Genesis · Catholic Public Domain Version
Genesis 27 Catholic Public Domain Version
Audio: World English Bible (WEB), read by Winfred W. Henson · About the recordings
Notes on this text (3)
- Esther and Daniel are the Vulgate books (Esther 1–16 with the Greek additions as chapters 10:4–16; Daniel 1–14 with the Song of the Three, Susanna and Bel). Baruch 6 is the Letter of Jeremiah.
- The translator's footnotes, cross-references, chapter summaries and book introductions in the CrossWire module are not shown.
- No imprimatur; single translator.
1 Now Isaac was old, and his eyes were cloudy, and so he was not able to see. And he called his elder son Esau, and he said to him, “My son?” And he responded, “Here I am.”
1 When Isaac was old, and his eyes were dim, so that he could not see, he called Esau his elder son, and said to him, “My son?” He said to him, “Here I am.”
2 His father said to him: “You see that I am old, and I do not know the day of my death.
2 He said, “See now, I am old. I don’t know the day of my death.
3 Take your weapons, the quiver and the bow, and go out. And when you have taken something by hunting,
3 Now therefore, please take your weapons, your quiver and your bow, and go out to the field, and get me venison.
4 make from it a small meal for me, just as you know I like, and bring it, so that I may eat and my soul may bless you before I die.”
4 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.”
5 And when Rebekah had heard this, and he had gone out into the field to fulfill his father’s order,
5 Rebekah heard when Isaac spoke to Esau his son. Esau went to the field to hunt for venison, and to bring it.
6 she said to her son Jacob: “I heard your father speaking with your brother Esau, and saying to him,
6 Rebekah spoke to Jacob her son, saying, “Behold, I heard your father speak to Esau your brother, saying,
7 ‘Bring to me from your hunting, and make me foods, so that I may eat and bless you in the sight of the Lord before I die.’
7 ‘Bring me venison, and make me savory food, that I may eat, and bless you before Yahweh before my death.’
8 Therefore, now my son, agree to my counsel,
8 Now therefore, my son, obey my voice according to that which I command you.
9 and go straight to the flock, and bring me two of the best young goats, so that from them I may make meat for your father, such as he willingly eats.
9 Go now to the flock and get me two good young goats from there. I will make them savory food for your father, such as he loves.
10 Then, when you have brought these in and he has eaten, he may bless you before he dies.”
10 You shall bring it to your father, that he may eat, so that he may bless you before his death.”
11 He answered her: “You know that my brother Esau is a hairy man, and I am smooth.
11 Jacob said to Rebekah his mother, “Behold, Esau my brother is a hairy man, and I am a smooth man.
12 If my father should lay hands on me and perceive it, I am afraid lest he think me willing to mock him, and I will bring a curse upon myself, instead of a blessing.”
12 What if my father touches me? I will seem to him as a deceiver, and I would bring a curse on myself, and not a blessing.”
13 And his mother said to him: “Let this curse be upon me, my son. Yet listen to my voice, and go directly to bring what I said.”
13 His mother said to him, “Let your curse be on me, my son. Only obey my voice, and go get them for me.”
14 He went out, and he brought, and he gave to his mother. She prepared the meats, just as she knew his father liked.
14 He went, and got them, and brought them to his mother. His mother made savory food, such as his father loved.
15 And she clothed him with the very fine garments of Esau, which she had at home with her.
15 Rebekah took the good clothes of Esau, her elder son, which were with her in the house, and put them on Jacob, her younger son.
16 And she encircled his hands with little pelts from the young goats, and she covered his bare neck.
16 She put the skins of the young goats on his hands, and on the smooth of his neck.
17 And she gave him the small meal, and she handed him the bread that she had baked.
17 She gave the savory food and the bread, which she had prepared, into the hand of her son Jacob.
18 When he had carried these in, he said, “My father?” And he answered, “I’m listening. Who are you, my son?”
18 He came to his father, and said, “My father?” He said, “Here I am. Who are you, my son?”
19 And Jacob said: “I am Esau, your firstborn. I have done as you instructed me. Arise; sit and eat from my hunting, so that your soul may bless me.”
19 Jacob said to his father, “I am Esau your firstborn. I have done what you asked me to do. Please arise, sit and eat of my venison, that your soul may bless me.”
20 And again Isaac said to his son, “How were you able to find it so quickly, my son?” He answered, “It was the will of God, so that what I sought met with me quickly.”
20 Isaac said to his son, “How is it that you have found it so quickly, my son?” He said, “Because Yahweh your God gave me success.”
21 And Isaac said, “Come here, so that I may touch you, my son, and may prove whether you are my son Esau, or not.”
21 Isaac said to Jacob, “Please come near, that I may feel you, my son, whether you are really my son Esau or not.”
22 He approached his father, and when he had felt him, Isaac said: “The voice indeed is the voice of Jacob. But the hands are the hands of Esau.”
22 Jacob went near to Isaac his father. He felt him, and said, “The voice is Jacob’s voice, but the hands are the hands of Esau.”
23 And he did not recognize him, because his hairy hands made him seem similar to the elder one. Therefore, blessing him,
23 He didn’t recognize him, because his hands were hairy, like his brother Esau’s hands. So he blessed him.
24 he said, “Are you my son Esau?” He answered, “I am.”
24 He said, “Are you really my son Esau?” He said, “I am.”
25 Then he said, “Bring me the foods from your hunting, my son, so that my soul may bless you.” And when he had eaten what was offered, he also brought forth wine for him. And after he finished it,
25 He said, “Bring it near to me, and I will eat of my son’s venison, that my soul may bless you.” He brought it near to him, and he ate. He brought him wine, and he drank.
26 he said to him, “Come to me and give me a kiss, my son.”
26 His father Isaac said to him, “Come near now, and kiss me, my son.”
27 He approached and kissed him. And immediately he perceived the fragrance of his garments. And so, blessing him, he said: “Behold, the smell of my son is like the smell of a plentiful field, which the Lord has blessed.
27 He came near, and kissed him. He smelled the smell of his clothing, and blessed him, and said, “Behold, the smell of my son is as the smell of a field which Yahweh has blessed.
28 May God give to you, from the dew of heaven and from the fatness of the earth, an abundance of grain and wine.
28 God give you of the dew of the sky, of the fatness of the earth, and plenty of grain and new wine.
29 And may the peoples serve you, and may the tribes reverence you. May you be the lord of your brothers, and may your mother’s sons bow down before you. Whoever curses you, may he be cursed, and whoever blesses you, may he be filled with blessings.”
29 Let peoples serve you, and nations bow down to you. Be lord over your brothers. Let your mother’s sons bow down to you. Cursed be everyone who curses you. Blessed be everyone who blesses you.”
30 Scarcely had Isaac completed his words, and Jacob departed, when Esau arrived.
30 As soon as Isaac had finished blessing Jacob, and Jacob had just gone out from the presence of Isaac his father, Esau his brother came in from his hunting.
31 And he brought his father foods cooked from his hunting, saying, “Arise, my father, and eat from your son’s hunting, so that your soul may bless me.”
31 He also made savory food, and brought it to his father. He said to his father, “Let my father arise, and eat of his son’s venison, that your soul may bless me.”
32 And Isaac said to him, “But who are you?” And he answered, “I am your firstborn son, Esau.”
32 Isaac his father said to him, “Who are you?” He said, “I am your son, your firstborn, Esau.”
33 Isaac became frightened and very astonished. And wondering beyond what can be believed, he said: “Then who is he that a while ago brought me the prey from his hunting, from which I ate, before you arrived? And I blessed him, and he will be blessed.”
33 Isaac trembled violently, and said, “Who, then, is he who has taken venison, and brought it to me, and I have eaten of all before you came, and have blessed him? Yes, he will be blessed.”
34 Esau, having heard his father’s words, roared out with a great outcry. And, being confounded, he said, “But bless me also, my father.”
34 When Esau heard the words of his father, he cried with an exceedingly great and bitter cry, and said to his father, “Bless me, even me also, my father.”
35 And he said, “Your twin came deceitfully, and he received your blessing.”
35 He said, “Your brother came with deceit, and has taken away your blessing.”
36 But he responded: “Justly is his name called Jacob. For he has supplanted me yet another time. My birthright he took away before, and now, this second time, he has stolen my blessing.” And again, he said to his father, “Have you not reserved a blessing for me also?”
36 He said, “Isn’t he rightly named Jacob? For he has supplanted me these two times. He took away my birthright. See, now he has taken away my blessing.” He said, “Haven’t you reserved a blessing for me?”
37 Isaac answered: “I have appointed him as your lord, and I have subjugated all his brothers as his servants. I have reinforced him with grain and wine, and after this, my son, what more shall I do for you?”
37 Isaac answered Esau, “Behold, I have made him your lord, and all his brothers I have given to him for servants. I have sustained him with grain and new wine. What then will I do for you, my son?”
38 And Esau said to him: “Have you only one blessing, father? I beg you, bless me also.” And when he wept with a loud wail,
38 Esau said to his father, “Do you have just one blessing, my father? Bless me, even me also, my father.” Esau lifted up his voice, and wept.
39 Isaac was moved, and he said to him: “In the fatness of the earth, and in the dew of heaven from above,
39 Isaac his father answered him, “Behold, your dwelling will be of the fatness of the earth, and of the dew of the sky from above.
40 will your blessing be. You will live by the sword, and you will serve your brother. But the time will arrive when you will shake off and release his yoke from your neck.”
40 You will live by your sword, and you will serve your brother. It will happen, when you will break loose, that you will shake his yoke from off your neck.”
41 Therefore, Esau always hated Jacob, for the blessing with which his father had blessed him. And he said in his heart, “The days will arrive for the mourning of my father, and I will kill my brother Jacob.”
41 Esau hated Jacob because of the blessing with which his father blessed him. Esau said in his heart, “The days of mourning for my father are at hand. Then I will kill my brother Jacob.”
42 These things were reported to Rebekah. And sending and calling for her son Jacob, she said to him, “Behold, your brother Esau is threatening to kill you.
42 The words of Esau, her elder son, were told to Rebekah. She sent and called Jacob, her younger son, and said to him, “Behold, your brother Esau comforts himself about you by planning to kill you.
43 Therefore, now my son, listen to my voice. Rise up and flee to my brother Laban, in Haran.
43 Now therefore, my son, obey my voice. Arise, flee to Laban, my brother, in Haran.
44 And you will dwell with him for a few days, until the fury of your brother subsides,
44 Stay with him a few days, until your brother’s fury turns away—
45 and his indignation ceases, and he forgets the things that you have done to him. After this, I will send for you and bring you from there to here. Why should I be bereaved of both my sons in one day?”
45 until your brother’s anger turns away from you, and he forgets what you have done to him. Then I will send, and get you from there. Why should I be bereaved of you both in one day?”
46 And Rebekah said to Isaac, “I am weary of my life because of the daughters of Heth. If Jacob accepts a wife from the stock of this land, I would not be willing to live.”
46 Rebekah said to Isaac, “I am weary of my life because of the daughters of Heth. If Jacob takes a wife of the daughters of Heth, such as these, of the daughters of the land, what good will my life do me?”
People & places in this chapter
From this site's family tree and Bible maps, only where those guides cite this chapter.
People
Esau
Isaac's elder son, who traded his birthright for a bowl of stew.
Cited in the guide: Genesis 25–27; 36
Isaac
The long-promised son, nearly offered on Moriah, through whom the covenant continued.
Cited in the guide: Genesis 21–27
Jacob
He wrestled with God through the night and rose as Israel, father of twelve tribes.
Cited in the guide: Genesis 25–35; 46–49
Rebekah
Wife of Isaac and mother of the twins Jacob and Esau.
Cited in the guide: Genesis 24-27
Cross references (38)
Related passages for each verse, from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge as collected and ranked by readers at OpenBible.info.
- 1 1 Samuel 3:2; Genesis 48:10; Genesis 25:23–25; Ecclesiastes 12:3; John 9:3
- 2 James 4:14; Ecclesiastes 9:10; Mark 13:35; Proverbs 27:1; Genesis 48:21
- 3 Genesis 25:27–28; Genesis 10:9; 1 Corinthians 6:12
- 4 Hebrews 11:20; Genesis 48:9; Genesis 49:28; Genesis 27:25; Luke 24:51
- 6 Genesis 25:28
- 7 Joshua 6:26; Deuteronomy 33:1; 1 Samuel 24:19
- 8 Ephesians 6:1; Genesis 27:13; Acts 5:29; Genesis 25:23; Genesis 27:43
- 9 Judges 13:15; 1 Samuel 16:20
- 11 Genesis 25:25
- 12 Deuteronomy 27:18; 1 Thessalonians 5:22; 2 Corinthians 6:8; Job 12:16; Malachi 1:14
- 13 Matthew 27:25; 1 Samuel 25:24; 2 Samuel 14:9; Genesis 25:33; 1 Samuel 14:36–45
- 14 Luke 21:34; Genesis 27:9; Genesis 27:17; Proverbs 23:2–3; Genesis 25:28
- 15 Genesis 27:27; Luke 20:46; Luke 15:22
- 19 Matthew 26:70–74; Isaiah 28:15; Zechariah 13:3–4; Genesis 27:24–25; Genesis 27:21
- 20 Exodus 20:7; Job 13:7; Genesis 24:12
- 21 Isaiah 57:19; James 4:8; Genesis 27:12; Psalm 73:28
- 23 Hebrews 11:20; Genesis 27:16; Romans 9:11–12
- 24 Colossians 3:9; Proverbs 12:22; Ephesians 4:25; Job 13:7–8; 1 Samuel 21:2
- 25 Genesis 27:4
- 27 Hebrews 6:7; Psalm 65:10; Hebrews 11:20; Genesis 26:12; Hosea 14:6–7
- 28 Deuteronomy 33:28; Deuteronomy 33:13; Psalm 133:3; Hosea 14:5–7; Psalm 65:9–13
- 29 Numbers 24:9; Genesis 12:3; Isaiah 49:23; Genesis 9:25–26; Romans 9:12
- 31 Genesis 27:4
- 32 Genesis 27:18
- 33 Genesis 28:3–4; Romans 11:29; Job 21:6; Ephesians 1:3; Job 37:1
- 34 Hebrews 12:17; Proverbs 1:31; 1 Samuel 30:4; Proverbs 19:3; Luke 13:24–28
- 35 1 Thessalonians 4:6; Job 13:7; Malachi 2:10; 2 Kings 10:19; Romans 3:7–8
- 36 Genesis 25:26; Genesis 25:31–34; Genesis 32:28; John 1:47
- 37 Genesis 27:28–29; Genesis 25:23; 2 Samuel 8:14; Romans 9:10–12
- 38 Hebrews 12:17; Genesis 27:34; Isaiah 65:14; Genesis 27:36; Proverbs 1:24–26
- 39 Genesis 27:28; Hebrews 11:20; Joshua 24:4; Genesis 36:6–8
- 40 Genesis 25:23; 2 Kings 8:20–22; 2 Samuel 8:14; 2 Chronicles 25:11–12; 2 Chronicles 21:10
- 41 1 John 3:12–15; Genesis 37:4; Genesis 50:3–4; Ephesians 4:26–27; Genesis 32:6
- 42 1 Samuel 30:5; Psalm 64:5; Proverbs 4:16–17; Proverbs 2:14; Genesis 42:21–22
- 43 Genesis 11:31; Genesis 27:8; Genesis 27:13; Genesis 24:29; Proverbs 30:17
- 44 Genesis 31:38; Genesis 31:41
- 45 Proverbs 19:21; Genesis 27:35; Genesis 4:8–16; Lamentations 3:37; Acts 28:4
- 46 Genesis 26:34–35; Genesis 24:3; Genesis 28:8; Genesis 34:1–2; Job 14:13
Cross references: OpenBible.info (CC BY), drawn mainly from the public-domain Treasury of Scripture Knowledge. · Sources & licences
What the Fathers said
Passages from the Church Fathers that expound or quote this chapter, verbatim from the public-domain Schaff edition (19th-century English translations).
How these were chosen
“Commentary” is the opening of a homily or exposition on this chapter (John Chrysostom’s homilies, Augustine’s tractates, sermons and expositions of the Psalms). “Quotes” are sentences where the edition’s own footnotes identify a quotation of a verse here, kept only when the wording matches the verse. Only works whose authorship is not in doubt are used. Psalms follow the Hebrew/English numbering (Augustine numbers them as the Septuagint does: his Psalm 50 is Psalm 51 here).
Through envy, also, our father Jacob fled from the face of Esau his brother. Envy made Joseph be persecuted unto death, and to come into bondage.
The blessing of Isaac with which he blessed his younger son Jacob has the same meaning, when he says, "Behold, the smell of my son is as the smell of a full field which the Lord has blessed." But "the field is the world." And therefore he added, "God give to thee of the dew of heaven, and of the …
… the fruitfulness of the earth, and plenty of corn and wine: let nations serve thee, and princes adore thee: and be lord of thy brethren, and let thy father's sons adore thee: cursed be he that curseth thee, and blessed be he that blesseth thee." The blessing of Jacob is therefore a proclamation of Christ to all nations.
Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 1, vol. 2 (1887)
"Who then," he says, "hath hunted me venison, and brought it me, and I have eaten of all before thou camest, and have blessed him, and he shall be blessed?" Who would not rather have expected the curse of an angry man here, if these things had been done in an earthly manner, and not by inspiration from above?
Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 1, vol. 2 (1887)