Genesis 27:31-41

31 He also prepared delicious food and brought it to his father. And he said to his father, "Let my father arise and eat of his son's game, that you may bless me."
32 His father Isaac said to him, "Who are you?" He answered, "I am your son, your firstborn, Esau."
33 Then Isaac trembled very violently and said, "Who was it then that hunted game and brought it to me, and I ate it all before you came, and I have blessed him? Yes, and he shall be blessed."
34 As soon as Esau heard the words of his father, 1he cried out with an exceedingly great and bitter cry and said to his father, "Bless me, even me also, O my father!"
35 But he said, "Your brother came deceitfully, and he has taken away your blessing."
36 Esau said, 2"Is he not rightly named Jacob?[a] For he has cheated me these two times. 3He took away my birthright, and behold, now he has taken away my blessing." Then he said, "Have you not reserved a blessing for me?"
37 Isaac answered and said to Esau, "Behold, 4I have made him lord over you, and all his brothers I have given to him for servants, and 5with grain and wine I have sustained him. What then can I do for you, my son?"
38 Esau said to his father, "Have you but one blessing, my father? Bless me, even me also, O my father." And 6Esau lifted up his voice and wept.
39 Then Isaac his father answered and said to him: "Behold, 7away from[b] the fatness of the earth shall your dwelling be, and away from[c] the dew of heaven on high.
40 By your sword you shall live, and you 8shall serve your brother; but when you grow restless 9you shall break his yoke from your neck."
41 Now Esau 10hated Jacob because of the blessing with which his father had blessed him, and Esau said to himself, 11"The days of mourning for my father are approaching; 12then I will kill my brother Jacob."

Genesis 27:31-41 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO GENESIS 27

In this chapter we are informed, that Isaac, being old and dim sighted, sent for Esau to get him venison, that he might eat of it, and bless him before he died, Ge 27:1-4; that Rebekah hearing of this formed a scheme for Jacob to get the blessing before him, which she communicated to Jacob, to which he at first objected, but afterwards complied, Ge 27:5-17; and also how that he succeeded in the attempt, and got the blessing from his brother, Ge 27:18-29; and that this was confirmed to him by his father, even when his mistake was discovered upon Esau's coming, Ge 27:30-33; which occasioned a most bitter cry in Esau, a severe reflection on his brother, and an earnest expostulation with his father for a blessing, which he obtained, Ge 27:34-40; the consequence of this were hatred in Esau to Jacob, and an intention to kill him, which Rebekah hearing of, advised Jacob to flee to her brother Laban, Ge 27:41-45; and to facilitate this, complains to Isaac of Esau's wives, and suggests, that should Jacob marry among the same people, it would add to the distress of their lives; and therefore hints it to him, that it was necessary and proper he should go to her family for a wife, Ge 27:46; and whether Isaac sent him, as the following chapter shows.

Cross References 12

  • 1. Hebrews 12:17
  • 2. Genesis 25:26
  • 3. Genesis 25:33
  • 4. ver. 29; [2 Samuel 8:14]
  • 5. ver. 28
  • 6. [See ver. 34 above]
  • 7. ver. 28; Genesis 36:6, 7
  • 8. Genesis 25:23; [2 Samuel 8:14]; See Obad. 18-21
  • 9. [2 Kings 8:20-22]
  • 10. [Genesis 37:4]
  • 11. Genesis 50:3, 4, 10
  • 12. [Amos 1:11; Obadiah 10]

Footnotes 3

The English Standard Version is published with the permission of Good News Publishers.