Genesis 27:4

King James Version:

(The Lord speaking is red text)

And make me savoury meat, such as I love, and bring [it] to me, that I may eat; that my soul may bless thee before I die.

Complete Jewish Bible:

Make it tasty, the way I like it; and bring it to me to eat. Then I will bless you [as firstborn], before I die."

Berean Standard Bible:

Then prepare a tasty dish that I love and bring it to me to eat, so that I may bless you before I die.”

American Standard Version:

and make me savory food, such as I love, and bring it to me, that I may eat; that my soul may bless thee before I die.

KJV with Strong’s Numbers:

And make^{H6213} me savoury meat^{H4303}, such as^{H834} I love^{H157}, and bring^{H935} it to me, that I may eat^{H398}; that my soul^{H5315} may bless^{H1288} thee before^{H2962} I die^{H4191}.

Cross-References (KJV):

Explore This Verse Across Other Resources:

BibleHub.com BibleRef.com

Commentary for Genesis 27:4

Genesis 27:4 is a pivotal verse in the narrative of Isaac blessing his sons, which is part of the larger patriarchal history within the Book of Genesis. This verse captures a specific moment where Isaac, who is old and blind, requests his favored son Esau to hunt game and prepare a meal for him. Isaac intends to bestow a blessing upon Esau before he dies, which in the ancient Near Eastern context is a significant ritual. The blessing is not merely a verbal expression of affection or approval, but it is believed to confer a divine favor and the rights of primogeniture, which includes inheritance and leadership of the family.

The themes present in this verse include the importance of birthright and blessing in a patriarchal society, the complexity of family dynamics, and the human inclination towards favoritism. Isaac's request for "savoury meat" reflects his sensory preferences and highlights the physicality of his affection for Esau. This verse also sets the stage for the subsequent deception by Jacob and Rebecca, where Jacob, with his mother's help, impersonates Esau to receive the blessing, fearing that his father's death is imminent and this is his last chance to secure his future.

Historically, this verse reflects the cultural practices of the time, where the eldest son typically received the blessing and birthright. It also illustrates the tension between divine promise and human manipulation, as God had previously indicated to Rebecca that Jacob would be the one to carry on the covenant. The narrative here is part of the broader story of God's covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and how this covenant is passed down through the generations despite human fallibility and intrigue.

*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: H6213
   There are 2286 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: עָשָׂה
   Transliteration: ʻâsâh
   Pronunciation: aw-saw'
   Description: a primitive root; to do or make, in the broadest sense and widest application; accomplish, advance, appoint, apt, be at, become, bear, bestow, bring forth, bruise, be busy, [idiom] certainly, have the charge of, commit, deal (with), deck, [phrase] displease, do, (ready) dress(-ed), (put in) execute(-ion), exercise, fashion, [phrase] feast, (fight-) ing man, [phrase] finish, fit, fly, follow, fulfill, furnish, gather, get, go about, govern, grant, great, [phrase] hinder, hold (a feast), [idiom] indeed, [phrase] be industrious, [phrase] journey, keep, labour, maintain, make, be meet, observe, be occupied, offer, [phrase] officer, pare, bring (come) to pass, perform, pracise, prepare, procure, provide, put, requite, [idiom] sacrifice, serve, set, shew, [idiom] sin, spend, [idiom] surely, take, [idiom] thoroughly, trim, [idiom] very, [phrase] vex, be (warr-) ior, work(-man), yield, use.
   
2. Strong's Number: H4303
   There are 8 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: מַטְעַם
   Transliteration: maṭʻam
   Pronunciation: mat-am'
   Description: or (feminine) מַטְעַמָּה; from טָעַם; a delicacy; dainty (meat), savoury meat.
   
3. Strong's Number: H834
   There are 220 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: אֲשֶׁר
   Transliteration: ʼăsher
   Pronunciation: ash-er'
   Description: a primitive relative pronoun (of every gender and number); who, which, what, that; also (as an adverb and a conjunction) when, where, how, because, in order that, etc.; [idiom] after, [idiom] alike, as (soon as), because, [idiom] every, for, [phrase] forasmuch, [phrase] from whence, [phrase] how(-soever), [idiom] if, (so) that ((thing) which, wherein), [idiom] though, [phrase] until, [phrase] whatsoever, when, where ([phrase] -as, -in, -of, -on, -soever, -with), which, whilst, [phrase] whither(-soever), who(-m, -soever, -se). As it is indeclinable, it is often accompanied by the personal pronoun expletively, used to show the connection.
   
4. Strong's Number: H157
   There are 257 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: אָהַב
   Transliteration: ʼâhab
   Pronunciation: aw-hab'
   Description: or אָהֵב ; a primitive root; to have affection for (sexually or otherwise); (be-) love(-d, -ly, -r), like, friend.
   
5. Strong's Number: H935
   There are 2307 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: בּוֹא
   Transliteration: bôwʼ
   Pronunciation: bo
   Description: a primitive root; to go or come (in a wide variety of applications); abide, apply, attain, [idiom] be, befall, [phrase] besiege, bring (forth, in, into, to pass), call, carry, [idiom] certainly, (cause, let, thing for) to come (against, in, out, upon, to pass), depart, [idiom] doubtless again, [phrase] eat, [phrase] employ, (cause to) enter (in, into, -tering, -trance, -try), be fallen, fetch, [phrase] follow, get, give, go (down, in, to war), grant, [phrase] have, [idiom] indeed, (in-) vade, lead, lift (up), mention, pull in, put, resort, run (down), send, set, [idiom] (well) stricken (in age), [idiom] surely, take (in), way.
   
6. Strong's Number: H398
   There are 825 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: אָכַל
   Transliteration: ʼâkal
   Pronunciation: aw-kal'
   Description: a primitive root; to eat (literally or figuratively); [idiom] at all, burn up, consume, devour(-er, up), dine, eat(-er, up), feed (with), food, [idiom] freely, [idiom] in...wise(-deed, plenty), (lay) meat, [idiom] quite.
   
7. Strong's Number: H5315
   There are 683 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: נֶפֶשׁ
   Transliteration: nephesh
   Pronunciation: neh'-fesh
   Description: from נָפַשׁ; properly, a breathing creature, i.e. animal of (abstractly) vitality; used very widely in a literal, accommodated or figurative sense (bodily or mental); any, appetite, beast, body, breath, creature, [idiom] dead(-ly), desire, [idiom] (dis-) contented, [idiom] fish, ghost, [phrase] greedy, he, heart(-y), (hath, [idiom] jeopardy of) life ([idiom] in jeopardy), lust, man, me, mind, mortally, one, own, person, pleasure, (her-, him-, my-, thy-) self, them (your) -selves, [phrase] slay, soul, [phrase] tablet, they, thing, ([idiom] she) will, [idiom] would have it.
   
8. 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.
   
9. Strong's Number: H2962
   There are 8 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: טֶרֶם
   Transliteration: ṭerem
   Pronunciation: teh'-rem
   Description: from an unused root apparently meaning to interrupt or suspend; properly, non-occurrence; used adverbially, not yet or before; before, ere, not yet.
   
10. Strong's Number: H4191
    There are 694 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: מוּת
    Transliteration: mûwth
    Pronunciation: mooth
    Description: a primitive root; to die (literally or figuratively); causatively, to kill; [idiom] at all, [idiom] crying, (be) dead (body, man, one), (put to, worthy of) death, destroy(-er), (cause to, be like to, must) die, kill, necro(-mancer), [idiom] must needs, slay, [idiom] surely, [idiom] very suddenly, [idiom] in (no) wise.