Genesis 27:41
New International Version
Esau held a grudge against Jacob because of the blessing his father had given him. He said to himself, “The days of mourning for my father are near; then I will kill my brother Jacob.”

New Living Translation
From that time on, Esau hated Jacob because their father had given Jacob the blessing. And Esau began to scheme: “I will soon be mourning my father’s death. Then I will kill my brother, Jacob.”

English Standard Version
Now Esau hated Jacob because of the blessing with which his father had blessed him, and Esau said to himself, “The days of mourning for my father are approaching; then I will kill my brother Jacob.”

Berean Standard Bible
Esau held a grudge against Jacob because of the blessing his father had given him. And Esau said in his heart, “The days of mourning for my father are at hand; then I will kill my brother Jacob.”

King James Bible
And Esau hated Jacob because of the blessing wherewith his father blessed him: and Esau said in his heart, The days of mourning for my father are at hand; then will I slay my brother Jacob.

New King James Version
So Esau hated Jacob because of the blessing with which his father blessed him, and Esau said in his heart, “The days of mourning for my father are at hand; then I will kill my brother Jacob.”

New American Standard Bible
So Esau held a grudge against Jacob because of the blessing with which his father had blessed him; and Esau said to himself, “The days of mourning for my father are near; then I will kill my brother Jacob.”

NASB 1995
So Esau bore a grudge against Jacob because of the blessing with which his father had blessed him; and Esau said to himself, “The days of mourning for my father are near; then I will kill my brother Jacob.”

NASB 1977
So Esau bore a grudge against Jacob because of the blessing with which his father had blessed him; and Esau said to himself, “The days of mourning for my father are near; then I will kill my brother Jacob.”

Legacy Standard Bible
So Esau bore a grudge against Jacob because of the blessing with which his father had blessed him; and Esau said in his heart, “The days of mourning for my father are near; then I will kill my brother Jacob.”

Amplified Bible
So Esau hated Jacob because of the blessing with which his father blessed him; and Esau said in his heart, “The days of mourning for my father are very near; then I will kill my brother Jacob.”

Christian Standard Bible
Esau held a grudge against Jacob because of the blessing his father had given him. And Esau determined in his heart, “The days of mourning for my father are approaching; then I will kill my brother Jacob.”

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Esau held a grudge against Jacob because of the blessing his father had given him. And Esau determined in his heart: “The days of mourning for my father are approaching; then I will kill my brother Jacob.”

American Standard Version
And Esau hated Jacob because of the blessing wherewith his father blessed him: and Esau said in his heart, The days of mourning for my father are at hand; then will I slay my brother Jacob.

Contemporary English Version
Esau hated his brother Jacob because he had stolen the blessing that was supposed to be his. So he said to himself, "Just as soon as my father dies, I'll kill Jacob."

English Revised Version
And Esau hated Jacob because of the blessing wherewith his father blessed him: and Esau said in his heart, The days of mourning for my father are at hand; then will I slay my brother Jacob.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
So Esau hated Jacob because of the blessing that his father had given him. Esau said to himself, "The time to mourn for my father is near. Then I'll kill my brother Jacob."

Good News Translation
Esau hated Jacob, because his father had given Jacob the blessing. He thought, "The time to mourn my father's death is near; then I will kill Jacob."

International Standard Version
So Esau harbored animosity toward Jacob because of the way his father had blessed him. Esau kept saying to himself, "The time to mourn for my father is very near. That's when I'm going to kill my brother Jacob."

Majority Standard Bible
Esau held a grudge against Jacob because of the blessing his father had given him. And Esau said in his heart, “The days of mourning for my father are at hand; then I will kill my brother Jacob.”

NET Bible
So Esau hated Jacob because of the blessing his father had given to his brother. Esau said privately, "The time of mourning for my father is near; then I will kill my brother Jacob!"

New Heart English Bible
Esau hated Jacob because of the blessing with which his father blessed him. Esau said in his heart, "The days of mourning for my father are at hand. Then I will kill my brother Jacob."

Webster's Bible Translation
And Esau hated Jacob, because of the blessing with which his father blessed him: and Esau said in his heart, The days of mourning for my father are at hand; then will I slay my brother Jacob.

World English Bible
Esau hated Jacob because of the blessing with which his father blessed him. Esau said in his heart, “The days of mourning for my father are at hand. Then I will kill my brother Jacob.”
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
And Esau hates Jacob, because of the blessing with which his father blessed him, and Esau says in his heart, “The days of mourning [for] my father draw near, and I slay my brother Jacob.”

Young's Literal Translation
And Esau hateth Jacob, because of the blessing with which his father blessed him, and Esau saith in his heart, 'The days of mourning for my father draw near, and I slay Jacob my brother.'

Smith's Literal Translation
And Esau will lie in wait for Jacob, because of the blessing which his father blessed him: and Esau will say in his heart, The days of mourning of my father will draw near, and I will kill Jacob my brother.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
Esau therefore always hated Jacob for the blessing wherewith his father had blessed him: and he said in his heart: The days will come of the mourning of my father, and I will kill my brother Jacob.

Catholic Public Domain Version
Therefore, Esau always hated Jacob, for the blessing with which his father had blessed him. And he said in his heart, “The days will arrive for the mourning of my father, and I will kill my brother Jacob.”

New American Bible
Esau bore a grudge against Jacob because of the blessing his father had given him. Esau said to himself, “Let the time of mourning for my father come, so that I may kill my brother Jacob.”

New Revised Standard Version
Now Esau hated Jacob because of the blessing with which his father had blessed him, and Esau said to himself, “The days of mourning for my father are approaching; then I will kill my brother Jacob.”
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
And Esau hated Jacob because of the blessings with which his father had blessed him; and Esau said in his heart, After the days of mourning for my father are over, then I will slay my brother Jacob.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And Esau looked with evil on Yaquuv for the blessings with which his father blessed him, and Esau said in his heart, “Let the days of my father’s place of mourning come and I shall kill Yaquuv my brother.”
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
And Esau hated Jacob because of the blessing wherewith his father blessed him. And Esau said in his heart: 'Let the days of mourning for my father be at hand; then will I slay my brother Jacob.'

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And Esau was angry with Jacob because of the blessing, with which his father blessed him; and Esau said in his mind, Let the days of my father's mourning draw nigh, that I may slay my brother Jacob.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
The Stolen Blessing
40You shall live by the sword and serve your brother. But when you rebel, you will tear his yoke from your neck.” 41Esau held a grudge against Jacob because of the blessing his father had given him. And Esau said in his heart, “The days of mourning for my father are at hand; then I will kill my brother Jacob.” 42When the words of her older son Esau were relayed to Rebekah, she sent for her younger son Jacob and told him, “Look, your brother Esau is consoling himself by plotting to kill you.…

Cross References
Obadiah 1:10-14
Because of the violence against your brother Jacob, you will be covered with shame and cut off forever. / On the day you stood aloof while strangers carried off his wealth and foreigners entered his gate and cast lots for Jerusalem, you were just like one of them. / But you should not gloat in that day, your brother’s day of misfortune, nor rejoice over the people of Judah in the day of their destruction, nor boast proudly in the day of their distress. ...

Hebrews 12:16-17
See to it that no one is sexually immoral, or is godless like Esau, who for a single meal sold his birthright. / For you know that afterward, when he wanted to inherit the blessing, he was rejected. He could find no ground for repentance, though he sought the blessing with tears.

Amos 1:11
This is what the LORD says: “For three transgressions of Edom, even four, I will not revoke My judgment, because he pursued his brother with the sword and stifled all compassion; his anger raged continually, and his fury flamed incessantly.

Genesis 32:6-8
When the messengers returned to Jacob, they said, “We went to your brother Esau, and now he is coming to meet you—he and four hundred men with him.” / In great fear and distress, Jacob divided his people into two camps, as well as the flocks and herds and camels. / He thought, “If Esau comes and attacks one camp, then the other camp can escape.”

Genesis 33:1-4
Now Jacob looked up and saw Esau coming toward him with four hundred men. So he divided the children among Leah, Rachel, and the two maidservants. / He put the maidservants and their children in front, Leah and her children next, and Rachel and Joseph at the rear. / But Jacob himself went on ahead and bowed to the ground seven times as he approached his brother. ...

Genesis 37:4
When Joseph’s brothers saw that their father loved him more than any of them, they hated him and could not speak a kind word to him.

Genesis 4:5-8
but He had no regard for Cain and his offering. So Cain became very angry, and his countenance fell. / “Why are you angry,” said the LORD to Cain, “and why has your countenance fallen? / If you do what is right, will you not be accepted? But if you refuse to do what is right, sin is crouching at your door; it desires you, but you must master it.” ...

1 John 3:12
Do not be like Cain, who belonged to the evil one and murdered his brother. And why did Cain slay him? Because his own deeds were evil, while those of his brother were righteous.

Romans 9:13
So it is written: “Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated.”

Genesis 49:23-24
The archers attacked him with bitterness; they aimed at him in hostility. / Yet he steadied his bow, and his strong arms were tempered by the hands of the Mighty One of Jacob, in the name of the Shepherd, the Rock of Israel,

Numbers 20:14-21
From Kadesh, Moses sent messengers to tell the king of Edom, “This is what your brother Israel says: You know all the hardship that has befallen us, / how our fathers went down to Egypt, where we lived many years. The Egyptians mistreated us and our fathers, / and when we cried out to the LORD, He heard our voice, sent an angel, and brought us out of Egypt. Now look, we are in Kadesh, a city on the edge of your territory. ...

Ezekiel 35:5
Because you harbored an ancient hatred and delivered the Israelites over to the sword in the time of their disaster at the final stage of their punishment,

1 Samuel 18:8-9
And Saul was furious and resented this song. “They have ascribed tens of thousands to David,” he said, “but only thousands to me. What more can he have but the kingdom?” / And from that day forward Saul kept a jealous eye on David.

Proverbs 27:4
Wrath is cruel and anger is like a flood, but who can withstand jealousy?

Matthew 5:21-22
You have heard that it was said to the ancients, ‘Do not murder’ and ‘Anyone who murders will be subject to judgment.’ / But I tell you that anyone who is angry with his brother will be subject to judgment. Again, anyone who says to his brother, ‘Raca,’ will be subject to the Sanhedrin. But anyone who says, ‘You fool!’ will be subject to the fire of hell.


Treasury of Scripture

And Esau hated Jacob because of the blessing with which his father blessed him: and Esau said in his heart, The days of mourning for my father are at hand; then will I slay my brother Jacob.

hated.

Genesis 4:2-8
And she again bare his brother Abel. And Abel was a keeper of sheep, but Cain was a tiller of the ground…

Genesis 37:4,8
And when his brethren saw that their father loved him more than all his brethren, they hated him, and could not speak peaceably unto him…

Ezekiel 25:12-15
Thus saith the Lord GOD; Because that Edom hath dealt against the house of Judah by taking vengeance, and hath greatly offended, and revenged himself upon them; …

The days.

Genesis 35:29
And Isaac gave up the ghost, and died, and was gathered unto his people, being old and full of days: and his sons Esau and Jacob buried him.

Genesis 50:3,4,10,11
And forty days were fulfilled for him; for so are fulfilled the days of those which are embalmed: and the Egyptians mourned for him threescore and ten days…

Deuteronomy 34:8
And the children of Israel wept for Moses in the plains of Moab thirty days: so the days of weeping and mourning for Moses were ended.

then.

Genesis 32:6
And the messengers returned to Jacob, saying, We came to thy brother Esau, and also he cometh to meet thee, and four hundred men with him.

2 Samuel 13:28,29
Now Absalom had commanded his servants, saying, Mark ye now when Amnon's heart is merry with wine, and when I say unto you, Smite Amnon; then kill him, fear not: have not I commanded you? be courageous, and be valiant…

Psalm 37:12,13,16
The wicked plotteth against the just, and gnasheth upon him with his teeth…

Jump to Previous
Approaching Blessed Blessing Bore Death Draw Esau Father's Full Grudge Hand Hate Hated Hateth Heart Held Jacob Kill Mourning Slay Weeping Wherewith
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Approaching Blessed Blessing Bore Death Draw Esau Father's Full Grudge Hand Hate Hated Hateth Heart Held Jacob Kill Mourning Slay Weeping Wherewith
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.














Esau held a grudge
The Hebrew word for "held a grudge" is "שָׂטַם" (satam), which conveys a deep-seated enmity or hostility. This word choice indicates that Esau's feelings were not fleeting but rather a profound and enduring resentment. In the cultural and historical context of the ancient Near East, family blessings were of immense significance, often determining one's future prosperity and status. Esau's grudge is rooted in the loss of his birthright and blessing, which were pivotal in defining one's identity and inheritance.

against Jacob
Jacob, whose name in Hebrew, "יַעֲקֹב" (Ya'akov), means "he grasps the heel" or "supplanter," had lived up to his name by deceiving his father Isaac and taking the blessing meant for Esau. This act of deception was not just a personal betrayal but a disruption of the expected familial and societal order. The tension between Esau and Jacob is emblematic of the broader theme of sibling rivalry found throughout Genesis, reflecting the human struggle for favor and identity.

because of the blessing
The "blessing" in question is the patriarchal blessing, a formal and prophetic declaration of God's favor and future prosperity. In the Hebrew tradition, blessings were considered irrevocable and carried divine authority. Isaac's blessing of Jacob, intended for Esau, was not merely words but a binding spiritual and social contract. This underscores the gravity of Jacob's deception and the depth of Esau's loss.

his father had given him
The phrase highlights the patriarchal authority of Isaac, whose role as the family head was to bestow blessings that shaped the destiny of his descendants. In the ancient world, the father's blessing was a powerful act that conferred leadership, inheritance, and divine favor. Isaac's unwitting blessing of Jacob instead of Esau set the stage for future conflict and the unfolding of God's covenantal promises through Jacob's lineage.

And Esau determined in his heart
The phrase "determined in his heart" indicates a firm and resolute decision. The Hebrew word "אָמַר" (amar) often means "to say" or "to speak," but in this context, it reflects an internal dialogue and decision-making process. Esau's determination reveals the intensity of his emotions and his willingness to contemplate fratricide, a grave sin that echoes the earlier biblical narrative of Cain and Abel.

The days of mourning for my father are at hand
Esau's reference to "the days of mourning" suggests an awareness of the impending death of Isaac, which would be a time of familial and communal grief. In the ancient Near Eastern culture, mourning was a sacred duty, and Esau's plan to wait until after this period reflects a twisted sense of respect for his father. It also indicates the depth of his premeditated anger, as he is willing to bide his time to exact revenge.

then I will kill my brother Jacob
This chilling declaration reveals the extent of Esau's bitterness and the potential for violence within the human heart when consumed by hatred. The Hebrew verb "הָרַג" (harag) means "to kill" or "to slay," underscoring the seriousness of Esau's intent. This threat of fratricide not only endangers Jacob but also threatens the fulfillment of God's promises to Abraham's descendants. The narrative tension here foreshadows the need for divine intervention and reconciliation, themes that resonate throughout the biblical story.

JACOB IS SENT AWAY BY HIS FATHER AND MOTHER TO HARAN.

(41) The days of mourning for my father are at hand.--Esau evidently expected that his father's death was near, and such also was Isaac's own expectation (Genesis 27:2); but he recovered, and lived for more than half a century. Perhaps on this account another translation has been suggested, namely, "Days of mourning for my father are at hand: for I will slay Jacob." But there is no support for this in the Hebrew, and it represents Esau as utterly inhuman; whereas, with all his faults, he had a warm, loving heart. Genesis 28 ought to have begun here, as the break at the end of Genesis 27:46 is very injurious to the meaning.

Verse 41. - And Esau hated Jacob - a proof that he was not penitent, however disappointed and remorseful (cf. Obadiah 1:10, 11; 1 John 3:12, 15) - because of the blessing wherewith his father blessed him: - notwithstanding the fact that he too had received an appropriate benediction; a display of envy as well as wrath, another proof of his ungracious character (Galatians 5:21; James 4:5) - and Esau said in his heart, - i.e. secretly resolved, though afterwards he must have communicated his intention (vide ver. 42) - The days of mourning for my father are at hand. The LXX. interpret as a wish on the part of Esau that Isaac might speedily die, in order that the fratricidal act he contemplated might not pain the old man's heart; another rendering (Kalisch) understands him to say that days of grief were in store for his father, as he meant to slay his brother; but the ordinary translation seems preferable (Rosenmüller, Keil, Murphy, et alii), that Esan only deferred the execution of his unholy purpose because of the near approach, as he imagined, of his father's death. Isaac, however, lived upwards of forty years after this. Then will I slay my brother Jacob. That which reconciled Isaac and Ishmael (Genesis 25:9), the death of a father, is here mentioned as the event which would decisively and finally part Esau and Jacob. Esau's murderous intention Calvin regards as a clear proof of the non-reality of his repentance for his sin, the insincerity of his sorrow for his father, and the intense malignity of his hate against his brother.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
Esau
עֵשָׂו֙ (‘ê·śāw)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 6215: Esau -- oldest son of Isaac

held a grudge
וַיִּשְׂטֹ֤ם (way·yiś·ṭōm)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 7852: To bear a grudge or cherish animosity against

against Jacob
יַעֲקֹ֔ב (ya·‘ă·qōḇ)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3290: Jacob -- a son of Isaac, also his desc

because of
עַל־ (‘al-)
Preposition
Strong's 5921: Above, over, upon, against

the blessing
הַ֨בְּרָכָ֔ה (hab·bə·rā·ḵāh)
Article | Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 1293: Benediction, prosperity

his father
אָבִ֑יו (’ā·ḇîw)
Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singular
Strong's 1: Father

had given him.
בֵּרֲכ֖וֹ (bê·ră·ḵōw)
Verb - Piel - Perfect - third person masculine singular | third person masculine singular
Strong's 1288: To kneel, to bless God, man, to curse

And Esau
עֵשָׂ֜ו (‘ê·śāw)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 6215: Esau -- oldest son of Isaac

said
וַיֹּ֨אמֶר (way·yō·mer)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 559: To utter, say

in his heart:
בְּלִבּ֗וֹ (bə·lib·bōw)
Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singular
Strong's 3820: The heart, the feelings, the will, the intellect, centre

“The days
יְמֵי֙ (yə·mê)
Noun - masculine plural construct
Strong's 3117: A day

of mourning
אֵ֣בֶל (’ê·ḇel)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 60: Lamentation

for my father
אָבִ֔י (’ā·ḇî)
Noun - masculine singular construct | first person common singular
Strong's 1: Father

are at hand;
יִקְרְבוּ֙ (yiq·rə·ḇū)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine plural
Strong's 7126: To come near, approach

then I will kill
וְאַֽהַרְגָ֖ה (wə·’a·har·ḡāh)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive imperfect Cohortative - first person common singular
Strong's 2026: To smite with deadly intent

my brother
אָחִֽי׃ (’ā·ḥî)
Noun - masculine singular construct | first person common singular
Strong's 251: A brother, )

Jacob.”
יַעֲקֹ֥ב (ya·‘ă·qōḇ)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3290: Jacob -- a son of Isaac, also his desc


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OT Law: Genesis 27:41 Esau hated Jacob because of the blessing (Gen. Ge Gn)
Genesis 27:40
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