Genesis 27:36
Esau said, “Is he not rightly named Jacob? For he has cheated me these two times. He took away my birthright, and behold, now he has taken away my blessing.” Then he said, “Have you not reserved a blessing for me?”
English Standard Version (ESV)
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Esau's cry, "Is he not rightly named Jacob?" reveals his own self-deception; he blames Jacob for "taking" his birthright, conveniently forgetting he sold it, and now labels Jacob a "supplanter" for receiving what was rightfully his by divine decree. This reveals Esau's complete blindness to God's sovereign choice and his own foolish actions, highlighting how often we blame others for consequences stemming from our own poor decisions.
Esau returns from hunting, expecting his father Isaac to give him a special blessing. However, Isaac has already been tricked by his wife Rebekah and younger son Jacob into giving that blessing to Jacob, who disguised himself as Esau. Now, Esau discovers the deception and cries out in bitter anguish, lamenting that Jacob has both stolen his birthright and now his father's blessing.
Esau cries out, 'Is he not rightly named Jacob?' This exclamation is more than just a rhetorical question. It's a stinging accusation tied directly to Jacob's identity.
Esau’s cry highlights the profound significance of names in the ancient world. Jacob, meaning 'heel-grabber' or 'supplanter,' was a name given at birth reflecting his determined struggle with his twin. Esau, however, weaponizes this name, twisting its original meaning into a bitter accusation of deceit. He sees Jacob's actions not as a struggle for position, but as a deliberate act of treachery.
The Power of a Name
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Esau mourns the loss of his birthright and his blessing. But were these the same thing? And did Jacob truly 'take' them unfairly?
Esau's lament reveals a confusion about what he has lost. The birthright was a tangible inheritance, a double portion of the father's estate, and a symbol of leadership. The blessing, however, was a spiritual impartation, a prophetic declaration of God's favor and future promises, intrinsically linked to the covenant.
Distinguishing the Losses
Despite the deception, the lies, and Esau's bitter tears, Isaac's blessing cannot be undone. Why?
This narrative, while filled with human flaws and trickery, ultimately underscores God's sovereign power to fulfill His promises. Isaac, though deceived about the person, was still God's chosen instrument, and his words, spoken in his capacity as patriarch, carried divine weight.
God's Hand in Flawed Circumstances
Understand the original words
Ya‘aqob · Hebrew Proper Noun
A name meaning 'supplanter' or 'deceiver,' referring to one who trips up or displaces another, often used to describe someone who secures an advantage through cunning or maneuvering.
bekorah · Hebrew Noun
The special right of the firstborn son, which traditionally included a double portion of the father's inheritance and the position of family leadership or headship.
berakah · Hebrew Noun
A formal pronouncement of favor, prosperity, and divine enablement, often bestowed by a father or leader upon their successor, conveying the authority and spiritual legacy of the giver.
Esau's cry, 'Is he not rightly named Jacob? For he has cheated me these two times,' highlights the deep resentment and sense of betrayal he felt. This moment reveals how the rivalry between the brothers, fueled by deceit and the manipulation of a sacred patriarchal blessing, fractured their relationship and set the stage for future conflict.
c. 1800 BC
Abraham receives God's promise
God promises Abraham that through his descendants, all nations will be blessed, establishing a covenant.
c. 1750 BC
Isaac is born
Isaac is the son of promise through whom God's covenant will be passed down.
c. 1725 BC
Isaac marries Rebekah
Rebekah becomes the mother of the next generation of the covenant line.
c. 1700 BC
Jacob and Esau are born
Twins Jacob and Esau are born; God foretells that the older will serve the younger.
c. 1675 BC
Esau sells his birthright
Esau, driven by hunger, sells his birthright to Jacob for a bowl of stew.
c. 1670 BC— this verse
Isaac attempts to bless Esau
A nearly blind Isaac, believing he is near death, calls for Esau to bestow the patriarchal blessing.
c. 1670 BC
Jacob receives Isaac's blessing
Through deception orchestrated by Rebekah, Jacob receives the primary patriarchal blessing intended for Esau.
This passage directly relates to Esau's selling of his birthright to Jacob for a meager meal, establishing the first instance of Jacob 'supplanting' him and setting the stage for Esau's later bitterness.
Hebrews 12:16-17This New Testament passage reflects on Esau's story, highlighting his regret and the irreversible nature of his actions when he later sought to reclaim his forfeited blessing with tears.
Romans 9:10-13This passage speaks about the election of Jacob over Esau before their birth, emphasizing that God's purposes are not based on human actions but on His sovereign choice, which is relevant to the legitimacy of Jacob's reception of the blessing.
Malachi 1:2-3This prophetic passage looks forward to the descendants of Jacob and Esau, stating that God loved Jacob and hated Esau, reflecting the lasting consequences of their rivalry and the divine decree concerning their lineage.
calvinGenesis 27:1-46: "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 eldest son, and said unto him, My son: and he said unto him, Behold, here am I."
And Rebekah heard when Isaac spake to Esau his son. And Esau went to the field to hunt for venison, and to bring it
Ribca autem audiebat, dum loqueretur Ishac ad Esau filium suum: et perrexit Esau in agrum, ut venaretur venationem, ut afferret.
And Rebekah spake unto Jacob h…
pooleGenesis 27:36: "And 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?"
He puts a perverse construction upon Jacob’s name, as if it belonged not to him so properly, because of the manner of his birth, as because of his falseness and deceitfulness, and his tripping up his brother’s heels. He took away my birthright; a false accusation…
Esau's cry, "Is he not rightly named Jacob?" reveals his own self-deception; he blames Jacob for "taking" his birthright, conveniently forgetting he sold it, and now labels Jacob a "supplanter" for receiving what was rightfully his by divine decree. This reveals Esau's complete blindness to God's sovereign choice and his own foolish actions, highlighting how often we blame others for consequences stemming from our own poor decisions.
Esau returns from hunting, expecting his father Isaac to give him a special blessing. However, Isaac has already been tricked by his wife Rebekah and younger son Jacob into giving that blessing to Jacob, who disguised himself as Esau. Now, Esau discovers the deception and cries out in bitter anguish, lamenting that Jacob has both stolen his birthright and now his father's blessing.
Esau returns from hunting, expecting his father Isaac to give him a special blessing. However, Isaac has already been tricked by his wife Rebekah and younger son Jacob into giving that blessing to Jacob, who disguised himself as Esau. Now, Esau discovers the deception and cries out in bitter anguish, lamenting that Jacob has both stolen his birthright and now his father's blessing.
"Esau said, “Is he not rightly named Jacob? For he has cheated me these two times. He took away my birthright, and behold, now he has taken away my blessing.” Then he said, “Have you not reserved a blessing for me?”" — Esau's cry, "Is he not rightly named Jacob?" reveals his own self-deception; he blames Jacob for "taking" his birthright, conveniently forgetting he sold it, and now labels Jacob a "supplanter" for…
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