23 And the Lord said to her:

Two nations are in your womb;
two peoples will come from you and be separated.
One people will be stronger than the other,(A)
and the older will serve the younger.(B)

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23 The Lord said to her,

“Two nations(A) are in your womb,
    and two peoples from within you will be separated;
one people will be stronger than the other,
    and the older will serve the younger.(B)

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29 May peoples serve you(A)
and nations bow in homage to you.
Be master over your relatives;
may your mother’s sons bow in homage to you.
Those who curse you will be cursed,
and those who bless you will be blessed.(B)

30 As soon as Isaac had finished blessing Jacob and Jacob had left the presence of his father Isaac, his brother Esau arrived from his hunting. 31 He had also made some delicious food and brought it to his father. He said to his father, “Let my father get up and eat some of his son’s game, so that you may bless me.”

32 But his father Isaac said to him, “Who are you?”

He answered, “I am Esau your firstborn son.”

33 Isaac began to tremble uncontrollably. “Who was it then,” he said, “who hunted game and brought it to me? I ate it all before you came in, and I blessed him. Indeed, he will be blessed!”

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

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

36 So he said, “Isn’t he rightly named Jacob?[a](D) For he has cheated me twice now. He took my birthright, and look, 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 a master over you, have given him all of his relatives as his servants, and have sustained him with grain and new wine. What then can I do for you, my son?”

38 Esau said to his father, “Do you have only one blessing, my father? Bless me too, my father!” And Esau wept loudly.[b]

39 His father Isaac answered him,

Look, your dwelling place will be
away from the richness of the land,
away from the dew of the sky above.
40 You will live by your sword,
and you will serve your brother.
But when you rebel,[c]
you will break his yoke from your neck.

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Footnotes

  1. 27:36 = He Grasps the Heel
  2. 27:38 Lit Esau lifted up his voice and wept
  3. 27:40 Hb obscure

29 May nations serve you
    and peoples bow down to you.(A)
Be lord over your brothers,
    and may the sons of your mother bow down to you.(B)
May those who curse you be cursed
    and those who bless you be blessed.(C)

30 After Isaac finished blessing him, and Jacob had scarcely left his father’s presence, his brother Esau came in from hunting. 31 He too prepared some tasty food and brought it to his father. Then he said to him, “My father, please sit up and eat some of my game, so that you may give me your blessing.”(D)

32 His father Isaac asked him, “Who are you?”(E)

“I am your son,” he answered, “your firstborn, Esau.(F)

33 Isaac trembled violently and said, “Who was it, then, that hunted game and brought it to me?(G) I ate it just before you came and I blessed him—and indeed he will be blessed!(H)

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

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

36 Esau said, “Isn’t he rightly named Jacob[a]?(M) This is the second time he has taken advantage of(N) me: He took my birthright,(O) and now he’s taken my blessing!”(P) 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.(Q) 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.(R)

39 His father Isaac answered him,(S)

“Your dwelling will be
    away from the earth’s richness,
    away from the dew(T) of heaven above.(U)
40 You will live by the sword
    and you will serve(V) your brother.(W)
But when you grow restless,
    you will throw his yoke
    from off your neck.(X)

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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.

18 Edom will become a possession;
Seir(A) will become a possession of its enemies,
but Israel will be triumphant.

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18 Edom(A) will be conquered;
    Seir,(B) his enemy, will be conquered,(C)
    but Israel(D) will grow strong.

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