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.
After that, his brother came out, and his hand was gripping Esau's heel. So they named him Jacob, and Isaac was sixty years old when Rebekah gave birth to them.
This verse describes the unusual birth of Jacob, who came out holding his twin brother Esau's heel, which is why he was given a name that means 'heel-grabber' or 'supplanter.'
📚 Historical Context
In the book of Genesis, this verse describes the birth of Jacob and Esau, the twin sons of Isaac and Rebekah, as part of the ongoing story of God's covenant with Abraham's descendants. Esau was born first, but Jacob came out holding his brother's heel, symbolizing his later character as a supplanter and foreshadowing their lifelong conflict. Isaac was sixty years old at the time, marking another step in the fulfillment of God's promises to the patriarchs.
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