Genesis 27:1

 Genesis 27:1

And it came to pass, that when Isaac was old, and his eyes were dim, so that he could not see, he called Esau his eldest son, and said unto him, My son: and he said unto him, Behold, here am I.

a. ASV: And it came to pass, that when Isaac was old, and his eyes were dim, so that he could not see, he called Esau his elder son, and said unto him, My son: and he said unto him, Here am I.  [Thomas Nelson & Sons first published the American Standard Version in 1901. This translation of the Bible is in the public domain.]

b. YLT: And it cometh to pass that Isaac is aged, and his eyes are too dim for seeing, and he calleth Esau his elder son, and saith unto him, 'My son;' and he saith unto him, 'Here am I.'  [The Young's Literal Translation was translated by Robert Young, who believed in a strictly literal translation of God's word. This version of the Bible is in the public domain.]

c. Classic Amplified: When Isaac was old and his eyes were dim so that he could not see, he called Esau his elder son, and said to him, My son! And he answered him, Here I am.   [Amplified Bible, Classic Edition (AMPC) Copyright © 1954, 1958, 1962, 1964, 1965, 1987 by The Lockman Foundation]

d. Stone Edition THE CHUMASH, Rabbinic Commentary: And it came to pass, when Isaac had become old, and his eyes dimmed from seeing, that he summoned Esau, his oldest son, and said to him, “My son.” And he said to him, “Here I am.”  [The Artscroll Series/Stone Edition, THE CHUMASH Copyright 1998, 2000 by MESORAH PUBLICATIONS, Ldt.]

e. Torah, Judaism and Jewish information on the web: www.chabad.org; Online English Translation of the Tanakh (Jewish Bible):  It came to pass when Isaac was old, and his eyes were too dim to see, that he called Esau his elder son, and he said to him, "My son," and he said to him, "Here I am."  [English Translation, Ⓒ Copyright The Judaica Press All rights reserved.]

1. “And it came to pass, that when Isaac was old, and his eyes were dim, so that he could not see, he called Esau his eldest son…”

a. [And] it came to pass [Strong:  1961 hayah haw-yaw a primitive root (Compare 1933); to exist, i.e. be or become, come to pass (always emphatic, and not a mere copula or auxiliary):--beacon, X altogether, be(-come), accomplished, committed, like), break, cause, come (to pass), do, faint, fall, + follow, happen, X have, last, pertain, quit (one-)self, require, X use.]

b. that when [Strong: 3588 kiy kee a primitive particle (the full form of the prepositional prefix) indicating causal relations of all kinds, antecedent or consequent; (by implication) very widely used as a relative conjunction or adverb (as below); often largely modified by other particles annexed:--and, + (forasmuch, inasmuch, where-)as, assured(-ly), + but, certainly, doubtless, + else, even, + except, for, how, (because, in, so, than) that, + nevertheless, now, rightly, seeing, since, surely, then, therefore, + (al- )though, + till, truly, + until, when, whether, while, whom, yea, yet.]

c. Isaac [Strong: 3327 Yitschaq yits-khawk' from 6711; laughter (i.e. mochery); Jitschak (or Isaac), son of Abraham:--Isaac.]

d. [was] old [Strong: 2204 zaqen zaw-kane' a primitive root; to be old:--aged man, be (wax) old (man).]

1). Isaac was about 137 years old at this time. We know that from holw old the twins Esau and Jacob were at this time (77 years old; see below). Isaac was 60 years older than the twins (Genesis 25:26).

e. [and his] eyes [Strong: 5869 `ayin ah'-yin probably a primitive word; an eye (literally or figuratively); by analogy, a fountain (as the eye of the landscape):--affliction, outward appearance, + before, + think best, colour, conceit, + be content, countenance, + displease, eye((-brow), (-d), -sight), face, + favour, fountain, furrow (from the margin), X him, + humble, knowledge, look, (+ well), X me, open(-ly), + (not) please, presence, + regard, resemblance, sight, X thee, X them, + think, X us, well, X you(-rselves).]

f. [were] dim [Strong: 3543 kahah kaw-haw' a primitive root; to be weak, i.e. (figuratively) to despond (causatively, rebuke), or (of light, the eye) to grow dull:-- darken, be dim, fail, faint, restrain, X utterly.]

g. [so that he could not] see [Strong: 7200 ra'ah raw-aw' a primitive root; to see, literally or figuratively (in numerous applications, direct and implied, transitive, intransitive and causative):--advise self, appear, approve, behold, X certainly, consider, discern, (make to) enjoy, have experience, gaze, take heed, X indeed, X joyfully, lo, look (on, one another, one on another, one upon another, out, up, upon), mark, meet, X be near, perceive, present, provide, regard, (have) respect, (fore-, cause to, let) see(-r, -m, one another), shew (self), X sight of others, (e-)spy, stare, X surely, X think, view, visions.

h. [he] called [Strong: 7121 qara' kaw-raw' a primitive root (rather identical with 7122 through the idea of accosting a person met); to call out to (i.e. properly, address by name, but used in a wide variety of applications):--bewray (self), that are bidden, call (for, forth, self, upon), cry (unto), (be) famous, guest, invite, mention, (give) name, preach, (make) proclaim(- ation), pronounce, publish, read, renowned, say.]

i. Esau [Strong: 6215 `Esav ay-sawv' apparently a form of the passive participle of 6213 in the original sense of handling; rough (i.e. sensibly felt); Esav, a son of Isaac, including his posterity:--Esau.]

j. [his] eldest [Strong: 1419 gadowl gaw-dole' or (shortened) gadol {gaw-dole'}; from 1431; great (in any sense); hence, older; also insolent:--+ aloud, elder(-est), + exceeding(-ly), + far, (man of) great (man, matter, thing,-er,-ness), high, long, loud, mighty, more, much, noble, proud thing, X sore, (X ) very.]

k. son [Strong: 1121 ben bane from 1129; a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative relationship, including grandson, subject, nation, quality or condition, etc., (like 1, 251, etc.)):--+ afflicted, age, (Ahoh-) (Ammon-) (Hachmon-) (Lev-)ite, (anoint-)ed one, appointed to, (+) arrow, (Assyr-) (Babylon-) (Egypt-) (Grec-)ian, one born, bough, branch, breed, + (young) bullock, + (young) calf, X came up in, child, colt, X common, X corn, daughter, X of first, + firstborn, foal, + very fruitful, + postage, X in, + kid, + lamb, (+) man, meet, + mighty, + nephew, old, (+) people, + rebel, + robber, X servant born, X soldier, son, + spark, + steward, + stranger, X surely, them of, + tumultuous one, + valiant(-est), whelp, worthy, young (one), youth.]

1). Esau and Jacob were the same age, born twins on the same day but Esau came out first (Genesis 25:26). Below we can see how old they were during events in their lives. 

a). Finis Jennings Dake: That Jacob was 77 years old at this time seems evident from a study of several passages. It is necessary to take into account the age of his son Joseph at the time he (Jacob) went down to Egypt with his family and figure back to this time. From Genesis 41:46-54 and Genesis 45:5-9 we learn that Joseph was 30 years old “when he stood before Pharoah”, at the beginning of the 7 plenteous years. After those 7 years and two more years of famine, Joseph was 39, his brothers, their families, and their father Jacob, came down to live with Joseph in Egypt. Jacob was then 130 years old, Genesis 47:9. This means that Jacob was 91 years old when Joseph was born in Haran. It was then that Jacob wanted to return to his own people in Canaan, but Laban persuaded him to remain 6 more years, (Genesis 30:25-28; Genesis 31:38-41). Since the entire stay in Haran was 20 years, of which 6 were spent after Joseph was born, then we know that joseph was born in the 14th year of Jacob in Haran. Counting back 14 years from his age of 91 at joseph’s birth, we thus find him about 77 when he first came to Haran looking for a wife. He returned to Isaac and Esau after the 20 years with Laban. 

2. “...and said unto him, My son: and he said unto him, Behold, here am I.”

a. [and] said [Strong: 559 'amar aw-mar' a primitive root; to say (used with great latitude):--answer, appoint, avouch, bid, boast self, call, certify, challenge, charge, + (at the, give) command(-ment), commune, consider, declare, demand, X desire, determine, X expressly, X indeed, X intend, name, X plainly, promise, publish, report, require, say, speak (against, of), X still, X suppose, talk, tell, term, X that is, X think, use (speech), utter, X verily, X yet.]

b. unto [him] [Strong: 413 'el ale (but only used in the shortened constructive form sel {el}); a primitive particle; properly, denoting motion towards, but occasionally used of a quiescent position, i.e. near, with or among; often in general, to:--about, according to ,after, against, among, as for, at, because(-fore, -side), both...and, by, concerning, for, from, X hath, in(- to), near, (out) of, over, through, to(-ward), under, unto, upon, whether, with(-in).]

c. [My] son [Strong: 1121 ben bane from 1129; a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative relationship, including grandson, subject, nation, quality or condition, etc., (like 1, 251, etc.)):--+ afflicted, age, (Ahoh-) (Ammon-) (Hachmon-) (Lev-)ite, (anoint-)ed one, appointed to, (+) arrow, (Assyr-) (Babylon-) (Egypt-) (Grec-)ian, one born, bough, branch, breed, + (young) bullock, + (young) calf, X came up in, child, colt, X common, X corn, daughter, X of first, + firstborn, foal, + very fruitful, + postage, X in, + kid, + lamb, (+) man, meet, + mighty, + nephew, old, (+) people, + rebel, + robber, X servant born, X soldier, son, + spark, + steward, + stranger, X surely, them of, + tumultuous one, + valiant(-est), whelp, worthy, young (one), youth.]

d. [and he] said [Strong: 559 'amar aw-mar' a primitive root; to say (used with great latitude):--answer, appoint, avouch, bid, boast self, call, certify, challenge, charge, + (at the, give) command(-ment), commune, consider, declare, demand, X desire, determine, X expressly, X indeed, X intend, name, X plainly, promise, publish, report, require, say, speak (against, of), X still, X suppose, talk, tell, term, X that is, X think, use (speech), utter, X verily, X yet.]

b. unto [him] [Strong: 413 'el ale (but only used in the shortened constructive form sel {el}); a primitive particle; properly, denoting motion towards, but occasionally used of a quiescent position, i.e. near, with or among; often in general, to:--about, according to ,after, against, among, as for, at, because(-fore, -side), both...and, by, concerning, for, from, X hath, in(- to), near, (out) of, over, through, to(-ward), under, unto, upon, whether, with(-in).]

e. Behold [here am I] [Strong: 2009 hinneh hin-nay' prolongation for 2005; lo!:--behold, lo, see.]

1). Henry M. Morris, The Genesis record: The twins in her womb were of two utterly different and antagonistic temperaments. The nations which they would establish would inherit these tendencies. The struggle which had begun in her womb would continue throughout their lives and throughout the histories of their respective nations. Which, then, would prevail? The Lord was most specific in His reply: “The elder shall serve the younger.” The younger son would become stronger than the older, and would finally prevail. Since one of the two must carry on the Messianic line and must inherit the promises of the Abrahamic Covenant, it is crystal clear that God here told Rebekah that His covenant would be with the younger son, not the older. The younger must therefore receive the father’s inheritance and blessing, as Isaac had from Abraham. 

2). Don Costello: Frankly, after studying these chapters out concerning Jacob and Esau, it is no surprise that Jacob was preferred above Esau. In answer to her prayer of what was going on in her womb. [Genesis 25:23  “And the LORD said unto her, Two nations are in thy womb, and two manner of people shall be separated from thy bowels; and the one people shall be stronger than the other people; and the elder shall serve the younger.”] The LORD, who knows the beginning and the end, looked forward through the next 7 decades of the twin’s lives, and saw how each would respond to the graces given each, and chose Jacob over Esau. Earlier in their lives it was observed that Esau thought little of spiritual things. He despised his birthright. The Classic Amplified says: “Esau scorned his birthright as beneath his notice.”(Genesis 25:34). While in his forties Esau married two Canaanite women which were a grief of mind to his parents (Genesis 26). After Jacob left to go to Padam-aram to find a wife because Isaac and Rebekah disapproved of Canaanites for wives, Esau purposely went and sought another wife from the Canaanites (Genesis 28:8, 9). These spiritual rebellious choices throughout Esau’s life, being known to God in His Omniscience, he realized that desiring and allowing Esau to be the Messianic line would only end in disaster. Later commentary from the writer of Hebrews adds perfect reasonability to Jacob as God’s choice. Hebrews 12:15-17  “Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled; 12:16 Lest there be any fornicator, or profane person, as Esau, who for one morsel of meat sold his birthright. 12:17 For ye know how that afterward, when he would have inherited the blessing, he was rejected: for he found no place of repentance, though he sought it carefully with tears.” Esau’s life was failure after failure of the grace of God.

3). Romans 9:10-12 And not only this; but when Rebecca also had conceived by one, even by our father Isaac;

11 (For the children being not yet born, neither having done any good or evil, that the purpose of God according to election might stand, not of works, but of him that calleth;)

12 It was said unto her, The elder shall serve the younger.

 

4). Finis Jennings Dake: The family of Esau or Edom seemed to be stronger at first than Jacob’s (or israel’s), for they had dukes and kings long before Israel did (Genesis 36). And they were powerful enough to resist israel’s passage through their land when coming out of Egypt (Numbers 20). Later, David completely defeated them and made them subject to Israel for about 150 years (2 Samuel 8:14). After the Babylonian captivity, the Maccabees compelled them to leave their country or embrace the Jewish faith. From then on they were ruled by Israel. In the Millennium they will be under Israel (Psalm 60:8-10;Isaiah 11:14; Isaiah 63:1; Amos 9:12).