אלשיך — וידו אחזת בעקב עשו ויקרא שמו יעקב

Q — Why is Yaakov named for the seemingly trivial detail of grabbing his brother's heel? And why is the name 'יעקב' in future tense rather than past ('עקב')?

A — Yaakov and Esav divided the worlds between them in the womb — Esav took olam hazeh, Yaakov took olam haba. Esav was born first because olam hazeh precedes olam haba as preparation precedes destination ('כי ערב קודם להיותו רמז אל העולם הזה ואחר כך בקר שהוא אור העולם הבא'). The hand on Esav's heel is therefore not a detail but a thesis: Yaakov's portion comes at the *heel* — the very end — of Esav's prosperity. The name in future tense — יעקב — declares the same principle: 'שזה שנוטל עקב עשו הוא על העתיד שיעקב כי יאחר טובו באחרונה בעקבות עשו.' This is the consolation for Jews suffering in the meantime: Esav collects first, but his prosperity ends, and then Yaakov receives.