Genesis 27:36 - Printer Friendly

ESV: Esau said, "Is he not rightly named Jacob? For he has cheated me these two times. He took away my birthright, and behold, now he has taken away my blessing." Then he said, "Have you not reserved a blessing for me?"

NIV: Esau said, "Isn’t he rightly named Jacob ? This is the second time he has taken advantage of me: He took my birthright, and now he’s taken my blessing!" Then he asked, "Haven’t you reserved any blessing for me?"

NASB: Then Esau said, 'Is he not rightly named Jacob, for he has betrayed me these two times? He took away my birthright, and behold, now he has taken away my blessing.' And he said, 'Have you not reserved a blessing for me?'

CSB: So he said, "Isn’t he rightly named Jacob? 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?"

NLT: Esau exclaimed, 'No wonder his name is Jacob, for now he has cheated me twice. First he took my rights as the firstborn, and now he has stolen my blessing. Oh, haven’t you saved even one blessing for me?'

KJV: And he said, Is not he rightly named Jacob? for he hath supplanted me these two times: he took away my birthright; and, behold, now he hath taken away my blessing. And he said, Hast thou not reserved a blessing for me?

NKJV: And Esau said, “Is he not rightly named Jacob? For he has supplanted me these two times. He took away my birthright, and now look, he has taken away my blessing!” And he said, “Have you not reserved a blessing for me?”

Though Bible scholars are not clear about the definition from the language itself, the name "Jacob"—Ya'aqob in Hebrew—implies a "heel grabber," or "usurper," or "one who cheats." This was a name given to Jacob as a result of his unusual birth: holding the heel of his older brother (Genesis 25:25–26) after a contentious pregnancy (Genesis 25:22). Esau, in his bitter disappointment about losing the blessing, describes his brother's name as appropriate to his actions. Jacob—"the one who cheats"—really is a liar and a cheat!

As evidence, Esau points back to the moment when Jacob purchased Esau's birthright for a bowl of stew (Genesis 25:29–34). While it's true that Jacob took advantage of Esau's foolish disregard for his birthright, it seems as stretch to say that Jacob cheated Esau in that instance. He was manipulative, but Esau knew exactly what was happening. In stealing the blessing, however, there's no doubt Jacob used lies to take what Isaac did not intend to give to him.

What's the difference between a birthright and a blessing? The birthright belonged, by default, to the oldest son. He would inherit a double portion of the family estate. Esau had sold this right to Jacob. The blessing, on the other hand, apparently could be given to any of the children as the father saw fit. In Isaac's case, he had clearly planned to give the greater blessing to Esau, including future rule over his brother.

The giving of that blessing was seen as so tangible that even though it was received as part of a deception, the giving of the blessing remained intact. In Isaac's eyes, the transaction was completed. It was, however, not unusual for a father to give some kind of a blessing to any or all of his children. Esau now asks Isaac if there is not blessing "left over" that he can confer to Esau.

Genesis 27:30–46 describes the aftermath of Jacob's deception of Isaac in order to receive the family blessing. Once Esau arrives and Isaac realizes he has given the blessing to the wrong son, his body begins to tremble in panic. Esau, deeply distraught, cries out in loud and bitter agony. Isaac gives to Esau a leftover blessing that reads like a curse. Esau pledges to kill Jacob once their father has died. Learning of this, Rebekah urges Jacob to run away to live with her brother in Mesopotamia.

Isaac's plan to pass the family blessing on to his favorite son, Esau, is thwarted by the deception of Isaac's wife Rebekah, and his other son Jacob. Old and blind, Isaac fails to recognize that the man claiming to be Esau is actually Jacob in a clever disguise. His prayer of blessing for wealth and rule over his brothers will remain valid though it is given under false pretense. Esau will be left with a blessing that sounds like a curse and a plan to murder his brother. Jacob will be forced to run for his life.

Prior chapters described the prosperity of Isaac, living in the Valley of Gerar. Genesis 27 leaps forward to near the end of Isaac's life. The time has come to pass on the family blessing. Isaac's intention to give that blessing to firstborn, Esau, is thwarted by the deception of Isaac's wife Rebekah and his other son Jacob. Isaac overcomes his suspicions that the man before him is not Esau and delivers the very blessing of God on Jacob. Esau is left with a near-curse and a murderous rage. Rebekah urges Jacob to go to her brother's household, a plan Isaac will endorse in the following chapter. There, he will ironically experience the sting of deception in his own life.

The book of Genesis establishes fundamental truths about God. Among these are His role as the Creator, His holiness, His hatred of sin, His love for mankind, and His willingness to provide for our redemption. We learn not only where mankind has come from, but why the world is in its present form. The book also presents the establishment of Israel, God's chosen people. Many of the principles given in other parts of Scripture depend on the basic ideas presented here in the book of Genesis. Within the framework of the Bible, Genesis explains the bare-bones history of the universe leading up to the captivity of Israel in Egypt, setting the stage for the book of Exodus.