Genesis 27:30–40

Esau Begs for Isaac’s Blessing

³⁰Isaac finished giving his blessing, and as soon as Jacob left, his brother Esau came in from hunting. ³¹He also cooked some tasty food and took it to his father. He said, “Please, father, sit up and eat some of the meat that I have brought you, so that you can give me your blessing.”

³²“Who are you?” Isaac asked.

“Your elder son Esau,” he answered.

³³Isaac began to tremble and shake all over, and he asked, “Who was it, then, who killed an animal and brought it to me? I ate it just before you came. I gave him my final blessing, and so it is his for ever.”

³⁴When Esau heard this, he cried out loudly and bitterly and said, “Give me your blessing also, father!”

³⁵Isaac answered, “Your brother came and deceived me. He has taken away your blessing.”

^36*Esau said, “This is the second time that he has cheated me. No wonder his name is Jacob.^j He took my rights as the firstborn son, and now he has taken away my blessing. Haven’t you saved a blessing for me?”

³⁷Isaac answered, “I have already made him master over you, and I have made all his relatives his slaves. I have given him corn and wine. Now there is nothing that I can do for you, my son!”

^38*Esau continued to plead with his father: “Have you only one blessing, father? Bless me too, father!” He began to cry.

^39*Then Isaac said to him,

“No dew from heaven for you,

No fertile fields for you.

^40*You will live by your sword,

But be your brother’s slave.

Yet when you rebel,^k

You will break away from his control.”