The Tanakh · JPS 1917 Translation

Genesis 27

Jewish Publication Society 1917 · Torah

Genesis chapter 27 — part of the Torah in the Jewish Bible. In the classic JPS 1917 translation it opens: “And it came to pass, that when Isaac was old, and his eyes were dim, so that he could not see, he called Esau his elder…” — the complete text of all 46 verses is below, free to read online.

1And it came to pass, that when Isaac was old, and his eyes were dim, so that he could not see, he called Esau his elder son, and said unto him: 'My son'; and he said unto him: 'Here am I.'

2And he said: 'Behold now, I am old, I know not the day of my death.

3Now therefore take, I pray thee, thy weapons, thy quiver and thy bow, and go out to the field, and take me venison;

4and make me savoury food, such as I love, and bring it to me, that I may eat; that my soul may bless thee before I die.'

5And Rebekah heard when Isaac spoke to Esau his son. And Esau went to the field to hunt for venison, and to bring it.

6And Rebekah spoke unto Jacob her son, saying: 'Behold, I heard thy father speak unto Esau thy brother, saying:

7Bring me venison, and make me savoury food, that I may eat, and bless thee before HaShem before my death.

8Now therefore, my son, hearken to my voice according to that which I command thee.

9Go now to the flock, and fetch me from thence two good kids of the goats; and I will make them savoury food for thy father, such as he loveth;

10and thou shalt bring it to thy father, that he may eat, so that he may bless thee before his death.'

11And Jacob said to Rebekah his mother: 'Behold, Esau my brother is a hairy man, and I am a smooth man.

12My father peradventure will feel me, and I shall seem to him as a mocker; and I shall bring a curse upon me, and not a blessing.'

13And his mother said unto him: 'Upon me be thy curse, my son; only hearken to my voice, and go fetch me them.'

14And he went, and fetched, and brought them to his mother; and his mother made savoury food, such as his father loved.

15And Rebekah took the choicest garments of Esau her elder son, which were with her in the house, and put them upon Jacob her younger son.

16And she put the skins of the kids of the goats upon his hands, and upon the smooth of his neck.

17And she gave the savoury food and the bread, which she had prepared, into the hand of her son Jacob.

18And he came unto his father, and said: 'My father'; and he said: 'Here am I; who art thou, my son?'

19And Jacob said unto his father: 'I am Esau thy first-born; I have done according as thou badest me. Arise, I pray thee, sit and eat of my venison, that thy soul may bless me.'

20And Isaac said unto his son: 'How is it that thou hast found it so quickly, my son?' And he said: 'Because HaShem thy G-d sent me good speed.'

21And Isaac said unto Jacob: 'Come near, I pray thee, that I may feel thee, my son, whether thou be my very son Esau or not.'

22And Jacob went near unto Isaac his father; and he felt him, and said: 'The voice is the voice of Jacob, but the hands are the hands of Esau.'

23And he discerned him not, because his hands were hairy, as his brother Esau's hands; so he blessed him.

24And he said: 'Art thou my very son Esau?' And he said: 'I am.'

25And he said: 'Bring it near to me, and I will eat of my son's venison, that my soul may bless thee.' And he brought it near to him, and he did eat; and he brought him wine, and he drank.

26And his father Isaac said unto him: 'Come near now, and kiss me, my son.'

27And 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 HaShem hath blessed.

28So G-d give thee of the dew of heaven, and of the fat places of the earth, and plenty of corn and wine.

29Let peoples serve thee, and nations bow down to thee. Be lord over thy brethren, and let thy mother's sons bow down to thee. Cursed be every one that curseth thee, and blessed be every one that blesseth thee.

30And it came to pass, as soon as Isaac had made an end of blessing Jacob, and Jacob was yet scarce gone out from the presence of Isaac his father, that Esau his brother came in from his hunting.

31And he also made savoury food, and brought it unto his father; and he said unto his father: 'Let my father arise, and eat of his son's venison, that thy soul may bless me.'

32And Isaac his father said unto him: 'Who art thou?' And he said: 'I am thy son, thy first-born, Esau.'

33And Isaac trembled very exceedingly, and said: 'Who then is he that hath taken venison, and brought it me, and I have eaten of all before thou camest, and have blessed him? yea, and he shall be blessed.'

34When Esau heard the words of his father, he cried with an exceeding great and bitter cry, and said unto his father: 'Bless me, even me also, O my father.'

35And he said: 'Thy brother came with guile, and hath taken away thy blessing.'

36And he said: 'Is not he rightly named Jacob? for he hath supplanted me these two times: he took away my birthright; and, behold, now he hath taken away my blessing.' And he said: 'Hast thou not reserved a blessing for me?'

37And Isaac answered and said unto Esau: 'Behold, I have made him thy lord, and all his brethren have I given to him for servants; and with corn and wine have I sustained him; and what then shall I do for thee, my son?'

38And 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.

39And Isaac his father answered and said unto him: Behold, of the fat places of the earth shall be thy dwelling, and of the dew of heaven from above;

40And by thy sword shalt thou live, and thou shalt serve thy brother; and it shall come to pass when thou shalt break loose, that thou shalt shake his yoke from off thy neck.

41And Esau hated Jacob because of the blessing wherewith his father blessed him. And Esau said in his heart: 'Let the days of mourning for my father be at hand; then will I slay my brother Jacob.'

42And the words of Esau her elder son were told to Rebekah; and she sent and called Jacob her younger son, and said unto him: 'Behold, thy brother Esau, as touching thee, doth comfort himself, purposing to kill thee.

43Now therefore, my son, hearken to my voice; and arise, flee thou to Laban my brother to Haran;

44and tarry with him a few days, until thy brother's fury turn away;

45until thy brother's anger turn away from thee, and he forget that which thou hast done to him; then I will send, and fetch thee from thence; why should I be bereaved of you both in one day?'

46And Rebekah said to Isaac: 'I am weary of my life because of the daughters of Heth. If Jacob take a wife of the daughters of Heth, such as these, of the daughters of the land, what good shall my life do me?'

46 verses · JPS 1917 (public domain)

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