Isaac Blesses Jacob

27 Now it came to pass, when Isaac was (A)old and (B)his eyes were so dim that he could not see, that he called Esau his older son and said to him, “My son.”

And he answered him, “Here I am.”

Then he said, “Behold now, I am old. I (C)do not know the day of my death. (D)Now therefore, please take your weapons, your quiver and your bow, and go out to the field and hunt game for me. And make me [a]savory food, such as I love, and bring it to me that I may eat, that my soul (E)may bless you before I die.”

Now Rebekah was listening when Isaac spoke to Esau his son. And Esau went to the field to hunt game and to bring it. So Rebekah spoke to Jacob her son, saying, “Indeed I heard your father speak to Esau your brother, saying, ‘Bring me game and make [b]savory food for me, that I may eat it and bless you in the presence of the Lord before my death.’ Now therefore, my son, (F)obey my voice according to what I command you. Go now to the flock and bring me from there two choice kids of the goats, and I will make (G)savory food from them for your father, such as he loves. 10 Then you shall take it to your father, that he may eat it, and that he (H)may bless you before his death.”

11 And Jacob said to Rebekah his mother, “Look, (I)Esau my brother is a hairy man, and I am a smooth-skinned man. 12 Perhaps my father will (J)feel me, and I shall seem to be a deceiver to him; and I shall bring (K)a curse on myself and not a blessing.”

13 But his mother said to him, (L)Let your curse be on me, my son; only obey my voice, and go, get them for me.” 14 And he went and got them and brought them to his mother, and his mother (M)made [c]savory food, such as his father loved. 15 Then Rebekah took (N)the choice clothes of her elder son Esau, which were with her in the house, and put them on Jacob her younger son. 16 And she put the skins of the kids of the goats on his hands and on the smooth part of his neck. 17 Then she gave the savory food and the bread, which she had prepared, into the hand of her son Jacob.

18 So he went to his father and said, “My father.”

And he said, “Here I am. Who are you, my son?”

19 Jacob said to his father, “I am Esau your firstborn; I have done just as you told me; please arise, sit and eat of my game, (O)that your soul may bless me.”

20 But Isaac said to his son, “How is it that you have found it so quickly, my son?”

And he said, “Because the Lord your God brought it to me.”

21 Isaac said to Jacob, “Please come near, that I (P)may feel you, my son, whether you are really my son Esau or not.” 22 So Jacob went near to 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 did not recognize him, because (Q)his hands were hairy like his brother Esau’s hands; so he blessed him.

24 Then he said, “Are you really my son Esau?”

He said, “I am.

25 He said, “Bring it near to me, and I will eat of my son’s game, so (R)that my soul may bless you.” So he brought it near to him, and he ate; and he brought him wine, and he drank. 26 Then his father Isaac said to him, “Come near now and kiss me, my son.” 27 And he came near and (S)kissed him; and he smelled the smell of his clothing, and blessed him and said:

“Surely, (T)the smell of my son
Is like the smell of a field
Which the Lord has blessed.
28 Therefore may (U)God give you
Of (V)the dew of heaven,
Of (W)the fatness of the earth,
And (X)plenty of grain and wine.
29 (Y)Let peoples serve you,
And nations bow down to you.
Be master over your brethren,
And (Z)let your mother’s sons bow down to you.
(AA)Cursed be everyone who curses you,
And blessed be those who bless you!”

Esau’s Lost Hope(AB)

30 Now it happened, as soon as Isaac had finished blessing Jacob, and Jacob had scarcely gone out from the presence of Isaac his father, that Esau his brother came in from his hunting. 31 He also had made [d]savory food, and brought it to his father, and said to his father, “Let my father arise and (AC)eat of his son’s game, that your soul may bless me.”

32 And his father Isaac said to him, “Who are you?”

So he said, “I am your son, your firstborn, Esau.”

33 Then Isaac trembled exceedingly, and said, “Who? Where is the one who hunted game and brought it to me? I ate all of it before you came, and I have blessed him—(AD)and indeed he shall be blessed.”

34 When Esau heard the words of his father, (AE)he cried with an exceedingly great and bitter cry, and said to his father, “Bless me—me also, O my father!”

35 But he said, “Your brother came with deceit and has taken away your blessing.”

36 And Esau said, (AF)“Is he not rightly named [e]Jacob? For he has supplanted me these two times. He took away my birthright, and now look, he has taken away my blessing!” And he said, “Have you not reserved a blessing for me?”

37 Then Isaac answered and said to Esau, (AG)“Indeed I have made him your master, and all his brethren I have given to him as servants; with (AH)grain and wine I have [f]sustained him. What shall I do now for you, my son?”

38 And Esau said to his father, “Have you only one blessing, my father? Bless me—me also, O my father!” And Esau lifted up his voice (AI)and wept.

39 Then Isaac his father answered and said to him:

“Behold, (AJ)your dwelling shall be of the [g]fatness of the earth,
And of the dew of heaven from above.
40 By your sword you shall live,
And (AK)you shall serve your brother;
And (AL)it shall come to pass, when you become restless,
That you shall break his yoke from your neck.”

Jacob Escapes from Esau

41 So Esau (AM)hated Jacob because of the blessing with which his father blessed him, and Esau said in his heart, (AN)“The days of mourning for my father [h]are at hand; (AO)then I will kill my brother Jacob.”

42 And the words of Esau her older son were told to Rebekah. So she sent and called Jacob her younger son, and said to him, “Surely your brother Esau (AP)comforts himself concerning you by intending to kill you. 43 Now therefore, my son, obey my voice: arise, flee to my brother Laban (AQ)in Haran. 44 And stay with him a (AR)few days, until your brother’s fury turns away, 45 until your brother’s anger turns away from you, and he forgets what you have done to him; then I will send and bring you from there. Why should I be bereaved also of you both in one day?”

46 And Rebekah said to Isaac, (AS)“I am weary of my life because of the daughters of Heth; (AT)if Jacob takes a wife of the daughters of Heth, like these who are the daughters of the land, what good will my life be to me?”

Footnotes

  1. Genesis 27:4 tasty
  2. Genesis 27:7 tasty
  3. Genesis 27:14 tasty
  4. Genesis 27:31 tasty
  5. Genesis 27:36 Supplanter or Deceitful, lit. One Who Takes the Heel
  6. Genesis 27:37 provided support for
  7. Genesis 27:39 fertility
  8. Genesis 27:41 are soon here

Jacob’s Deception

27 Now it came about, when Isaac was old and (A)his eyes were too dim to see, that he called his (B)older son Esau and said to him, “My son.” And he said to him, “Here I am.” Then [a](C)Isaac said, “Behold now, I am old and I do not know the day of my death. Now then, please take your gear, your quiver and your bow, and go out to the field and (D)hunt game for me; and prepare a delicious meal for me such as I love, and bring it to me that I may eat, so that (E)my soul may bless you before I die.”

Now Rebekah was listening while Isaac spoke to his son Esau. So when Esau went to the field to hunt for game to bring home, (F)Rebekah said to her son Jacob, “Behold, I heard your father speak to your brother Esau, saying, ‘Bring me some game and prepare a delicious meal for me, so that I may eat, and bless you in the presence of the Lord before my death.’ So now, my son, (G)listen to [b]me [c]as I command you. Go now to the flock and [d]bring me two choice [e]young goats from there, so that I may prepare them as a delicious meal for your father, such as he loves. 10 Then you shall bring it to your father, that he may eat, so that he may bless you before his death.” 11 But Jacob said to his mother Rebekah, “Behold, my brother Esau is a (H)hairy man and I am a smooth man. 12 (I)Perhaps my father will touch me, then I will be like a [f]deceiver in his sight, and I will bring upon myself a curse and not a blessing.” 13 But his mother said to him, “Your curse be on me, my son; only (J)obey my voice, and go, get the goats for me.” 14 So he went and got them, and brought them to his mother; and his mother made a delicious meal such as his father loved. 15 Then Rebekah took the [g]best (K)garments of her elder son Esau, which were with her in the house, and put them on her younger son Jacob. 16 And she put the skins of the [h]young goats on his hands and on the smooth part of his neck. 17 She also gave the delicious meal and the bread which she had made [i]to her son Jacob.

18 Then he came to his father and said, “My father.” And he said, “Here I am. Who are you, my son?” 19 Jacob said to his father, “I am Esau your firstborn; I have done as you told me. (L)Come now, sit and eat of my game, so that [j](M)you may bless me.” 20 Isaac said to his son, “How is it that you have it so quickly, my son?” And he said, “(N)Because the Lord your God made it [k]come to me.” 21 Then Isaac said to Jacob, “Please come close, so that (O)I may feel you, my son, whether you are really my son Esau or not.” 22 So Jacob came close to his father Isaac, and he touched him and said, “The voice is the voice of Jacob, but the hands are the hands of Esau.” 23 And he did not recognize him, because his hands were (P)hairy like his brother Esau’s hands; so he blessed him. 24 And he said, “Are you really my son Esau?” And he said, “I am.” 25 So he said, “Bring it to me, and I will eat of my son’s game, that [l](Q)I may bless you.” And he brought it to him, and he ate; he also brought him wine and he drank. 26 Then his father Isaac said to him, “Please come close and kiss me, my son.” 27 So he came close and kissed him; and when he smelled the smell of his garments, he (R)blessed him and said,

“See, (S)the smell of my son
Is like the smell of a field (T)which the Lord has blessed;
28 Now may (U)God give you of the dew of heaven,
And of the (V)fatness of the earth,
And an abundance of grain and new wine;
29 (W)May peoples serve you,
And nations bow down to you;
(X)Be master of your brothers,
(Y)And may your mother’s sons bow down to you.
(Z)Cursed be those who curse you,
And blessed be those who bless you.”

The Stolen Blessing

30 Now it came about, as soon as Isaac had finished blessing Jacob, and Jacob had hardly gone out from the presence of his father Isaac, that his brother Esau came in from his hunting. 31 Then he also made a delicious meal, and brought it to his father; and he said to his father, “(AA)Let my father arise and eat of his son’s game, that [m](AB)you may bless me.” 32 His father Isaac said to him, “(AC)Who are you?” And he said, “I am your son, (AD)your firstborn, Esau.” 33 Then Isaac [n]trembled violently, and said, “(AE)Who then was he who hunted game and brought it to me, so that I ate from all of it before you came, and blessed him? (AF)Yes, and he shall be blessed.” 34 When Esau heard the words of his father, (AG)he cried out with an exceedingly great and bitter cry, and said to his father, “Bless me, me as well, my father!” 35 And he said, “(AH)Your brother came deceitfully and has taken away your blessing.” 36 Then Esau said, “[o]Is he not rightly named [p](AI)Jacob, for he has betrayed me these two times? He took away my birthright, and behold, now he has taken away my blessing.” And he said, “Have you not reserved a blessing for me?” 37 But Isaac replied to Esau, “Behold, I have made him (AJ)your master, and I have given to him all his relatives [q]as servants; and with grain and new wine I have sustained him. 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, me as well, my father.” So Esau raised his voice and (AK)wept.

39 Then (AL)his father Isaac answered and said to him,

“Behold, [r](AM)away from the [s]fertility of the earth shall be your dwelling,
And [t]away from the dew of heaven from above.
40 And by your sword you shall live,
And (AN)you shall serve your brother;
But it shall come about (AO)when you become restless,
That you will [u]break his yoke from your neck.”

41 So Esau (AP)held a grudge against Jacob because of the blessing with which his father had blessed him; and Esau said [v]to himself, “(AQ)The days of mourning for my father are near; then I will kill my brother Jacob.” 42 Now when the words of her elder son Esau were reported to Rebekah, she sent word and called her younger son Jacob, and said to him, “Behold your brother Esau is consoling himself concerning you by planning to kill you. 43 Now then, my son, (AR)obey my voice, and arise, [w]flee to (AS)Haran, to my brother (AT)Laban! 44 Stay with him (AU)a few days, until your brother’s fury [x]subsides, 45 until your brother’s anger [y]against you subsides and he forgets (AV)what you did to him. Then I will send word and get you from there. Why should I lose you both in one day?”

46 And Rebekah said to Isaac, “I am tired of [z]living because of (AW)the daughters of Heth; (AX)if Jacob takes a wife from the daughters of Heth like these from the daughters of the land, what good will my life be to me?”

Footnotes

  1. Genesis 27:2 Lit he
  2. Genesis 27:8 Lit my voice
  3. Genesis 27:8 Lit according to what
  4. Genesis 27:9 Lit take
  5. Genesis 27:9 Lit kids of goats
  6. Genesis 27:12 Lit mocker
  7. Genesis 27:15 Lit desirable; or choice
  8. Genesis 27:16 Lit kids of the goats
  9. Genesis 27:17 Lit into the hand of
  10. Genesis 27:19 Lit your soul
  11. Genesis 27:20 Lit meet me
  12. Genesis 27:25 Lit my soul
  13. Genesis 27:31 Lit your soul
  14. Genesis 27:33 Lit trembled with a very great trembling
  15. Genesis 27:36 Or Was he then named Jacob that he has
  16. Genesis 27:36 Fr Heb verb meaning to seize someone by the heel, and so to betray
  17. Genesis 27:37 Lit for
  18. Genesis 27:39 Or of
  19. Genesis 27:39 Lit fatness
  20. Genesis 27:39 Or of
  21. Genesis 27:40 Lit tear off
  22. Genesis 27:41 Lit in his heart
  23. Genesis 27:43 Lit flee for yourself
  24. Genesis 27:44 Lit turns away
  25. Genesis 27:45 Lit turns away from you
  26. Genesis 27:46 Lit my life

Isak välsignar Jakob i stället för Esau

27 När Isak blivit gammal och hans ögon var så svaga att han inte längre kunde se, kallade han en dag till sig sin äldste son Esau. ”Min son”, sa Isak. ”Ja, far”, svarade Esau. Isak fortsatte: ”Jag är en gammal man nu och väntar på att dö vilken dag som helst. Ta din båge och dina pilar och gå ut på fälten och skjut något vilt åt mig. Laga sedan till någon av mina favoriträtter och bär in den till mig så att jag får äta. Sedan ska jag välsigna dig innan jag dör.”

Men Rebecka hörde vad Isak sa till sin son Esau, och när Esau gick ut på fälten för att jaga villebråd, sa hon till sin son Jakob: ”Jag hörde vad din far sa till din bror Esau: ’Skaffa åt mig villebråd och laga till en bit god mat så att jag får äta och sedan välsigna dig inför Herren innan jag dör.’

Gör nu, min son, precis som jag säger till dig. Gå ut till hjorden och hämta hit två fina killingar, så ska jag laga till din fars favoriträtt. 10 Ta därefter maten till din far, för att han ska äta och välsigna dig, innan han dör.”

11 Jakob sa då till sin mor Rebecka: ”Tänk på hur hårig Esau är och hur slät min hud är! 12 Vad händer om min far känner på mig? Han kommer att tro att jag driver med honom och kommer att förbanna mig i stället för att välsigna mig.” 13 ”Låt hans förbannelse komma över mig, min son”, sa Rebecka. ”Gör bara som jag säger. Gå ut och hämta getterna!”

14 Jakob hämtade då de två killingarna till sin mor, och hon lagade till en rätt av dem som Isak tyckte om. 15 Sedan tog hon Esaus, sin äldste sons bästa kläder, som fanns där i huset, och lät Jakob, den yngste sonen, sätta dem på sig. 16 Hon täckte hans händer och bara hals med skinnet från killingarna. 17 Sedan gav hon honom den välsmakande rätten och lite nybakat bröd. 18 Jakob gick till sin far och sa: ”Far!” ”Ja, min son”, svarade Isak. ”Vem är det?”

19 ”Jag är Esau, din förstfödde”, sa Jakob. ”Jag har gjort som du sa till mig. Sitt nu upp och ät av mitt villebråd, så att du kan välsigna mig sedan.” 20 ”Hur kunde du få tag på något så snabbt, min son?” undrade Isak.

”Därför att Herren, din Gud, sände det i min väg”, svarade Jakob.

21 Då sa Isak: ”Kom hit till mig. Jag vill känna på dig, min son, och vara säker på att du är min son Esau!” 22 Jakob gick fram till sin far Isak, så han kunde känna på honom. Isak sa: ”Rösten är Jakobs, men händerna är Esaus.” 23 Men han kände inte igen honom eftersom hans händer var håriga som hans bror Esaus, så han välsignade honom.

24 ”Är du verkligen min son Esau?” undrade Isak igen. ”Ja”, svarade Jakob. 25 ”Kom då hit med maten, min son, så ska jag äta av villebrådet och sedan välsigna dig”, sa Isak. Jakob gick fram till Isak med maten, och Isak åt. Han drack också av vinet som Jakob gav honom.

26 ”Kom närmare, min son, och kyss mig”, sa Isak sedan. 27 Jakob gick fram och kysste honom, och när Isak kände lukten av hans kläder välsignade han honom och sa:

”Doften hos min son är den goda doften från fälten,
    som Herren har välsignat.
28 Gud ska ge dig himlens dagg,
    jordens rikedom och goda skördar av säd och vin.
29 Många folk ska tjäna dig
    och folkslag böja sig ner för dig.
Du ska vara dina bröders herre,
    och din mors söner ska buga sig djupt inför dig.
De som hädar dig ska vara förbannade,
    och de som välsignar dig ska vara välsignade.”

30 När Isak hade välsignat Jakob och denne knappt mer än hunnit lämna rummet, kom Esau tillbaka från sin jakt. 31 Han hade också lagat till en god måltid och gick in till Jakob med den. ”Far, här är jag med viltet”, sa han. ”Sätt dig upp och ät, så att du kan ge mig din välsignelse!” 32 ”Vem är det som kommer?” undrade Isak.

”Det är ju jag, Esau, din förstfödde”, sa Esau. 33 Då blev Isak alldeles förskräckt: ”Men vem var det då som just var här med viltet som jag åt, strax innan du kom?” undrade han. ”Jag gav honom min välsignelse, och då kommer han att vara välsignad.”

34 När Esau hörde vad hans far sa, gav han ett högt och bittert klagorop: ”O, min far, välsigna också mig!”

35 ”Din bror var här och lurade mig. Nu har han stulit din välsignelse”, konstaterade Isak. 36 ”Inte undra på att de kallar honom Jakob[a]! Han har bedragit mig två gånger. Först tog han min förstfödslorätt, och nu har han stulit min välsignelse. Har du inte sparat en enda välsignelse åt mig?” frågade Esau.

37 Då sa Isak: ”Jag har gjort Jakob till din herre, och du och hela hans släkt ska vara hans tjänare. Jag har försett honom med överflöd av säd och vin. Vad finns det kvar som jag kan ge åt dig, min son?” 38 ”Finns det inte en enda välsignelse kvar åt mig? Far, välsigna mig också”, bad Esau och brast i högljudd gråt.

Då svarade hans far Isak:

39 ”Du kommer att bo på ett ställe där det växer dåligt,
    och där ingen dagg faller ner från himlen.
40 Du kommer att leva av ditt svärd
    och tjäna din bror,
men du kommer slutligen att kasta av dig hans ok och bli fri[b].”

41 Esau hatade Jakob för den välsignelse deras far gett honom och sa för sig själv: ”Tiden är nära då vi sörjer vår far, och då ska jag döda Jakob.” 42 Men Rebecka fick reda på vad hennes äldre son Esau hade sagt. Hon sände då bud efter sin yngre son Jakob och berättade för honom att Esau ville hämnas och tänkte döda honom.

43 ”Hör nu på vad jag säger”, sa hon. ”Fly till din morbror Laban i Harran, 44 och stanna hos honom några dagar tills Esaus din brors vrede har lagt sig. 45 När han lugnat ner sig och glömt vad du har gjort, ska jag meddela dig så att du kan komma tillbaka igen. Varför ska jag förlora er båda två på samma dag?[c]

46 Sedan sa Rebecka till Isak: ”Jag är dödstrött på de där hettitiskorna. Jag dör hellre än att jag också ser Jakob gifta sig med en av dessa hettitiska flickor här i landet.”

Footnotes

  1. 27:36 Jakob betyder den som håller i hälen eller bedragaren.
  2. 27:40 Den masoretiska textens innebörd i den sista satsen i versen är något osäker. En mer ordagrann översättning kan vara …göra dig fri och kasta av dig hans ok.
  3. 27:45 Om Esau dödade Jakob skulle han själv dödas, och Rebecka skulle förlora båda sina söner. Det kan också betyda att hon skulle förlora både sin man Isak och sin son Jakob på samma dag, eftersom Esau inväntade faderns död för att kunna mörda Jakob.