Genesis 27:31

31 He too prepared tasty food and brought [it] to his father. And he said to his father, "Let my father arise and eat from the wild game of his son, that you 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 Let peoples serve you, and nations bow down to you; Be lord of your brothers, and may the sons of your mother bow down to you. Cursed be those cursing you, and blessed be those blessing you."

30 And as soon as Isaac had finished blessing Jacob, {immediately after} Jacob had gone out from the presence of Isaac his father, Esau his brother came [back] from his hunting.

31 He too prepared tasty food and brought [it] to his father. And he said to his father, "Let my father arise and eat from the wild game of his son, that you may bless me."

32 And Isaac his father said to him, "Who [are] you?" And he said, "I [am] your son, your firstborn, Esau."

33 Then Isaac {trembled violently}. Then he said, "Who then [was] he that hunted wild game and brought [it] to me, and I ate [it] all before you came, and I blessed him? Moreover, he will be blessed!"

Footnotes

• [a]. Or "your soul"