Genesis 27:4 kjv
And make me savory meat, such as I love, and bring it to me, that I may eat; that my soul may bless thee before I die.
Genesis 27:4 nkjv
And make me savory food, such as I love, and bring it to me that I may eat, that my soul may bless you before I die."
Genesis 27:4 niv
Prepare me the kind of tasty food I like and bring it to me to eat, so that I may give you my blessing before I die."
Genesis 27:4 esv
and prepare for me delicious food, such as I love, and bring it to me so that I may eat, that my soul may bless you before I die."
Genesis 27:4 nlt
Prepare my favorite dish, and bring it here for me to eat. Then I will pronounce the blessing that belongs to you, my firstborn son, before I die."
Genesis 27 4 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Gen 12:2-3 | "I will make you into a great nation, and I will bless you..." | Divine origin of blessing; covenant with Abraham. |
| Gen 25:23 | "Two nations are in your womb...the elder shall serve the younger." | God's prophetic choice prior to birth. |
| Gen 25:28 | "Isaac loved Esau because he ate of his game..." | Isaac's carnal preference for Esau's food. |
| Gen 27:27-29 | Jacob receives the blessing meant for Esau. | Fulfillment of the blessing. |
| Gen 27:33 | "Indeed, he shall be blessed." | Irrevocability of the patriarchal blessing. |
| Gen 28:3-4 | Isaac's subsequent blessing of Jacob, conveying Abraham's blessing. | Confirmation of the patriarchal line. |
| Gen 48:15-16 | Jacob's blessing of Ephraim and Manasseh before his death. | Pattern of patriarchs blessing before dying. |
| Gen 49:1-28 | Jacob's final blessings/prophecies over his twelve sons. | Example of extensive patriarchal blessings. |
| Heb 11:20 | "By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau concerning things to come." | Isaac's act recognized as one of faith. |
| Rom 9:10-13 | "Though they were not yet born...Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated." | God's sovereign election, not human merit/choice. |
| Gen 32:26 | Jacob's insistence on being blessed by the angel/man. | Significance of divine or potent blessing. |
| Num 23:10 | "Let me die the death of the righteous, and let my end be like his!" | The soul's longing for blessing in death. |
| Deut 14:26 | Command to spend tithe on food and drink. | Significance of food in spiritual observances. |
| Psa 42:1-2 | "My soul thirsts for God, for the living God." | The "soul" as the deepest part of being. |
| Gen 27:5-13 | Rebekah hears and orchestrates the deception. | Immediate context of the plan to deceive. |
| Gen 27:18-29 | Jacob carries out the deception and receives the blessing. | Execution of the plan, consequences ensue. |
| Gen 29:25 | Laban deceives Jacob about Rachel and Leah. | The deceiver is himself deceived. |
| Pro 11:1 | "Dishonest scales are an abomination to the LORD..." | God's disapproval of deceit. |
| Mal 1:2-3 | "Was not Esau Jacob’s brother? Yet I have loved Jacob, but Esau I hated." | Reiteration of God's prior choice for Israel. |
| Gen 14:18-20 | Melchizedek bringing bread and wine and blessing Abraham. | Meal as a part of a significant blessing. |
| Ex 24:11 | Eating and drinking in the presence of God on Mount Sinai. | Communal meal signifying covenant or presence. |
Genesis 27 verses
Genesis 27 4 Meaning
Genesis 27:4 reveals Isaac's intention to bestow a special patriarchal blessing upon Esau before his perceived death. He requests Esau to prepare him a specific, "savory food" that he greatly enjoys. This meal is presented as a crucial precursor, an act of communion and preparation, allowing Isaac's deepest being, his "soul," to release a solemn, final blessing that he considers both profound and binding for his firstborn son. It underscores the urgency and sacred weight Isaac attached to this ultimate paternal act.Genesis 27 4 Context
Genesis 27:4 is central to the dramatic events surrounding the patriarchal blessing intended for the firstborn son. Isaac, now old and visually impaired, believed his death was imminent. He desired to perform a customary and profoundly significant act for Esau, his favorite son (Gen 25:28), rooted in Esau's hunting skills which provided him the "savory food" he loved. This request sets the stage for Rebekah's eavesdropping and subsequent orchestrating of Jacob's deception to secure the blessing, a maneuver that aligns with God's earlier prophecy concerning the two brothers (Gen 25:23). Historically, in ancient Near Eastern cultures, a father's oral blessing was considered powerful, binding, and largely irreversible, carrying spiritual, legal, and familial inheritance, especially for the firstborn. The act of sharing a meal, particularly one specifically prepared according to the elder's preference, was often a sacred prelude to significant life-altering events, symbolizing fellowship and reinforcing bonds prior to a solemn declaration or transfer of authority.Genesis 27 4 Word analysis
"and make me" (וַעֲשׂה לִי - va'asoh li):
- The conjunction "and" links this action to Isaac's prior instruction to Esau to go hunting.
- asoh is an imperative, indicating a direct command.
- li ("for me" or "to me") highlights the personal and immediate nature of the request, stressing Isaac's specific desires.
"savory food," (מַטְעַמִּים - maṭʿammīm):
- Derived from a root meaning "to taste."
- Refers to "delicacies," "dainties," or "tasty morsels," not merely ordinary sustenance. It signifies food that is especially delicious and prepared with care.
- This term underscores Isaac's specific craving and the ritualistic nature of the meal. His strong preference for this food, connected to Esau's hunting (Gen 25:28), ultimately influences his decision for the blessing.
"such as I love," (כַּאֲשֶׁר אָהַבְתִּי - ka'asher ahavti):
- ka'asher means "as" or "according to what."
- ahavti means "I have loved" (perfect tense), indicating a deep, abiding affection for this type of food.
- This phrase emphasizes Isaac's personal connection and preference, highlighting that his choice for the blessing is intertwined with his sensual enjoyment and personal affection for Esau's provision, rather than solely on spiritual discernment.
"and bring it to me" (וְהָבִיאָה לִי - vehaviah li):
- vehaviah is an imperative, "and bring." It is a direct command for delivery.
- li ("to me") again personalizes the immediate need for the food's presence.
"that I may eat," (וְאֹכֵלָה - ve'ochela):
- The "that" clause indicates the purpose of bringing the food.
- ochela means "I may eat," reflecting the completion of the physical act. The eating is a vital preparatory step for the profound spiritual act of blessing. This implies a solemn, almost ritualistic meal, a precursor to the transfer of the divine favor.
"that my soul may bless you" (בַּעֲבוּר תְּבָרֶכְךָ נַפְשִׁי - ba'avur tevarekhekha nafshi):
- ba'avur translates as "in order that" or "so that," explicitly stating the overarching purpose of the entire interaction.
- tevarekhekha means "may bless you" (singular male). The verb barak (bless) in this context implies the imparting of power, prosperity, fertility, and divine favor, a binding and potent act.
- nafshi means "my soul," referring to the innermost being, the life essence, or the very self of Isaac. This indicates that the blessing is not just a perfunctory statement but an outpouring from the deepest, most authentic part of his being, believed to carry significant weight and lasting effect.
"before I die." (בְּטֶרֶם אָמוּת - beṭerem amut):
- beṭerem means "before," highlighting the urgency and terminal nature Isaac perceived.
- amut means "I die." While Isaac lived for many more years, his declaration reflects his personal sense of impending mortality, making the blessing a final, authoritative act of his life. This context adds immense gravity and finality to the words he is about to utter.
Words-group analysis:
- "savory food, such as I love,": This phrase emphasizes Isaac's personal preference, taste, and sensory affection taking precedence, leading to his specific instruction. It sets up the later irony of how human inclination and physical desires can intertwine with significant spiritual acts. This focus on "love" (for food and Esau as provider) contrasts with God's "love" and choice of Jacob, which is not based on such transient preferences (Rom 9:13).
- "and bring it to me that I may eat,": This establishes the practical, almost ceremonial requirement of the meal. The physical act of eating is portrayed as an essential preparatory ritual for the profound spiritual act of bestowing the patriarchal blessing, lending it weight and solemnity. It reflects a tangible exchange prior to an intangible but potent declaration.
- "that my soul may bless you before I die.": This climactic phrase encapsulates the entire purpose of the preceding requests. It signifies a profound, heartfelt, and ultimately irreversible declaration from the very core of Isaac's being, pronounced with the authority of a dying patriarch. The mention of "my soul" reinforces the sincerity and deeply personal, vital power Isaac believed he was transmitting through this final blessing, emphasizing its eternal spiritual and temporal consequences.