Afterward his brother came forth: came forth translates the same verb as used with Esau in verse 25. In some languages his brother must be rendered by a kinship term meaning “younger brother.” In other cases languages have special terms for the first and second twin. See the usage of “elder” and “younger” in verse 23.

His hand had taken hold of Esau’s heel: his hand refers to the hand of the second twin. Had taken hold translates the active participle of a verb meaning to grasp, seize, or hold. Good News Translation expresses the thought well for English: “was born holding on tightly to the heel of Esau.”

So his name was called Jacob: unlike verse 25, which has “they called … Esau,” here called has a singular indefinite subject translated as a passive by Revised Standard Version and Good News Translation. In languages that do not use the passive, we may express this the same as in verse 25: “They named him,” “They gave him the name.”

Jacob: the Hebrew word for “heel” is ʿaqev and sounds similar to the Hebrew for “Jacob,” which is yaʿaqov. Note that the Revised Standard Version footnote has “He takes by the heel or He supplants.” This explanation refers to the verb form ʿaqav. “Supplant” refers to Jacob’s replacing his older brother through deceit, as becomes evident in verses 27-34 and 27.1-40.

In areas where some form of the name Jacob is widely used as a personal name, that form of the name should be used here. Where the name is unknown it may be transliterated from a major language in the area. It may also be transliterated from the Hebrew form but should be spelled in a way that can be easily pronounced.

Since Jacob in Hebrew sounds like the word for “heel” of the foot, it may be helpful to provide readers with a note here, and the one in Good News Translation may be followed. In 27.36 there is a second play on Jacob’s name, and there it is based on the similarity in sound of Jacob and the word for “cheat.” See 27.36 for a footnote suggestion at that place.

The birth report of the twins concludes with the age of the father. Isaac was sixty years old when she bore them: according to verse 20 Isaac was forty years old when he married Rebekah. Thus he waited for twenty years for God to give him an heir. She refers, of course, to Rebekah. This clause may be rendered, for example, “when Rebekah gave birth to her twins” or “when Rebekah gave birth to Esau and Jacob.”

Quoted with permission from Reyburn, William D. and Fry, Euan McG. A Handbook on Genesis. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 1997. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .