Some translations set poetry farther to the right than the rest of the text to show that it is poetry. The ULB does this with the poetry in 27:27-29 and in 27:39-40.
In the ancient Near East, a father's blessing was very important. This spoken blessing was legally binding. Jacob previously received the birthright from Esau and was guaranteed the double portion of land money that was supposed to be inherited by the older son, Esau. In this chapter, Jacob tricks Isaac into giving him Esau's blessing. This means that he is to inherit the promises of the covenant Yahweh made with Abraham. (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tw?section=kt#bless, /WA-Catalog/en_tw?section=kt#birthright, /WA-Catalog/en_tw?section=kt#inherit and /WA-Catalog/en_tw?section=kt#promise and /WA-Catalog/en_tw?section=kt#covenant)
This speaks about being nearly blind as if the eyes were a lamp and the light has nearly gone out. Alternate translation: "he was nearly blind" or "he was almost blind" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-metaphor)
"I am here" or "I am listening." See how you translated this in Genesis 22:1.
The phrase "See now" indicates that what follows is a polite request for the hearer to pay attention. "Please listen carefully: I" See how you translated this phrase in Genesis 12:11.
It is implied that Isaac knows he will die soon. Alternate translation: "I may die any day now" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-explicit)
This refers to physical death.
Isaac continues giving instructions to his older son Isaac.
"your hunting equipment"
A quiver is a case for holding arrows. Alternate translation: "your quiver of arrows" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-explicit)
"hunt a wild animal for me"
The word "delicious" refers to something that tastes very good. Alternate translation: "Cook for me the tasty meat that I love" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-explicit)
In Bible times, a father would often pronounce a formal blessing on his children.
This verse is background information for the description of the events that follow. (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#writing-background)
This verse is background information for the description of the events that follow. The word "now" shows that the author is going to begin to talk about Rebekah and Jacob. (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#writing-background)
"Rebekah heard Isaac speaking to his son Esau"
Esau was the son of both Isaac and Rebekah. The author calls Esau "his son" to emphasize that Isaac preferred Esau over Isaac.
This verse continues the background information that begins with the words "Now Rebekah heard" in verse 5. It is background information for the description of the events that follow. (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#writing-background)
This verse continues the background information that begins with the words "Esau went ... bring it back" in verse 5. It is background information for the description of the events that follow. After Esau leaves, Rebekah speaks to Jacob because of what she has heard. "So when Esau went ... bring it back, Rebekah spoke to Jacob" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#writing-connectingwords and /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#writing-background)
Jacob was the son of both Isaac and Rebekah. The author calls Jacob "her son" here to emphasize that Rebekah preferred Jacob over Esau.
The phrase "see here" adds emphasis to what follows. Alternate translation: "Listen carefully"
These are the words that the author introduces with the words "He said" in verse 6. This is a quotation within a quotation. It can be stated as an indirect quotation. "He told Esau to hunt a wild animal, and to make the tasty meat that he loves. Then before he dies, your father will bless Esau in the presence of Yahweh." (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-quotesinquotes and /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-quotations)
"Bring me a wild animal that you hunt and kill"
"cook for me the tasty meat that I love." See how this was translated in Genesis 27:4.
"bless you before Yahweh"
"before I die"
Rebekah continues to speak to her younger son Jacob.
This does not mean "at this moment," but is used to draw attention to the important point that follows.
Rebekah said "my voice" to refer to what she was saying. Alternate translation: "obey me and do what I tell you" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-metonymy)
The word "delicious" refers to something that tastes very good. See how a similar sentence was translated in Genesis 27:4.
"Then take it to your father"
"and after he eats it, he will bless you"
The word "bless" refers to the formal blessing a father pronounces on his children.
"before he dies"
"I am a man with smooth skin" or "I am not hairy"
"he will think that I am a liar" or "he will know that I am deceiving him"
Being cursed or blessed is spoken of as if a curse and a blessing are objects that are placed on a person. Alternate translation: "Then because of this, he will curse me and not bless me" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-metaphor)
"let your curse be on me, my son." Being cursed is spoken of as if the curse were on object that is placed on the person. Alternate translation: "let your father curse me instead of you, my son" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-metaphor)
Rebekah said "my voice" to refer to what she was saying. Alternate translation: "obey what I tell you" or "obey me" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-metonymy)
"bring me the young goats"
The word "delicious" refers to something that tastes very good. See how a similar sentence was translated in Genesis 27:4.
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The goat skins still had the hair on them.
"She gave to her son Jacob the delicious food and bread which she had prepared"
"Yes, I am listening" or "Yes, what is it?" See how you translated this in Genesis 22:1.
"I have done what you told me to do"
The word "game" refers to wild animals that someone hunts and kills. See how "game" was translated in Genesis 27:3.
"Jacob replied"
This is an idiom meaning that God caused it to happen. Alternate translation: "helped me to succeed while hunting" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-idiom)
"if you are really my son Esau"
"Jacob approached Isaac his father"
Here Issac speaks of Jacob's voice as representing Jacob. Alternate translation: "You sound like Jacob" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-synecdoche)
Here Issac speaks of Esau's hands as representing Esau. Alternate translation: "but your hands feel like Esau's hands" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-synecdoche)
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Isaac asks this question before blessing his son. Alternate translation: "But first Isaac asked" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-events)
The word "game" refers to a wild animal that people hunt and kill. See how "game" was translated in Genesis 27:7.
"Isaac drank it"
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It can be made explicit that the clothes smelled like Esau's clothes. Alternate translation: "he smelled his clothes and they smelled like Esau's clothes, so Isaac blessed him" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-explicit)
"Isaac smelled"
"the scent"
"then he blessed him." This refers to the formal blessing a father pronounces on his children.
The word "see" is used as an emphatic figure of speech to mean "it is true." Alternate translation: "Truly, the smell of my son"
Here the word "blessed" means that Yahweh has caused good things to happen to the field and it has become fruitful. Alternate translation: "that Yahweh has caused to be very productive" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-idiom)
This is Isaac's blessing. He thought he was speaking to Esau, but he was speaking to Jacob.
Here "you" is singular and refers to Jacob. But the blessing would also apply to Jacob's descendants. (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-you and /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-synecdoche)
"Dew" is drops of water that form on the plants during the night. This can be made explicit in the translation. Alternate translation: "night mist from heaven to water your crops" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-explicit)
Having fertile land is spoken of as if the earth were fat or rich. Alternate translation: "good soil for producing crops" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-metaphor)
If "grain" and "wine" are unknown, this can be stated more generally. Alternate translation: "plenty of food and drink" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-explicit)
Here these pronouns are singular and refer to Jacob. But the blessing also applies to Jacob's descendants. (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-you and /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-synecdoche)
Here "nations" refers to the people. Alternate translation: "people from all nations bow down" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-metonymy)
This means to bend over to humbly express respect and honor toward someone. (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#translate-symaction)
"Become a master over your brothers"
Isaac is speaking this blessing directly to Jacob. But, it also applies to Jacob's descendants who will rule over the descendants of Esau and the descendants of any other of Jacob's brothers that he may have. (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-synecdoche)
"your mother's sons will bow down to you"
This can be stated in active form. Alternate translation: "May God curse everyone who curses you" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-activepassive)
This can be stated in active form. Alternate translation: "May God bless everyone who blesses you" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-activepassive)
"had just left the tent of Isaac his father"
"tasty meat that I love." See how this was translated in Genesis 27:3.
Here "your son's" was a polite way of Esau referring to his own food he prepared. (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-123person)
The word "game" refers to wild animals that people hunt to eat. See how "game" was translated in Genesis 27:7.
This refers to the formal blessing a father pronounces on his children.
"said to Esau"
"Isaac began to shake"
Game refers to a wild animal that people hunt and kill. See how "game" was translated in Genesis 27:7.
Esau's anguish was similar to the taste of something bitter. Alternate translation: "he cried loudly" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-metaphor)
This is a figure of speech meaning Jacob took what was Esau's. Alternate translation: "I have blessed him instead of you" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-metaphor)
Esau uses a question to emphasize his anger at Jacob. Alternate translation: "Jacob is certainly the right name for my brother!" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-rquestion)
Translators may also add a footnote that says: "The name Jacob means 'he grasps the heel.' In the original language the name 'Jacob' also sounds like the word for 'he deceives.'"
This speaks about a birthright as if it were an object that a person could take away. Alternate translation: "What was once my birthright is now his because he tricked me" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-metaphor)
This speaks about a blessing as if it were an object that person could take away. Alternate translation: "now he has tricked you into blessing him instead of me" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-metaphor)
Esau knows that his father cannot bless him with the same things that he blessed Jacob. Esau is asking if there is anything left to say to him that Isaac did not say while blessing Jacob.
Isaac uses a question to emphasize that there is nothing else he can do. Alternate translation: "There is nothing else I can do for you!" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-rquestion)
This can be stated in positive form. "My father, do you have one more blessing for me"
"said to Esau"
"Pay attention, because what I am about to say is both true and important: the place"
This is a figure of speech referring to the earth's fertility. Alternate translation: "far from the fertile soil" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-metaphor)
"Dew" is drops of water that form on the plants during the night. This can be made explicit in the translation. Alternate translation: "the night mist from the sky to water your crops" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-explicit)
In 27:39-40 these pronouns are singular and refer to Esau, but what Isaac says also applies to Esau's descendants (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-synecdoche)
Here "sword" stands for violence. Alternate translation: "You will rob and kill people in order to get what you need to live" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-metonymy)
This speaks about someone having a master as if the master's control over the person were a yoke that the person had to carry. Alternate translation: "you will free yourself from his control" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-metaphor)
Esau believed that Jacob had wronged him, and so Esau did not want to forgive Jacob.
Here "heart" stands for Esau himself. Alternate translation: "Esau said to himself" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-synecdoche)
This refers to a number of days a person grieves when a family member dies.
This can be stated in active form. Alternate translation: "Someone told Rebekah about Esau's plan" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-activepassive)
"Look" or "Listen" or "Pay attention to what I am about to tell you"
"is making himself feel better"
This does not mean "at this moment," but is used to draw attention to the important point that follows.
"leave here quickly and go to Laban"
"for a period of time"
"until you brother calms down"
No longer being angry is spoken of as if the anger turns to a different direction away from the person. Alternate translation: "until he is no longer angry with you" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-metaphor)
Rebekah uses a question to emphasize her concern. Alternate translation: "I do not want to lose both of you in one day!" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-rquestion)
It is implied that if Esau kills Jacob, then they will execute Esau as a murderer. (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-explicit)
This is a polite way of referring to her sons dying. (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-euphemism)
Rebekah is exaggerating to emphasize how upset she is about the Hittite women that Esau married. Alternate translation: "I am terribly upset" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-hyperbole)
"these Hittite women" or "descendants of Heth"
The phrase "daughters of the land" means the local females. Alternate translation: "like these women who live in this land" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-idiom)
Rebekah uses a question to emphasize how upset she would be if Jacob marries a Hittite woman. Alternate translation: "My life will be awful!" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-rquestion)