Genesis 28:6 kjv

When Esau saw that Isaac had blessed Jacob, and sent him away to Padanaram, to take him a wife from thence; and that as he blessed him he gave him a charge, saying, Thou shalt not take a wife of the daughters of Canaan;

Genesis 28:6 nkjv

Esau saw that Isaac had blessed Jacob and sent him away to Padan Aram to take himself a wife from there, and that as he blessed him he gave him a charge, saying, "You shall not take a wife from the daughters of Canaan,"

Genesis 28:6 niv

Now Esau learned that Isaac had blessed Jacob and had sent him to Paddan Aram to take a wife from there, and that when he blessed him he commanded him, "Do not marry a Canaanite woman,"

Genesis 28:6 esv

Now Esau saw that Isaac had blessed Jacob and sent him away to Paddan-aram to take a wife from there, and that as he blessed him he directed him, "You must not take a wife from the Canaanite women,"

Genesis 28:6 nlt

Esau knew that his father, Isaac, had blessed Jacob and sent him to Paddan-aram to find a wife, and that he had warned Jacob, "You must not marry a Canaanite woman."

Genesis 28 verses

Genesis 28 6 Meaning

Genesis 28:6 records Esau's observation and understanding of two pivotal events: his father Isaac's blessing of Jacob and Isaac's subsequent instruction to Jacob not to take a wife from the daughters of Canaan, instead sending him to Paddan-aram for a spouse. Esau perceives the immediate practical actions but seemingly grasps only a surface-level implication regarding marriage preferences.

Genesis 28 6 Context

Genesis 28:6 follows immediately after Jacob's deceptive acquisition of Isaac's blessing and his subsequent flight from Esau's wrath. Jacob has just received Isaac's renewed blessing, explicitly including the Abrahamic covenant promises, along with a crucial command to not take a wife from the Canaanite women, but instead to seek one from the household of Bethuel, Rebekah's father, in Paddan-aram. This verse highlights Esau's perception of these events. Historically, this period reflects the nascent stages of Israel's separation as a distinct covenant people. The practice of arranged marriages within kin groups was common to preserve tribal purity and alliances. For the Abrahamic line, avoiding Canaanite women was vital; their idolatrous and immoral practices represented a fundamental antithesis to the emerging monotheistic worship and moral code being established through the patriarchs. This strict instruction can be seen as an early polemic against syncretism and assimilation, stressing the divine call for a people set apart for God's purposes.

Genesis 28 6 Word Analysis

• וַיַּרְא (wayyar) - "And he saw / And Esau saw." This is from the Hebrew verb ra'ah (רָאָה), meaning "to see," "perceive," "discern," or "understand." It implies more than mere physical sight. In this context, it suggests Esau perceived what transpired, perhaps understanding its gravity, yet it appears his understanding was incomplete or superficial, primarily reacting to the practical implications rather than the deep spiritual significance.

• עֵשָׂו (Esav) - Esau. Jacob's twin brother. His name relates to "hairy." Throughout Genesis, Esau is presented as a man of the field, impulsive, focused on immediate gratification, and somewhat indifferent to spiritual inheritance or covenant promises, especially contrasted with Jacob's (at times flawed) pursuit of the blessing. His "seeing" here is distinct from a true spiritual apprehension.

• כִּי־בֵרַךְ יִצְחָק אֶת־יַעֲקֹב (ki-verach Yitzchak et-Ya'akov) - "that Isaac had blessed Jacob."

  • בָּרַךְ (barak) - "blessed." This verb signifies imparting divine favor, prosperity, and authority, particularly tied to the covenant promises. Isaac's blessing conferred upon Jacob the Abrahamic inheritance (Gen 28:3-4).

• וַיִּשְׁלַח אֹתוֹ (vayyishlach oto) - "and sent him away."

  • שָׁלַח (shalach) - "to send, stretch out." Indicates an intentional sending forth, a clear directive for Jacob's journey.

• פַּדְּנָה אֲרָם (Paddnah Aram) - "to Paddan-aram." A region in Mesopotamia, often associated with Haran, the ancestral homeland of Abraham's extended family. This destination underscores the instruction to find a wife within the lineage, a continuation of Abraham's initial charge to his servant in Genesis 24, avoiding marriage outside the covenant family.

• לָקַחַת־לֹו מִשָּׁם אִשָּׁה (laqachat-lo misham ishshah) - "to take for himself a wife from there."

  • לָקַח (laqach) - "to take, receive, acquire." The action of procuring a wife.

• וּבְבָרְכוֹ (u'vevarcho) - "and as he blessed him / while he blessed him." The reiteration of "blessed" reinforces that the charge concerning marriage was given at the very moment Jacob received the patriarchal blessing. This links the blessing intrinsically to the lineage's purity and distinction from Canaanite practices.

• צִוָּה עָלָיו (tzivvah alav) - "he charged him / he commanded him."

  • צָוָה (tzavah) - "to command, charge, instruct strictly." This is a strong verb, indicating an authoritative, formal directive, a divine imperative conveyed through the patriarch.

• לֵאמֹר (lemor) - "saying." Introduces the direct speech of the command.

• לֹא־תִקַּח אִשָּׁה מִבְּנוֹת כְּנָעַן (lo-tikkach ishshah mib'not Kena'an) - "you shall not take a wife from the daughters of Canaan."

  • לֹא (lo) - "not." A strong prohibition.
  • כְּנָעַן (Kena'an) - Canaan. Represents the pagan culture, idolatry, and moral corruption. Intermarriage with Canaanites was not merely a cultural preference but a spiritual contamination, threatening the purity of the covenant lineage and its devotion to God. This prohibition laid a foundational principle for God's chosen people to remain distinct and undefiled, foreshadowing later commands in the Torah.

Genesis 28 6 Bonus section

The Hebrew word ra'ah ("saw") can imply not only physical sight but also perception, understanding, and even spiritual insight. Esau saw the facts, but the biblical narrative strongly implies he failed to fully grasp the why or the covenantal significance behind Isaac's actions. This contrast between outward observation and inner spiritual understanding is a recurring theme in Scripture. Esau's attempt to rectify his previous error (marrying Canaanite women, which grieved his parents in Gen 26:35) by marrying an Ishmaelite wife, though seemingly an improvement, still falls short of fully aligning with the specific divine direction for the patriarchal line, which emphasized finding a spouse within Bethuel's household in Paddan-aram (Gen 28:2). This illustrates a self-driven solution attempting to solve a God-given problem without divine guidance, highlighting his continued focus on pragmatic appeasement over covenant obedience. The narrative subtly uses Esau as a contrasting figure to emphasize the unique calling and demanding nature of the Abrahamic covenant.

Genesis 28 6 Commentary

Genesis 28:6 serves as a pivotal point, illustrating Esau's observational capacity juxtaposed with his apparent lack of deeper spiritual understanding. Esau "saw" that Jacob had been blessed by Isaac and sent away with a strict command regarding marriage. While this indicates Esau was aware of the proceedings, his subsequent action in Genesis 28:9 (marrying an Ishmaelite woman to appease his parents) suggests his interpretation was shallow. He understood that Canaanite wives displeased his parents, but failed to grasp the deeper theological meaning—that the covenant line must remain pure from pagan influence, a truth that extended beyond mere parental preference to divine imperative. The command to avoid Canaanites, explicitly linked to the patriarchal blessing, underscores that the covenant relationship requires a distinctive and consecrated lineage, reflecting God's separation of His people for His unique purposes. This principle is not about ethnic discrimination, but about preserving spiritual integrity and the Abrahamic promise against the idolatrous and immoral influences prevalent in the land. Esau's "seeing" but not truly comprehending highlights the difference between outward observance and spiritual discernment crucial for living in covenant faithfulness.