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

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

36 Esau said, “Isn’t he rightly named Jacob[a]?(E) This is the second time he has taken advantage of(F) me: He took my birthright,(G) and now he’s taken my blessing!”(H) 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.(I) 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.(J)

39 His father Isaac answered him,(K)

“Your dwelling will be
    away from the earth’s richness,
    away from the dew(L) of heaven above.(M)
40 You will live by the sword
    and you will serve(N) your brother.(O)
But when you grow restless,
    you will throw his yoke
    from off your neck.(P)

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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.

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.

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