Genesis 27:35 kjv

And he said, Thy brother came with subtilty, and hath taken away thy blessing.

Genesis 27:35 nkjv

But he said, "Your brother came with deceit and has taken away your blessing."

Genesis 27:35 niv

But he said, "Your brother came deceitfully and took your blessing."

Genesis 27:35 esv

But he said, "Your brother came deceitfully, and he has taken away your blessing."

Genesis 27:35 nlt

But Isaac said, "Your brother was here, and he tricked me. He has taken away your blessing."

Genesis 27 verses

Genesis 27 35 Meaning

This verse conveys Isaac's lament and realization to his son Esau that Jacob, Esau's brother, employed deception and cunning ("subtilty") to unlawfully seize the patriarchal blessing intended for Esau, the firstborn. It encapsulates Isaac's deep distress over the betrayal and the perceived irrevocable loss of a foundational inheritance due to trickery.

Genesis 27 35 Context

Genesis chapter 27 details the critical event where Isaac, old and blind, intends to bestow the firstborn's patriarchal blessing upon his favorite son, Esau. Rebekah, having overheard Isaac's instructions, orchestrates an elaborate deception with her favored son, Jacob. Jacob, disguised as Esau, comes to Isaac, deceives his father, and receives the profound, unalterable blessing meant for his elder brother. This verse marks the agonizing moment when Esau returns, revealing Jacob's treachery, and Isaac understands the full scope of the cunning and theft that has transpired. The cultural significance of a patriarchal blessing in the ancient Near East meant it was not merely a wish, but a declarative pronouncement believed to have inherent power and binding effect, largely irreversible once given.

Genesis 27 35 Word analysis

• And he said (וַיֹּאמֶר - vayyo'mer): This phrase signals the speaker's words. Here, it is Isaac addressing Esau, conveying the bitter truth.
• Thy brother (אָחִיךָ - 'akhikha): Identifies Jacob, emphasizing the blood relationship. This makes the deceit even more heinous—a brother deceiving a brother and father, violating fundamental family bonds.
• came (בָּא - ba): Simple verb of motion, but in context, it implies a purposeful arrival, a deliberate act of approaching with a pre-planned scheme, not an innocent encounter.
• with subtilty (בְּמִרְמָה - b'mirmāh): This is a crucial Hebrew term meaning deceit, trickery, cunning, treachery, or fraud. It highlights the deliberate and calculated nature of Jacob's actions. It implies an underhanded, manipulative strategy rather than a straightforward request or genuine earning. The word carries a strong negative connotation, condemning the method used.
• and hath taken away (וַיִּקַּח - vayyiqqah): This verb means "to take," "to seize," or "to acquire." In this context, it is not "received" in a legitimate transaction, but "taken away" or "appropriated" by cunning. It underscores that the blessing was not freely given as intended, but illicitly grasped.
• thy blessing (בִּרְכָתֶךָ - birkatēka): Refers to the specific patriarchal blessing due to Esau as the firstborn son. In ancient times, this blessing was far more than a wish; it was considered a formal, divinely empowered declaration that conferred tangible spiritual, material, and positional inheritance (e.g., prosperity, dominion over brethren, fertile land). Its perceived irreversibility intensified Isaac’s anguish and Esau’s despair.

Words-group analysis:

• Thy brother came with subtilty: This phrase clearly identifies the perpetrator (the brother, Jacob) and the method used (deceit). The kinship tie adds a layer of emotional betrayal and sorrow to the act, transforming a simple "came" into a loaded arrival for deception.
• and hath taken away thy blessing: This part details the outcome and the nature of the loss. The blessing was not simply 'received' by another but 'taken away' by illicit means. This highlights the profundity of the loss for Esau and the irreparable nature of the act from Isaac's perspective, emphasizing the severity of what Jacob did and its permanent consequences.

Genesis 27 35 Bonus section

The belief in the binding and permanent nature of a spoken blessing in ancient Near Eastern culture is a crucial backdrop for understanding Isaac’s reaction. For Isaac, once the blessing was spoken, it had taken on a life of its own and could not be rescinded. This perspective elevates Jacob’s action from a simple lie to an irreversible act of spiritual and material usurpation. Though God had purposed the younger to rule the elder, the method employed by Jacob and Rebekah was contrary to God’s character, showing that while God's ultimate plan prevails, human means can still be sinful and incur earthly consequences, shaping future relationships and character development for decades.

Genesis 27 35 Commentary

Genesis 27:35 presents Isaac’s heartbroken and resigned realization that Jacob, not through honest means but through "subtilty," had stolen Esau's rightful, unrevokable blessing. Isaac’s words highlight the profound cultural significance of a patriarchal blessing—once pronounced, it was believed to be binding and permanent, carrying inherent spiritual authority and material destiny that could not be retracted or reallocated. This specific moment of clarity for Isaac underlines the grievous nature of Jacob's deception, marking him as a supplanter not only by his birth but by his calculated action. Despite the human sin and manipulative actions, this episode serves to fulfill God's prior prophecy from Gen 25:23 that "the older shall serve the younger," demonstrating how God’s sovereign plan can unfold even through the flawed choices and deceitful actions of humanity. The verse sets the stage for a period of animosity between the brothers and later serves as a pattern for Jacob to experience similar deception in his own life, a form of poetic justice.