Genesis 27:34 kjv

And when Esau heard the words of his father, he cried with a great and exceeding bitter cry, and said unto his father, Bless me, even me also, O my father.

Genesis 27:34 nkjv

When Esau heard the words of his father, he cried with an exceedingly great and bitter cry, and said to his father, "Bless me?me also, O my father!"

Genesis 27:34 niv

When Esau heard his father's words, he burst out with a loud and bitter cry and said to his father, "Bless me?me too, my father!"

Genesis 27:34 esv

As soon as Esau heard the words of his father, he cried out with an exceedingly great and bitter cry and said to his father, "Bless me, even me also, O my father!"

Genesis 27:34 nlt

When Esau heard his father's words, he let out a loud and bitter cry. "Oh my father, what about me? Bless me, too!" he begged.

Genesis 27 verses

Genesis 27 34 Meaning

Genesis 27:34 describes the intense emotional reaction of Esau upon realizing that his brother Jacob has deceitfully received the primary blessing from their blind father Isaac. Esau's "exceedingly great and bitter cry" conveys profound anguish, regret, and a desperate plea to Isaac for any remaining blessing, revealing the immense cultural and spiritual significance of the patriarchal blessing, which he had previously devalued. His lament underscores the irreversible consequences of neglecting spiritual inheritance for temporary gratification.

Genesis 27 34 Context

Genesis 27:34 takes place immediately after Jacob, guided by Rebekah and disguised as Esau, has received the blessing from Isaac meant for the firstborn. Isaac, now blind and frail, intended to bestow the unique patriarchal blessing upon his favorite son, Esau, before his death. Esau had just returned from hunting, ready to receive his father's blessing. This verse marks the climactic moment of realization for Esau, understanding the full extent of what he had forfeited and Jacob's deception. The broader chapter highlights themes of favoritism, deception, the importance of a spiritual inheritance (the birthright and blessing), and the unfolding of God's sovereign plan despite human fallibility and sin.

Genesis 27 34 Word analysis

• When Esau heard: Implies an immediate, shocking comprehension of Isaac's previous words. This realization crashes upon him, rather than a gradual understanding.

• the words of his father: Specifically the words Isaac spoke blessing Jacob, believing it was Esau, which now confirmed the transfer of the primary blessing.

• he cried out: (Hebrew: wayyizʿaq - וַיִּצְעַק) A strong, guttural verb meaning to yell, shout, or roar, often indicative of extreme distress, anguish, or an urgent plea for help. It's not a whimper, but a powerful vocalization of pain.

• with an exceedingly great: (Hebrew: gāḏôl mə’ōd - גָּדוֹל מְאֹד) This intensifier ("great, very much so") highlights the extreme volume and intensity of Esau's cry. It was not merely a loud cry, but one that demonstrated an overwhelming surge of emotion, indicating deep inner turmoil.

• and bitter: (Hebrew: ûmārâ - וּמָרָה) From the root marar (מָרַר), signifying something sharp, unpleasant, severe, or painful. In this context, it describes the emotional quality of the cry—a cry filled with profound anguish, disappointment, sorrow, regret, resentment, or even fury. It indicates the sting of irreparable loss and despair.

• cry: (Hebrew: ṣaʿaqâ - צְעָקָה) The noun form of the verb "cried out," serving to further emphasize and specify the type of sound produced – an anguished shriek or outcry of distress. This is not a polite word, but an outburst.

• and said to his father: Though consumed by emotion, Esau still addresses his father with a direct, desperate question, showing that his mind is still on the blessing and what he might salvage.

• "Bless me, me also, O my father!": A desperate, repetitive plea. "Me also" (Hebrew: gam-'ani) signifies his desire to receive a blessing in addition to Jacob's, implying he might have been expecting the blessing, but is now just hoping for any blessing at all, recognizing what has been done. This highlights his sudden and intense realization of the value of what he had casually dismissed.

• Words-group analysis:

  • "cried out with an exceedingly great and bitter cry": This entire phrase powerfully depicts the depth of Esau's immediate, overwhelming emotional agony. It conveys an image of someone utterly broken, whose soul is in turmoil, facing an unchangeable and devastating reality. This physical manifestation of grief signals a spiritual crisis over a squandered heritage.
  • "Bless me, me also, O my father!": This plea, born of despair, encapsulates the irony of Esau's situation. He desired the very blessing he had earlier treated with contempt. His plea underscores a belated recognition of the blessing's immense value, but the opportunity for the primary, binding blessing was past.

Genesis 27 34 Bonus section

The profound grief and desperate cry of Esau highlight a central biblical principle: the spiritual realm often has direct and irreversible consequences in the temporal. While Jacob’s deception was morally wrong, God's sovereign plan for the blessing (foretold in Gen 25:23 and emphasized in Rom 9:10-13) unfolds through it, demonstrating that divine purposes can prevail even amidst human sin. Esau’s outburst shows his value for what was lost, not necessarily what was intrinsically sacred. He laments the effect of being passed over rather than his disregard for his birthright. This distinct lack of "repentance" as understood in a spiritual sense (a change of mind leading to a turning to God) is crucial for understanding why his bitter tears did not lead to restoration of the primary blessing, which was irrevocably tied to the Abrahamic covenant.

Genesis 27 34 Commentary

Genesis 27:34 captures one of the most poignant and climactic moments in the early biblical narrative: Esau's profound, agonizing realization of irreversible loss. His "exceedingly great and bitter cry" is not merely an expression of disappointment, but a soul-deep wail of grief and regret. This intensity reveals how truly significant the patriarchal blessing was in their culture, symbolizing the transfer of divine favor, covenantal promises, and future inheritance. It stands in stark contrast to Esau's earlier dismissive attitude towards his birthright when he sold it for a bowl of lentil stew (Gen 25:29-34). The bitterness of his cry reflects the sting of consequences for past spiritual negligence.

The New Testament interprets Esau's weeping in Heb 12:16-17 as a display of anguish not truly for repentance towards God but for the earthly loss, showing that even deep regret and tears over consequences do not always equate to a changed heart that can find favor. His lament here is born from a desire to reclaim the material benefits and societal honor of the blessing, rather than expressing contrition for his disregard for spiritual things or for his casual treatment of God's covenantal heritage. His desperate "Bless me, me also" illustrates a man trying to retrieve something he valued only when it was no longer his. This serves as a potent warning against treating God's gifts, whether spiritual or temporal, with casual disdain, for opportunities lost are often irrecoverable, and the weeping for their loss can be bitter indeed.

Examples:

• A person neglecting a long-standing offer of salvation, only to realize the eternal consequences upon their deathbed, crying out for grace.
• Someone squandering opportunities for spiritual growth in their youth, leading to profound regret later in life when faced with challenges for which they are unprepared.