Not based on human works or merit but based on God’s sovereign call and choice—it was said to her before their birth, “The older will serve the younger,” reversing natural expectations.
not by works but by Him who calls, she was told, “The older will serve the younger.”
DRANot of works, but of him that calleth, it was said to her: The elder shall serve the younger.
EMTVit was said to her, “The older shall serve the younger.”
FBVshe was told, “The older brother will serve the younger one.”
GNVIt was said vnto her, The elder shall serue the yonger.
LSVit was said to her, “The greater will serve the less”;
OJBNot from mitzvos but from the One who makes the kri'ah (divine summons), it was said to her, RAV YA'AVOD TZA'IR (the elder will serve the younger),
TCENTshe was told, “The older will serve the younger.”
T4T[9:11–12]Before the twins, Jacob and Esau, were born, when neither one had yet done anything good or bad, God said to Rebecca about the twins she was to bear, “The older one shall later serve the younger one, contrary to normal custom.” God said this in order that we might clearly understand that what he purposed for people was according to what he himself determined. That is, people’s eternal destiny does not depend on what they do. Instead, their destiny depends on God, the one who chooses them.