And after that came his brother out, and his hand took hold on Esau's heel; and his name was called Jacob: and Isaac was threescore years old when she bare them.
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Commentary
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Gill's Exposition
And after that came his brother out,.... Out of his mother's womb, either by his own strength, or by the help of the midwife:
and his hand took hold on Esau's heel; to pluck him back and get out…
- LIII. Birth of Esau and Jacob 20. פדן padān, Paddan, “plowed field;” related: “cut, plow.” 25. עשׂי ‛êśâv, ‘Esaw, “hairy, or made.” 26. יעקב ya‛ăqôb, Ja’aqob, “he shall take the heel.” 27. תם…
Adam Clarke
His name was called Jacob - יעקב Yaccob, from עקב akab, to defraud, deceive, to supplant, i.e., to overthrow a person by tripping up his heels. Hence this name was given to Jacob, because it was found…
We have here an account of the birth of Jacob and Esau, the twin sons of Isaac and Rebekah: their entrance into the world was (which is not usual) one of the most considerable parts of their story;…
Cambridge Bible
had hold … heel As if, from the first, desirous to pull his brother, back, and get in front of him. See the reference to this passage in Hos 12:3. The character of the man was thus prefigured at…