Genesis 27:1-4
New English Translation
Jacob Cheats Esau out of the Blessing
27 When[a] Isaac was old and his eyes were so weak that he was almost blind,[b] he called his older[c] son Esau and said to him, “My son!” “Here I am!” Esau[d] replied. 2 Isaac[e] said, “Since[f] I am so old, I could die at any time.[g] 3 Therefore, take your weapons—your quiver and your bow—and go out into the open fields and hunt down some wild game[h] for me. 4 Then prepare for me some tasty food, the kind I love, and bring it to me. Then[i] I will eat it so that I may bless you[j] before I die.”
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- Genesis 27:1 tn The clause begins with the temporal indicator (“and it happened”), making it subordinate to the main clause that follows later in the sentence.
- Genesis 27:1 tn Heb “and his eyes were weak from seeing.”
- Genesis 27:1 tn Heb “greater” (in terms of age).
- Genesis 27:1 tn Heb “he”; the referent (Esau) is specified in the translation for clarity.
- Genesis 27:2 tn Heb “he”; the referent (Isaac) is specified in the translation for clarity.
- Genesis 27:2 tn The particle הִנֵּה (hinneh, “look”) here introduces a logically foundational statement, upon which the coming instruction will be based.
- Genesis 27:2 tn Heb “I do not know the day of my death.”
- Genesis 27:3 tn The Hebrew word is to be spelled either צַיִד (tsayid) following the marginal reading (Qere), or צֵידָה (tsedah) following the consonantal text (Kethib). Either way it is from the same root as the imperative צוּדָה (tsudah, “hunt down”).
- Genesis 27:4 tn Following the imperative, the cohortative (with the prefixed conjunction) indicates purpose or result.
- Genesis 27:4 tn Heb “so that my soul may bless you.” The use of נַפְשִׁי (nafshi, “my soul”) as the subject emphasizes that the blessing will be made with all Isaac’s desire and vitality. The conjunction “so that” closely relates the meal to the blessing, suggesting that this will be a ritual meal in conjunction with the giving of a formal blessing.
Genesis 27:10
New English Translation
10 Then you will take[a] it to your father. Thus he will eat it[b] and[c] bless you before he dies.”
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- Genesis 27:10 tn The form is the perfect tense with the vav (ו) consecutive. It carries forward the tone of instruction initiated by the command to “go…and get” in the preceding verse.
- Genesis 27:10 tn The form is the perfect with the vav (ו) consecutive; it carries the future nuance of the preceding verbs of instruction, but by switching the subject to Jacob, indicates the expected result of the subterfuge.
- Genesis 27:10 tn Heb “so that.” The conjunction indicates purpose or result.
Genesis 27:41
New English Translation
41 So Esau hated[a] Jacob because of the blessing his father had given to his brother.[b] Esau said privately,[c] “The time[d] of mourning for my father is near; then I will kill[e] my brother Jacob!”
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- Genesis 27:41 tn Or “bore a grudge against” (cf. NAB, NASB, NIV). The Hebrew verb שָׂטַם (satam) describes persistent hatred.
- Genesis 27:41 tn Heb “because of the blessing which his father blessed him.”
- Genesis 27:41 tn Heb “said in his heart.” The expression may mean “said to himself.” Even if this is the case, v. 42 makes it clear that he must have shared his intentions with someone, because the news reached Rebekah.
- Genesis 27:41 tn Heb “days.”
- Genesis 27:41 tn The cohortative here expresses Esau’s determined resolve to kill Jacob.
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