Genesis 27:42 - The words of Esau, her elder son, were told to Rebekah. She sent and called Jacob, her younger son, and said to him, “Behold, your brother Esau comforts himself about you by planning to kill you.

Generated Verse: Genesis 27:42

What does "Genesis 27:42" mean?


This verse reveals a significant plot point in the story of Jacob and Esau:

"The words of Esau, her elder son, were told to Rebekah..." This means someone overheard Esau's private thoughts or overheard him talking to someone else about his intentions. The Bible doesn't specify who told Rebekah, but it suggests someone loyal to the family or at least concerned about the potential violence.

"...She sent and called Jacob, her younger son, and said to him, “Behold, your brother Esau comforts himself about you by planning to kill you." Rebekah, upon learning of Esau's murderous intent, acts quickly to protect Jacob. "Comforts himself" implies that Esau is finding solace or satisfaction in the idea of killing Jacob. He's harboring resentment and planning revenge for Jacob's deception in obtaining Isaac's blessing (which happened earlier in Genesis 27).

In essence, the verse means:

Rebekah learns that Esau is plotting to murder Jacob out of anger and resentment over losing his blessing. This leads her to intervene and try to save Jacob's life. This verse sets the stage for Jacob's flight from his home to escape Esau's wrath, a pivotal event in the Jacob narrative. It also highlights Rebekah's favoritism towards Jacob and her willingness to manipulate events to secure his future.