^27:41So Esau hated⁷⁷ Jacob because of the blessing his father had given to his brother.⁷⁸ Esau said privately,⁷⁹ “The time⁸⁰ of mourning for my father is near; then I will kill⁸¹ my brother Jacob!”

^27:42When Rebekah heard what her older son Esau had said,⁸² she quickly summoned⁸³ her younger son Jacob and told him, “Look, your brother Esau is planning to get revenge by killing you.⁸⁴^27:43Now then, my son, do what I say.⁸⁵ Run away immediately⁸⁶ to my brother Laban in Haran. ^27:44Live with him for a little while⁸⁷ until your brother’s rage subsides. ^27:45Stay there⁸⁸ until your brother’s anger against you subsides and he forgets what you did to him. Then I’ll send someone to bring you back from there.⁸⁹ Why should I lose both of you in one day?”⁹⁰

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Footnotes

77 Or “bore a grudge against” (cf. , , ). The Hebrew verb שָׂטַם (satam) describes persistent hatred.
78 Heb “because of the blessing which his father blessed him.”
79 Heb “said in his heart.” The expression may mean “said to himself.” Even if this is the case, v. 42 makes it clear that he must have shared his intentions with someone, because the news reached Rebekah.
80 Heb “days.”
81 The cohortative here expresses Esau’s determined resolve to kill Jacob.
82 Heb “and the words of Esau her older son were told to Rebekah.”
83 Heb “she sent and called for.”
84 Heb “is consoling himself with respect to you to kill you.” The only way Esau had of dealing with his anger at the moment was to plan to kill his brother after the death of Isaac.
85 Heb “listen to my voice.”
86 Heb “arise, flee.”
87 Heb “a few days.” Rebekah probably downplays the length of time Jacob will be gone, perhaps to encourage him and assure him that things will settle down soon. She probably expects Esau’s anger to die down quickly. However, Jacob ends up being gone twenty years and he never sees Rebekah again.
88 The words “stay there” are supplied in the translation for stylistic reasons.
89 Heb “and I will send and I will take you from there.” The verb “send” has no object in the Hebrew text; one must be supplied in the translation. Either “someone” or “a message” could be supplied, but since in those times a message would require a messenger, “someone” has been used.
90 If Jacob stayed, he would be killed and Esau would be forced to run away.

In other versions

ESVEnglish Standard Version

Now Esau hated Jacob because of the blessing with which his father had blessed him, and Esau said to himself, “The days of mourning for my father are approaching; then I will kill my brother Jacob.” But the words of Esau her older son were told to Rebekah. So she sent and called Jacob her younger son and said to him, “Behold, your brother Esau comforts himself about you by planning to kill you. Now therefore, my son, obey my voice. Arise, flee to Laban my brother in Haran and stay with him a while, until your brother’s fury turns away— until your brother’s anger turns away from you, and he forgets what you have done to him. Then I will send and bring you from there. Why should I be bereft of you both in one day?”

NIVNew International Version (2011)

Esau held a grudge against Jacob because of the blessing his father had given him. He said to himself, “The days of mourning for my father are near; then I will kill my brother Jacob.”

When Rebekah was told what her older son Esau had said, she sent for her younger son Jacob and said to him, “Your brother Esau is planning to avenge himself by killing you. Now then, my son, do what I say: Flee at once to my brother Laban in Harran. Stay with him for a while until your brother’s fury subsides. When your brother is no longer angry with you and forgets what you did to him, I’ll send word for you to come back from there. Why should I lose both of you in one day?”

CSBChristian Standard Bible

Esau held a grudge against Jacob because of the blessing his father had given him. And Esau determined in his heart, “The days of mourning for my father are approaching; then I will kill my brother Jacob.”

When the words of her older son Esau were reported to Rebekah, she summoned her younger son Jacob and said to him, “Listen, your brother Esau is consoling himself by planning to kill you. So now, my son, listen to me. Flee at once to my brother Laban in Haran, and stay with him for a few days until your brother’s anger subsides—until your brother’s rage turns away from you and he forgets what you have done to him. Then I will send for you and bring you back from there. Why should I lose you both in one day?”

NLTNew Living Translation

From that time on, Esau hated Jacob because their father had given Jacob the blessing. And Esau began to scheme: “I will soon be mourning my father’s death. Then I will kill my brother, Jacob.”

But Rebekah heard about Esau’s plans. So she sent for Jacob and told him, “Listen, Esau is consoling himself by plotting to kill you. So listen carefully, my son. Get ready and flee to my brother, Laban, in Haran. Stay there with him until your brother cools off. When he calms down and forgets what you have done to him, I will send for you to come back. Why should I lose both of you in one day?”

LEBThe Lexham English Bible

Then Esau held a grudge against Jacob on account of the blessing with which his father had blessed him. And Esau said in his heart, “The days of mourning for my father are coming, then I will kill Jacob my brother.” But the words of Esau her older son were told to Rebekah. And she sent and called for her younger son Jacob. And she said to him, “Look, Esau your brother is consoling himself concerning you, intending to kill you. Now then, my son, listen to my voice; arise and flee to Haran to Laban my brother. Stay with him a few days until the wrath of your brother has turned—until the anger of your brother turns from you and he has forgotten what you have done to him. Then I will send and bring you from there. Why should I lose the two of you in one day?”

KJV 1900King James Version

And Esau hated Jacob because of the blessing wherewith his father blessed him: and Esau said in his heart, The days of mourning for my father are at hand; then will I slay my brother Jacob. And these words of Esau her elder son were told to Rebekah: and she sent and called Jacob her younger son, and said unto him, Behold, thy brother Esau, as touching thee, doth comfort himself, purposing to kill thee. Now therefore, my son, obey my voice; and arise, flee thou to Laban my brother to Haran; And tarry with him a few days, until thy brother’s fury turn away; Until thy brother’s anger turn away from thee, and he forget that which thou hast done to him: then I will send, and fetch thee from thence: why should I be deprived also of you both in one day?

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