Genesis 27:2-4

27:2 Isaac 1  said, “Since 2  I am so old, I could die at any time. 3  27:3 Therefore, take your weapons – your quiver and your bow – and go out into the open fields and hunt down some wild game 4  for me. 27:4 Then prepare for me some tasty food, the kind I love, and bring it to me. Then 5  I will eat it so that I may bless you 6  before I die.”

1 tn Heb “he”; the referent (Isaac) is specified in the translation for clarity.

2 tn The particle הִנֵּה (hinneh, “look”) here introduces a logically foundational statement, upon which the coming instruction will be based.

3 tn Heb “I do not know the day of my death.”

4 tn The Hebrew word is to be spelled either צַיִד (tsayid) following the marginal reading (Qere), or צֵידָה (tsedah) following the consonantal text (Kethib). Either way it is from the same root as the imperative צוּדָה (tsudah, “hunt down”).

5 tn Following the imperative, the cohortative (with the prefixed conjunction) indicates purpose or result.

6 tn Heb “so that my soul may bless you.” The use of נַפְשִׁי (nafshi, “my soul”) as the subject emphasizes that the blessing will be made with all Isaac’s desire and vitality. The conjunction “so that” closely relates the meal to the blessing, suggesting that this will be a ritual meal in conjunction with the giving of a formal blessing.