Genesis 27:6 kjv

And Rebekah spake unto Jacob her son, saying, Behold, I heard thy father speak unto Esau thy brother, saying,

Genesis 27:6 nkjv

So Rebekah spoke to Jacob her son, saying, "Indeed I heard your father speak to Esau your brother, saying,

Genesis 27:6 niv

Rebekah said to her son Jacob, "Look, I overheard your father say to your brother Esau,

Genesis 27:6 esv

Rebekah said to her son Jacob, "I heard your father speak to your brother Esau,

Genesis 27:6 nlt

she said to her son Jacob, "Listen. I overheard your father say to Esau,

Genesis 27 verses

Genesis 27 6 Meaning

Genesis 27:6 describes Rebekah immediately informing her favored son, Jacob, of a crucial conversation she overheard between Isaac and Esau. This verse serves as the narrative hinge, prompting Rebekah to devise a deceptive scheme to secure the paternal blessing for Jacob instead of Esau, aligning with her long-standing preference and possibly God's earlier prophecy concerning the brothers. It marks Rebekah's decisive intervention in the destiny of her sons and the patriarchal lineage.

Genesis 27 6 Context

Genesis chapter 27 is pivotal, detailing the manipulative plot to usurp Isaac's blessing intended for Esau. The preceding verses (Gen 27:1-5) establish Isaac's age and fading eyesight, prompting his desire to bestow a final blessing upon Esau, his firstborn and favored son, after a specific ceremonial meal. Isaac explicitly asks Esau to go hunting and prepare a savory dish. This verse (27:6) immediately follows, revealing Rebekah's critical role: she had been "overhearing" this private instruction. Her quick reaction to prevent Isaac's original plan sets in motion the entire sequence of deception and its subsequent far-reaching consequences for the family, especially for Jacob, who will become the beneficiary of the ruse but also face exile and years of hardship. The narrative thus shifts from Isaac's intention to Rebekah's decisive and secretive intervention.

Genesis 27 6 Word analysis

• וַתֹּאמֶר (va-tomer): "And she said." The "vav consecutive" (the prefixed וְ, vav, coupled with the imperfect verb form) signals an immediate sequence of action. It underscores Rebekah's quick response after overhearing Isaac. It indicates that her hearing the conversation was instantly followed by her speaking to Jacob.
• רִבְקָה (Rivka): Rebekah. A name perhaps linked to concepts of "snare" or "lasso," symbolically foreshadowing her manipulative and decisive actions. She is consistently portrayed as active and strong-willed, often taking the initiative in key moments in the patriarchal narrative.
• אֶל־יַעֲקֹב בְּנָהּ (el Ya'akov b'nah): "to Jacob her son." Emphasizes the recipient of her message and the close, intimate relationship between Rebekah and Jacob, marked by her favoritism (Gen 25:28). This bond facilitates the deception.
• לֵאמֹר (le'mor): "saying." A common Hebrew infinitive construct used to introduce direct speech. It sets the stage for Rebekah's urgent communication to Jacob.
• הִנֵּה (hinneh): "Behold!" or "Look!" This interjection serves to draw immediate and emphatic attention to a surprising or crucial revelation. Rebekah is about to share something highly significant and urgent. It conveys a sense of shock or immediacy about what she just discovered.
• שָׁמַעְתִּי (shamati): "I heard." The verb shamah (שָׁמַע) generally means "to hear," but in this context of a private conversation, it strongly implies "overheard." Rebekah was privy to information not intended for her or Jacob, highlighting her eavesdropping and initiative.
• אֶת־אָבִיךָ מְדַבֵּר (et avikha medabber): "your father speaking." Specifies the parties in the overheard conversation. Isaac, as the patriarch, held the power to bestow blessings, making his words vital. "Speaking" (מְדַבֵּר, medabber, a participle from dibber, Pi'el conjugation) suggests an ongoing or deliberate conversation, emphasizing the gravity and finality of Isaac's intentions.
• אֶל־עֵשָׂו אָחִיךָ (el Esav akhikha): "to Esau your brother." Identifies the intended beneficiary of Isaac's blessing, stressing Esau's familial position. This clearly articulates to Jacob the threat to his own claim and the immediate need for counteraction.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• "And Rebekah said to Jacob her son": This phrase immediately highlights Rebekah's proactive and influential role in her family. It underscores the mother-son favoritism dynamic that becomes the engine of the deception narrative, contrasting sharply with Isaac's favor for Esau.
• "Behold, I heard": The interjection "Behold" signifies the urgency and importance of Rebekah's discovery. Her act of "hearing" (overhearing) is the critical information gathering point, driving her subsequent plot. It conveys that a significant, potentially life-altering, secret has just been uncovered.
• "your father speaking to Esau your brother": This group of words precisely identifies the sensitive nature of the overheard conversation: Isaac's private intentions concerning the blessing of Esau. It creates an immediate context of threat and rivalry for Jacob, knowing his father's true intention was to bless his older brother, not him.

Genesis 27 6 Bonus section

Rebekah's immediate action after overhearing is consistent with her portrayal earlier in Genesis. She exhibited strong agency in leaving her homeland to marry Isaac (Gen 24:58) and now actively directs the course of the family. Her decision to intervene underscores the deep significance of the "blessing" in ancient Near Eastern culture – it was considered legally binding and immutable. The specific detail of her "overhearing" suggests a privacy that was breached, highlighting the cunning nature of her plot. While Rebekah's heart might have been in the right place, wanting to see the divine word fulfilled, her method was a lack of faith in God's ability to fulfill His promise without human trickery. This incident illustrates a recurring theme in the patriarchal narratives where individuals attempt to "help" God's plan through questionable ethical means, inevitably leading to suffering and broken relationships.

Genesis 27 6 Commentary

Genesis 27:6 marks the point of no return in the saga of Jacob and Esau. Rebekah's overhearing of Isaac's plan to bless Esau activates her determined resolve to intervene. Driven by her love for Jacob (Gen 25:28) and possibly remembering the divine prophecy that "the older shall serve the younger" (Gen 25:23), she steps into the narrative to shape its outcome. While God's plan would ultimately prevail, Rebekah's means involve deceit, creating a cascade of familial conflict and distress. This verse portrays Rebekah as the primary initiator of the manipulative plot, her immediate communication with Jacob being the catalyst for the subsequent elaborate deception, ultimately causing great division and hardship within their family. The narrative reminds us that while God's sovereign purposes stand firm, achieving them through human deceit often brings painful consequences, demonstrating that the ends do not justify unrighteous means.