Genesis 27:39-40
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Isaac’s words to Esau aren’t just a generic well-wish; they’re a prophetic assessment. Notice how the phrasing shifts from "God give thee" in Jacob's blessing to "thy dwelling shall be" for Esau, subtly indicating that Esau’s prosperity will be taken through his own efforts, not given by God's direct favor like Jacob's. This distinction highlights the essential difference between the blessings: one is divinely ordained and spiritual, the other earned and temporal.
Then Isaac his father answered and said to him: “Behold, away from the fatness of the earth shall your dwelling be, and away from the dew of heaven on high. By your sword you shall live, and you shall serve your brother; but when you grow restless you shall break his yoke from your neck.”
English Standard Version (ESV)
Esau, in tears and desperation, begs his father Isaac for a blessing after discovering Jacob has stolen his birthright and primary blessing. Isaac, though frail and deceived, confirms Jacob's inheritance but reluctantly grants Esau a separate, less encompassing blessing, which Esau receives with a mix of relief and ongoing bitterness. This sets the stage for Esau's hatred and desire for revenge against Jacob, forcing Jacob to flee for his life.
Isaac's words to Esau sound a lot like Jacob's blessing, but with a crucial difference. What does the landscape of their lives reveal about God's intention?
When Isaac blesses Esau, he says, "Behold, thy dwelling shall be the fatness of the earth, and of the dew of heaven on high." This sounds remarkably similar to the blessing given to Jacob in Genesis 27:28, which speaks of God giving him "of the dew of heaven, and of the fatness of the earth." However, commentators note a key distinction: Isaac's blessing to Jacob explicitly states "God give thee," linking the fertility and bounty to a divine gift. In Esau's case, the phrase "God give thee" is omitted.
This subtle difference is significant. While Jacob's blessing emphasizes God's direct provision and covenant faithfulness, Esau's blessing, though still acknowledging the potential for fertility in his land (Mount Seir), suggests a different source and lifestyle. The commentary from Poole points out that while Esau's land might be fruitful, it was "rather taken by himself than given by God." This hints at a life lived by human effort and even conquest, rather than by divine grace and promise. The land itself, while potentially rich, would be earned "by thy sword," as the text continues. This sets up a contrast: one brother's blessing is rooted in God's direct covenantal provision, the other in his own strength and the resources of the earth attained through his own endeavors.
Esau's future is marked by both struggle and a measure of independence. What does this tell us about the consequences of his choices?
The latter part of Isaac's prophetic words to Esau in Genesis 27:40 reveals a future defined by a challenging existence: "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." This blessing paints a picture of a life lived on the edge, reliant on martial prowess for survival.
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Commentators like Barnes highlight that this signifies a life of constant struggle, where Esau and his descendants would have to fight for their existence. It speaks of a warlike, often precarious, lifestyle. However, it's not a life of complete subjugation. The promise that he would eventually break his brother's yoke indicates a degree of autonomy and periods of strength for the descendants of Esau. This contrasts sharply with Jacob's blessing, which speaks of nations serving him and his brothers bowing down to him. Esau's path is one of resourcefulness and self-reliance, but also one of eventual subservience, followed by cycles of rebellion and dominance, always in relation to his brother's lineage.
Understand the original words
shemen · Hebrew Noun
Rich, fertile land or abundance; metaphorically, it refers to the best produce or bounty provided by God's blessing upon the earth.
tal · Hebrew Noun
The moisture that descends from the heavens, frequently symbolic of God's favor, life-giving grace, and divine provision in the arid climates of the ancient Near East.
chereb · Hebrew Noun
A symbol of war, violence, and defense; living by the sword represents a life characterized by conflict, military strength, and instability.
‘ol · Hebrew Noun
A wooden bar placed on the neck of oxen to harness them for plowing; metaphorically, it signifies subjugation, servitude, or the authoritative control exerted by one person or nation over another.
This prophecy reveals the distinct destinies of Jacob and Esau. While Jacob receives the blessing of spiritual inheritance and dominion, Esau's blessing signifies a life lived by his own strength in a less fertile land, forever bound by his choice to forsake his spiritual birthright.
c. 1800 BC
Birth of Jacob and Esau
Isaac and Rebekah's twin sons, Jacob and Esau, are born. Esau is the elder, known for his skill as a hunter, while Jacob is a quiet man who stays near the tents.
c. 1770 BC
Esau Sells His Birthright
Esau, famished after hunting, sells his birthright to Jacob for a bowl of stew, forfeiting the special spiritual and material privileges of the firstborn.
c. 1750 BC
Isaac's Dimming Eyes and Plan
Isaac, old and nearly blind, decides to bestow the patriarchal blessing upon his favorite son Esau, unaware of God's earlier promise favoring Jacob.
c. 1750 BC
Rebekah and Jacob's Deception
Rebekah overhears Isaac's plan and orchestrates a deception with Jacob to secure the blessing intended for Esau, using disguised appearance and a stolen meal.
c. 1750 BC— this verse
Isaac Bestows the Blessing
Isaac, though sensing Jacob's deception by his voice, confirms the blessing upon him, invoking "the fatness of the earth, and of the dew of heaven."
c. 1750 BC
Esau's Bitter Lament and Partial Blessing
Upon discovering the deception, Esau cries out and pleads for a blessing. Isaac, though unable to revoke Jacob's blessing, gives Esau a secondary blessing, indicating a life of struggle and eventual independence.
c. 1750 BC
Esau's Hatred and Jacob's Flight
Esau vows to kill Jacob after Isaac's mourning period. Rebekah sends Jacob away to Haran for safety, and Esau later marries Ishmael's daughter, further distancing himself from the covenant line.
This passage describes the blessing Isaac intended for Jacob, which included 'the dew of heaven' and 'the fatness of the earth,' highlighting the contrast with Esau's blessing which is described as 'away from' these things.
Genesis 27:40This verse directly follows Esau's blessing and explains its consequence: 'by thy sword shalt thou live, and shalt serve thy brother.' It shows how Esau's earthly prosperity would be marked by conflict and subjugation.
Malachi 1:3This prophecy speaks of God 'hating Esau' and laying 'his mountains and his heritage waste for the jackals of the desert,' directly contrasting with the 'fatness of the earth' promised to Esau, suggesting a spiritual desolation despite potential earthly fertility.
Romans 9:11-13This New Testament passage reflects on the contrasting destinies of Jacob and Esau, referencing God's sovereign choice before they were born, which underpins the different blessings and their ultimate significance.
Hebrews 12:16-17This passage describes Esau's desperate search for the blessing with tears, but finding no place for repentance, highlighting the irreversible consequences of despising a divine inheritance for a temporary gain.
ellicottGenesis 27:39: "And Isaac his father answered and said unto him, Behold, thy dwelling shall be the fatness of the earth, and of the dew of heaven from above;"
(39) Isaac his father answered. —Unwillingly, and only after repeated entreaty and earnest expostulation, and even tears, upon Esau’s side, does Isaac bring himself to the effort to lessen in any way the painful consequences to his favourite son of his brother having robbed him of the blessing. Plainly, he felt that he had endeavoured to…
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…
Isaac’s words to Esau aren’t just a generic well-wish; they’re a prophetic assessment. Notice how the phrasing shifts from "God give thee" in Jacob's blessing to "thy dwelling shall be" for Esau, subtly indicating that Esau’s prosperity will be taken through his own efforts, not given by God's direct favor like Jacob's. This distinction highlights the essential difference between the blessings: one is divinely ordained and spiritual, the other earned and temporal.
Esau, in tears and desperation, begs his father Isaac for a blessing after discovering Jacob has stolen his birthright and primary blessing. Isaac, though frail and deceived, confirms Jacob's inheritance but reluctantly grants Esau a separate, less encompassing blessing, which Esau receives with a mix of relief and ongoing bitterness. This sets the stage for Esau's hatred and desire for revenge against Jacob, forcing Jacob to flee for his life.
Esau, in tears and desperation, begs his father Isaac for a blessing after discovering Jacob has stolen his birthright and primary blessing. Isaac, though frail and deceived, confirms Jacob's inheritance but reluctantly grants Esau a separate, less encompassing blessing, which Esau receives with a mix of relief and ongoing bitterness. This sets the stage for Esau's hatred and desire for revenge against Jacob, forcing Jacob to flee for his life.
"Then Isaac his father answered and said to him:
“Behold, away from the fatness of the earth shall your dwelling be,
and away from the dew of heaven on high. By your sword you shall live,
and you shall serve your brothe…" — Isaac’s words to Esau aren’t just a generic well-wish; they’re a prophetic assessment. Notice how the phrasing shifts from "God give thee" in Jacob's blessing to "thy dwelling shall be" for Esau, sub…
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Last reviewed October 2026