Genesis 27 36

Genesis 27:36 kjv

And he said, Is not he rightly named Jacob? for he hath supplanted me these two times: he took away my birthright; and, behold, now he hath taken away my blessing. And he said, Hast thou not reserved a blessing for me?

Genesis 27:36 nkjv

And Esau said, "Is he not rightly named Jacob? For he has supplanted me these two times. He took away my birthright, and now look, he has taken away my blessing!" And he said, "Have you not reserved a blessing for me?"

Genesis 27:36 niv

Esau said, "Isn't he rightly named Jacob? This is the second time he has taken advantage of me: He took my birthright, and now he's taken my blessing!" Then he asked, "Haven't you reserved any blessing for me?"

Genesis 27:36 esv

Esau said, "Is he not rightly named Jacob? For he has cheated me these two times. He took away my birthright, and behold, now he has taken away my blessing." Then he said, "Have you not reserved a blessing for me?"

Genesis 27:36 nlt

Esau exclaimed, "No wonder his name is Jacob, for now he has cheated me twice. First he took my rights as the firstborn, and now he has stolen my blessing. Oh, haven't you saved even one blessing for me?"

Genesis 27 verses

Genesis 27 36 meaning

Genesis 27:36 reveals Esau’s deep anguish and bitter understanding that his twin brother, Jacob, has twice lived up to his name as "Supplanter." First, Jacob acquired Esau's birthright, and now he has deceptively stolen the patriarchal blessing meant for the firstborn. Esau's desperate question to his father Isaac, asking if there is any blessing left for him, underscores the finality of his loss and the perceived irrevocability of Isaac's pronouncement. It highlights Esau's grief over what he views as Jacob's cunning and theft.

Genesis 27 36 Context

Genesis 27 describes a pivotal family drama centered on the patriarchal blessing. Isaac, old and blind, intends to bestow the firstborn's blessing upon Esau, his favored son. However, Rebekah, Isaac's wife and Jacob's mother, overhears Isaac's plan. Driven by her favoritism for Jacob and perhaps a belief in the prophecy that the older would serve the younger (Gen 25:23), she orchestrates a cunning deception. She helps Jacob impersonate Esau, allowing him to receive the blessing, which Isaac then unknowingly gives. Esau, returning from his hunt, discovers the deception and utters this verse in bitter realization and despair, grasping the full impact of what Jacob has twice taken from him. This event sets the stage for deep animosity between the brothers and subsequent key events in Jacob's life.

Genesis 27 36 Word analysis

• He said, 'Has he not rightly named Jacob?

  • He said: Refers to Esau. Marks the direct, intense emotional utterance.
  • Has he not rightly named: A rhetorical question, confirming the name Jacob as an accurate description of his character. This shows Esau's understanding of his brother's cunning nature.
  • Jacob (יַעֲקֹב - Ya'akov): Meaning "heel-grabber" or "supplanter/deceiver." This name was given to him at birth (Gen 25:26) because he held onto Esau's heel. Here, Esau directly connects the name's meaning to Jacob's actions.

• For he has supplanted me these two times.

  • For he has supplanted (וַיַּעְקְבֵנִי - va-ya'qəvēnī): A verbal form of Jacob's name, meaning "he has overreached me," "he has circumvented me," or "he has tripped me up." This verb directly ties Jacob's action to his very identity, reinforcing the double meaning of his name.
  • me: Esau, the immediate victim of Jacob's cunning.
  • these two times: Refers specifically to the acquisition of the birthright and the theft of the blessing. This emphasizes a pattern of deceit, not a single instance.

• He took away my birthright, and behold, now he has taken away my blessing!

  • He took away (לָקַח - lāqaḥ): To take, seize, acquire. Simple, yet powerful in expressing loss and dispossession.
  • my birthright (בְּכֹרָה - bəkōrāh): The right of the firstborn son. This included a double portion of the inheritance, familial headship, and often a spiritual precedence or leadership role within the family lineage. Esau previously sold it cheaply (Gen 25:34), showing he undervalued it.
  • and behold, now (וְהִנֵּה עַתָּה - və-hinnēh 'attāh): The interjection "behold" (hinneh) adds dramatic urgency and calls attention to the gravity of the second, immediate loss. "Now" emphasizes the present, raw wound.
  • he has taken away my blessing! (לָקַח בִּרְכָתִי - lāqaḥ birkatî): The patriarchal blessing. This was an authoritative, usually irrevocable, pronouncement of prosperity, favor, and destiny from the father to the son, often carrying covenantal implications. Its loss was a profound and devastating blow to Esau.
  • my blessing!: Emphasizes his sense of rightful ownership and his personal anguish at its forfeiture.

• Then Esau said, 'Have you not reserved a blessing for me?'

  • Then Esau said: Marks a continuation of his desperate plea, directly addressing his father.
  • Have you not reserved (הַלֹא אַצַּלְתָּ - hă-lō 'atsalְtā): "Have you not set aside?" or "Is there not something left?" It's a plea for even a remnant, highlighting his despair that he has received absolutely nothing.
  • a blessing for me?: His final, fervent plea, showcasing his shattered hopes and a desperate longing for some form of paternal affirmation.

• Words-group Analysis:

  • "Has he not rightly named Jacob? For he has supplanted me these two times.": A powerful and ironic statement connecting Jacob's name to a history of manipulative behavior. It frames Esau's current distress as the culmination of Jacob's true character.
  • "He took away my birthright, and behold, now he has taken away my blessing!": This parallel construction builds in intensity, showing the progressive nature of Jacob's encroachments on Esau's status. It highlights the escalation from a private transaction (albeit one with profound spiritual implications) to a direct, fraudulent seizure of the highest familial spiritual inheritance.

Genesis 27 36 Bonus section

• The irrevocability of Isaac's blessing, once given, reflects the profound cultural and spiritual weight attributed to a father's pronouncement in ancient Israelite society. It was considered a divinely endorsed declaration of destiny, not easily rescinded.
• Esau's framing of the birthright acquisition as "taking away" (לָקַח - lāqaḥ), similar to the blessing, suggests he now views his previous sale as a forceful deprivation, conveniently forgetting his own part in "despising" it for mere food.
• This verse is foundational for understanding the complex relationship between Israel (Jacob's descendants) and Edom (Esau's descendants) throughout biblical history, often marked by rivalry and conflict.
• The narrative demonstrates how God's divine purpose (to elect Jacob) is achieved, even despite human sinfulness and cunning, emphasizing God's ultimate sovereignty. This does not, however, condone the deceptive actions of Jacob or Rebekah, as Jacob later faced consequences through Laban's deception.

Genesis 27 36 Commentary

Genesis 27:36 is the pinnacle of Esau's agony. His cry confirms the prophetic nature of Jacob's name, highlighting that Jacob not only embodies but actively demonstrates the meaning of "Supplanter" through his deceit. Esau rightly identifies two distinct acts: the birthright purchase (which he undervalued, but now keenly feels its loss) and the blessing theft (a direct act of fraud). While Esau's tears (mentioned immediately after and in Heb 12:17) are real, they are sorrow for loss, not repentance for his own sin of despising the birthright. This verse poignantly illustrates the human cost of Jacob's actions, demonstrating that God's sovereign plan for His people often unfolds through imperfect and sinful human agents, without excusing their culpability. Esau's desperate inquiry about a reserved blessing underscores the perceived finality and power of Isaac's uttered blessing within that cultural framework.