Genesis 27:4

27:4 Then prepare for me some tasty food, the kind I love, and bring it to me. Then 1  I will eat it so that I may bless you 2  before I die.”

Genesis 27:7

27:7 ‘Bring me some wild game and prepare for me some tasty food. Then I will eat 3  it and bless you 4  in the presence of the Lord 5  before I die.’

Genesis 27:9

27:9 Go to the flock and get me two of the best young goats. I’ll prepare 6  them in a tasty way for your father, just the way he loves them.

Genesis 43:16

43:16 When Joseph saw Benjamin with them, he said to the servant who was over his household, “Bring the men to the house. Slaughter an animal and prepare it, for the men will eat with me at noon.”

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

2 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.

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

4 tn The cohortative, with the prefixed conjunction, also expresses logical sequence. See vv. 4, 19, 27.

5 tn In her report to Jacob, Rebekah plays down Isaac’s strong desire to bless Esau by leaving out נַפְשִׁי (nafshi, “my soul”), but by adding the phrase “in the presence of the Lord,” she stresses how serious this matter is.

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