Genesis 27:42 Meaning: Why Rebekah Sent Jacob Away
The words of Esau, her elder son, were told to Rebekah. 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.
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.
And the 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.
And the words of Esau her elder son are declared to Rebekah, and she sendeth and calleth for Jacob her younger son, and saith unto him, `Lo, Esau thy brother is comforting himself in regard to thee--to slay thee;
And the words of Esau her elder son were told to Rebecca. And she sent and called Jacob her younger son, and said to him, Behold, thy brother Esau, as touching thee, comforts himself that he will kill thee.
Meaning in one sentence
Understand the meaning of Genesis 27:42: why Rebekah warned Jacob of Esau's plot and sent him away, trusting God's blessing even in crisis.
Context
This verse sits near the end of a chapter full of human scheming. Jacob, at his mother Rebekah’s urging, has just deceived his blind father Isaac into giving him the blessing meant for Esau. When Esau discovers what happened, his grief turns to rage, and he makes plans to kill Jacob once their father dies. Rebekah learns of the threat and acts quickly. Instead of trying to undo the blessing or begging Esau for peace, she tells Jacob to flee to her brother Laban in Haran. What looks like panic is something deeper: a decision to protect both the son and the promise, even if it means losing Jacob for a time.
Key Words
The Hebrew phrase behind “comforts himself” is mitnacheim, a reflexive form of the word nacham. Usually nacham means to be comforted or to repent. But here it describes someone nursing a bitter satisfaction. Esau is not just angry, he is soothing himself with the thought of revenge. The same root appears in Job 20 when the wicked find evil “sweet in his mouth.” That is the twisted comfort Esau feels.
Another key word is “told” (yugad), from nagad, to make something known. Rebekah hears what Esau said in his heart. Secrets rarely stay hidden. And the final word of the verse, “to kill,” is harog, a blunt verb for murder. The threat is real, not metaphorical. Rebekah’s response shows she takes both the danger and the promise seriously.
How Christians Read This Verse
Christians have read this moment in different lights. John Calvin saw Rebekah’s decision as evidence of extraordinary faith: she did not try to give back the blessing to pacify Esau, but chose exile for Jacob so the blessing would stand. Matthew Henry focused on the sorrow, she reaped bitter fruit from her earlier deception. The Cambridge Bible notes the odd phrase “comforts himself,” interpreting it as Esau hugging himself over his revenge plot. Both readings hold truth: Rebekah is faithful and also facing consequences. Most traditions agree that this verse shows God working through messy human choices to keep His covenant alive.
A common misunderstanding
Some readers think the phrase “comforts himself” means Esau is calming down or forgiving Jacob. It sounds peaceful in English. In fact, the Hebrew mitnacheim here means the opposite: Esau is taking comfort in the thought of killing his brother. The versions say “is consoling himself” or “doth comfort himself”, he is nursing revenge, not letting go of it.
Living This Out
Perhaps this week you have to live with a mess you helped create. Like Rebekah, you may feel the weight of a decision that backfired. The temptation is to try to fix everything yourself, to make peace by undoing what was done. Rebekah does not do that. She accepts the hard route: sending her son away to protect the promise. What if you stopped scrambling to make everything right and instead took the next faithful step, however costly? Trust Gods blessing more than your own schemes. That may mean letting go of control and letting God work through the long road.
Main takeaway: God's blessing stands even when we have to flee from the wreckage of our own choices.
For Families
For ages 5, 8
Rebekah heard that Esau wanted to hurt Jacob. So she told Jacob to leave for a while to stay safe. Even when things get scary, a mom or dad can help you do the right thing.
For ages 9, 12
Rebekah knew that Jacob’s blessing from God was too important to lose, even if it meant letting him go far away. Sometimes the best thing we can do is trust God and take the hard road, even if we made mistakes before. God stays faithful even when we travel far from home.
Questions People Ask
What does 'comforts himself' mean in Genesis 27:42?
It means Esau is taking pleasure in the idea of killing Jacob. The Hebrew word 'mitnacheim' is a reflexive form of 'nacham' (to be comforted). He is soothing himself with revenge, not calming down.
Why did Rebekah send Jacob away instead of trying to reconcile the brothers?
Rebekah believed the blessing Jacob had received was from God and could not be undone. Sending Jacob to her brother Laban protected his life and preserved the promise. She chose exile over surrender.
Was Rebekah wrong to deceive Isaac earlier in the chapter?
Christians have different views. Some see her as acting in faith to secure God’s promise (which had already said the older would serve the younger). Others see her deception as a failure that led to family breakdown. Both sides agree God worked through her choice despite its flaws.
How does this verse connect to the rest of Jacob’s story?
This verse sets Jacob on a path of exile. He will spend twenty years away from home, be deceived himself by Laban, and eventually wrestle with God. The consequences of his and Rebekah’s scheming shape the entire next part of Genesis, but God never abandons him.
Is God mentioned in Genesis 27:42?
No, God is not explicitly named in this verse. But the whole chapter revolves around the blessing and the covenant promise to Abraham. The silence of God’s name here highlights how human actions drive the plot, yet God’s purposes are still advancing behind the scenes.
For pastors & researchers
Hebrew interlinear, 8 commentaries & word study