Genesis 27 25

Genesis 27:25 kjv

And he said, Bring it near to me, and I will eat of my son's venison, that my soul may bless thee. And he brought it near to him, and he did eat: and he brought him wine and he drank.

Genesis 27:25 nkjv

He said, "Bring it near to me, and I will eat of my son's game, so that my soul may bless you." So he brought it near to him, and he ate; and he brought him wine, and he drank.

Genesis 27:25 niv

Then he said, "My son, bring me some of your game to eat, so that I may give you my blessing." Jacob brought it to him and he ate; and he brought some wine and he drank.

Genesis 27:25 esv

Then he said, "Bring it near to me, that I may eat of my son's game and bless you." So he brought it near to him, and he ate; and he brought him wine, and he drank.

Genesis 27:25 nlt

Then Isaac said, "Now, my son, bring me the wild game. Let me eat it, and then I will give you my blessing." So Jacob took the food to his father, and Isaac ate it. He also drank the wine that Jacob served him.

Genesis 27 verses

Genesis 27 25 meaning

Genesis 27:25 describes Isaac, believing he is speaking to Esau, requesting the prepared meal and wine. He intends to consume them so that his "soul," representing his deepest essence, can then powerfully and formally pronounce a patriarchal blessing upon his son. The verse confirms Jacob's immediate action, as Isaac eats the food and drinks the wine.

Genesis 27 25 Context

Genesis chapter 27 details Isaac's plan to bestow a final, solemn blessing upon his elder son, Esau, before his death. Isaac, now old and visually impaired, desired Esau's characteristic hunted game to accompany this pivotal moment. Rebekah, having overheard Isaac's instructions and favoring Jacob, orchestrates a deceptive plot for Jacob to impersonate Esau and secure the blessing for himself. Verse 25 follows Jacob's elaborate deception—from covering himself with animal skins to speaking like Esau—leading to Isaac's invitation to eat the meal. Culturally, such patriarchal blessings were seen as irrevocable and divinely empowered transfers of destiny and favor within the family line, particularly to the firstborn, carrying immense spiritual weight.

Genesis 27 25 Word Analysis

• Then he said: Indicates Isaac's clear, authoritative command in his old age, setting the stage for the act that will precede the blessing.
• “Bring it near to me,” (הַגִּשָׁה - haggishah): An imperative verb meaning "cause to approach" or "bring close." This highlights Isaac's reliance on others due to his blindness and the essential physical action required before a sacred blessing could be imparted. It emphasizes the immediacy and physical readiness needed.
• “and I will eat (וְאֹכְלָה - ve'okhlah) of my son’s game,” (צֵיד - tzeid): "Tzeid" refers specifically to the product of a hunt, game meat. Isaac's reference to "my son's game" indicates his expectation that it came from Esau's labor, affirming his belief in his identity and the rightness of the food's origin for the sacred meal. Eating the game prepared by the supposed recipient was an act of reception and identification, binding the blesser to the blessed.
• “so that my soul (נַפְשִׁי - nafshi) may bless you.”: "Nafshi" refers to the inner self, the animating principle, or the very essence of a person. For Isaac to say his "soul" would bless means it was not a mere formality but a profound, spiritual act stemming from the deepest part of his being, a divinely potent declaration that carried spiritual weight and perceived power over destiny. This emphasizes the gravity and spiritual dimension of the impending blessing.
• So he brought it near to him: Jacob's immediate, compliant action. This quick obedience is a key element of the ongoing deception, as he continues to play the part convincingly.
• and he ate: Isaac's consumption of the food, marking the completion of the ritual meal that precedes the formal blessing. The act of eating served to bind the one receiving the blessing to the one giving it.
• and he brought him wine,: Wine was often an accompaniment to significant meals in the ancient Near East, symbolizing celebration, refreshment, and a full provision. Its inclusion here adds to the solemnity and completeness of the preparatory meal.
• and he drank: Isaac's consumption of the wine, completing the ritualized preparatory acts before he would formally bestow the patriarchal blessing.

Genesis 27 25 Bonus Section

• Sensory Deception: This verse is a crucial point where Isaac relies entirely on the prepared senses (taste, smell of the game; touch of the hairy hands, later), as his sight fails him. This highlights his vulnerability and the effectiveness of Jacob's impersonation. The satisfaction from the food and wine seems to clear his mind for the weighty task ahead.
• Performative Speech Act: The phrase "my soul may bless you" signifies a "performative speech act"—the words themselves are the action, effectively transferring power and status. The meal physically grounds and precedes this spiritual transfer.
• Pre-Blessing Ritual: The meal of hunted game and wine serves as a crucial pre-blessing ritual. It prepares Isaac internally and culturally, making the subsequent blessing resonate with deep personal and spiritual investment. This custom would have been deeply understood by the original audience as integral to the blessing's power.

Genesis 27 25 Commentary

Genesis 27:25 vividly captures the critical moment leading up to Isaac's prophetic blessing. It is the immediate consequence of Jacob's bold deception. Isaac, guided primarily by taste and smell due to his blindness, demands the full meal prepared for him, explicitly stating the purpose: for his "soul" to bless. This signifies that the blessing was no mere verbal pronouncement but a profound, Spirit-empowered declaration, believed to channel divine favor and shape destiny. The acts of eating and drinking are more than just consumption; they are solemn, ritualistic elements, deeply rooted in the culture, that precede and prepare for a significant covenantal or spiritual act. Despite Isaac's genuine intent to bless Esau, God's sovereign plan, foretold in Genesis 25:23, moves forward through human deception, underscoring both human fallibility and divine orchestrations beyond human comprehension. This meal serves as the final step in a meticulously crafted ruse, culminating in an irreversible blessing mistakenly given.