Bible Strands
Genesis 27:35
But Isaac replied, “Your brother came deceitfully and took your blessing.”
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — Isaac speaks to Esau immediately after Esau begs for a blessing following the loss of his birthright. Isaac confirms that Jacob used deception to secure the blessing intended for his firstborn brother.
The words — The Hebrew בְּמִרְמָה (be/mir.Mah) translates literally as "with deceit," while בִּרְכָתֶךָ (bir.kha.TE/kha) means "your blessing." These terms anchor Isaac’s explicit acknowledgment of the stolen inheritance.
The thread — The prohibition against exploiting a brother appears in Malachi 2:10, which condemns breaking faith with one’s brother, and 1 Thessalonians 4:6, which warns against violating a brother in this regard. Job 13:7 also addresses the prohibition against speaking deceitfully on God’s behalf.
Why it lands — The text states that a blessing secured through deception is still a stolen blessing, regardless of the actor’s status. It requires the reader to acknowledge that covenant promises cannot be advanced by substituting cunning for faithfulness.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Hebrew words
King James Version
And he said, Thy brother came with subtilty, and hath taken away thy blessing.
Cross-references
- 1 Thessalonians 4:6 and no one should ever violate or exploit his brother in this regard, because the Lord will avenge all such acts, as we have already told you and solemnly warned you.
- Job 13:7 Will you speak wickedly on God’s behalf or speak deceitfully for Him?
- Malachi 2:10 Do we not all have one Father? Did not one God create us? Why then do we break faith with one another so as to profane the covenant of our fathers?
- Genesis 27:19 Jacob said to his father, “I am Esau, your firstborn. I have done as you told me. Please sit up and eat some of my game, so that you may bless me.”
- 2 Kings 10:19 Now, therefore, summon to me all the prophets of Baal, all his servants, and all his priests. See that no one is missing, for I have a great sacrifice for Baal. Whoever is missing will not live.” But Jehu was acting deceptively in order to destroy the servants of Baal.
- Romans 3:7 However, if my falsehood accentuates God’s truthfulness, to the increase of His glory, why am I still condemned as a sinner?
- 2 Corinthians 4:7 Now we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this surpassingly great power is from God and not from us.