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Esau’s Lost Blessing

30 As soon as Isaac had finished blessing Jacob, when Jacob had scarcely gone out from the presence of Isaac his father, Esau his brother came in from his hunting. 31 He also prepared 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 His father Isaac said to him, “Who are you?” He answered, “I am your son, your first-born, Esau.” 33 Then Isaac trembled violently, and said, “Who was it then that hunted game and brought it to me, and I ate it all[a] before you came, and I have blessed him?—yes, and he shall be blessed.” 34 When Esau heard the words of his father, he 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 with guile, and he has taken away your blessing.” 36 Esau said, “Is he not rightly named Jacob? For he has supplanted me these two times. He 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 Esau, “Behold, I have made him your lord, and all his brothers I have given to him for servants, and with 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 Esau lifted up his voice and wept.

39 Then Isaac his father answered him:

“Behold, away 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 shall serve your brother;
but when you break loose
    you shall break his yoke from your neck.”

Jacob Escapes Esau’s Fury

41 Now Esau hated Jacob because of the blessing with which his father had blessed him, and Esau said to himself, “The days of mourning for my father are approaching; then I will kill my brother Jacob.” 42 But the words of Esau her older son were told to Rebekah; so she sent and called Jacob her younger son, and said to him, “Behold, your brother Esau comforts himself by planning to kill you. 43 Now therefore, my son, obey my voice; arise, flee to Laban my brother in Haran, 44 and stay with him a while, until your brother’s fury turns away; 45 until your brother’s anger turns away, and he forgets what you have done to him; then I will send, and fetch you from there. Why should I be bereft of you both in one day?”

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Footnotes

  1. Genesis 27:33 Cn: Heb of all
  2. Genesis 27:39 Or of
  3. Genesis 27:39 Or of

30 After Isaac finished blessing him, and Jacob had scarcely left his father’s presence, his brother Esau came in from hunting. 31 He too prepared some tasty food and brought it to his father. Then he said to him, “My father, please sit up and eat some of my game, so that you may give me your blessing.”(A)

32 His father Isaac asked him, “Who are you?”(B)

“I am your son,” he answered, “your firstborn, Esau.(C)

33 Isaac trembled violently and said, “Who was it, then, that hunted game and brought it to me?(D) I ate it just before you came and I blessed him—and indeed he will be blessed!(E)

34 When Esau heard his father’s words, he burst out with a loud and bitter cry(F) and said to his father, “Bless(G) me—me too, my father!”

35 But he said, “Your brother came deceitfully(H) and took your blessing.”(I)

36 Esau said, “Isn’t he rightly named Jacob[a]?(J) This is the second time he has taken advantage of(K) me: He took my birthright,(L) and now he’s taken my blessing!”(M) Then he asked, “Haven’t you reserved any blessing for me?”

37 Isaac answered Esau, “I have made him lord over you and have made all his relatives his servants, and I have sustained him with grain and new wine.(N) So what can I possibly do for you, my son?”

38 Esau said to his father, “Do you have only one blessing, my father? Bless me too, my father!” Then Esau wept aloud.(O)

39 His father Isaac answered him,(P)

“Your dwelling will be
    away from the earth’s richness,
    away from the dew(Q) of heaven above.(R)
40 You will live by the sword
    and you will serve(S) your brother.(T)
But when you grow restless,
    you will throw his yoke
    from off your neck.(U)

41 Esau held a grudge(V) against Jacob(W) because of the blessing his father had given him. He said to himself, “The days of mourning(X) for my father are near; then I will kill(Y) my brother Jacob.”(Z)

42 When Rebekah was told what her older son Esau(AA) had said, she sent for her younger son Jacob and said to him, “Your brother Esau is planning to avenge himself by killing you.(AB) 43 Now then, my son, do what I say:(AC) Flee at once to my brother Laban(AD) in Harran.(AE) 44 Stay with him for a while(AF) until your brother’s fury subsides. 45 When your brother is no longer angry with you and forgets what you did to him,(AG) I’ll send word for you to come back from there.(AH) Why should I lose both of you in one day?”

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Footnotes

  1. Genesis 27:36 Jacob means he grasps the heel, a Hebrew idiom for he takes advantage of or he deceives.