Genesis 27:31

31 Then he also made savory food, and brought it to his father; and he said to his father, "¹Let my father arise and eat of his son's game, that ²you may bless me."

Genesis 27:31 Meaning and Commentary

Genesis 27:31

And he also made savoury meat, and brought it unto his
father
Which was made of real venison, or of creatures taken in hunting, and not like Jacob's, made of other flesh, in imitation of it; for what the Jewish writers ^F1 say is not to be regarded, that he was hindered from getting true venison, by angels loosing the deer he bound; still less what the Targum of Jonathan says, that he killed a dog, made savoury meat of it, and brought it to his father: and said unto his father, let my father arise, and eat of his son's
venison, that thy soul may bless me;
this address is made by Esau to his father in a very respectful manner, as became a dutiful son to an aged and honoured parent; who in obedience to his command had prepared agreeable food for him, and now brought it to him, in order to receive his blessing, which he had himself proposed to give him upon it.

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FOOTNOTES:

F1 Bereshit Rabba, sect. 67. fol. 59. 3.

Genesis 27:31 In-Context

29 May peoples serve you, And nations bow down to you; Be master of your brothers, And may your mother's sons bow down to you. Cursed be those who curse you, And blessed be those who bless you."

30 Now it came about, as soon as Isaac had finished blessing Jacob, and Jacob had hardly gone out from the presence of Isaac his father, that Esau his brother came in from his hunting.

31 Then he also made savory 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 Isaac his father said to him, "Who are you?" And he said, "I am your son, your firstborn, Esau."

33 Then Isaac trembled violently , and said, "Who was he then that hunted game and brought it to me, so that I ate of all of it before you came, and blessed him? Yes, and he shall be blessed."

Cross References

• 1. Genesis 27:19
• 2. Genesis 27:4

Footnotes

• [a]. Lit "your soul"