Genesis 28:4 kjv

And give thee the blessing of Abraham, to thee, and to thy seed with thee; that thou mayest inherit the land wherein thou art a stranger, which God gave unto Abraham.

Genesis 28:4 nkjv

And give you the blessing of Abraham, To you and your descendants with you, That you may inherit the land In which you are a stranger, Which God gave to Abraham."

Genesis 28:4 niv

May he give you and your descendants the blessing given to Abraham, so that you may take possession of the land where you now reside as a foreigner, the land God gave to Abraham."

Genesis 28:4 esv

May he give the blessing of Abraham to you and to your offspring with you, that you may take possession of the land of your sojournings that God gave to Abraham!"

Genesis 28:4 nlt

May God pass on to you and your descendants the blessings he promised to Abraham. May you own this land where you are now living as a foreigner, for God gave this land to Abraham."

Genesis 28 verses

Genesis 28 4 Meaning

Genesis 28:4 is a crucial declaration by Isaac, invoking God's promise to Abraham upon Jacob. It extends the Abrahamic covenant's specific blessings – numerous descendants and possession of the promised land – to Jacob. This prayer and prophetic utterance ensure the continuation of the covenantal lineage through Jacob, emphasizing divine enablement for receiving the land that God had previously given to Abraham and his "seed." It encapsulates the essence of God's covenantal faithfulness, assuring Jacob that the ancestral blessings are his.

Genesis 28 4 Context

Genesis chapter 28 initiates a pivotal turning point in Jacob's life. He has just deceived his father, Isaac, and brother, Esau, to secure the birthright and the primary patriarchal blessing (Gen 27). Rebekah, fearing Esau's murderous wrath, instructs Jacob to flee to her brother Laban in Paddan-aram. Before his departure, Isaac summons Jacob and provides him with an additional, distinct blessing in Gen 28:3-4. This blessing focuses specifically on the Abrahamic covenant — fertility, numerous offspring, and the promised land – emphasizing God's role as El Shaddai (God Almighty, a provider of fruitfulness) and explicitly linking Jacob to Abraham's blessings. Unlike the earlier blessing which was based on sensory perception and deception, this blessing from Isaac is purposeful and explicit about covenant continuation, ensuring God's redemptive plan through Jacob. This prepares Jacob for his transformative encounter with God at Bethel (Gen 28:10-22), where God Himself reaffirms and expands upon these very promises. Historically and culturally, such patriarchal blessings were immensely significant, conveying legal, social, and spiritual inheritance within a family lineage, reflecting the belief that the father’s pronouncement carried divine authority and the power to shape destiny.

Genesis 28 4 Word Analysis

• May he give you (וְיִתֶּן־לְךָ, wə·yit·ten-lə·ḵā): This phrase reflects a prayer and a prophetic declaration. It expresses Isaac's earnest desire that God, not himself, be the ultimate bestower of these blessings. It emphasizes God's sovereign agency in the continuation of the covenant. The grammatical form is a jussive, expressing a wish or command, indicating Isaac’s authoritative invocation of divine favor upon Jacob.
• the blessing of Abraham (אֶת־בִּרְכַּת אַבְרָהָם, ’et-bir·kat ’aḇ·rā·hām):
  • "Blessing" (בִּרְכַּת, birkat): Refers to a comprehensive divine favor, encompassing prosperity, fruitfulness, security, and especially the spiritual and covenantal promises given to Abraham. It implies endowment with power to succeed and flourish. This is more than mere material gain; it includes God's presence and guidance.
  • "of Abraham" (אַבְרָהָם, ’aḇ·rā·hām): Directly links Jacob to the foundational covenant God established with his grandfather, Abraham. This is the divine commitment to make Abraham the father of many nations, bless those who bless him, curse those who curse him, and through his seed, bless all families of the earth (Gen 12:2-3). Isaac is not conferring a new blessing, but channeling the existing, divine, Abrahamic covenant to Jacob.
• to you and to your offspring (וּלְזַרְעֲךָ, ū·lə·zar·‘ă·ḵā):
  • "and to your" (וּלְ, ū·lə): Conveys a comprehensive application, encompassing Jacob personally and his future lineage.
  • "offspring" (זַרְעֲךָ, zar·‘ă·ḵā): Hebrew "zera‘" (זֶרַע) means "seed" or "descendant." It is a singular collective noun, meaning it can refer to a single descendant or to all descendants. In this context, it primarily means Jacob’s future numerous progeny that will become a great nation. Theologically, New Testament interpretation, especially in Gal 3:16, understands "seed" as ultimately pointing to Christ, through whom all spiritual blessings flow and who gathers the true "offspring" of faith.
• with you (אִתָּךְ, ’it·tāḵ): This small word signifies the immediate and continued connection. The offspring will be linked directly with Jacob and his journey, growing out from him as a natural and divinely ordained extension.
• that you may take possession of the land of your sojournings (לָרֶשֶׁת אֶת־אֶרֶץ מְגֻרֶיךָ, lā·re·šeṯ ’et-’e·reṣ mə·ḡu·re·ḵā):
  • "that you may take possession" (לָרֶשֶׁת, lā·re·šeṯ): The infinitive construct means "to inherit" or "to take possession of." This highlights a core purpose of the blessing: the legal and de facto appropriation of the land. It implies eventual, concrete fulfillment of the land promise.
  • "the land" (אֶרֶץ, ’e·reṣ): Refers specifically to the land of Canaan, which became the Promised Land, Israel. It is the geographic focus of God’s covenant with Abraham.
  • "of your sojournings" (מְגֻרֶיךָ, mə·ḡu·re·ḵā): From the Hebrew "magur" (מָגוּר) meaning "temporary dwelling" or "sojourning." This emphasizes that Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob were mere temporary residents in the land, never fully possessing it during their lifetimes, but God guaranteed their descendants would. It highlights a theme in the patriarchal narratives of living by faith as strangers, looking to a future fulfillment (Heb 11:9-10, 13).
• that God gave to Abraham (אֲשֶׁר נָתַן אֱלֹהִים לְאַבְרָהָם, ’ă·šer nā·ṯan ’ĕ·lō·hîm lə·’aḇ·rā·hām):
  • "that God gave" (נָתַן אֱלֹהִים, natan Elohim): Reaffirms the divine origin and gifting of the land. The land is not something earned or conquered by human strength alone but is a sovereign gift from "Elohim," the general yet powerful name for God, emphasizing His authority and creative power as the Giver.
  • "to Abraham" (לְאַבְרָהָם, lə·’aḇ·rā·hām): A final reiteration connecting this promise directly back to its source – the original, unchangeable covenant made with Abraham. This validates the entire blessing and positions Jacob squarely within the stream of God’s promised plan.

Genesis 28 4 Bonus section

The repeated emphasis on "Abraham" (appearing three times in Gen 28:4 in connection with the blessing and land) firmly establishes Jacob’s lineage and the legitimacy of the covenant passing to him. This particular blessing contrasts with the one Jacob deceptively obtained from Isaac (Gen 27:28-29), which focused on material wealth and dominion. Gen 28:3-4 shifts to a pure articulation of the divine, covenantal promises – focusing on El Shaddai's role in fruitfulness and the land. The use of "Elohim" here (God) points to God as the universal Creator and sustainer, emphasizing His supreme authority in bestowing the land and lineage, rather than just "LORD" (Yahweh) which often highlights the covenant relationship. This passage is foundational for understanding the patriarchal history and God's consistent plan for His chosen people, paving the way for the later national existence of Israel in the promised land. It illustrates God's unswerving commitment to His covenantal purposes despite human frailties and schemes.

Genesis 28 4 Commentary

Genesis 28:4 is a powerful endorsement of the Abrahamic covenant’s continuation through Jacob. Despite the deceptive means by which Jacob previously secured Esau's blessing (Gen 27), Isaac, now more consciously, bestows the specific covenantal promises given to Abraham directly onto Jacob. This blessing acts as a divine filter, validating Jacob as the true heir of the Abrahamic covenant, superseding Esau. It’s a prayer-prophecy: Isaac "gives" what only God can truly give, articulating the divine intent.

The core elements are "the blessing of Abraham," which encompasses both innumerable descendants ("offspring") and literal "possession of the land" – promises found consistently throughout God’s dealings with Abraham (Gen 12:7, 13:15, 15:18, 17:7-8). The phrasing "land of your sojournings" underscores that the patriarchs themselves were only temporary residents, living by faith, anticipating their descendants' eventual inheritance. The declaration that "God gave" this land to Abraham reiterates divine sovereignty and the unconditional nature of the promise, regardless of human imperfection. This verse sets the stage for God's personal reaffirmation of these very promises to Jacob at Bethel (Gen 28:13-15), signifying His unwavering faithfulness. It foreshadows the formation of the nation of Israel and the fulfillment of God’s redemptive purposes through Abraham’s "seed," ultimately pointing to Christ (Gal 3:16). The blessing serves as a profound comfort and divine guidance for Jacob as he embarks on his uncertain journey, assuring him that God's covenantal plan will endure through him.