Discovery BoxGenesis 27:27-29 
Context27:27 So Jacob 1 went over and kissed him. When Isaac caught the scent 2 of his clothing, he blessed him, saying,
“Yes, 3 my son smells
like the scent of an open field
which the Lord has blessed.
27:28 May God give you
the dew of the sky 4
and the richness 5 of the earth,
and plenty of grain and new wine.
27:29 May peoples serve you
and nations bow down to you.
You will be 6 lord 7 over your brothers,
and the sons of your mother will bow down to you. 8
May those who curse you be cursed,
and those who bless you be blessed.”
Genesis 27:39-40
Context27:39 So his father Isaac said to him,
“Indeed, 9 your home will be
away from the richness 10 of the earth,
and away from the dew of the sky above.
27:40 You will live by your sword
but you will serve your brother.
When you grow restless,
you will tear off his yoke
from your neck.” 11
1 tn Heb “and he”; the referent (Jacob) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
2 tn Heb “and he smelled the smell”; the referent (Isaac) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
3 tn Heb “see.”
4 tn Heb “and from the dew of the sky.”
5 tn Heb “and from the fatness.”
6 tn Heb “and be.” The verb is an imperative, which is used rhetorically in this oracle of blessing. It is an invitation to exercise authority his brothers and indicates that he is granted such authority by the patriarch of the family. Furthermore, the blessing enables the recipient to accomplish this.
7 tn The Hebrew word is גְבִיר (gevir, “lord, mighty one”). The one being blessed will be stronger and therefore more powerful than his brother. See Gen 25:23. The feminine form of this rare noun means “mistress” or “queen-mother.”
8 tn Following the imperative, the prefixed verbal form (which is either an imperfect or a jussive) with the prefixed conjunction indicates purpose or result.
9 tn Heb “look.”
10 tn Heb “from the fatness.”
11 sn You will tear off his yoke from your neck. It may be that this prophetic blessing found its fulfillment when Jerusalem fell and Edom got its revenge. The oracle makes Edom subservient to Israel and suggests the Edomites would live away from the best land and be forced to sustain themselves by violent measures.
