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Hebrew Text
וְאַחֲרֵי־כֵן יָצָא אָחִיו וְיָדוֹ אֹחֶזֶת בַּעֲקֵב עֵשָׂו וַיִּקְרָא שְׁמוֹ יַעֲקֹב וְיִצְחָק בֶּן־שִׁשִּׁים שָׁנָה בְּלֶדֶת אֹתָם׃
English Translation
And after that came out his brother, and his hand took hold on ῾Esav’s heel; and his name was called Ya῾aqov: and Yiżĥaq was sixty years old when she bore them.
Transliteration
Ve'acharei-chen yatza achiv v'yado ochezet ba'akev Esav vayikra shmo Ya'akov v'Yitzchak ben-shishim shana beledet otam.
Hebrew Leining Text
וְאַֽחֲרֵי־כֵ֞ן יָצָ֣א אָחִ֗יו וְיָד֤וֹ אֹחֶ֙זֶת֙ בַּעֲקֵ֣ב עֵשָׂ֔ו וַיִּקְרָ֥א שְׁמ֖וֹ יַעֲקֹ֑ב וְיִצְחָ֛ק בֶּן־שִׁשִּׁ֥ים שָׁנָ֖ה בְּלֶ֥דֶת אֹתָֽם׃
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Parasha Commentary
📚 Talmud Citations
This verse is quoted in the Talmud.
📖 Bava Batra 123a
The verse is referenced in a discussion about the naming of Jacob and the significance of his holding onto Esau's heel.
📖 Berakhot 7b
The verse is mentioned in a discussion about the nature of names and their meanings, particularly focusing on the name Jacob (Ya'aqov) and its connection to the heel (aqev).
The Naming of Yaakov
The verse describes the birth of Yaakov holding onto Esav's heel (ba'akeiv Esav), leading to his name "Yaakov" (from the root akeiv, meaning "heel"). Rashi explains that this name alludes to Yaakov's future actions—either that he would later take the blessings from Esav through cunning (as if "holding his heel" to trip him), or that he was destined to be subordinate to Esav until the end of days (as hinted in Ovadiah 1:18). The Midrash (Bereishit Rabbah 63:8) adds that Yaakov was formed from the first drop of seed, but emerged second, symbolizing his spiritual precedence despite Esav's physical birthright.
Yaakov's Grasp on Esav's Heel
The Talmud (Sotah 12b) draws a parallel between Yaakov holding Esav's heel and the future redemption—just as Yaakov emerged holding onto Esav, so too will the Jewish people ultimately triumph over the descendants of Esav (Rome/Edom). The Kli Yakar emphasizes that Yaakov's grip on the heel signifies his struggle to restrain Esav's negative traits, as the heel represents the lowest, most materialistic aspects of a person.
Yitzchak's Age at Their Birth
The verse notes that Yitzchak was sixty years old when Rivka bore them. Rashi connects this to the earlier narrative (Bereishit 25:20) where Yitzchak was forty when he married Rivka, meaning they waited twenty years for children. The Midrash (Bereishit Rabbah 63:4) explains that this delay was due to Rivka's young age at marriage (three years old) or to intensify their prayers for righteous offspring. Ramban suggests that Yitzchak's age at their birth (sixty) mirrors Avraham's age at Yitzchak's birth (100 minus 40, the age when one reaches full understanding), symbolizing spiritual completion.
Spiritual Significance of the Birth Order