Hebrews 11:20

By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau concerning things to come.

By faith {G4102} Isaac {G2464} blessed {G2127} Jacob {G2384} and {G2532} Esau {G2269} concerning {G4012} things to come {G3195}.

By trusting, Yitz’chak in his blessings over Ya‘akov and Esav made reference to events yet to come.

By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau concerning the future.

By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau, even concerning things to come.

Commentary

Hebrews 11:20 is a concise yet profound statement within the renowned "Hall of Faith" chapter, highlighting the faith of Isaac, son of Abraham, as he blessed his two sons, Jacob and Esau.

Context

This verse places Isaac among the patriarchs lauded for their faith, following Abraham and Sarah. The specific event referenced is found in Genesis chapter 27, where an aging and blind Isaac intends to bless his elder son, Esau, but is deceived into blessing Jacob instead. Later, he also blesses Esau. Despite the human error and deception involved, Isaac's faith is commended here because he recognized that these blessings, once spoken, carried divine authority and would indeed shape the future destinies of his sons and their descendants. His act was not merely a parental wish but a prophetic declaration rooted in his trust in God's covenant promises.

Key Themes

  • Faith in God's Sovereignty: Isaac's actions demonstrate a deep conviction that God's plan would ultimately prevail, even amidst human fallibility. His blessing of Jacob, though given mistakenly from a human perspective, was divinely orchestrated and confirmed God's chosen lineage.
  • Prophetic Nature of Patriarchal Blessings: The phrase "concerning things to come" underscores that these were not just sentimental words but declarations that foretold future events and established the spiritual and physical inheritance of nations. The blessing given to Jacob, for instance, spoke of him becoming a multitude of nations and receiving the Abrahamic covenant promises.
  • God Works Through Imperfect Instruments: Isaac, like many biblical figures, was not without flaws (e.g., his favoritism towards Esau, his susceptibility to deception). Yet, God used his act of faith to advance His divine purposes, showing that God's power is perfected in weakness.

Linguistic Insight

The Greek word for "blessed" here is eulogēsen (εὐλόγησεν), from which we get "eulogy." However, in this biblical context, it signifies more than just speaking well of someone; it means to invoke divine favor, to consecrate, or to impart spiritual benefit through a solemn declaration. This blessing was a transfer of divine authority and prophetic destiny, not just a good wish. The phrase "things to come" (τὰ μέλλοντα - ta mellonta) emphasizes the future, prophetic aspect of the blessing, pointing to long-term divine purposes.

Practical Application

Hebrews 11:20 reminds us that faith involves trusting God's future plans, even when our present circumstances are unclear or imperfect. Like Isaac, we are called to live by faith, believing that God is working out His purposes through our lives and through our interactions, even when we make mistakes. It also highlights the enduring power of spoken blessings and declarations made in faith, which can have profound and lasting impacts on future generations.

Note: Commentary was generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash, utilizing a prompt that emphasized Biblical fidelity over bias. We've found these insights to be consistently reliable, yet we always encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit.

Please remember that only the commentary section is AI-generated. The main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are sourced from trusted and verified materials.

Cross-References

  • Genesis 27:27

    And he came near, and kissed him: and he smelled the smell of his raiment, and blessed him, and said, See, the smell of my son [is] as the smell of a field which the LORD hath blessed:

  • Genesis 27:40

    And by thy sword shalt thou live, and shalt serve thy brother; and it shall come to pass when thou shalt have the dominion, that thou shalt break his yoke from off thy neck.

  • Genesis 28:2

    Arise, go to Padanaram, to the house of Bethuel thy mother's father; and take thee a wife from thence of the daughters of Laban thy mother's brother.

  • Genesis 28:3

    And God Almighty bless thee, and make thee fruitful, and multiply thee, that thou mayest be a multitude of people;
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