Genesis 27 40

Genesis 27:40 kjv

And by thy sword shalt thou live, and shalt serve thy brother; and it shall come to pass when thou shalt have the dominion, that thou shalt break his yoke from off thy neck.

Genesis 27:40 nkjv

By your sword you shall live, And you shall serve your brother; And it shall come to pass, when you become restless, That you shall break his yoke from your neck."

Genesis 27:40 niv

You will live by the sword and you will serve your brother. But when you grow restless, you will throw his yoke from off your neck."

Genesis 27:40 esv

By your sword you shall live, and you shall serve your brother; but when you grow restless you shall break his yoke from your neck."

Genesis 27:40 nlt

You will live by your sword,
and you will serve your brother.
But when you decide to break free,
you will shake his yoke from your neck."

Genesis 27 verses

Genesis 27 40 meaning

Genesis 27:40, as part of Isaac's prophetic words to Esau, foretells a life marked by hardship and self-reliance ("By your sword you shall live"). It declares that Esau, and by extension his descendants the Edomites, would initially be subservient to his brother Jacob's lineage ("and serve your brother"). However, the verse also includes a crucial element of future rebellion and temporary liberation, stating that when Esau grows restless or strong enough, he would break free from that imposed servitude ("but when you grow restive, you shall break his yoke from your neck"). This "blessing" is starkly different from Jacob's, describing a future of struggle, conflict, and periods of freedom gained through might, reflecting the challenging destiny of the Edomite nation.

Genesis 27 40 Context

Genesis 27:40 takes place immediately after Jacob, with Rebekah's instigation, deceitfully obtains the primary blessing from his blind father, Isaac, by impersonating Esau. Esau, returning from hunting, discovers the deception and pleads with his father for any remaining blessing. Isaac, deeply troubled by the deception yet bound by the solemnity of his pronouncements, offers this secondary, qualitatively different "blessing" to Esau. This verse provides Isaac's prophetic summation of Esau's future and that of his descendants, the Edomites. It stands in stark contrast to the abundant, prosperous, and dominion-granting blessing Jacob received (Gen 27:28-29). The broader biblical context shows the ongoing tension and conflict between the lineages of Jacob and Esau, fulfilling the earlier divine prophecy given to Rebekah in Genesis 25:23 about the elder serving the younger, while also hinting at periods when the elder would break free.

Genesis 27 40 Word analysis

• By your sword: (בְחַרְבְּךָ - bə·ḥar·bə·ḵā)

  • "By your sword": The Hebrew ḥerev (חרב), "sword," signifies the primary means of subsistence and survival for Esau and his descendants. Unlike Jacob, who received the blessing of agricultural fertility and dew from heaven, Esau's life would be characterized by a reliance on hunting, warfare, and aggressive self-assertion. It implies a hard, perhaps violent, way of life, constantly engaged in struggle rather than peaceful settled prosperity provided by divine favor.
  • you shall live: (תִּֽחְיֶ֑ה - tiḥ·yeh)
    • "live": This word simply denotes existence or survival. Coupled with "by your sword," it paints a picture of a difficult, strenuous, and self-sufficient existence, where sustenance is actively taken or fought for, rather than received as a divine gift of abundant blessing.

• and serve your brother: (וְאֶת־אָחִֽיךָ תַּעֲבֹֽד - wə·’eṯ-’ā·ḥî·ḵā ta·‘ă·ḇōḏ)

  • "serve": The Hebrew ‘āḇaḏ (עָבַד) means to work, serve, or be enslaved. This directly fulfills the earlier prophecy of Gen 25:23 where God tells Rebekah, "the older shall serve the younger." It signifies a period of subjugation where the descendants of Esau (Edom) would be under the dominion of the descendants of Jacob (Israel), a historical reality during various periods, notably under King David.

• but when you grow restive: (וְהָיָה כַּאֲשֶׁר תָּרִ֧יד - wə·hā·yāh ka’ă·šer tā·rîḏ)

  • "when you grow restive": The Hebrew root râḏaḏ (רדד), sometimes related to rûḏ (רוד) meaning to roam, be unrestrained, or show agitation. Different translations use "grow restless," "break loose," or "struggle fiercely." It implies a moment of impatience, rebellion, or accumulating strength to challenge the existing state of subservience. It is a key phrase, indicating a conditional element for Esau's future.

• you shall break his yoke: (וּפָרַקְתָּ עֻלּוֹ - ū·p̄ā·raq·tā ‘ul·lōw)

  • "break": The Hebrew pāraḳ (פרק) means to break, tear off, or snatch away.
  • "yoke": The Hebrew ‘ol (עֹל) refers to a wooden frame placed on an animal's neck to harness it for work, or metaphorically, a burden of servitude or oppression.
  • "break his yoke": This is a powerful image signifying liberation from subjugation. It implies gaining freedom or throwing off the burden of servitude to Jacob's descendants. This aspect of the "blessing" was also fulfilled in the history of Edom, notably when they revolted against Judah's rule.

• from your neck: (מֵעַל צַוָּארֶֽךָ - mê·‘al ṣaw·wā·re·ḵā)

  • "from your neck": This reinforces the imagery of the yoke. The neck is the literal part of the body upon which a burden or yoke is placed, making the act of "breaking the yoke" a visceral demonstration of release and regained autonomy.

Genesis 27 40 Bonus section

The seemingly harsh "blessing" for Esau in Gen 27:40, while distinct from Jacob's, also implicitly conveys a degree of resilience and a unique, albeit challenging, national identity. While Jacob's blessing emphasized peace, abundance, and dominion through divine favor, Esau's pointed to a tenacious spirit, ability to fend for himself, and a struggle for autonomy. This speaks to the diverse paths nations can take and God's sovereign hand working through different peoples' destinies. Isaac, despite being deceived and knowing the divine will was for Jacob to be blessed, was still used by God to pronounce a true, though painful, prophetic word over Esau that largely came to pass. The conditional phrase "when you grow restive" suggests that Edom's periods of freedom would be a result of their own strength and initiative, contrasting with the promise of divine enablement for Israel's ascendancy. This verse highlights how earthly choices and characteristics, even those marked by conflict, contribute to a divinely ordained, long-term plan for peoples and nations.

Genesis 27 40 Commentary

Genesis 27:40 serves as a somber prophetic "blessing" for Esau, outlining a future path distinctly different from that of Jacob. It isn't a true blessing of divine favor and abundance, but rather a descriptive prophecy reflecting Esau's temperament and the destiny of his descendants, Edom. The initial statement, "By your sword you shall live," immediately establishes a theme of hardship and self-reliance, relying on one's own strength and possibly aggressive means for survival, as opposed to receiving a divinely endowed inheritance of peace and prosperity. This sets Esau apart from Jacob, who was promised the fatness of the earth and dew from heaven.

The subsequent declaration, "and serve your brother," reaffirms the earlier divine oracle to Rebekah (Gen 25:23) regarding the elder serving the younger. This points to historical periods when the Edomites would indeed be subservient to the Israelites, most notably during the Davidic kingdom. Yet, Isaac's prophecy introduces a crucial nuance with the phrase, "but when you grow restive, you shall break his yoke from your neck." This condition points to periods of successful rebellion and independence for Edom, illustrating that the servitude would not be absolute or perpetual. This was fulfilled through several Edomite revolts against Judah, showing a recurring cycle of subservience and freedom, echoing their ongoing hostile relationship with Israel. This verse powerfully encapsulates the intertwined yet antagonistic destinies of these two brother nations, driven by self-will versus divine election.