What does Genesis 27:29 mean?
The scam concocted by Rebekah and Jacob, to steal Esau's blessing from Isaac, is successful (Genesis 27:6–10). Isaac completes his inadvertent blessing of Jacob with this verse. The blessing intended for Esau began in the previous verse with a prayer and/or prediction of God's gifts of material wealth. This verse refers to political power and influence over other peoples and nations, but also over brothers who would bow to the receiver of these words.Isaac believes the irrevocable blessing which he is praying is being spoken to Esau. Instead, it will be the younger twin, Jacob, and his offspring who will become lord over all. This is just as God's oracle to Rebekah predicted for her twin sons (Genesis 25:23).
Finally, Isaac concludes his prayer of blessing with one of God's earliest promises to Abraham, now passed on to Jacob: Those who blessed or cursed Jacob and his offspring would receive the same in return.
As the following passage will show, however, this fraud did not come without a price. Esau's rage will become murderous (Genesis 27:41), causing Jacob to flee from his family (Genesis 27:43–44), never to see his mother again (Genesis 35:27; 49:31). Also, God will give Jacob a taste of his own medicine later in life, both as the victim of fraud (Genesis 29) and by forcing him to be honest about his name in order to obtain a blessing (Genesis 32:26–28).