Genesis 27:29
New International Version
May nations serve you and peoples bow down to you. Be lord over your brothers, and may the sons of your mother bow down to you. May those who curse you be cursed and those who bless you be blessed.”

New Living Translation
May many nations become your servants, and may they bow down to you. May you be the master over your brothers, and may your mother’s sons bow down to you. All who curse you will be cursed, and all who bless you will be blessed.”

English Standard Version
Let peoples serve you, and nations bow down to you. Be lord over your brothers, and may your mother’s sons bow down to you. Cursed be everyone who curses you, and blessed be everyone who blesses you!”

Berean Standard Bible
May peoples serve you and nations bow down to you. May you be the master of your brothers, and may the sons of your mother bow down to you. May those who curse you be cursed, and those who bless you be blessed.”

King James Bible
Let people serve thee, and nations bow down to thee: be lord over thy brethren, and let thy mother's sons bow down to thee: cursed be every one that curseth thee, and blessed be he that blesseth thee.

New King James Version
Let peoples serve you, And nations bow down to you. Be master over your brethren, And let your mother’s sons bow down to you. Cursed be everyone who curses you, And blessed be those who bless you!”

New American Standard Bible
May peoples serve you, And nations bow down to you; Be master of your brothers, And may your mother’s sons bow down to you. Cursed be those who curse you, And blessed be those who bless you.”

NASB 1995
May peoples serve you, And nations bow down to you; Be master of your brothers, And may your mother’s sons bow down to you. Cursed be those who curse you, And blessed be those who bless you.”

NASB 1977
May peoples serve you, And nations bow down to you; Be master of your brothers, And may your mother’s sons bow down to you. Cursed be those who curse you, And blessed be those who bless you.”

Legacy Standard Bible
May peoples serve you, And nations bow down to you; Be master of your brothers, And may your mother’s sons bow down to you. Cursed be those who curse you, And blessed be those who bless you.”

Amplified Bible
May peoples serve you, And nations bow down to you; Be lord and master over your brothers, And may your mother’s sons bow down to you. May those who curse you be cursed, And may those who bless you be blessed.”

Christian Standard Bible
May peoples serve you and nations bow in worship to you. Be master over your relatives; may your mother’s sons bow in worship to you. Those who curse you will be cursed, and those who bless you will be blessed.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
May peoples serve you and nations bow down to you. Be master over your brothers; may your mother’s sons bow down to you. Those who curse you will be cursed, and those who bless you will be blessed.

American Standard Version
Let peoples serve thee, And nations bow down to thee: Be lord over thy brethren, And let thy mother's sons bow down to thee: Cursed be every one that curseth thee, And blessed be every one that blesseth thee.

Contemporary English Version
Nations will be your servants and bow down to you. You will rule over your brothers, and they will kneel at your feet. Anyone who curses you will be cursed; anyone who blesses you will be blessed."

English Revised Version
Let peoples serve thee, And nations bow down to thee: Be lord over thy brethren, And let thy mother's sons bow down to thee: Cursed be every one that curseth thee, And blessed be every one that blesseth thee.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
May nations serve you. May people bow down to you. Be the master of your brothers, and may the sons of your mother bow down to you. May those who curse you be cursed. May those who bless you be blessed."

Good News Translation
May nations be your servants, and may peoples bow down before you. May you rule over all your relatives, and may your mother's descendants bow down before you. May those who curse you be cursed, and may those who bless you be blessed."

International Standard Version
May people serve and bow before you; may you be master over your brothers; may your mother's sons bow before you; may anyone who curses you be cursed; and may anyone who blesses you be blessed."

Majority Standard Bible
May peoples serve you and nations bow down to you. May you be the master of your brothers, and may the sons of your mother bow down to you. May those who curse you be cursed, and those who bless you be blessed.”

NET Bible
May peoples serve you and nations bow down to you. You will be lord over your brothers, and the sons of your mother will bow down to you. May those who curse you be cursed, and those who bless you be blessed."

New Heart English Bible
Let peoples serve you, and nations bow down to you. Be lord over your brothers. Let your mother's sons bow down to you. Cursed be everyone who curses you. Blessed be everyone who blesses you."

Webster's Bible Translation
Let people serve thee, and nations bow down to thee; be lord over thy brethren, and let thy mother's sons bow down to thee: cursed be every one that curseth thee, and blessed be he that blesseth thee.

World English Bible
Let peoples serve you, and nations bow down to you. Be lord over your brothers. Let your mother’s sons bow down to you. Cursed be everyone who curses you. Blessed be everyone who blesses you.”
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
peoples serve you, and nations bow themselves to you, be mighty over your brothers, and the sons of your mother bow themselves to you; those who curse you [are] cursed, and those who bless you [are] blessed.”

Young's Literal Translation
peoples serve thee, and nations bow themselves to thee, be thou mighty over thy brethren, and the sons of thy mother bow themselves to thee; those who curse thee are cursed, and those who bless thee are blessed.'

Smith's Literal Translation
And nations shall serve thee, and peoples shall bow down to thee; be lord over thy brother, and thy mother's sons shall bow down to thee: cursed he cursing thee, and blessed he praising thee.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
And let peoples serve thee, and tribes worship thee: be thou lord of thy brethren, and let they mother's children bow down before thee. Cursed be he that curseth thee: and let him that blesseth thee be filled with blessings.

Catholic Public Domain Version
And may the peoples serve you, and may the tribes reverence you. May you be the lord of your brothers, and may your mother’s sons bow down before you. Whoever curses you, may he be cursed, and whoever blesses you, may he be filled with blessings.”

New American Bible
May peoples serve you, and nations bow down to you; Be master of your brothers, and may your mother’s sons bow down to you. Cursed be those who curse you, and blessed be those who bless you.”

New Revised Standard Version
Let peoples serve you, and nations bow down to you. Be lord over your brothers, and may your mother’s sons bow down to you. Cursed be everyone who curses you, and blessed be everyone who blesses you!”
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
Let people serve you, and nations bow down to you; be a prince over your brethren, and let your mother's sons bow down to you; cursed be they who curse you, and blessed be they who bless you.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
The nations shall serve you and the peoples shall bow down to you; be the head to your brethren and the children of your mother will bow to you; those cursing you are cursed and those blessing you are blessed.”
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
Let peoples serve thee, And nations bow down to thee. Be lord over thy brethren, And let thy mother's sons bow down to thee. Cursed be every one that curseth thee, And blessed be every one that blesseth thee.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And let nations serve thee, and princes bow down to thee, and be thou lord of thy brother, and the sons of thy father shall do thee reverence; accursed is he that curses thee, and blessed is he that blesses thee.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Isaac Blesses Jacob
28May God give to you the dew of heaven and the richness of the earth—an abundance of grain and new wine. 29May peoples serve you and nations bow down to you. May you be the master of your brothers, and may the sons of your mother bow down to you. May those who curse you be cursed, and those who bless you be blessed.”

Cross References
Genesis 12:3
I will bless those who bless you and curse those who curse you; and all the families of the earth will be blessed through you.”

Numbers 24:9
He crouches, he lies down like a lion, like a lioness—who dares to rouse him? Blessed are those who bless you and cursed are those who curse you.”

Deuteronomy 28:1
“Now if you faithfully obey the voice of the LORD your God and are careful to follow all His commandments I am giving you today, the LORD your God will set you high above all the nations of the earth.

Deuteronomy 33:29
Blessed are you, O Israel! Who is like you, a people saved by the LORD? He is the shield that protects you, the sword in which you boast. Your enemies will cower before you, and you shall trample their high places.”

Psalm 72:11
May all kings bow down to him and all nations serve him.

Psalm 110:1
A Psalm of David. The LORD said to my Lord: “Sit at My right hand until I make Your enemies a footstool for Your feet.”

Isaiah 45:14
This is what the LORD says: “The products of Egypt and the merchandise of Cush, along with the Sabeans, men of stature, will come over to you and will be yours; they will trudge behind you; they will come over in chains and bow down to you. They will confess to you: ‘God is indeed with you, and there is no other; there is no other God.’”

Isaiah 49:23
Kings will be your foster fathers, and their queens your nursing mothers. They will bow to you facedown and lick the dust at your feet. Then you will know that I am the LORD; those who hope in Me will never be put to shame.”

Isaiah 60:12
For the nation or kingdom that will not serve you will perish; it will be utterly destroyed.

Daniel 7:14
And He was given dominion, glory, and kingship, that the people of every nation and language should serve Him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion that will not pass away, and His kingdom is one that will never be destroyed.

Matthew 5:3-12
“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. / Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. / Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth. ...

Matthew 23:12
For whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.

Luke 1:52
He has brought down rulers from their thrones, but has exalted the humble.

John 13:16
Truly, truly, I tell you, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him.

Romans 14:11
It is written: “As surely as I live, says the Lord, every knee will bow before Me; every tongue will confess to God.”


Treasury of Scripture

Let people serve you, and nations bow down to you: be lord over your brothers, and let your mother's sons bow down to you: cursed be every one that curses you, and blessed be he that blesses you.

Let people.

Genesis 9:25,26
And he said, Cursed be Canaan; a servant of servants shall he be unto his brethren…

Genesis 22:17,18
That in blessing I will bless thee, and in multiplying I will multiply thy seed as the stars of the heaven, and as the sand which is upon the sea shore; and thy seed shall possess the gate of his enemies; …

Genesis 49:8-10
Judah, thou art he whom thy brethren shall praise: thy hand shall be in the neck of thine enemies; thy father's children shall bow down before thee…

be lord.

Genesis 27:37
And Isaac answered and said unto Esau, Behold, I have made him thy lord, and all his brethren have I given to him for servants; and with corn and wine have I sustained him: and what shall I do now unto thee, my son?

Genesis 25:22,23,33
And the children struggled together within her; and she said, If it be so, why am I thus? And she went to inquire of the LORD…

2 Samuel 8:14
And he put garrisons in Edom; throughout all Edom put he garrisons, and all they of Edom became David's servants. And the LORD preserved David whithersoever he went.

cursed.

Genesis 12:3
And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed.

Numbers 22:11,12
Behold, there is a people come out of Egypt, which covereth the face of the earth: come now, curse me them; peradventure I shall be able to overcome them, and drive them out…

Numbers 23:8
How shall I curse, whom God hath not cursed? or how shall I defy, whom the LORD hath not defied?

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Genesis 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.














May peoples serve you
This phrase is a blessing of dominion and leadership. The Hebrew word for "peoples" is "עַמִּים" (amim), which often refers to various ethnic groups or nations. In the context of the ancient Near East, this blessing implies a position of authority and influence over diverse groups, suggesting a future where the recipient is recognized and respected by many. Historically, this reflects the patriarchal blessings that were believed to shape the destiny of the descendants, emphasizing the importance of lineage and divine favor.

and nations bow down to you
The word "nations" in Hebrew is "גּוֹיִם" (goyim), which can refer to both neighboring tribes and distant lands. The act of bowing down signifies submission and acknowledgment of superiority. This part of the blessing indicates not just local but international recognition and respect. In a biblical context, it foreshadows the expansive influence that Israel, as a nation, would have in the biblical narrative, pointing to a future where the chosen people are seen as leaders among the nations.

Be master over your brothers
The Hebrew word for "master" is "גְּבִיר" (gevir), which denotes authority and control. This phrase directly addresses the familial hierarchy, placing the recipient in a position of power over his siblings. In the context of Jacob and Esau, this blessing is particularly poignant, as it reverses the natural order of the firstborn's rights, highlighting the theme of God's sovereignty in choosing leaders and the unexpected ways He fulfills His promises.

and may the sons of your mother bow down to you
This reiterates the previous blessing but with a more intimate focus on the immediate family. The phrase underscores the complete reversal of expected roles within the family unit, emphasizing the divine orchestration of events. It reflects the biblical theme of the younger being elevated over the elder, as seen in other scriptural narratives, and serves as a reminder of God's providential plans that often defy human expectations.

May those who curse you be cursed
This part of the blessing invokes divine protection and justice. The Hebrew word for "curse" is "אָרַר" (arar), which implies invoking harm or misfortune. This phrase assures the recipient that any opposition will be met with divine retribution, reinforcing the covenantal promise made to Abraham in Genesis 12:3. It highlights the protective aspect of God's blessing, ensuring that the chosen line is safeguarded against adversaries.

and those who bless you be blessed
Conversely, this phrase promises prosperity and favor to those who support and honor the recipient. The Hebrew word for "bless" is "בָּרַךְ" (barak), which means to endow with power for success, prosperity, and longevity. This reciprocal blessing underscores the interconnectedness of relationships and the importance of aligning with God's chosen. It reflects the broader biblical principle that those who align themselves with God's purposes and people will share in the blessings bestowed upon them.

(29) Let people serve thee.--Heb., peoples. Up to this point the blessing had been general, but now Isaac bestows the birthright, carrying with it widespread dominion, precedence over all other members of the family, and special blessedness. The phrases "thy brethren" and "thy mother's sons" include all nations sprung from Abraham, and all possible offshoots from Isaac's own descendants.

Cursed . . . and blessed.--This is a special portion of the blessing given to Abraham (Genesis 12:3); but Isaac stops short with this, and does not bestow the greater privilege that "in him should all families of the earth be blessed" (Genesis 12:3; Genesis 22:18; Genesis 26:4). The reason for this may be that it was a blessing which God must grant, and not man; or he may have had misgivings that it was more than Esau was worthy to receive; or, finally, his whole conduct being wrong, he could see and value only the earthly and lower prerogatives of the birthright. Subsequently he bestows the Abrahamic blessing upon Jacob in general terms (Genesis 28:4); but this, its highest privilege, is confirmed to Jacob by Jehovah Himself (Genesis 28:14). . . .

Verse 29. - Let people serve thee (literally, and will serve thee, peoples; at once a prayer and a prophecy; fulfilled in the political subjection of the Moabites, Ammonites, Syrians, Philistines, and Edomites by David; the thought being repeated in the next clause), and nations bow down to thee (in expression of their homage): be lord over thy brethren, - literally, be a lord (from the idea of power; found only here and in ver. 37) to thy brethren. Imminence among his kindred as well as dominion in the world is thus promised - and let thy mother's sons bow down to thee (a repetition of the preceding thought, with perhaps a hint of his desire to humble Jacob, the favorite of Rebekah): cursed be every one that curseth thee, and blessed be he that blesseth thee - framed on the model of the Abrahamic benediction (Genesis 12:3); but not so full as that, either because Isaac felt that after all Esau was not to be the progenitor of the holy seed (Murphy), or because, not being actuated by proper feelings towards Jehovah and his promises, the patriarch could not rise to that height of spiritual benediction to which he afterwards attained - Genesis 28:3, 4 (Keil), or because the prerogative of pronouncing the Abrahamic blessing in all its fullness Jehovah may have reserved to himself, as in Genesis 28:14 ('Speaker's Commentary').

CHAPTER 27:30-40

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
May peoples
עַמִּ֗ים (‘am·mîm)
Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 5971: A people, a tribe, troops, attendants, a flock

serve you
יַֽעַבְד֣וּךָ (ya·‘aḇ·ḏū·ḵā)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine plural | second person masculine singular
Strong's 5647: To work, to serve, till, enslave

and nations
לְאֻמִּ֔ים (lə·’um·mîm)
Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 3816: A community

bow down to you.
וְיִֽשְׁתַּחֲו֤וּ‪‬ (wə·yiš·ta·ḥă·wū)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hitpael - Conjunctive imperfect - third person masculine plural
Strong's 7812: To depress, prostrate

May you be
הֱוֵ֤ה (hĕ·wêh)
Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine singular
Strong's 1933: To fall

the master
גְבִיר֙ (ḡə·ḇîr)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 1376: A master

of your brothers,
לְאַחֶ֔יךָ (lə·’a·ḥe·ḵā)
Preposition-l | Noun - masculine plural construct | second person masculine singular
Strong's 251: A brother, )

and may the sons
בְּנֵ֣י (bə·nê)
Noun - masculine plural construct
Strong's 1121: A son

of your mother
אִמֶּ֑ךָ (’im·me·ḵā)
Noun - feminine singular construct | second person masculine singular
Strong's 517: A mother, )

bow down to you.
וְיִשְׁתַּחֲוּ֥וּ‪‬ (wə·yiš·ta·ḥăw·wū)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hitpael - Conjunctive imperfect - third person masculine plural
Strong's 7812: To depress, prostrate

May those who curse you
אֹרְרֶ֣יךָ (’ō·rə·re·ḵā)
Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine plural construct | second person masculine singular
Strong's 779: To execrate

be cursed,
אָר֔וּר (’ā·rūr)
Verb - Qal - QalPassParticiple - masculine singular
Strong's 779: To execrate

and those who bless you
וּֽמְבָרֲכֶ֖יךָ (ū·mə·ḇā·ră·ḵe·ḵā)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Piel - Participle - masculine plural construct | second person masculine singular
Strong's 1288: To kneel, to bless God, man, to curse

be blessed.”
בָּרֽוּךְ׃ (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 27:29 Let peoples serve you and nations bow (Gen. Ge Gn)
Genesis 27:28
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