Because Isaac had a taste for wild game, he loved Esau; but Rebekah loved Jacob.
Parallel translations
- WEB Now Isaac loved Esau, because he ate his venison. Rebekah loved Jacob.
- KJV And Isaac loved Esau, because he did eat of his venison: but Rebekah loved Jacob.
- NKJV And Isaac loved Esau because he ate of his game, but Rebekah loved Jacob.
- NASB Now Isaac loved Esau because he had a taste for game; but Rebekah loved Jacob.
- NLT Isaac loved Esau because he enjoyed eating the wild game Esau brought home, but Rebekah loved Jacob.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
Isaac favors Esau for his game, while Rebekah loves Jacob.
Overview
Parental favoritism splits the household and sows seeds of future strife and deception. The text honestly records the family's flaws without commending them. Yet God's elective purpose for Jacob advances even amid such human weakness, showing grace overruling sin.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 6
- Gen 27:19Jacob 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.”
- Gen 27:31He too made some tasty food, brought it to his father, and said to him, “My father, sit up and eat of your son’s game, so that you may bless me.”
- Gen 27:4Then prepare a tasty dish that I love and bring it to me to eat, so that I may bless you before I die.”
- Gen 27:25“Serve me,” said Isaac, “and let me eat some of my son’s game, so that I may bless you.” Jacob brought it to him, and he ate; then he brought him wine, and he drank.
- Gen 27:9Go out to the flock and bring me two choice young goats, so that I can make them into a tasty dish for your father—the kind he loves.
- Gen 27:6–7Rebekah said to her son Jacob, “Behold, I overheard your father saying to your brother Esau,
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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Christ at the center
From the first promise that the seed of the woman would crush the serpent (3:15), through Abraham's blessing to all nations and Judah's coming ruler, Genesis sows every seed that flowers in Christ — the true offspring, the better Adam, the ram caught for Isaac.
How Genesis 25:28 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Hebrew word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.