Genesis 27:38

KJV

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)

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}.

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.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Genesis 27:38 captures the raw, uninhibited grief of Esau as he confronts his father, Isaac, after discovering that his younger brother, Jacob, had deceitfully obtained the patriarchal blessing intended for him. This verse serves as the emotional and dramatic climax of a narrative steeped in familial deception and highlights the profound, irreversible consequences of Esau's past choices, particularly his earlier disregard for his birthright, which now culminates in this devastating loss.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Genesis 27:38 marks the agonizing climax of the intricate narrative surrounding Isaac's patriarchal blessing. The preceding verses detail Rebekah's elaborate scheme to secure the blessing for Jacob, her favored son, by having him impersonate Esau. Isaac, old and blind, is deceived, and unknowingly bestows the sacred, binding blessing upon Jacob in [Genesis 27:28-29](/genesis/27-28-29 "Isaac's Blessing of Jacob"). Esau's return from hunting, expecting to receive his rightful inheritance, sets the stage for this devastating revelation. His bitter cry in this verse is the immediate, visceral reaction to the irreversible loss, contrasting sharply with Jacob's cunning success and Isaac's bewildered realization. This moment deepens the familial conflict that will define much of the subsequent narrative in Genesis, shaping the destinies of both brothers and their descendants.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** In the ancient Near East, a patriarchal blessing was far more than a mere wish; it was a solemn, legally and spiritually binding pronouncement, believed to convey divine favor, prosperity, and authority, often including a designation of the primary heir and head of the family. Such blessings, once spoken, were considered irrevocable, reflecting the power of spoken words in a culture that valued oral tradition and divine pronouncements. The concept of primogeniture, where the firstborn son received a double portion of the inheritance and the patriarchal authority, was deeply ingrained. Esau's anguish in [Genesis 27:38](/genesis/27-38 "Esau's Lament") stems from the loss of this culturally paramount inheritance, which encompassed not only material wealth but also spiritual prominence and the covenantal promises passed down from Abraham. His tears reflect the profound societal and spiritual implications of such a forfeiture.
* **Key Themes:** This verse powerfully contributes to several overarching themes within Genesis and the broader biblical narrative. It highlights the theme of **divine sovereignty** working through human imperfection and deception, as God's pre-ordained choice of Jacob over Esau (as seen in [Genesis 25:23](/genesis/25-23 "God's Prophecy to Rebekah")) is ultimately fulfilled despite the flawed means. It also underscores the theme of **consequences of choices**, particularly Esau's earlier, casual disregard for his birthright in [Genesis 25:29-34](/genesis/25-29-34 "Esau Sells His Birthright"), which foreshadows and contributes to this greater loss. The verse further emphasizes the **irrevocable nature of a spoken blessing** in this cultural context, demonstrating the solemnity and weight of words imbued with spiritual authority. Finally, it explores the theme of **human emotion and regret**, portraying the raw anguish of a man facing the irreversible repercussions of his past actions and missed opportunities.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
Genesis 27:38 captures the raw, uninhibited grief of Esau as he confronts his father, Isaac: "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." This verse is a powerful depiction of a man facing the irreversible consequences of his actions and the profound pain of missed opportunity.

#### Key Word Analysis
* **father (Hebrew, _ʼâb'_):** This word (H1) appears three times in the verse, emphasizing the direct, personal, and familial nature of Esau's desperate plea. It highlights the patriarchal context where the father's blessing was paramount, underscoring Esau's direct appeal to the source of the lost blessing and his deep desire for his father's favor and inheritance.
* **blessing (Hebrew, _Bᵉrâkâh'_):** This term (H1293) refers to a "benediction" or "prosperity," signifying a divine endowment of favor, success, and progeny. Esau's question, "Hast thou but one blessing?" reveals his shock at the singular and exclusive nature of this sacred pronouncement, which he had previously undervalued but now desperately craves.
* **wept (Hebrew, _bâkâh'_):** This primitive root (H1058) signifies "to weep" or "to bemoan," often indicating deep, uninhibited sorrow accompanied by loud lamentation. The description of Esau "lifting up his voice" before weeping emphasizes the intensity, public nature, and overwhelming character of his grief, indicating a profound, audible expression of anguish and bitter regret.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"And Esau said unto his father, Hast thou but one blessing, my father?"**: Esau's initial words convey profound shock and disbelief. He is grappling with the incomprehensible reality that the sacred patriarchal blessing, which he had anticipated as his birthright, was not only given away but was also singular and non-replicable. This question underscores his desperate hope that there might be some other, perhaps lesser, blessing still available from his father, revealing his sudden, belated recognition of the blessing's immense value.
* **"bless me, [even] me also, O my father."**: This is a direct, urgent, and deeply personal appeal. The repetition of "me, even me also" emphasizes Esau's profound need and his desperate, almost pleading, hope that some remnant of the blessing, or a new one, might still be available to him. It highlights his deep-seated desire for his father's favor and the spiritual and material inheritance it represented, even in the face of apparent impossibility.
* **"And Esau lifted up his voice, and wept."**: This clause vividly portrays the raw, uninhibited emotional outburst of Esau. The phrase "lifted up his voice" signifies a loud, audible wailing, not a quiet shedding of tears. This public and unrestrained weeping, stemming from the Hebrew verb _bâkâh_ (H1058), denotes a deep, inconsolable sorrow, often accompanied by lamentation. His tears are not merely a sign of sadness but of bitter regret, despair, and the crushing realization of a loss that he now perceives as immense, irretrievable, and directly linked to his past choices.

#### Literary Devices
Genesis 27:38 employs several powerful **literary devices** to convey Esau's profound anguish. The most prominent is **Pathos**, as the verse evokes deep sympathy and pity from the reader for Esau's suffering. His desperate plea, "Hast thou but one blessing, my father? bless me, [even] me also, O my father," is a direct appeal to emotion, highlighting his vulnerability and the crushing weight of his loss. The **Repetition** of "my father" and "me" underscores the personal nature of his plea and his desperate longing. Furthermore, the vivid imagery of Esau "lifted up his voice, and wept" serves as a powerful **Symbolism** of inconsolable grief and bitter regret. This is not just sadness, but a public, audible lamentation, emphasizing the irreversible and catastrophic nature of the blessing's forfeiture, making Esau's despair palpable to the audience.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Esau's profound anguish in Genesis 27:38 serves as a poignant biblical illustration of the irreversible nature of certain spiritual opportunities and the bitter consequences of despising one's spiritual inheritance. While God's plan for Jacob to receive the covenant blessing was sovereign, Esau's casual disregard for his birthright earlier in [Genesis 25:34](/genesis/25-34 "Esau Sells His Birthright") directly contributed to his later, devastating loss. His tears are not merely for a lost material inheritance but for a spiritual patrimony that carried divine favor. This narrative underscores the solemnity and weight of divine pronouncements and the critical importance of valuing spiritual blessings, warning against short-sighted choices that prioritize immediate gratification over eternal significance.

* [Hebrews 12:16-17](/hebrews/12-16-17 "Warning Against Esau's Folly")
* [Proverbs 1:24-33](/proverbs/1-24-33 "Wisdom's Call and Consequences")
* [Galatians 6:7-8](/galatians/6-7-8 "Sowing and Reaping")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Esau's profound despair in Genesis 27:38 offers timeless lessons for contemporary believers. His bitter tears underscore the critical importance of valuing spiritual inheritance and making wise choices in the present. We are called to cherish the spiritual blessings and opportunities God provides, not to trade them for temporary gratification or worldly comforts. Just as Esau undervalued his birthright, we can sometimes neglect our spiritual heritage, our relationship with God, or opportunities for growth and service, only to later regret the lost potential. This passage serves as a stark reminder that our choices, both large and small, have real and often irreversible consequences in this life. While God's grace offers forgiveness for our sins, some outcomes of our actions may remain. Therefore, Esau's experience encourages us to be diligent, discerning, and intentional in our spiritual walk, ensuring we do not despise the precious things of God, lest we, too, find ourselves lamenting missed opportunities of eternal significance. The New Testament echoes this warning in [Hebrews 12:17](/hebrews/12-17 "Hebrews 12:17 - Esau's Repentance"), noting that Esau "found no place of repentance, though he sought it carefully with tears," signifying that he could not reverse the specific patriarchal blessing, not that he was beyond God's general forgiveness or mercy for personal sin.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **What spiritual "birthrights" or blessings might I be taking for granted or neglecting in my own life?**
* **How do my daily choices reflect my true valuation of God's promises and spiritual opportunities?**
* **In what areas of my life might I be prioritizing immediate gratification over long-term spiritual benefit?**
* **How does Esau's regret motivate me to be more intentional and discerning in my walk with God?**

### FAQ
**Does Esau's weeping imply true repentance for his past sins?**

Answer: Esau's tears in [Genesis 27:38](/genesis/27-38 "Esau's Lament") primarily express profound sorrow and regret over the *loss* of the blessing and its associated benefits, rather than a deep, transforming repentance for his underlying sinfulness or his previous despising of his birthright. While his grief is genuine and intense, it appears to be a sorrow for the *consequences* of his actions, not necessarily a turning from the heart attitude that led to those actions. The New Testament in [Hebrews 12:17](/hebrews/12-17 "Hebrews 12:17 - Esau's Repentance") clarifies that "he found no place of repentance, though he sought it carefully with tears." This means he could not reverse the specific outcome of the blessing being given to Jacob, not that God denied him the possibility of personal repentance for his sins. His tears were for the lost inheritance and its worldly advantages, not necessarily for a broken relationship with God or a fundamental change of heart regarding his priorities.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
The narrative of Esau's loss and Jacob's gain, though marred by human sin and deception, ultimately points to the greater redemptive plan centered on Christ. Just as Jacob, the younger and seemingly less likely heir, received the blessing by divine design, so too does God often choose the unexpected and humble to accomplish His purposes, subverting human expectations, as seen in [1 Corinthians 1:27-29](/1_corinthians/1-27-29 "God Chooses the Weak"). Christ is the ultimate "blessing" and the true heir of all things ([Hebrews 1:2](/hebrews/1-2 "Jesus, Heir of All Things")), through whom God's covenant promises find their perfect fulfillment. Esau's desperate plea for a blessing he could not reclaim underscores the preciousness and irrevocability of the spiritual inheritance offered in Christ. Unlike Esau's lost earthly blessing, the inheritance believers receive in Christ is secured by grace through faith ([Ephesians 2:8-9](/ephesians/2-8-9 "Salvation by Grace Through Faith")), not by human merit or deception, and it is an eternal, unshakeable blessing that can never be forfeited or stolen ([1 Peter 1:3-5](/1_peter/1-3-5 "An Inheritance Kept in Heaven")). Through Christ, all nations are blessed, fulfilling the Abrahamic covenant in a way far grander and more enduring than any earthly patriarchal blessing ([Galatians 3:14](/galatians/3-14 "The Blessing of Abraham Comes Through Christ")). He is the true and final blessing, the source of all spiritual riches for those who believe ([Ephesians 1:3](/ephesians/1-3 "Blessed with Every Spiritual Blessing")).

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

Hebrews 12:17

For ye know how that afterward, when he would have inherited the blessing, he was rejected: for he found no place of repentance, though he sought it carefully with tears.

Genesis 27:34

And when Esau heard the words of his father, he cried with a great and exceeding bitter cry, and said unto his father, Bless me, [even] me also, O my father.

Proverbs 1:24

Because I have called, and ye refused; I have stretched out my hand, and no man regarded;

Proverbs 1:26

I also will laugh at your calamity; I will mock when your fear cometh;

Isaiah 65:14

Behold, my servants shall sing for joy of heart, but ye shall cry for sorrow of heart, and shall howl for vexation of spirit.

Isaiah 32:10

Many days and years shall ye be troubled, ye careless women: for the vintage shall fail, the gathering shall not come.

Isaiah 32:12

They shall lament for the teats, for the pleasant fields, for the fruitful vine.