Genesis 27:29-31
New English Translation
29 May peoples serve you
and nations bow down to you.
You will be[a] lord[b] over your brothers,
and the sons of your mother will bow down to you.[c]
May those who curse you be cursed,
and those who bless you be blessed.”
30 Isaac had just finished blessing Jacob, and Jacob had scarcely left[d] his father’s[e] presence, when his brother Esau returned from the hunt.[f] 31 He also prepared some tasty food and brought it to his father. Esau[g] said to him, “My father, get up[h] and eat some of your son’s wild game. Then you can bless me.”[i]
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- Genesis 27:29 tn Heb “and be.” The verb is an imperative, which is used rhetorically in this oracle of blessing. It is an invitation to exercise authority over his brothers and indicates that he is granted such authority by the patriarch of the family. Furthermore, the blessing enables the recipient to accomplish this.
- Genesis 27:29 tn The Hebrew word is גְבִיר (gevir, “lord, mighty one”). The one being blessed will be stronger and therefore more powerful than his brother. See Gen 25:23. The feminine form of this rare noun means “mistress” or “queen-mother.”
- Genesis 27:29 tn Following the imperative, the prefixed verbal form (which is either an imperfect or a jussive) with the prefixed conjunction indicates purpose or result.
- Genesis 27:30 tn The use of the infinitive absolute before the finite form of the verb makes the construction emphatic.
- Genesis 27:30 tn Heb “the presence of Isaac his father.” The repetition of the proper name (“Isaac”) was replaced by the referent (“his father’s…”) for stylistic reasons.
- Genesis 27:30 tn Heb “and Esau his brother came from his hunt.”
- Genesis 27:31 tn Heb “and he said to his father”; the referent of “he” (Esau) has been specified in the translation for clarity, while the words “his father” have been replaced by the pronoun “him” for stylistic reasons.
- Genesis 27:31 tn Or “arise” (i.e., sit up).
- Genesis 27:31 tn Heb “so that your soul may bless me.”
Genesis 27:29-31
King James Version
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.
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Genesis 27:29-31
English Standard Version
29 Let peoples serve you,
and nations (A)bow down to you.
(B)Be lord over your brothers,
and may your mother's sons bow down to you.
(C)Cursed be everyone who curses you,
and blessed be everyone who blesses you!”
30 As soon as Isaac had finished blessing Jacob, when Jacob had scarcely gone out from the presence of Isaac his father, Esau his brother came in from his hunting. 31 He also prepared delicious food and brought it to his father. And he said to his father, “Let my father arise and eat of his son's game, that you may bless me.”
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