Focused Passage

Genesis 27:30-40

Isaac Blesses Jacob by Deception, and the Covenant Blessing Advances Through Human Sin Under Divine Sovereignty

Berean Standard Bible, Public Domain - Translation notes - Reference sources

30 As soon as Isaac had finished blessing him and Jacob had left his father’s presence, his brother Esau returned from the hunt.

31 He too made some tasty food, brought it to his father, and said to him, “My father, sit up and eat of your son’s game, so that you may bless me.”

32 But his father Isaac replied, “Who are you?” “I am Esau, your firstborn son,” he answered.

33 Isaac began to tremble violently and said, “Who was it, then, who hunted the game and brought it to me? Before you came in, I ate it all and blessed him—and indeed, he will be blessed!”

34 When Esau heard his father’s words, he let out a loud and bitter cry and said to his father, “Bless me too, O my father!”

35 But Isaac replied, “Your brother came deceitfully and took your blessing.”

36 So Esau declared, “Is he not rightly named Jacob? For he has cheated me twice. He took my birthright, and 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 your master and given him all his relatives as servants; I have sustained him with grain and new wine. What is left that I can do for you, my son?”

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

39 His father Isaac answered him: “Behold, your dwelling place shall be away from the richness of the land, away from the dew of heaven above.

40 You shall live by the sword and serve your brother. But when you rebel, you will tear his yoke from your neck.”

Study Helps

References and Original Words

Verse 30

Original words

- וַיְהִ֗י H1961 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular As soon as כַּאֲשֶׁ֨ר H834 Preposition-k | Pronoun - relative Isaac יִצְחָק֮ H3327 Noun - proper - masculine singular had finished כִּלָּ֣ה H3615 Verb - Piel - Perfect - third person masculine singular blessing לְבָרֵ֣ךְ H1288 Preposition-l | Verb - Piel - Infinitive construct - אֶֽת־ H853 Direct object marker [him] יַעֲקֹב֒ H3290 Noun - proper - masculine singular . . . וַיְהִ֗י H1961 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular . . . אַ֣ךְ H389 Adverb and Jacob יַעֲקֹ֔ב H3290 Noun - proper - masculine singular . . . מֵאֵ֥ת H854 Preposition-m | Direct object marker had left יָצֹ֤א H3318 Verb - Qal - Infinitive absolute . . . יָצָא֙ H3318 Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular his father’s אָבִ֑יו H1 Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singular presence פְּנֵ֖י H6440 Noun - common plural construct . . . יִצְחָ֣ק H3327 Noun - proper - masculine singular his brother אָחִ֔יו H251 Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singular Esau וְעֵשָׂ֣ו H6215 Conjunctive waw | Noun - proper - masculine singular returned בָּ֖א H935 Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular from the hunt מִצֵּידֽוֹ׃ H6718 Preposition-m | Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singular
Verse 31

Original words

He הוּא֙ H1931 Pronoun - third person masculine singular too גַּם־ H1571 Conjunction made וַיַּ֤עַשׂ H6213 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular some tasty food מַטְעַמִּ֔ים H4303 Noun - masculine plural brought וַיָּבֵ֖א H935 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular it to his father לְאָבִ֑יו H1 Preposition-l | Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singular and said וַיֹּ֣אמֶר H559 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular to [him] לְאָבִ֗יו H1 Preposition-l | Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singular My father אָבִי֙ H1 Noun - masculine singular construct | first person common singular sit up יָקֻ֤ם H6965 Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular and eat וְיֹאכַל֙ H398 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive imperfect - third person masculine singular of your son’s בְּנ֔וֹ H1121 Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singular game מִצֵּ֣יד H6718 Preposition-m | Noun - masculine singular construct so that בַּעֲב֖וּר H5668 Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular you נַפְשֶֽׁךָ׃ H5315 Noun - feminine singular construct | second person masculine singular may bless me תְּבָרֲכַ֥נִּי H1288 Verb - Piel - Imperfect - third person feminine singular | first person common singular
Verse 32

Original words

But his father אָבִ֖יו H1 Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singular Isaac יִצְחָ֥ק H3327 Noun - proper - masculine singular replied וַיֹּ֥אמֶר H559 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular Who מִי־ H4310 Interrogative are you אָ֑תָּה H859 Pronoun - second person masculine singular I אֲנִ֛י H589 Pronoun - first person common singular am Esau עֵשָֽׂו׃ H6215 Noun - proper - masculine singular your firstborn בְכֹֽרְךָ֖ H1060 Noun - masculine singular construct | second person masculine singular son בִּנְךָ֥ H1121 Noun - masculine singular construct | second person masculine singular he answered וַיֹּ֕אמֶר H559 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Verse 33

Original words

Isaac יִצְחָ֣ק H3327 Noun - proper - masculine singular began to tremble violently וַיֶּחֱרַ֨ד H2729 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular . . . חֲרָדָה֮ H2731 Noun - feminine singular . . . גְּדֹלָ֣ה H1419 Adjective - feminine singular . . . עַד־ H5704 Preposition . . . מְאֹד֒ H3966 Adverb and said וַיֹּ֡אמֶר H559 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular Who מִֽי־ H4310 Interrogative was it ה֣וּא H1931 Pronoun - third person masculine singular then אֵפ֡וֹא H645 Conjunction who hunted הַצָּֽד־ H6679 Article | Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular the game צַיִד֩ H6718 Noun - masculine singular and brought it וַיָּ֨בֵא H935 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular to me לִ֜י Preposition | first person common singular Before בְּטֶ֥רֶם H2962 Preposition-b | Adverb you came in תָּב֖וֹא H935 Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine singular I ate וָאֹכַ֥ל H398 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - first person common singular it all מִכֹּ֛ל H3605 Preposition-m | Noun - masculine singular and blessed him וָאֲבָרֲכֵ֑הוּ H1288 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Piel - Consecutive imperfect - first person common singular | third person masculine singular and indeed גַּם־ H1571 Conjunction he will be יִהְיֶֽה׃ H1961 Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular blessed בָּר֖וּךְ H1288 Verb - Qal - QalPassParticiple - masculine singular
Verse 34

Original words

When Esau עֵשָׂו֙ H6215 Noun - proper - masculine singular - אֶת־ H853 Direct object marker heard כִּשְׁמֹ֤עַ H8085 Preposition-k | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct his father’s אָבִ֔יו H1 Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singular words דִּבְרֵ֣י H1697 Noun - masculine plural construct he let out וַיִּצְעַ֣ק H6817 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular a loud גְּדֹלָ֥ה H1419 Adjective - feminine singular and bitter וּמָרָ֖ה H4751 Conjunctive waw | Adjective - feminine singular . . . עַד־ H5704 Preposition . . . מְאֹ֑ד H3966 Adverb cry צְעָקָ֔ה H6818 Noun - feminine singular and said וַיֹּ֣אמֶר H559 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular to his father לְאָבִ֔יו H1 Preposition-l | Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singular Bless me בָּרֲכֵ֥נִי H1288 Verb - Piel - Imperative - masculine singular | first person common singular too גַם־ H1571 Conjunction . . . אָ֖נִי H589 Pronoun - first person common singular O my father אָבִֽי׃ H1 Noun - masculine singular construct | first person common singular
Verse 35

Original words

But [Isaac] replied וַיֹּ֕אמֶר H559 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular Your brother אָחִ֖יךָ H251 Noun - masculine singular construct | second person masculine singular came בָּ֥א H935 Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular deceitfully בְּמִרְמָ֑ה H4820 Preposition-b | Noun - feminine singular and took וַיִּקַּ֖ח H3947 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular your blessing בִּרְכָתֶֽךָ׃ H1293 Noun - feminine singular construct | second person masculine singular
Verse 36

Original words

So [Esau] declared וַיֹּ֡אמֶר H559 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular Is he not rightly הֲכִי֩ H3588 Conjunction named קָרָ֨א H7121 Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular . . . שְׁמ֜וֹ H8034 Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singular Jacob יַעֲקֹ֗ב H3290 Noun - proper - masculine singular For he has cheated me וַֽיַּעְקְבֵ֙נִי֙ H6117 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular | first person common singular . . . זֶ֣ה H2088 Pronoun - masculine singular twice פַעֲמַ֔יִם H6471 Noun - fd - אֶת־ H853 Direct object marker He took לָקָ֔ח H3947 Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular my birthright בְּכֹרָתִ֣י H1062 Noun - feminine singular construct | first person common singular and וְהִנֵּ֥ה H2009 Conjunctive waw | Interjection now עַתָּ֖ה H6258 Adverb he has taken לָקַ֣ח H3947 Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular my blessing בִּרְכָתִ֑י H1293 Noun - feminine singular construct | first person common singular Then he asked וַיֹּאמַ֕ר H559 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular Haven’t הֲלֹא־ H3808 Adverb - Negative particle you saved אָצַ֥לְתָּ H680 Verb - Qal - Perfect - second person masculine singular a blessing בְּרָכָֽה׃ H1293 Noun - feminine singular for me לִּ֖י Preposition | first person common singular

BSB notes

  • Jacob means he grasps the heel or he deceives.
Verse 37

Original words

But Isaac יִצְחָ֜ק H3327 Noun - proper - masculine singular . . . וַיֹּ֣אמֶר H559 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular answered וַיַּ֨עַן H6030 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular Esau לְעֵשָׂ֗ו H6215 Preposition-l | Noun - proper - masculine singular Look הֵ֣ן H2005 Interjection I have made שַׂמְתִּ֥יו H7760 Verb - Qal - Perfect - first person common singular | third person masculine singular him לָךְ֙ Preposition | second person feminine singular your master גְּבִ֞יר H1376 Noun - masculine singular and וְאֶת־ H853 Conjunctive waw | Direct object marker given נָתַ֤תִּי H5414 Verb - Qal - Perfect - first person common singular him לוֹ֙ Preposition | third person masculine singular all כָּל־ H3605 Noun - masculine singular construct his relatives אֶחָ֗יו H251 Noun - masculine plural construct | third person masculine singular as servants לַעֲבָדִ֔ים H5650 Preposition-l | Noun - masculine plural I have sustained סְמַכְתִּ֑יו H5564 Verb - Qal - Perfect - first person common singular | third person masculine singular him וּלְכָ֣ה Conjunctive waw | Preposition | second person masculine singular with grain וְדָגָ֥ן H1715 Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular and new wine וְתִירֹ֖שׁ H8492 Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular What מָ֥ה H4100 Interrogative is left אֵפ֔וֹא H645 Conjunction that I can do for you אֶֽעֱשֶׂ֖ה H6213 Verb - Qal - Imperfect - first person common singular my son בְּנִֽי׃ H1121 Noun - masculine singular construct | first person common singular
Verse 38

Original words

Esau עֵשָׂ֜ו H6215 Noun - proper - masculine singular said וַיֹּ֨אמֶר H559 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular to אֶל־ H413 Preposition his father אָבִ֗יו H1 Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singular Do you have only one אַחַ֤ת H259 Number - feminine singular . . . הִֽוא־ H1931 Pronoun - third person feminine singular blessing הַֽבְרָכָ֨ה H1293 Article | Noun - feminine singular my father אָבִ֔י H1 Noun - masculine singular construct | first person common singular Bless me בָּרֲכֵ֥נִי H1288 Verb - Piel - Imperative - masculine singular | first person common singular too גַם־ H1571 Conjunction . . . אָ֖נִי H589 Pronoun - first person common singular O my father אָבִ֑י H1 Noun - masculine singular construct | first person common singular Then Esau עֵשָׂ֛ו H6215 Noun - proper - masculine singular wept וַיֵּֽבְךְּ׃ H1058 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular aloud וַיִּשָּׂ֥א H5375 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular . . . קֹל֖וֹ H6963 Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singular
Verse 39

Original words

His father אָבִ֖יו H1 Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singular . . . וַיֹּ֣אמֶר H559 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular . . . אֵלָ֑יו H413 Preposition | third person masculine singular Isaac יִצְחָ֥ק H3327 Noun - proper - masculine singular answered him וַיַּ֛עַן H6030 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular Behold הִנֵּ֞ה H2009 Interjection your dwelling place מֽוֹשָׁבֶ֔ךָ H4186 Noun - masculine singular construct | second person masculine singular shall be יִהְיֶ֣ה H1961 Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular away from the richness מִשְׁמַנֵּ֤י H4924 Preposition-m | Noun - masculine plural construct of the land הָאָ֙רֶץ֙ H776 Article | Noun - feminine singular away from the dew וּמִטַּ֥ל H2919 Conjunctive waw, Preposition-m | Noun - masculine singular construct of heaven הַשָּׁמַ֖יִם H8064 Article | Noun - masculine plural above מֵעָֽל׃ H5921 Preposition
Verse 40

Original words

You shall live תִֽחְיֶ֔ה H2421 Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine singular - וְאֶת־ H853 Conjunctive waw | Direct object marker by וְעַל־ H5921 Conjunctive waw | Preposition the sword חַרְבְּךָ֣ H2719 Noun - feminine singular construct | second person masculine singular and serve תַּעֲבֹ֑ד H5647 Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine singular . . . וְהָיָה֙ H1961 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singular your brother אָחִ֖יךָ H251 Noun - masculine singular construct | second person masculine singular But when כַּאֲשֶׁ֣ר H834 Preposition-k | Pronoun - relative you rebel תָּרִ֔יד H7300 Verb - Hifil - Imperfect - second person masculine singular you will tear וּפָרַקְתָּ֥ H6561 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - second person masculine singular his yoke עֻלּ֖וֹ H5923 Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singular from מֵעַ֥ל H5921 Preposition-m your neck צַוָּארֶֽךָ׃ H6677 Noun - masculine singular construct | second person masculine singular

Berean Standard Bible (BSB): CC0 Public Domain Scripture text. Focused passages are drawn from the same reader contract as the full chapter. Reference sources explains external study-link sources.