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Thursday, November 7th, 2024
the Week of Proper 26 / Ordinary 31
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Read the Bible

Easy-to-Read Version

Genesis 27:4

Prepare the food that I love. Bring it to me, and I will eat it. Then I will bless you before I die."

Bible Study Resources

Concordances:

- Nave's Topical Bible - Death;   Family;   Jacob;   Torrey's Topical Textbook - Children;   Diet of the Jews, the;   First Born, the;  

Dictionaries:

- American Tract Society Bible Dictionary - Birthright;   Esau;   Jacob;   Repentance;   Bridgeway Bible Dictionary - Esau;   Food;   Isaac;   Jacob;   Easton Bible Dictionary - Cook;   Esau;   Food;   Holman Bible Dictionary - Esau;   Genesis;   Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible - Edom, Edomites;   Greek Versions of Ot;   Isaac;   Rebekah;   People's Dictionary of the Bible - Canaan (2);   Jacob;   Meat meats;   Nahor;   Rebekah;   Watson's Biblical & Theological Dictionary - Jacob;  

Encyclopedias:

- Condensed Biblical Cyclopedia - Esau and Jacob;   Encampment at Sinai;   International Standard Bible Encyclopedia - Bless;   Food;   Savor;   The Jewish Encyclopedia - Esau;   Sidra;  

Parallel Translations

English Standard Version
and prepare for me delicious food, such as I love, and bring it to me so that I may eat, that my soul may bless you before I die."
Update Bible Version
And make savory food for me, such as I love, and bring it to me, that I may eat. That my soul may bless you before I die.
New Century Version
When you prepare the tasty food that I love, bring it to me, and I will eat. Then I will bless you before I die."
New English Translation
Then prepare for me some tasty food, the kind I love, and bring it to me. Then I will eat it so that I may bless you before I die."
Webster's Bible Translation
And make me savory meat, such as I love, and bring [it] to me, that I may eat; that my soul may bless thee before I die.
World English Bible
Make me savory food, such as I love, and bring it to me, that I may eat, and that my soul may bless you before I die.
Amplified Bible
and make me a savory and delicious dish [of meat], the kind I love, and bring it to me to eat, so that my soul may bless you [as my firstborn son] before I die."
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
make to me a seew therof, as thou knowist that Y wole, and brynge that Y ete, and my soule blesse thee bifore that Y die.
Young's Literal Translation
and make for me tasteful things, [such] as I have loved, and bring in to me, and I do eat, so that my soul doth bless thee before I die.'
Berean Standard Bible
Then prepare a tasty dish that I love and bring it to me to eat, so that I may bless you before I die."
Contemporary English Version
Cook some of that tasty food that I love so much and bring it to me. I want to eat it once more and give you my blessing before I die."
Complete Jewish Bible
Make it tasty, the way I like it; and bring it to me to eat. Then I will bless you [as firstborn], before I die."
American Standard Version
and make me savory food, such as I love, and bring it to me, that I may eat; that my soul may bless thee before I die.
Bible in Basic English
And make me food, good to the taste, such as is pleasing to me, and put it before me, so that I may have a meal and give you my blessing before death comes to me.
Bishop's Bible (1568)
And make me well tastyng meates, such as I loue, and bryng it to me, that I may eate, that my soule may blesse thee before that I dye.
Darby Translation
and prepare me a savoury dish such as I love, and bring it to me that I may eat, in order that my soul may bless thee before I die.
JPS Old Testament (1917)
and make me savoury food, such as I love, and bring it to me, that I may eat; that my soul may bless thee before I die.'
King James Version (1611)
And make me sauoury meat, such as I loue, and bring it to mee, that I may eate, that my soule may blesse thee before I die.
King James Version
And make me savoury meat, such as I love, and bring it to me, that I may eat; that my soul may bless thee before I die.
New Life Bible
Get some food ready for me that I love. Bring it to me to eat, so that before I die I will pray that good will come to you."
New Revised Standard
Then prepare for me savory food, such as I like, and bring it to me to eat, so that I may bless you before I die."
J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
and make for me dainty meats, such as I love and bring in to me, that I may eat, - To the end my soul may bless thee, ere yet I lie!
Geneva Bible (1587)
Then make mee sauourie meate, such as I loue, and bring it me that I may eat, and that my soule may blesse thee, before I die.
George Lamsa Translation
And make me stewed meat, such as I like, and bring it to me, that I may eat, that my soul may bless you before I die.
Good News Translation
Cook me some of that tasty food that I like, and bring it to me. After I have eaten it, I will give you my final blessing before I die."
Douay-Rheims Bible
Make me a savoury meat thereof, as thou knowest I like, and bring it that I may eat: and my soul may bless thee, before I die.
Revised Standard Version
and prepare for me savory food, such as I love, and bring it to me that I may eat; that I may bless you before I die."
Brenton's Septuagint (LXX)
and make me meats, as I like them, and bring them to me that I may eat, that my soul may bless thee, before I die.
English Revised Version
and make me savoury meat, such as I love, and bring it to me, that I may eat; that my soul may bless thee before I die.
Christian Standard Bible®
Then make me a delicious meal that I love and bring it to me to eat, so that I can bless you before I die.”
Hebrew Names Version
Make me savory food, such as I love, and bring it to me, that I may eat, and that my soul may bless you before I die.
Lexham English Bible
Then make for me tasty food like I love, and bring it to me. And I will eat it so that I can bless you before I die.
Literal Translation
And make for me delicious things, such as I love, and bring to me, and I will eat; so that my soul may bless you before I die.
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
and make me meate (soch as I loue) and brynge it me herein, that I may eate, yt my soule maye blesse the, before I dye.
New American Standard Bible
and prepare a delicious meal for me such as I love, and bring it to me that I may eat, so that my soul may bless you before I die."
New King James Version
And make me savory food, such as I love, and bring it to me that I may eat, that my soul may bless you before I die."
New Living Translation
Prepare my favorite dish, and bring it here for me to eat. Then I will pronounce the blessing that belongs to you, my firstborn son, before I die."
New American Standard Bible (1995)
and prepare a savory dish for me such as I love, and bring it to me that I may eat, so that my soul may bless you before I die."
Legacy Standard Bible
and prepare a savory dish for me such as I love, and bring it to me that I may eat, so that my soul may bless you before I die."

Contextual Overview

1 Isaac grew old, and his eyes became so weak that he could not see clearly. One day he called his older son Esau to him and said, "Son!" Esau answered, "Here I am." 2 Isaac said, "I am old. Maybe I will die soon. 3 So take your bow and arrows and go hunting. Kill an animal for me to eat. 4 Prepare the food that I love. Bring it to me, and I will eat it. Then I will bless you before I die." 5 So Esau went hunting. Rebekah was listening when Isaac told this to his son Esau.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

that I may eat: The blessing, says Dr. A. Clarke, which Isaac was to confer on his son, was a species of divine right, and must be communicated with appropriate ceremonies. As eating and drinking were used among the Asiatics on almost all religious occasions, and especially in making and confirming covenants, it is reasonable to suppose, that something of this kind was essentially necessary on this occasion; and that Isaac could not convey the right, till he had eaten of the meat provided for the purpose by him who was to receive the blessing.

that my: Genesis 27:7, Genesis 27:23, Genesis 27:25, Genesis 27:27, Genesis 14:19, Genesis 24:60, Genesis 28:3, Genesis 48:9, Genesis 48:15-20, Genesis 49:28, Leviticus 9:22, Leviticus 9:23, Deuteronomy 33:1-29, Joshua 14:13, Joshua 22:6, Luke 2:34, Luke 24:51, Hebrews 11:20

Reciprocal: Genesis 25:28 - he did eat of his venison Genesis 27:9 - savoury Genesis 27:14 - mother Genesis 27:19 - that thy Genesis 27:31 - eat Genesis 28:1 - blessed Luke 24:50 - he lifted John 1:13 - nor of the will of the

Cross-References

Genesis 14:19
He blessed Abram and said, "Abram, may you be blessed by God Most High, the one who made heaven and earth.
Genesis 24:60
While Rebekah was leaving they said to her, "Our sister, may you be the mother of millions of people, and may your descendants defeat their enemies and take their cities."
Genesis 27:1
Isaac grew old, and his eyes became so weak that he could not see clearly. One day he called his older son Esau to him and said, "Son!" Esau answered, "Here I am."
Genesis 27:7
Your father said, ‘Kill an animal for me to eat. Prepare the food for me, and I will eat it. Then, with the Lord as witness, I will bless you before I die.'
Genesis 27:15
Then Rebekah took the clothes that her older son Esau loved to wear. She put these clothes on the younger son Jacob.
Genesis 27:20
But Isaac said to his son, "How have you hunted and killed the animals so quickly?" Jacob answered, "Because the Lord your God allowed me to find the animals quickly."
Genesis 27:22
So Jacob went to Isaac his father. Isaac felt him and said, "Your voice sounds like Jacob's voice, but your arms are hairy like the arms of Esau."
Genesis 27:23
Isaac did not know it was Jacob, because his arms were hairy like Esau's. So Isaac blessed Jacob.
Genesis 27:25
Then Isaac said, "Bring me the food. I will eat it and bless you." So Jacob gave him the food, and he ate it. Then Jacob gave him some wine, and he drank it.
Genesis 27:27
So Jacob went to his father and kissed him. When Isaac smelled Esau's clothes, he blessed him and said, "My son smells like the fields the Lord has blessed.

Gill's Notes on the Bible

And make me savoury meat, such as I love,.... For, though he had lost his sight, he had not lost his taste, nor his appetite for savoury food:

and bring [it] to me, that I may eat; this, was enjoined to make trial of his filial affection and duty to him, before he blessed him:

that my soul may bless thee before I die; not only that he might do it with cheerfulness and vivacity, having eaten a comfortable meal, and being refreshed with it, but that having had proof of his son's duty and affection to him, he might confer the blessing on him heartily: this blessing was not an ordinary and common one, but what parents used to bestow upon their children at the time of their death, or a little before it; and good men oftentimes did this under a spirit of prophecy, declaring what would be the case and circumstances of their children in time to come; and particularly the principal part of the blessing of Isaac, which Abraham had entailed upon him by divine direction, and he thought to have entailed on Esau his firstborn, was the promise of the descent of the Messiah from him and his seed, and of the possession of the land of Canaan by them: and this shows that Rebekah had not made known the oracle to Isaac, that the "elder should serve the younger",

Genesis 25:23: or, if she had, he had forgot, or did not understand it, and might think it respected not the persons of his sons, but their posterity; or however, from a natural affection for Esau his firstborn, and that the blessing and inheritance might go in the common channel, he was desirous he should have it; and he might also be ignorant of Esau's having sold his birthright to Jacob, or that he made no account of it.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

- Isaac Blessing His Sons

The life of Isaac falls into three periods. During the first seventy-five years he is contemporary with his father. For sixty-one years more his son Jacob remains under the paternal roof. The remaining forty-four years are passed in the retirement of old age. The chapter before us narrates the last solemn acts of the middle period of his life.

Genesis 27:1-4

Isaac was old. - Joseph was in his thirtieth year when he stood before Pharaoh, and therefore thirty-nine when Jacob came down to Egypt at the age of one hundred and thirty. When Joseph was born, therefore, Jacob was ninety-one, and he had sojourned fourteen years in Padan-aram. Hence, Jacob’s flight to Laban took place when he was seventy-seven, and therefore in the one hundred and thirty-sixth year of Isaac. “His eyes were dim.” Weakness and even loss of sight is more frequent in Palestine than with us. “His older son.” Isaac had not yet come to the conclusion that Jacob was heir of the promise. The communication from the Lord to Rebekah concerning her yet unborn sons in the form in which it is handed down to us merely determines that the older shall serve the younger. This fact Isaac seems to have thought might not imply the transferrence of the birthright; and if he was aware of the transaction between Esau and Jacob, he may not have regarded it as valid. Hence, he makes arrangements for bestowing the paternal benediction on Esau, his older son, whom he also loves. “I am old.” At the age of one hundred and thirty-six, and with failing sight, he felt that life was uncertain. In the calmness of determination he directs Esau to prepare savory meat, such as he loved, that he may have his vigor renewed and his spirits revived for the solemn business of bestowing that blessing, which he held to be fraught with more than ordinary benefits.

Genesis 27:5-13

Rebekah forms a plan for diverting the blessing from Esau to Jacob. She was within hearing when the infirm Isaac gave his orders, and communicates the news to Jacob. Rebekah has no scruples about primogeniture. Her feelings prompt her to take measures, without waiting to consider whether they are justifiable or not, for securing to Jacob that blessing which she has settled in her own mind to be destined for him. She thinks it necessary to interfere that this end may not fail of being accomplished. Jacob views the matter more coolly, and starts a difficulty. He may be found out to be a deceiver, and bring his father’s curse upon him. Rebekah, anticipating no such issue; undertakes to bear the curse that she conceived would never come. Only let him obey.

Verse 14-29

The plan is successful. Jacob now, without further objection, obeys his mother. She clothes him in Esau’s raiment, and puts the skins of the kids on his hands and his neck. The camel-goat affords a hair which bears a great resemblance to that of natural growth, and is used as a substitute for it. Now begins the strange interview between the father and the son. “Who art thou, my son?” The voice of Jacob was somewhat constrained. He goes, however, deliberately through the process of deceiving his father. “Arise, now, sit and eat.” Isaac was reclining on his couch, in the feebleness of advancing years. Sitting was the posture convenient for eating. “The Lord thy God prospered me.” This is the bold reply to Isaac’s expression of surprise at the haste with which the dainty fare had been prepared. The bewildered father now puts Jacob to a severer test. He feels him, but discerns him not. The ear notes a difference, but the hand feels the hairy skin resembling Esau’s; the eyes give no testimony. After this the result is summarily stated in a single sentence, though the particulars are yet to be given. “Art thou my very son Esau?” A lurking doubt puts the definite question, and receives a decisive answer. Isaac then calls for the repast and partakes.

Genesis 27:26-29

He gives the kiss of paternal affection, and pronounces the benediction. It contains, first, a fertile soil. “Of the dew of heaven.” An abundant measure of this was especially precious in a country where the rain is confined to two seasons of the year. “Of the fatness of the earth;” a proportion of this to match and render available the dew of heaven. “Corn and wine,” the substantial products, implying all the rest. Second, a numerous and powerful offspring. “Let peoples serve thee” - pre-eminence among the nations. “Be lord of thy brethren” - pre-eminence among his kindred. Isaac does not seem to have grasped the full meaning of the prediction, “The older shall serve the younger.” Third, Prosperity, temporal and spiritual. He that curseth thee be cursed, and he that blesseth thee be blessed. This is the only part of the blessing that directly comprises spiritual things; and even this of a special form. It is to be recollected that it was Isaac’s intention to bless Esau, and he may have felt that Esau, after all, was not to be the progenitor of the holy seed. Hence, the form of expression is vague enough to apply to temporal things, and yet sufficiently comprehensive to embrace the infliction of the ban of sin, and the diffusion of the blessing of salvation by means of the holy seed.

Genesis 27:30-41

Esau’s blessing. Esau comes in, but it is too late. “Who then?” The whole illusion is dispelled from the mind of Isaac. “Yea, blessed he shall be.” Jacob had no doubt perpetrated a fraud, at the instigation of his mother; and if Esau had been worthy in other respects, and above all if the blessing had been designed for him, its bestowment on another would have been either prevented or regarded as null and void. But Isaac now felt that, whatever was the misconduct of Jacob in interfering, and especially in employing unworthy means to accomplish his end, he himself was culpable in allowing carnal considerations to draw his preference to Esau, who was otherwise unworthy. He knew too that the paternal benediction flowed not from the bias of the parent, but from the Spirit of God guiding his will, and therefore when so pronounced could not be revoked. Hence, he was now convinced that it was the design of Providence that the spiritual blessing should fall on the line of Jacob. The grief of Esau is distressing to witness, especially as he had been comparatively blameless in this particular instance. But still it is to be remembered that his heart had not been open to the paramount importance of spiritual things. Isaac now perceives that Jacob has gained the blessing by deceit. Esau marks the propriety of his name, the wrestler who trips up the heel, and pleads pathetically for at least some blessing. His father enumerates what he has done for Jacob, and asks what more he can do for Esau; who then exclaims, “Hast thou but one blessing?”

Genesis 27:39-41

At length, in reply to the weeping suppliant, he bestows upon him a characteristic blessing. “Away from the fatness.” The preposition (מי mı̂y) is the same as in the blessing of Jacob. But there, after a verb of giving, it had a partitive sense; here, after a noun of place, it denotes distance or separation; for example, Proverbs 20:3 The pastoral life has been distasteful to Esau, and so it shall be with his race. The land of Edom was accordingly a comparative wilderness (Malachi 1:3). “On thy sword.” By preying upon others. “And thy brother shalt thou serve.” Edom was long independent; but at length Saul was victorious over them 1 Samuel 14:47, and David conquered them 2 Samuel 8:14. Then followed a long struggle, until John Hyrcanus, 129 b.c., compelled them to be circumcised and incorporated into Judaism. “Break his yoke.” The history of Edom was a perpetual struggle against the supremacy of Israel. Conquered by Saul, subdued by David, repressed by Solomon, restrained after a revolt by Amaziah, they recovered their independence in the time of Ahab. They were incorporated into the Jewish state, and furnished it with the dynasty of princes beginning with Antipater. Esau was now exasperated against his brother, and could only compose his mind by resolving to slay him during the days of mourning after his father’s death.

Genesis 27:42-46

Rebekah hearing this, advises Jacob to flee to Laban her brother, and await the abatement of his brother’s anger. “That which thou hast done to him.” Rebekah seems not to have been aware that she herself was the cause of much of the evil and of the misery that flowed from it. All the parties to this transaction are pursued by a retributive chastisement. Rebekah, especially, parts with her favorite son to meet him only after an absence of twenty years, if ever in this life. She is moreover grievously vexed with the connection which Esau formed with the daughters of Heth. She dreads a similar matrimonial alliance on the part of Jacob.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse Genesis 27:4. Savoury meat — מטעמים matammim, from טעם taam, to taste or relish; how dressed we know not, but its name declares its nature.

That I may eat — The blessing which Isaac was to confer on his son was a species of Divine right, and must be communicated with appropriate ceremonies. As eating and drinking were used among the Asiatics on almost all religious occasions, and especially in making and confirming covenants, it is reasonable to suppose that something of this kind was essentially necessary on this occasion, and that Isaac could not convey the right till he had eaten of the meat provided for the purpose by him who was to receive the blessing. As Isaac was now old, and in a feeble and languishing condition, it was necessary that the flesh used on this occasion should be prepared so as to invite the appetite, that a sufficiency of it might be taken to revive and recruit his drooping strength, that he might be the better able to go through the whole of this ceremony.

This seems to be the sole reason why savoury meat is so particularly mentioned in the text. When we consider,

1. That no covenant was deemed binding unless the parties had eaten together;

2. That to convey this blessing some rite of this kind was necessary; and,

3. That Isaac's strength was now greatly exhausted, insomuch that he supposed himself to be dying; we shall at once see why meat was required on this occasion, and why that meat was to be prepared so as to deserve the epithet of savoury.

As I believe this to be the true sense of the place, I do not trouble my readers with interpretations which I suppose to be either exceptionable or false.


 
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