the scenes, Jacob values the blessing more than his ardent but unreflective brother Esau does.

26 After this, his brother came out,(A) with his hand grasping Esau’s heel;(B) so he was named Jacob.[a](C) Isaac was sixty years old(D) when Rebekah gave birth to them.

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Footnotes

  1. Genesis 25:26 Jacob means he grasps the heel, a Hebrew idiom for he deceives.

35 When Isaac said, “Your brother came here by a ruse and carried off your blessing,” 36 Esau exclaimed, “He is well named Jacob, is he not! He has supplanted me[a] twice! First he took away my right as firstborn, and now he has taken away my blessing.” Then he said, “Have you not saved a blessing for me?”(A)

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Footnotes

  1. 27:36 He has supplanted me: in Hebrew, wayyaqebeni, a wordplay on the name Jacob, ya‘aqob; see Jer 9:3 and Gn 25:26. There is also a play between the Hebrew words bekorah (“right of the firstborn”) and berakah (“blessing”).

35 But he said, “Your brother came deceitfully(A) and took your blessing.”(B)

36 Esau said, “Isn’t he rightly named Jacob[a]?(C) This is the second time he has taken advantage of(D) me: He took my birthright,(E) and now he’s taken my blessing!”(F) Then he asked, “Haven’t you reserved any blessing for me?”

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Footnotes

  1. Genesis 27:36 Jacob means he grasps the heel, a Hebrew idiom for he takes advantage of or he deceives.