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Genesis 25:25-27
New American Bible (Revised Edition)
Genesis 25:25-27
New American Bible (Revised Edition)
25 The first to emerge was reddish,[a] and his whole body was like a hairy mantle; so they named him Esau. 26 Next his brother came out, gripping Esau’s heel;[b] so he was named Jacob. Isaac was sixty years old when they were born.(A)
27 When the boys grew up, Esau became a skillful hunter, a man of the open country; whereas Jacob was a simple[c] man, who stayed among the tents.(B)
Read full chapterFootnotes
- 25:25 Reddish: in Hebrew, ’admoni, a reference to Edom, another name for Esau (v. 30; 36:1). Edom was also the name of the country south of Moab (southeast of the Dead Sea) where the descendants of Esau lived. It was called the “red” country because of its reddish sandstone. Moreover, “red” points ahead to the red stew in the next scene. Hairy: in Hebrew, se‘ar, a reference to Seir, another name for Edom (36:8).
- 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.
- 25:27 Simple: the Hebrew word denotes soundness, integrity, health, none of which fit here. Whatever its precise meaning, it must be opposite to the qualities of Esau.
Genesis 25:25-27
New International Version
Genesis 25:25-27
New International Version
25 The first to come out was red,(A) and his whole body was like a hairy garment;(B) so they named him Esau.[a](C) 26 After this, his brother came out,(D) with his hand grasping Esau’s heel;(E) so he was named Jacob.[b](F) Isaac was sixty years old(G) when Rebekah gave birth to them.
27 The boys grew up, and Esau became a skillful hunter,(H) a man of the open country,(I) while Jacob was content to stay at home among the tents.
Footnotes
- Genesis 25:25 Esau may mean hairy.
- Genesis 25:26 Jacob means he grasps the heel, a Hebrew idiom for he deceives.
New American Bible (Revised Edition) (NABRE)
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New International Version (NIV) 
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