Genesis 27
Christian Standard Bible Anglicised
The Stolen Blessing
27 When Isaac was old and his eyes were so weak that he could not see,(A) he called his elder son Esau and said to him, ‘My son.’
And he answered, ‘Here I am.’
2 He said, ‘Look, I am old and do not know the day of my death. 3 So now take your hunting gear, your quiver and bow, and go out in the field to hunt some game for me.(B) 4 Then make me a delicious meal that I love and bring it to me to eat, so that I can bless you before I die.’(C)
5 Now Rebekah was listening to what Isaac said to his son Esau. So while Esau went to the field to hunt some game to bring in, 6 Rebekah said to her son Jacob, ‘Listen! I heard your father talking with your brother Esau. He said, 7 “Bring me game and make a delicious meal for me to eat so that I can bless you in the Lord’s presence before I die.” 8 Now, my son, listen to me and do what I tell you. 9 Go to the flock and bring me two choice young goats, and I will make them into a delicious meal for your father – the kind he loves. 10 Then take it to your father to eat so that he may bless you before he dies.’
11 Jacob answered Rebekah his mother, ‘Look, my brother Esau is a hairy man, but I am a man with smooth skin.(D) 12 Suppose my father touches me. Then I will be revealed to him as a deceiver and bring a curse rather than a blessing on myself.’
13 His mother said to him, ‘Your curse be on me, my son. Just obey me and go and get them for me.’
14 So he went and got the goats and brought them to his mother, and his mother made the delicious food his father loved. 15 Then Rebekah took the best clothes of her elder son Esau, which were in the house, and had her younger son Jacob wear them. 16 She put the skins of the young goats on his hands and the smooth part of his neck. 17 Then she handed the delicious food and the bread she had made to her son Jacob.
18 When he came to his father, he said, ‘My father.’
And he answered, ‘Here I am. Who are you, my son? ’
19 Jacob replied to his father, ‘I am Esau, your firstborn. I have done as you told me. Please sit up and eat some of my game so that you may bless me.’
20 But Isaac said to his son, ‘How did you ever find it so quickly, my son? ’
He replied, ‘Because the Lord your God made it happen for me.’
21 Then Isaac said to Jacob, ‘Please come closer so I can touch you, my son. Are you really my son Esau or not? ’
22 So Jacob came closer to his father Isaac. When he touched him, he said, ‘The voice is the voice of Jacob, but the hands are the hands of Esau.’ 23 He did not recognise him, because his hands were hairy like those of his brother Esau; so he blessed him. 24 Again he asked, ‘Are you really my son Esau? ’
And he replied, ‘I am.’
25 Then he said, ‘Bring it closer to me, and let me eat some of my son’s game so that I can bless you.’ Jacob brought it closer to him, and he ate; he brought him wine, and he drank.
26 Then his father Isaac said to him, ‘Please come closer and kiss me, my son.’ 27 So he came closer and kissed him. When Isaac smelled[a] his clothes, he blessed him and said:
Ah, the smell of my son
is like the smell of a field
that the Lord has blessed.
28 May God give to you –
from the dew of the sky(E)
and from the richness of the land(F) –
an abundance of grain and new wine.(G)
29 May peoples serve you(H)
and nations bow in homage to you.
Be master over your relatives;
may your mother’s sons bow in homage to you.
Those who curse you will be cursed,
and those who bless you will be blessed.(I)
30 As soon as Isaac had finished blessing Jacob and Jacob had left the presence of his father Isaac, his brother Esau arrived from his hunting. 31 He had also made some delicious food and brought it to his father. He said to his father, ‘Let my father get up and eat some of his son’s game, so that you may bless me.’
32 But his father Isaac said to him, ‘Who are you? ’
He answered, ‘I am Esau your firstborn son.’
33 Isaac began to tremble uncontrollably. ‘Who was it then,’ he said, ‘who hunted game and brought it to me? I ate it all before you came in, and I blessed him. Indeed, he will be blessed! ’
34 When Esau heard his father’s words, he cried out with a loud and bitter cry and said to his father, ‘Bless me too, my father! ’(J)
35 But he replied, ‘Your brother came deceitfully and took your blessing.’
36 So he said, ‘Isn’t he rightly named Jacob?[b](K) For he has cheated me twice now. He took my birthright, and look, now he has taken my blessing.’ Then he asked, ‘Haven’t you saved a blessing for me? ’
37 But Isaac answered Esau, ‘Look, I have made him a master over you, have given him all of his relatives as his servants, and have sustained him with grain and new wine. What then can I do for you, my son? ’
38 Esau said to his father, ‘Do you have only one blessing, my father? Bless me too, my father! ’ And Esau wept loudly.[c]
39 His father Isaac answered him,
Look, your dwelling place will be
away from the richness of the land,
away from the dew of the sky above.
40 You will live by your sword,
and you will serve your brother.
But when you rebel,[d]
you will break his yoke from your neck.
Esau’s Anger
41 Esau held a grudge against Jacob because of the blessing his father had given him. And Esau determined in his heart, ‘The days of mourning for my father are approaching; then I will kill my brother Jacob.’
42 When the words of her elder son Esau were reported to Rebekah, she summoned her younger son Jacob and said to him, ‘Listen, your brother Esau is consoling himself by planning to kill you. 43 So now, my son, listen to me. Flee at once to my brother Laban in Haran, 44 and stay with him for a few days until your brother’s anger subsides – 45 until your brother’s rage turns away from you and he forgets what you have done to him. Then I will send for you and bring you back from there. Why should I lose you both in one day? ’
46 So Rebekah said to Isaac, ‘I’m sick of my life because of these Hethite girls.(L) If Jacob marries someone from around here,[e] like these Hethite girls, what good is my life? ’(M)
Genesis 27
New Life Version
Isaac Prays for Good to Come to Jacob
27 Isaac was now old, and had become blind. He called to his older son Esau, saying, “My son.” And Esau answered, “Here I am.” 2 Isaac said, “See, I am old. I do not know when I will die. 3 Take your bow and arrows, and go out to the field to get meat for me. 4 Get some food ready for me that I love. Bring it to me to eat, so that before I die I will pray that good will come to you.”
5 And Rebekah was listening while Isaac spoke to his son Esau. So when Esau went to the field to hunt for meat to bring home, 6 Rebekah said to her son Jacob, “I heard your father talking to your brother Esau. He said, 7 ’Bring me some meat. Make good-tasting food for me to eat. And before I die I will pray to the Lord for good to come to you.’ 8 So now, my son, listen to what I tell you to do. 9 Go to the flock and bring me two fat young goats. I will cook them into good-tasting food, just what your father loves to eat. 10 Then you will take it to your father for him to eat. So before he dies he will pray for good to come to you.”
11 Jacob said to his mother Rebekah, “But my brother Esau has much hair. And my skin is smooth. 12 If my father touches me, he will think of me as one trying to fool him. Then he will bring a curse upon me instead of good.” 13 His mother said to him, “The curse will come upon me instead of you, my son. You do what I say, and go get them for me.” 14 So Jacob went and got them, and brought them to his mother. And his mother made good-tasting food, just what his father loved to eat. 15 Then Rebekah took the best clothes that belonged to her older son Esau, that were with her in the house. And she put them on her younger son Jacob. 16 She put the skins of the young goats on his hands and on the smooth part of his neck. 17 And she gave her son Jacob the bread and the good-tasting food she had made.
18 Then he went to his father and said, “My father.” Isaac said, “Here I am. Who are you, my son?” 19 Jacob said to his father, “I am Esau, your first-born. I have done as you told me. Sit up and eat the meat I brought, so you will pray that good will come to me.” 20 But Isaac said to his son, “How have you found it so fast, my son?” And Jacob said, “Because the Lord your God made it happen.”
21 Then Isaac said to Jacob, “Come near so I can touch you, my son, to know for sure if you are my son Esau or not.” 22 So Jacob came near his father Isaac. Isaac touched him, and said, “The voice is Jacob’s voice. But the hands are Esau’s hands.” 23 He did not know who he was, because his hands were covered with hair like his brother Esau’s hands. So Isaac prayed that good would come to him. 24 Isaac said, “Is it true that you are my son Esau?” Jacob answered, “I am.” 25 So Isaac said, “Bring it to me so I may eat the meat my son has made ready. And I will pray that good will come to you.” He brought it to him, and he ate. He brought him wine also, and he drank.
26 Then his father Isaac said to him, “Come near and kiss me, my son.” 27 So Jacob came near and kissed him. When Isaac smelled his clothes, he prayed that good would come to him. He said, “The smell of my son is like the smell of a field that has received good from the Lord. 28 May God give you from heaven water on the grass in the early morning, and the riches of the earth, and more than enough grain and new wine. 29 May nations serve you, and the people bow down in front of you. Be the ruler of your brothers. May your mother’s sons bow down in front of you. Cursed be those who curse you, and may good come to those who honor you.”
30 When Isaac had finished praying that good would come to Jacob, Jacob left his father Isaac. Just then his brother Esau came in from hunting. 31 Then Esau made good-tasting food and brought it to his father, and said, “Sit up, my father, and eat the meat your son has made ready, so you will pray that good will come to me.” 32 His father Isaac said to him, “Who are you?” He answered, “I am your son, your first-born, Esau.” 33 Then Isaac shook all over, and he said, “Who was it then who killed an animal and brought meat to me? I ate all of it before you came! And I prayed that good would come to him! Yes, and good will come to him!”
34 When he heard what his father said, Esau cried out with a loud and sad cry. He said to his father, “Pray that good will come to me also, O my father!” 35 But Isaac said, “Your brother came in and fooled me. He has taken away the good that was to come to you.”
36 Then Esau said, “Was it not right that he was given the name Jacob? Two times now he has taken what should have been mine. He took away my right as a first-born. And now he has taken away the good that was to come to me.” Then he said, “Can you not pray that good will come to me also?”
37 Isaac answered Esau, “See, I have made him to rule over you. I have given him all his brothers as servants. I have given him grain and new wine to keep him alive and well. What then can I do for you, my son?”
38 Esau said to his father, “Do you have only one prayer for good to come, my father? Pray that good will come to me also, O my father.” And Esau gave out a loud cry. 39 Then his father Isaac answered him: “See, the place where you live will be away from the riches of the earth, and away from the water on the grass in the early morning. 40 You will live by your sword and you will serve your brother. But when you break loose, you will throw his load off your back.”
Jacob Goes to Laban
41 Esau hated Jacob because his father had prayed that good would come to Jacob. Esau said to himself, “The days when I will have sorrow for the loss of my father are soon. Then I will kill my brother Jacob.” 42 But the words of her older son Esau were told to Rebekah. She called her younger son Jacob, and said to him, “See, your brother Esau comforts himself by planning to kill you. 43 So now, my son, do what I tell you. Get ready, and go at once to my brother Laban at Haran. 44 Stay with him for a few days, until your brother’s anger goes away. 45 When your brother’s anger against you is gone and he forgets what you did to him, then I will send for you and have you return from there. Why should I have sorrow for both of you in one day?”
46 Then Rebekah said to Isaac, “I am tired of living because of the daughters of Heth. If Jacob marries one of the daughters of Heth, like these, from the women of the land, what good will my life be to me?”
Genesis 27
King James Version
27 And it came to pass, that when Isaac was old, and his eyes were dim, so that he could not see, he called Esau his eldest son, and said unto him, My son: and he said unto him, Behold, here am I.
2 And he said, Behold now, I am old, I know not the day of my death:
3 Now therefore take, I pray thee, thy weapons, thy quiver and thy bow, and go out to the field, and take me some venison;
4 And make me savoury meat, such as I love, and bring it to me, that I may eat; that my soul may bless thee before I die.
5 And Rebekah heard when Isaac spake to Esau his son. And Esau went to the field to hunt for venison, and to bring it.
6 And Rebekah spake unto Jacob her son, saying, Behold, I heard thy father speak unto Esau thy brother, saying,
7 Bring me venison, and make me savoury meat, that I may eat, and bless thee before the Lord before my death.
8 Now therefore, my son, obey my voice according to that which I command thee.
9 Go now to the flock, and fetch me from thence two good kids of the goats; and I will make them savoury meat for thy father, such as he loveth:
10 And thou shalt bring it to thy father, that he may eat, and that he may bless thee before his death.
11 And Jacob said to Rebekah his mother, Behold, Esau my brother is a hairy man, and I am a smooth man:
12 My father peradventure will feel me, and I shall seem to him as a deceiver; and I shall bring a curse upon me, and not a blessing.
13 And his mother said unto him, Upon me be thy curse, my son: only obey my voice, and go fetch me them.
14 And he went, and fetched, and brought them to his mother: and his mother made savoury meat, such as his father loved.
15 And Rebekah took goodly raiment of her eldest son Esau, which were with her in the house, and put them upon Jacob her younger son:
16 And she put the skins of the kids of the goats upon his hands, and upon the smooth of his neck:
17 And she gave the savoury meat and the bread, which she had prepared, into the hand of her son Jacob.
18 And he came unto his father, and said, My father: and he said, Here am I; who art thou, my son?
19 And Jacob said unto his father, I am Esau thy first born; I have done according as thou badest me: arise, I pray thee, sit and eat of my venison, that thy soul may bless me.
20 And Isaac said unto his son, How is it that thou hast found it so quickly, my son? And he said, Because the Lord thy God brought it to me.
21 And Isaac said unto Jacob, Come near, I pray thee, that I may feel thee, my son, whether thou be my very son Esau or not.
22 And Jacob went near unto Isaac his father; and he felt him, and said, The voice is Jacob's voice, but the hands are the hands of Esau.
23 And he discerned him not, because his hands were hairy, as his brother Esau's hands: so he blessed him.
24 And he said, Art thou my very son Esau? And he said, I am.
25 And he said, Bring it near to me, and I will eat of my son's venison, that my soul may bless thee. And he brought it near to him, and he did eat: and he brought him wine and he drank.
26 And his father Isaac said unto him, Come near now, and kiss me, my son.
27 And he came near, and kissed him: and he smelled the smell of his raiment, and blessed him, and said, See, the smell of my son is as the smell of a field which the Lord hath blessed:
28 Therefore God give thee of the dew of heaven, and the fatness of the earth, and plenty of corn and wine:
29 Let people serve thee, and nations bow down to thee: be lord over thy brethren, and let thy mother's sons bow down to thee: cursed be every one that curseth thee, and blessed be he that blesseth thee.
30 And it came to pass, as soon as Isaac had made an end of blessing Jacob, and Jacob was yet scarce gone out from the presence of Isaac his father, that Esau his brother came in from his hunting.
31 And he also had made savoury meat, and brought it unto his father, and said unto his father, Let my father arise, and eat of his son's venison, that thy soul may bless me.
32 And Isaac his father said unto him, Who art thou? And he said, I am thy son, thy firstborn Esau.
33 And Isaac trembled very exceedingly, and said, Who? where is he that hath taken venison, and brought it me, and I have eaten of all before thou camest, and have blessed him? yea, and he shall be blessed.
34 And when Esau heard the words of his father, he cried with a great and exceeding bitter cry, and said unto his father, Bless me, even me also, O my father.
35 And he said, Thy brother came with subtilty, and hath taken away thy blessing.
36 And he said, Is not he rightly named Jacob? for he hath supplanted me these two times: he took away my birthright; and, behold, now he hath taken away my blessing. And he said, Hast thou not reserved a blessing for me?
37 And Isaac answered and said unto Esau, Behold, I have made him thy lord, and all his brethren have I given to him for servants; and with corn and wine have I sustained him: and what shall I do now unto thee, my son?
38 And Esau said unto his father, Hast thou but one blessing, my father? bless me, even me also, O my father. And Esau lifted up his voice, and wept.
39 And Isaac his father answered and said unto him, Behold, thy dwelling shall be the fatness of the earth, and of the dew of heaven from above;
40 And by thy sword shalt thou live, and shalt serve thy brother; and it shall come to pass when thou shalt have the dominion, that thou shalt break his yoke from off thy neck.
41 And Esau hated Jacob because of the blessing wherewith his father blessed him: and Esau said in his heart, The days of mourning for my father are at hand; then will I slay my brother Jacob.
42 And these words of Esau her elder son were told to Rebekah: and she sent and called Jacob her younger son, and said unto him, Behold, thy brother Esau, as touching thee, doth comfort himself, purposing to kill thee.
43 Now therefore, my son, obey my voice; arise, flee thou to Laban my brother to Haran;
44 And tarry with him a few days, until thy brother's fury turn away;
45 Until thy brother's anger turn away from thee, and he forget that which thou hast done to him: then I will send, and fetch thee from thence: why should I be deprived also of you both in one day?
46 And Rebekah said to Isaac, I am weary of my life because of the daughters of Heth: if Jacob take a wife of the daughters of Heth, such as these which are of the daughters of the land, what good shall my life do me?
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