Genesis 25:26

26 And afterward his brother came out, and his hand grasped the heel of Esau, so his name was called Jacob. And Isaac {was sixty years old} at their birth.

Genesis 25:26 Meaning and Commentary

Genesis 25:26

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 first; and this was not casual, but was so ordered in Providence, and had a meaning and mystery in it: and his name was called Jacob;
by his parents and others, and that for the above reason, because he took his brother by the heel, which his name has the signification of, and Esau has respect to in ( Genesis 27:36 ) : and Isaac [was] threescore years old when she bare them;
and so it was twenty years after he had been married to her; so long was his faith tried and exercised about the promised seed that was to spring from him.

Genesis 25:26 In-Context

24 And when her days to give birth were completed, then--behold--twins [were] in her womb.

25 And the first came out red, all {his body} [was] like a hairy coat, so they called his name Esau.

26 And afterward his brother came out, and his hand grasped the heel of Esau, so his name was called Jacob. And Isaac {was sixty years old} at their birth.

27 And the boys grew up. And Esau [was] a skilled hunter, a man of the field, but Jacob [was] a peaceful man, living [in] tents.

28 And Isaac loved Esau because {he could eat of his game}, but Rebekah loved Jacob.

Footnotes

• [a]. Literally "a son of sixty years"