But the words of Esau her older son were told to Rebekah: But contrasts what Esau thought to himself and Rebekah’s learning of it. We may also say in English “When,” or “But when.” In languages in which the passive cannot be used, it may be necessary to say, for example, “Someone told Rebekah what Esau had been saying” or “Rebekah found out what Esau was planning to do.”

She sent and called Jacob: that is “she sent someone to bring Jacob.”

Behold, your brother Esau comforts himself by planning to kill you: Behold serves the same function as in verse 39. See there for translation suggestions. Comforts translates a verb whose basic meaning is as in Revised Standard Version. In this context, however, it carries the sense of taking revenge; that is, Esau plans to relieve his anger and frustration by taking revenge on Jacob. So New Jerusalem Bible translates “means to take revenge,” and Good News Translation “planning to get even with you.” We may translate, for example, “Esau is making himself feel better by planning to kill you,” “Esau hopes to set things right by killing you,” or “Esau is planning to pay you back for what you did; he wants to kill you.”

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 .