New International VersionIsaac trembled violently and said, “Who was it, then, that hunted game and brought it to me? I ate it just before you came and I blessed him—and indeed he will be blessed!”
New Living TranslationIsaac began to tremble uncontrollably and said, “Then who just served me wild game? I have already eaten it, and I blessed him just before you came. And yes, that blessing must stand!”
English Standard VersionThen Isaac trembled very violently and said, “Who was it then that hunted game and brought it to me, and I ate it all before you came, and I have blessed him? Yes, and he shall be blessed.”
Berean Standard BibleIsaac began to tremble violently and said, “Who was it, then, who hunted the game and brought it to me? Before you came in, I ate it all and blessed him—and indeed, he will be blessed!”
King James BibleAnd Isaac trembled very exceedingly, and said, Who? where is he that hath taken venison, and brought it me, and I have eaten of all before thou camest, and have blessed him? yea, and he shall be blessed.
New King James VersionThen Isaac trembled exceedingly, and said, “Who? Where is the one who hunted game and brought it to me? I ate all of it before you came, and I have blessed him— and indeed he shall be blessed.”
New American Standard BibleThen Isaac trembled violently, and said, “Who then was he who hunted game and brought it to me, so that I ate from all of it before you came, and blessed him? Yes, and he shall be blessed.”
NASB 1995Then Isaac trembled violently, and said, “Who was he then that hunted game and brought it to me, so that I ate of all of it before you came, and blessed him? Yes, and he shall be blessed.”
NASB 1977Then Isaac trembled violently, and said, “Who was he then that hunted game and brought it to me, so that I ate of all of it before you came, and blessed him? Yes, and he shall be blessed.”
Legacy Standard BibleThen Isaac trembled exceedingly violently and said, “Who was he then that hunted game and brought it to me, so that I ate of all of it before you came and blessed him? Indeed, he shall be blessed.”
Amplified BibleThen Isaac trembled violently, and he said, “Then who was the one [who was just here] who hunted game and brought it to me? I ate all of it before you came, and I blessed him. Yes, and he [in fact] shall be (shall remain) blessed.”
Christian Standard BibleIsaac began to tremble uncontrollably. “Who was it then,” he said, “who hunted game and brought it to me? I ate it all before you came in, and I blessed him. Indeed, he will be blessed! ”
Holman Christian Standard BibleIsaac began to tremble uncontrollably. “Who was it then,” he said, “who hunted game and brought it to me? I ate it all before you came in, and I blessed him. Indeed, he will be blessed!”
American Standard VersionAnd Isaac trembled very exceedingly, and said, Who then is he that hath taken venison, and brought it me, and I have eaten of all before thou camest, and have blessed him? yea, and he shall be blessed.
Contemporary English VersionIsaac started trembling and said, "Then who brought me some wild meat right before you came in? I ate it and gave him a blessing that cannot be taken back."
English Revised VersionAnd Isaac trembled very exceedingly, and said, Who then is he that hath taken venison, and brought it me, and I have eaten of all before thou camest, and have blessed him? yea, and he shall be blessed.
GOD'S WORD® TranslationTrembling violently all over, Isaac asked, "Who hunted game and brought it to me? I ate it before you came in. I blessed him, and he will stay blessed."
Good News TranslationIsaac began to tremble and shake all over, and he asked, "Who was it, then, who killed an animal and brought it to me? I ate it just before you came. I gave him my final blessing, and so it is his forever."
International Standard VersionAt this, Isaac began to tremble violently. "Who then," he asked, "hunted some game and brought it to me to eat before you arrived, so that I've blessed him? Indeed, he is blessed."
NET BibleIsaac began to shake violently and asked, "Then who else hunted game and brought it to me? I ate all of it just before you arrived, and I blessed him. He will indeed be blessed!"
New Heart English BibleIsaac trembled violently, and said, "Who was it then that hunted an animal and brought it to me, and I ate it all before you came, and have blessed him? Yes, he will be blessed."
Webster's Bible TranslationAnd Isaac trembled exceedingly, and said, Who? where is he that hath taken venison, and brought it me, and I have eaten of all before thou camest, and have blessed him? yea, and he shall be blessed. Majority Text Translations Majority Standard BibleIsaac began to tremble violently and said, “Who was it, then, who hunted the game and brought it to me? Before you came in, I ate it all and blessed him—and indeed, he will be blessed!”
World English BibleIsaac trembled violently, and said, “Who, then, is he who has taken venison, and brought it to me, and I have eaten of all before you came, and have blessed him? Yes, he will be blessed.” Literal Translations Literal Standard Versionand Isaac trembles a very great trembling and says, “Who, now, [is] he who has provided game, and brings to me, and I eat of all before you come in, and I bless him? Indeed, he is blessed.”
Young's Literal Translation and Isaac trembleth a very great trembling, and saith, 'Who, now, is he who hath provided provision, and bringeth in to me, and I eat of all before thou comest in, and I bless him? -- yea, blessed is he.'
Smith's Literal TranslationAnd Isaak will tremble a great trembling, even exceedingly; and he will say, Who now is he having hunted a hunting, and will bring to me, and I ate from all before thou wilt come, and I shall praise him? also he shall be praised. Catholic Translations Douay-Rheims BibleIsaac was struck with fear, and astonished exceedingly: and wondering beyond what can be believed, said Who is he then the even now brought me venison that he had taken, and I ate of all before thou camest? and I have blessed him, and he shall be blessed.
Catholic Public Domain VersionIsaac became frightened and very astonished. And wondering beyond what can be believed, he said: “Then who is he that a while ago brought me the prey from his hunting, from which I ate, before you arrived? And I blessed him, and he will be blessed.”
New American BibleIsaac trembled greatly. “Who was it, then,” he asked, “that hunted game and brought it to me? I ate it all just before you came, and I blessed him. Now he is blessed!”
New Revised Standard VersionThen Isaac trembled violently, and said, “Who was it then that hunted game and brought it to me, and I ate it all before you came, and I have blessed him?—yes, and blessed he shall be!” Translations from Aramaic Lamsa BibleAnd Isaac was greatly alarmed, and said, Who was it then that hunted game and brought it to me? I have eaten of everything before you came, and I have blessed him, yea, and he shall be blessed.
Peshitta Holy Bible TranslatedAnd his father sorrowed a great and very powerful sorrow and he said, “Who indeed is he that hunted game and he brought it to me and I ate of it all before you came? And I have blessed him, also he shall be blessed.” OT Translations JPS Tanakh 1917And Isaac trembled very exceedingly, and said: 'Who then is he that hath taken venison, and brought it me, and I have eaten of all before thou camest, and have blessed him? yea, and he shall be blessed.'
Brenton Septuagint TranslationAnd Isaac was amazed with very great amazement, and said, Who then is it that has procured venison for me and brought it to me? and I have eaten of all before thou camest, and I have blessed him, and he shall be blessed.
Additional Translations ... Audio Bible
Context The Stolen Blessing… 32But his father Isaac replied, “Who are you?” “I am Esau, your firstborn son,” he answered. 33Isaacbegan to tremble violentlyand said,“Whowas it,then,who huntedthe gameand brought itto me?Beforeyou came in,I ateit alland blessed him—and indeed,he will beblessed!”34When Esau heard his father’s words, he let out a loud and bitter cry and said to his father, “Bless me too, O my father!”…
Cross References Hebrews 11:20By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau concerning the future.
Romans 9:10-13Not only that, but Rebecca’s children were conceived by one man, our father Isaac. / Yet before the twins were born or had done anything good or bad, in order that God’s plan of election might stand, / not by works but by Him who calls, she was told, “The older will serve the younger.” ...
Malachi 1:2-3“I have loved you,” says the LORD. But you ask, “How have You loved us?” “Was not Esau Jacob’s brother?” declares the LORD. “Yet Jacob I have loved, / but Esau I have hated, and I have made his mountains a wasteland and left his inheritance to the desert jackals.”
Genesis 25:23and He declared to her: “Two nations are in your womb, and two peoples from within you will be separated; one people will be stronger than the other, and the older will serve the younger.”
Genesis 25:29-34One day, while Jacob was cooking some stew, Esau came in from the field and was famished. / He said to Jacob, “Let me eat some of that red stew, for I am famished.” (That is why he was also called Edom.) / “First sell me your birthright,” Jacob replied. ...
Genesis 28:3-4May God Almighty bless you and make you fruitful and multiply you, so that you may become a company of peoples. / And may He give the blessing of Abraham to you and your descendants, so that you may possess the land where you dwell as a foreigner, the land God gave to Abraham.”
Genesis 48:17-19When Joseph saw that his father had placed his right hand on Ephraim’s head, he was displeased and took his father’s hand to move it from Ephraim’s head to Manasseh’s. / “Not so, my father!” Joseph said. “This one is the firstborn; put your right hand on his head.” / But his father refused. “I know, my son, I know!” he said. “He too shall become a people, and he too shall be great; nevertheless, his younger brother shall be greater than he, and his offspring shall become a multitude of nations.”
Numbers 23:19God is not a man, that He should lie, or a son of man, that He should change His mind. Does He speak and not act? Does He promise and not fulfill?
1 Samuel 15:29Moreover, the Glory of Israel does not lie or change His mind, for He is not a man, that He should change His mind.”
2 Samuel 7:28And now, O Lord GOD, You are God! Your words are true, and You have promised this goodness to Your servant.
Psalm 33:11The counsel of the LORD stands forever, the purposes of His heart to all generations.
Psalm 89:34I will not violate My covenant or alter the utterance of My lips.
Isaiah 14:24The LORD of Hosts has sworn: “Surely, as I have planned, so will it be; as I have purposed, so will it stand.
Isaiah 46:10I declare the end from the beginning, and from ancient times what is still to come. I say, ‘My purpose will stand, and all My good pleasure I will accomplish.’
Jeremiah 4:28Therefore the earth will mourn and the heavens above will grow dark. I have spoken, I have planned, and I will not relent or turn back.”
Treasury of Scripture And Isaac trembled very exceedingly, and said, Who? where is he that has taken venison, and brought it me, and I have eaten of all before you came, and have blessed him? yes, and he shall be blessed. trembled very exceedingly. Job 21:6 Even when I remember I am afraid, and trembling taketh hold on my flesh. Job 37:1 At this also my heart trembleth, and is moved out of his place. Psalm 55:5 Fearfulness and trembling are come upon me, and horror hath overwhelmed me. taken. Genesis 27:25 And he said, Bringit near to me, and I will eat of my son's venison, that my soul may bless thee. And he broughtit near to him, and he did eat: and he brought him wine, and he drank. yea. Genesis 28:3,4 And God Almighty bless thee, and make thee fruitful, and multiply thee, that thou mayest be a multitude of people; … John 10:10,28,29 The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might haveit more abundantly… Romans 5:20,21 Moreover the law entered, that the offence might abound. But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound: … Jump to Previous AteBlessedCamestEatEatenExceedingExceedinglyFearGameGreatHuntedIndeedIsaacMeatProvidedProvisionTrembledVenisonViolentlyJump to Next AteBlessedCamestEatEatenExceedingExceedinglyFearGameGreatHuntedIndeedIsaacMeatProvidedProvisionTrembledVenisonViolentlyGenesis 27 1.Isaac sends Esau for venison.6.Rebekah instructs Jacob to obtain the blessing.14.Jacob, feigning to be Esau, obtains it.30.Esau brings venison.33.Isaac trembles.34.Esau complains, and by importunity obtains a blessing.41.He threatens Jacob's life.42.Rebekah disappoints him, by sending Jacob away.Isaac began to tremble violentlyThis phrase indicates Isaac's intense emotional and physical reaction upon realizing he has been deceived. The trembling signifies a mix of fear, anger, and realization of the gravity of the situation. In the cultural context, blessings were considered irrevocable and carried significant weight, often seen as divinely guided. Isaac's trembling may also reflect his awareness of God's sovereignty in the unfolding events, despite human deception. and said, “Who was it, then, who hunted the game and brought it to me?
Isaac's question reveals his confusion and the unexpected nature of the deception. Hunting was a skill highly valued in the ancient Near East, and Esau, known for his hunting prowess, was expected to fulfill this role. The question underscores the betrayal by Jacob, who impersonated Esau to receive the blessing. This moment highlights the theme of identity and deception, which recurs throughout Genesis. Before you came in, I ate it all and blessed him
Isaac's statement confirms the completion of the blessing ritual, which involved a meal symbolizing fellowship and covenant. The act of eating together was significant in ancient cultures, often sealing agreements or covenants. The irrevocability of the blessing once given is emphasized here, reflecting the belief that spoken words, especially blessings, held power and could not be undone. and indeed, he will be blessed!”
This final phrase acknowledges the effectiveness and permanence of the blessing, despite the deception. It reflects the belief in the divine authority behind the patriarchal blessings, suggesting that God's purposes prevail even through human actions. This moment foreshadows the unfolding of God's covenant promises through Jacob, aligning with the broader biblical narrative of God's sovereignty and the fulfillment of His promises, as seen in the lineage leading to Jesus Christ. Persons / Places / Events 1. IsaacThe son of Abraham and father of Esau and Jacob. In this passage, he is an elderly patriarch who has been deceived into blessing the wrong son. 2. JacobThe younger son of Isaac, who deceives his father into giving him the blessing meant for his brother Esau. 3. EsauThe elder son of Isaac, who is the rightful recipient of the blessing but is deceived by his brother Jacob. 4. RebekahIsaac's wife and the mother of Esau and Jacob, who orchestrates the deception to ensure Jacob receives the blessing. 5. The BlessingA significant event in the patriarchal family, where Isaac intends to pass on the covenantal blessing to his eldest son, Esau, but is deceived into blessing Jacob instead. Teaching Points The Sovereignty of GodDespite human deception and failure, God's purposes prevail. Isaac's blessing of Jacob, though achieved through deceit, aligns with God's earlier prophecy to Rebekah. The Consequences of DeceptionJacob's deceit leads to family discord and personal consequences, reminding us that deceit can have long-lasting effects on relationships. The Importance of BlessingIn the biblical context, blessings are not just words but carry the weight of divine promise and authority. This underscores the power of spoken words and the responsibility that comes with them. Faith and FearIsaac's trembling response reflects a moment of realization and fear, yet he acknowledges the blessing's validity, demonstrating a complex interplay of faith and human emotion. God's Grace in Human WeaknessThe account illustrates how God can work through human weakness and failure to accomplish His divine purposes, offering hope that our mistakes do not thwart God's plans. Bible Study Questions and Answers 1.What is the meaning of Genesis 27:33?
2.How does Genesis 27:33 demonstrate God's sovereignty in Jacob's blessing?
3.What emotions did Isaac experience upon realizing Jacob's deception in Genesis 27:33?
4.How does Genesis 27:33 connect to God's promise to Rebekah in Genesis 25:23?
5.How can we trust God's plans when circumstances seem contrary, like in Genesis 27:33?
6.What lessons on integrity can we learn from Isaac's reaction in Genesis 27:33?
7.Why did Isaac tremble violently in Genesis 27:33?
8.How does Genesis 27:33 reflect God's sovereignty in human affairs?
9.What does Genesis 27:33 reveal about the consequences of deception?
10.What are the top 10 Lessons from Genesis 27?
11.Is there any historical or archeological basis for believing such a deceitful blessing would stand in that culture (Genesis 27)?
12.What explains the absence of any further conflict between Jacob and Esau after their dramatic meeting in Genesis 33?
13.How could Jacob and Esau reconcile so suddenly in Genesis 33:4 after years of hostility, and is there historical evidence for Esau's 400 men?
14.Does this account conflict with other biblical passages that condemn lying yet here seem to permit it (Genesis 27:6-17)?What Does Genesis 27:33 Mean Isaac began to tremble violently• Isaac’s shaking shows sudden recognition that he has been opposing God’s plan, not merely falling victim to a family trick (cf.Genesis 25:23 where God had already chosen Jacob). • Similar physical responses appear when humans realize divine intervention—seeDaniel 10:8 – 9. • The violence of the tremble suggests both fear of God’s overruling and grief over his own misplaced favoritism toward Esau (compareHebrews 12:17, where Esau seeks the blessing “with tears” yet cannot reverse it).
Crisis of identity: “Who was it, then, who hunted the game and brought it to me?”• The question underscores Isaac’s bewilderment; he thought he recognized Esau by taste and smell (Genesis 27:25–27). • Deception surfaces often in Scripture—Jacob’s sons will later deceive him with Joseph’s coat (Genesis 37:31–33). God overrules such schemes to fulfill His purposes (Romans 8:28). • Isaac’s realization mirrors Saul’s when confronted by Samuel (1 Samuel 15:24–26): both grasp that disobedience has far-reaching consequences.
Irrevocable blessing: “Before you came in, I ate it all and blessed him”• In patriarchal culture a spoken blessing carried legal weight; once uttered, it stood.Numbers 23:20 affirms, “I have received a command to bless; He has blessed, and I cannot change it.” • By saying “I ate it all,” Isaac admits the covenantal meal sealing the blessing is complete; there is no way to rewind. • The permanence of a God-endorsed word echoesRomans 11:29: “For God’s gifts and His call are irrevocable.”
Divine certainty: “—and indeed, he will be blessed!”• Isaac yields to God’s sovereignty, echoing Balaam’s confession that he can only declare what God decrees (Numbers 23:8, 19). • The phrase shifts the focus from human intrigue to divine election—Jacob’s blessing is now a settled reality (Genesis 28:3–4). • This certainty previews the later biblical principle that every promise in Christ is “Yes” and “Amen” (2 Corinthians 1:20).
summaryWhen Isaac trembles, he recognizes that God’s predetermined plan has broken through his own preferences. His question exposes the cost of deception, yet his admission that the blessing stands affirms the unchangeable nature of God’s word.Genesis 27:33 thus highlights the collision between human schemes and divine sovereignty—reminding us that once God’s promise is released, “indeed, he will be blessed.” (33) Isaac trembled very exceedingly.--This was not from mere vexation at having been so deceived, and made to give the blessing contrary to his wishes. What Isaac felt was that he had been resisting God. In spite of the prophecy given to the mother, and Esau's own irreligious character and heathen marriages, he had determined to bestow on him the birthright by an act of his own will; and he had failed. But he persists no longer in his sin. Acknowledging the Divine purpose, he has no word of blame for Rebekah and Jacob, but confirms to him the possession of the birthright, and declares, "Yea, he shall be blessed." Verse 33. - And Isaac trembled veryexceedingly, - literally, feared a great fear, to a great degree; shuddered in great terror above measure (Lange). The renderings ἐξέστη δὲ Ἰσαάκ ἔκστασιν μεγάλην σφόδρα (LXX.), Expavit stupors, et ultra quam credi potest admirans (Vulgate), "wondered with an exceedingly great admiration" (Onkelos), emphasize the patriarch s astonishment, the first even suggesting the idea of a trance or supernatural elevation of the prophetic consciousness (Augustine); whereas that which is depicted is rather the alarm produced within the patriarch's breast, not so much by the discovery that his plan had been defeated by a woman s wit and a son's craft - these would have kindled indignation rather than fear - as by the awakening conviction not that he had blessed, but that he had been seeking to bless, the wrong person (Calvin, Willet) - and said, Who? where is he - quis est et ubi est? (Jarchi); but rather, who then is he? (Rosenmüller, Kalisch, Lange) - that hath taken venison, - literally, the one hunting prey - that hunted, or has hunted, the part having the force of a perfect ( vide Ewald's 'Hebrews Synt.,' § 335) - and brought it me, And I have eaten of all before thou earnest, and have blessed him? yea, and he shall be blessed - thus before Jacob is named he pronounces the Divine sentence that the blessing is irrevocable (Lange).
Parallel Commentaries ...
Hebrew Isaacיִצְחָ֣ק(yiṣ·ḥāq)Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3327:Isaac -- 'he laughs', son of Abraham and Sarahbegan to tremble violentlyוַיֶּחֱרַ֨ד(way·ye·ḥĕ·raḏ)Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 2729:To shudder with terror, to fear, to hastenand said,וַיֹּ֡אמֶר(way·yō·mer)Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 559:To utter, say“Whoמִֽי־(mî-)Interrogative
Strong's 4310:Who?, whoever, in oblique construction with prefix, suffixwas it,ה֣וּא(hū)Pronoun - third person masculine singular
Strong's 1931:He, self, the same, this, that, as, arethen,אֵפ֡וֹא(’ê·p̄ō·w)Conjunction
Strong's 645:Here, now, thenwho huntedהַצָּֽד־(haṣ·ṣāḏ-)Article | Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular
Strong's 6679:To lie alongside, to catch an animal, to victualthe gameצַיִד֩(ṣa·yiḏ)Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 6718:The chase, game, lunchand brought itוַיָּ֨בֵא(way·yā·ḇê)Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 935:To come in, come, go in, goto me?לִ֜י(lî)Preposition | first person common singular
Strong's HebrewBeforeבְּטֶ֥רֶם(bə·ṭe·rem)Preposition-b | Adverb
Strong's 2962:Non-occurrence, not yet, beforeyou came in,תָּב֖וֹא(tā·ḇō·w)Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine singular
Strong's 935:To come in, come, go in, goI ateוָאֹכַ֥ל(wā·’ō·ḵal)Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - first person common singular
Strong's 398:To eatit allמִכֹּ֛ל(mik·kōl)Preposition-m | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 3605:The whole, all, any, everyand blessed him—וָאֲבָרֲכֵ֑הוּ(wā·’ă·ḇā·ră·ḵê·hū)Conjunctive waw | Verb - Piel - Consecutive imperfect - first person common singular | third person masculine singular
Strong's 1288:To kneel, to bless God, man, to curseand indeed,גַּם־(gam-)Conjunction
Strong's 1571:Assemblage, also, even, yea, though, both, andhe will beיִהְיֶֽה׃(yih·yeh)Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 1961:To fall out, come to pass, become, beblessed!”בָּר֖וּךְ(bā·rūḵ)Verb - Qal - QalPassParticiple - masculine singular
Strong's 1288:To kneel, to bless God, man, to curse
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OT Law: Genesis 27:33 Isaac trembled violently and said Who then (Gen. Ge Gn) |
