Devine Scripture

Genesis 27:39

What does Genesis 27:39 mean?

A plain-English look at Genesis 27:39 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.

What Genesis 27:39 means

Isaac reluctantly bestows a different, lesser blessing upon Esau. It promises a dwelling place in a fertile region, echoing some of the material prosperity given to Jacob, though perhaps to a lesser degree. The blessing of "fatness of the earth" and "dew of heaven" indicates a measure of agricultural resource and divine provision, but notably lacks the elements of dominion and supremacy that characterized Jacob's blessing.

Parallel translations

WEB

World English Bible · 2000

And Isaac his father answered and said unto him, Behold, of the fatness of the earth shall be thy dwelling, And of the dew of heaven from above;

KJV

King James Version · 1611

And Isaac his father answered and said unto him, Behold, thy dwelling shall be the fatness of the earth, and of the dew of heaven from above;

ASV

American Standard Version · 1901

And Isaac his father answered and said unto him, Behold, of the fatness of the earth shall be thy dwelling, And of the dew of heaven from above;

BBE

Bible in Basic English · 1949

Then Isaac his father made answer and said to him, Far from the fertile places of the earth, and far from the dew of heaven on high will your living-place be:

YLT

Young's Literal Translation · 1862

And Isaac his father answereth and saith unto him, `Lo, of the fatness of the earth is thy dwelling, and of the dew of the heavens from above;

DRA

Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752

Isaac being moved, said to him: In the fat of the earth, and in the dew of heaven from above,

DBY

Darby Bible · 1890

And Isaac his father answered and said to him, Behold, thy dwelling shall be of the fatness of the earth, And of the dew of heaven from above;

Context

This verse presents the beginning of Isaac's blessing for Esau, given in response to Esau's tearful and desperate plea for any blessing. It establishes Esau's future dwelling and sustenance. This is a distinct blessing, carefully worded to differentiate it from Jacob's, and it immediately leads into the more challenging aspects of Esau's destiny, particularly concerning his relationship with Jacob.

v.38And Esau said unto his father, Hast thou but one blessing, my father? bless me, even me also, O my father. And Esau lifted up his voice, and wept.

v.39This passage

v.40And by thy sword shalt thou live, and thou shalt serve thy brother; And it shall come to pass, when thou shalt break loose, That thou shalt shake his yoke from off thy neck.

Cross references

Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.

  • Genesis 36:6

    And Esau took his wives, and his sons, and his daughters, and all the souls of his house, and his cattle, and all his beasts, and all his possessions, which he had gathered in the land of Canaan; and went into a land away from his brother Jacob.

  • Joshua 24:4

    And I gave unto Isaac Jacob and Esau: and I gave unto Esau mount Seir, to possess it; and Jacob and his children went down into Egypt.

  • Hebrews 11:20

    By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau, even concerning things to come.

  • Genesis 27:28

    And God give thee of the dew of heaven, And of the fatness of the earth, And plenty of grain and new wine:

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