Genesis 27:30 kjv

And it came to pass, as soon as Isaac had made an end of blessing Jacob, and Jacob was yet scarce gone out from the presence of Isaac his father, that Esau his brother came in from his hunting.

Genesis 27:30 nkjv

Now it happened, as soon as Isaac had finished blessing Jacob, and Jacob had scarcely gone out from the presence of Isaac his father, that Esau his brother came in from his hunting.

Genesis 27:30 niv

After Isaac finished blessing him, and Jacob had scarcely left his father's presence, his brother Esau came in from hunting.

Genesis 27:30 esv

As soon as Isaac had finished blessing Jacob, when Jacob had scarcely gone out from the presence of Isaac his father, Esau his brother came in from his hunting.

Genesis 27:30 nlt

As soon as Isaac had finished blessing Jacob, and almost before Jacob had left his father, Esau returned from his hunt.

Genesis 27 verses

Genesis 27 30 Meaning

The verse vividly depicts a moment of precise and critical timing: immediately after Isaac concluded blessing Jacob—a blessing obtained through cunning deception—Jacob had barely exited his father's presence when Esau, returning directly from his hunt, entered. This swift succession of events dramatically highlights the success of the elaborate scheme and prepares the audience for Esau's impending discovery and the consequent familial strife.

Genesis 27 30 Context

Genesis 27:30 is embedded within a profound family drama, following Isaac's decision to bless his firstborn son, Esau, before his impending death. Isaac, old and visually impaired, requested Esau to hunt and prepare a specific meal. Unknown to Isaac, Rebekah, who favored Jacob, overheard this plan. She orchestrated a sophisticated deception, having Jacob disguise himself with animal skins to simulate Esau's hairy arms and wear Esau's clothes to trick Isaac into believing he was his elder son. Through this deceit, Jacob acquired the patriarchal blessing meant for Esau. In ancient Near Eastern cultures, a father's deathbed blessing was considered irrevocable and carried immense spiritual and legal weight, determining inheritance, social status, and future destiny. The verse's emphasis on immediate timing—Jacob barely exiting as Esau enters—maximizes the dramatic tension, showcasing the sheer audacity of the deception and the devastating realization that awaits Esau.

Genesis 27 30 Word analysis

• And it came to pass (וַיְהִי - vayhî): A very frequent opening phrase in Hebrew narratives, functioning as a literary signal that a significant event or shift in the narrative is about to unfold. Here, it heralds a climactic moment.

• as soon as (כְּכַלֹּת - kᵉkhallôṯ): Derived from the verb כָּלָה (kālâ), meaning "to finish" or "to complete," coupled with the preposition "kᵉ" meaning "as" or "when." This phrase emphasizes the precise and immediate cessation of the preceding action—the blessing—before the subsequent action begins. It underlines finality.

• Isaac had finished blessing Jacob: This clarifies that the act of imparting the blessing was entirely concluded and formalized. Despite the deception, the words and their perceived spiritual authority had been fully delivered by Isaac, from his perspective.

• Jacob had scarcely gone out (צֵאת יָצֹא יָצָא - tsê’ṯ yātsō’ yātsā’): This is a Hebrew intensive verbal construction, known as an infinitive absolute followed by a finite verb. It vividly stresses the immediacy and brevity of Jacob's exit—he was just gone, barely out. This linguistic device heightens the suspense, emphasizing the hair-thin margin by which Jacob escaped immediate discovery.

• from the presence of Isaac (מֵאֵת פְּנֵי יִצְחָק - mê’êṯ pᵉnê yiṣḥāq): Literally, "from the face of Isaac." "Presence" indicates the direct proximity and personal space of the blind father. Jacob's physical withdrawal is paramount for Esau's entry to occur undetected.

• his father (אָבִיו - ’āvîw): Reinforces the sacred familial bond that Jacob had knowingly violated through deceit.

• that Esau his brother came in (וְעֵשָׂו אָחִיו בָּא - vᵉ‘êśāw ’āḥîw bā’): "And Esau his brother came in." The explicit mention of "his brother" immediately following Jacob's exit powerfully contrasts their actions and motivations, setting up the direct confrontation. Esau's entry marks the inevitable reveal.

• from his hunting (מִצֵּידוֹ - mittsêḏô): From צַיִד (tsayiḏ), "hunting" or "game." This detail underscores Esau's obedience to Isaac's instructions, contrasting sharply with Jacob's manipulative disobedience. It paints Esau as dutiful, only adding to the tragic irony of his timing and loss.

• Words-group analysis:

  • "And it came to pass, as soon as Isaac had finished blessing Jacob": This opening establishes the completion of the irreversible act. The spiritual and legal weight of the blessing, once spoken, is conveyed as final and unalterable from Isaac’s perspective, even when unknowingly misguided.
  • "and Jacob had scarcely gone out from the presence of Isaac his father": This phrase precisely captures the razor's edge of the moment, intensifying the dramatic tension. The near-simultaneous movements are highlighted to illustrate the providential (or coincidental, from a human perspective) orchestration of events. It makes the audience anticipate what will unfold in the very next moment.
  • "that Esau his brother came in from his hunting": This section completes the perfectly timed scene. Esau, returning, innocent of the preceding treachery and eager to fulfill his father’s command, steps into a situation that has already sealed his fate. The juxtaposition of his unsuspecting nature with Jacob’s just-accomplished deceit underscores the tragic irony.

Genesis 27 30 Bonus section

• The meticulous detailing of the timing within this verse acts as a strong literary marker, indicating the narrative's central turning point and foreshadowing the immediate dramatic repercussions that follow.
• This instance underscores the ancient world's reverence for the spoken word, especially a father's blessing. Once pronounced, it was believed to possess an intrinsic, unalterable power, regardless of the method by which it was elicited.
• The precise overlap in time (Jacob's going out, Esau's coming in) further amplifies the sense of divine orchestration at work, guiding events even amidst deceit, towards an intended outcome.
• The stark contrast between the two brothers' actions immediately preceding the verse (Jacob's calculated deception vs. Esau's obedient hunting) amplifies the poignancy of Esau's sudden discovery.

Genesis 27 30 Commentary

Genesis 27:30 functions as a highly dramatic narrative pivot, revealing the critical synchronization of Jacob's hasty exit and Esau's timely arrival. This verse vividly illustrates how quickly circumstances can shift, particularly when interwoven with human cunning and divine intention. The extraordinary precision of the timing—Jacob "scarcely" gone as Esau "came in"—serves not merely as a dramatic device, but hints at the overarching sovereignty of God, who, despite and even through human sin and manipulation, orchestrates events to fulfill His predetermined purpose (as revealed in Gen 25:23 and Rom 9:10-13). This immediate handover of "presence" signifies the end of Jacob's deceitful venture and the commencement of the inevitable, painful confrontation that profoundly alters the trajectories of both brothers and their future descendants. It sets the stage for a period of estrangement, yet also for God's faithful working in and through Jacob's lineage.