Genesis 27:38

King James Version:

(The Lord speaking is red text)

And Esau said unto his father, Hast thou but one blessing, my father? bless me, [even] me also, O my father. And Esau lifted up his voice, and wept.

Complete Jewish Bible:

'Esav said to his father, "Have you only one blessing, my father? Father, bless me too!"'Esav wept aloud,

Berean Standard Bible:

Esau said to his father, “Do you have only one blessing, my father? Bless me too, O my father!” Then Esau wept aloud.

American Standard Version:

And Esau said unto his father, Hast thou but one blessing, my father? bless me, even me also, O my father. And Esau lifted up his voice, and wept.

KJV with Strong’s Numbers:

And Esau^{H6215} said^{H559} unto his father^{H1}, Hast thou but one^{H259} blessing^{H1293}, my father^{H1}? bless^{H1288} me, even me also, O my father^{H1}. And Esau^{H6215} lifted up^{H5375} his voice^{H6963}, and wept^{H1058}.

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Commentary for Genesis 27:38

Genesis 27:38 is part of the narrative involving the patriarch Isaac and his twin sons, Esau and Jacob. The historical context of this verse is set within the family dynamics of the early Hebrew patriarchs, who are central figures in the book of Genesis. The themes present in this verse include:

1. **Family Dynamics and Rivalry**: The verse reflects the tension between Esau and Jacob, who are vying for their father's blessing. This rivalry is rooted in the earlier narrative where Esau sells his birthright to Jacob for a bowl of stew (Genesis 25:29-34), and now Isaac is on the verge of giving the blessing meant for the firstborn, Esau, to Jacob instead, due to a deceitful act by Jacob and his mother, Rebekah (Genesis 27:1-29).

2. **The Significance of Blessings**: In the ancient Near Eastern context, a father's blessing was a significant and irrevocable act, conferring status, inheritance, and divine favor upon the recipient. Esau's plea underscores the gravity of the blessing and his realization of its importance.

3. **Divine Providence**: The narrative suggests that despite human machinations, there is an underlying providence guiding the events. God had previously indicated a preference for Jacob (Genesis 25:23), and the unfolding events seem to align with this divine plan.

4. **Repentance and Forgiveness**: Esau's emotional response, characterized by weeping, may reflect a sense of remorse or realization of his own past mistakes, such as selling his birthright. This sets the stage for later reconciliation between the brothers (Genesis 33).

5. **Irrevocable Decisions**: Isaac's response to Esau's plea (in the subsequent verses) highlights the finality of the blessing given to Jacob. This illustrates the concept of actions having lasting consequences, a recurring theme in the Bible.

In summary, Genesis 27:38 captures the culmination of the brothers' rivalry, the profound significance of patriarchal blessings, and the complex interplay of human actions and divine providence, while also foreshadowing future reconciliation. It reflects the depth of family relationships and the emotional turmoil that can arise from irreversible decisions within the context of ancient Near Eastern customs and beliefs.

*This commentary is produced by Microsoft/WizardLM-2-8x22B AI model

Strong's Numbers and Definitions:

Note: H = Hebrew (OT), G = Greek (NT)

1. Strong's Number: H6215
   There are 82 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: עֵשָׂו
   Transliteration: ʻÊsâv
   Pronunciation: ay-sawv'
   Description: apparently a form of the passive participle of עָשָׂה in the original sense of handling; rough (i.e. sensibly felt); Esav, a son of Isaac, including his posterity; Esau.
   
2. Strong's Number: H559
   There are 4434 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: אָמַר
   Transliteration: ʼâmar
   Pronunciation: aw-mar'
   Description: a primitive root; to say (used with great latitude); answer, appoint, avouch, bid, boast self, call, certify, challenge, charge, [phrase] (at the, give) command(-ment), commune, consider, declare, demand, [idiom] desire, determine, [idiom] expressly, [idiom] indeed, [idiom] intend, name, [idiom] plainly, promise, publish, report, require, say, speak (against, of), [idiom] still, [idiom] suppose, talk, tell, term, [idiom] that is, [idiom] think, use (speech), utter, [idiom] verily, [idiom] yet.
   
3. Strong's Number: H1
   There are 15773 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: אָב
   Transliteration: ʼâb
   Pronunciation: awb
   Description: a primitive word; father, in a literal and immediate, or figurative and remote application; chief, (fore-) father(-less), [idiom] patrimony, principal. Compare names in 'Abi-'.
   
4. Strong's Number: H259
   There are 801 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: אֶחָד
   Transliteration: ʼechâd
   Pronunciation: ekh-awd'
   Description: a numeral from אָחַד; properly, united, i.e. one; or (as an ordinal) first; a, alike, alone, altogether, and, any(-thing), apiece, a certain, (dai-) ly, each (one), [phrase] eleven, every, few, first, [phrase] highway, a man, once, one, only, other, some, together,
   
5. Strong's Number: H1293
   There are 64 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: בְּרָכָה
   Transliteration: Bᵉrâkâh
   Pronunciation: ber-aw-kaw'
   Description: from בָרַךְ; benediction; by implication prosperity; blessing, liberal, pool, present.
   
6. Strong's Number: H1288
   There are 289 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: בָרַךְ
   Transliteration: bârak
   Pronunciation: baw-rak'
   Description: a primitive root; to kneel; by implication to bless God (as an act of adoration), and (vice-versa) man (as a benefit); also (by euphemism) to curse (God or the king, as treason); [idiom] abundantly, [idiom] altogether, [idiom] at all, blaspheme, bless, congratulate, curse, [idiom] greatly, [idiom] indeed, kneel (down), praise, salute, [idiom] still, thank.
   
7. Strong's Number: H5375
   There are 611 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: נָשָׂא
   Transliteration: nâsâʼ
   Pronunciation: naw-saw'
   Description: or נָסָה; (Psalm 4:6 (אֲבַד)), a primitive root; to lift, in a great variety of applications, literal and figurative, absolute and relative; accept, advance, arise, (able to, (armor), suffer to) bear(-er, up), bring (forth), burn, carry (away), cast, contain, desire, ease, exact, exalt (self), extol, fetch, forgive, furnish, further, give, go on, help, high, hold up, honorable ([phrase] man), lade, lay, lift (self) up, lofty, marry, magnify, [idiom] needs, obtain, pardon, raise (up), receive, regard, respect, set (up), spare, stir up, [phrase] swear, take (away, up), [idiom] utterly, wear, yield.
   
8. Strong's Number: H6963
   There are 436 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: קוֹל
   Transliteration: qôwl
   Pronunciation: kole
   Description: or קֹל; from an unused root meaning to call aloud; a voice or sound; [phrase] aloud, bleating, crackling, cry ([phrase] out), fame, lightness, lowing, noise, [phrase] hold peace, (pro-) claim, proclamation, [phrase] sing, sound, [phrase] spark, thunder(-ing), voice, [phrase] yell.
   
9. Strong's Number: H1058
   There are 100 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: בָּכָה
   Transliteration: bâkâh
   Pronunciation: baw-kaw'
   Description: a primitive root; to weep; generally to bemoan; [idiom] at all, bewail, complain, make lamentation, [idiom] more, mourn, [idiom] sore, [idiom] with tears, weep.