הַצִּילֵ֥נִי נָ֛א מִיַּ֥ד אָחִ֖י מִיַּ֣ד עֵשָׂ֑ו כִּֽי־יָרֵ֤א אָנֹכִי֙ אֹת֔וֹ פֶּן־יָב֣וֹא וְהִכַּ֔נִי אֵ֖ם עַל־בָּנִֽים׃
Deliver me, please, from the hand of my brother, from the hand of Esau, for I fear him, lest he come and strike me, mother upon children.
Rashi on Bereishis 32:12.
Sefaria · Rashi on Genesis 32:12
מִיַּד אָחִי מִיַּד עֵשָׂו — מִיַּד אָחִי שֶׁאֵין נוֹהֵג עִמִּי כְאָח אֶלָּא כְעֵשָׂו הָרָשָׁע.
“From the hand of my brother, from the hand of Esau” — from the hand of my brother who does not treat me as a brother should, but as Esau, the wicked.
Rashi reads Yaakov's doubled wording as distinguishing biological brotherhood from Esau's hostile conduct.
Commentary on the wording of Yaakov's prayer.
The phrase “my brother” does not mean that Esau is acting fraternally; Yaakov explicitly fears Esau's hostile behavior.