Verse Lens · Concise explanation
Genesis 27:42 Explained in Context
Use this verse as a doorway into the larger passage—not as an isolated saying.
Verse 42. 42And 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.
King James Version — public domain in the United States · Bible text and permissions
Quick Meaning
Esau's murder plan becomes known to Rebekah, who warns Jacob that Esau is consoling himself with the thought of killing him. The verse reports a credible threat; it does not say that Rebekah reads Esau's mind.
Read It With
- Genesis 27:30–45
Read verses 41–45. Verse 41 states the plan, verses 42–43 communicate the threat and command flight, and verses 44–45 explain the intended duration and feared loss. Reading verse 42 alone can make unhealthy revenge sound like comfort or make Rebekah's knowledge supernatural.
Why This Verse Appears Here
The threat becomes actionable information, allowing Rebekah to warn Jacob rather than leaving the murder plan private.
Read Genesis 27:42–45 together
Why these verses belong together: The reported threat, warning, destination, expected duration, conditions for return, and fear of losing both sons form one safety response.
Verse 42. 42 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.
Verse 43. 43 Now therefore, my son, obey my voice; and arise, flee thou to Laban my brother to Haran;
Verse 44. 44 And tarry with him a few days, until thy brother’s fury turn away;
Verse 45. 45 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?
What This Verse Is Not Saying
KJV 'comforteth himself' does not describe healthy comfort.
The verse does not say that Rebekah read Esau's unspoken thoughts.
Warning Jacob does not excuse the deception that contributed to the conflict.
A reported threat does not require waiting for an attack before taking protective action.
What Remains True
Credible threats should be communicated plainly and acted on protectively rather than minimized because the threatened violence has not yet occurred.
How It Can Shape Life
- When you learn of a specific threat, warn the person at risk, preserve what was said, involve trustworthy and qualified help, and build a safety plan appropriate to the danger.
Continue in Context
The full thought-unit study remains the final contextual authority for this Verse Lens.
Read Genesis 27:30–45 — Esau Discovers the Stolen BlessingSources used for this Verse Lens
How certain is this explanation? very strong
These are the sources used directly for this lens. Language, grammar, disagreements, and the complete source shelf remain attached to the full thought-unit research record.
Biblical text
King James (Authorized) Version — eng-kjv2006
eBible.org and CrossWire Bible Society
USFM archive eng-kjv2006_usfm.zip; source files dated 2026-08-19; downloaded 2026-08-24; archive SHA-256 aec1b3b26c622fd3d963d2bbac963016b9513246ffbfa20da00bb100372ea007; normalized corpus SHA-256 09aef51d90488aa7b9722b3fd9a93f4b25f6bf2064c5fd798fb39673c300ddf2.
Supports: Displayed wording, unit boundary, discovery, grief, pronouncement, threat, flight, and canonical comparison.
Exact location: Genesis 27:30–45 in the pinned eng-kjv2006 source; compared with Genesis 25:23, 27–34; 27:1–29, 46; 28:1–22; 32–33; Hebrews 12:16–17; and later Jacob-Esau reception
Open source ↗hebrew text morphology and lemma data
Open Scriptures Hebrew Bible — Genesis
Open Scriptures Hebrew Bible Project
Open Scriptures, Version 2.2 released 2021; repository inspected 2026
Supports: Intensified trembling and cry, deceit and supplanting, dwelling and dew, sword and service, difficult release verb, yoke, hatred, revenge-consolation, anger, return, and forgetting.
Exact location: Open Scriptures Hebrew Bible, wlc/Gen.xml, Genesis 27:30–45; lemmas and morphology for kharad, barakh, tsaaq, mar, mirmah, aqav, shemen, tal, kherev, avad, rud, paraq, satam, nakham, khamah, shuv, and shakakh
Open source ↗Translation and textual notes
NET Bible — Genesis with translators' notes
Biblical Studies Press
Biblical Studies Press, Digital edition accessed 2026
Supports: Intensified wording, deceit and name wordplay, negative dwelling construal, uncertain release verb, heart-speech becoming known, and loss of both sons.
Exact location: NET Bible, Genesis 27:30–45 and translator notes, especially verses 33, 35–36, 39–42, and 45
Open NET Genesis 27 ↗