And by thy sword shalt thou live, and shalt serve thy brother; and it shall come to pass when thou shalt have the dominion, that thou shalt break his yoke from off thy neck.
Parallel translations
- WEB By your sword will you live, and you will serve your brother. It will happen, when you will break loose, that you shall shake his yoke from off your neck.”
- BSB You shall live by the sword and serve your brother. But when you rebel, you will tear his yoke from your neck.”
- NKJV By your sword you shall live, And you shall serve your brother; And it shall come to pass, when you become restless, That you shall break his yoke from your neck.”
- NASB “And by your sword you shall live, And you shall serve your brother; But it shall come about when you become restless, That you will break his yoke from your neck.”
- NLT You will live by your sword, and you will serve your brother. But when you decide to break free, you will shake his yoke from your neck.”
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
Esau will live by the sword and serve his brother, yet will one day break free of his yoke.
Overview
Isaac foretells a future of conflict and subjection for Esau, with an eventual breaking loose. This was fulfilled in the long history of Edom's relations with Israel, including periods of subjection and later revolt. The prophecy shows God's word over the brothers extending to their nations, all under His sovereign rule.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 15
- 2 Kgs 8:20–22In his days Edom revolted from under the hand of Judah, and made a king over themselves.
- Gen 25:23And 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.
- 2 Sam 8:14And 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.
- 2 Chr 21:8In his days the Edomites revolted from under the dominion of Judah, and made themselves a king.
- 2 Chr 25:11–12And Amaziah strengthened himself, and led forth his people, and went to the valley of salt, and smote of the children of Seir ten thousand.
- 2 Chr 21:10So the Edomites revolted from under the hand of Judah unto this day. The same time also did Libnah revolt from under his hand; because he had forsaken the LORD God of his fathers.
- 2 Chr 28:17For again the Edomites had come and smitten Judah, and carried away captives.
- Ps 60:8Moab is my washpot; over Edom will I cast out my shoe: Philistia, triumph thou because of me.
- 2 Kgs 14:10Thou hast indeed smitten Edom, and thine heart hath lifted thee up: glory of this, and tarry at home: for why shouldest thou meddle to thy hurt, that thou shouldest fall, even thou, and Judah with thee?
- Obad 1:17–21But upon mount Zion shall be deliverance, and there shall be holiness; and the house of Jacob shall possess their possessions.
- 2 Kgs 14:7He slew of Edom in the valley of salt ten thousand, and took Selah by war, and called the name of it Joktheel unto this day.
- 1 Kgs 11:15–17For it came to pass, when David was in Edom, and Joab the captain of the host was gone up to bury the slain, after he had smitten every male in Edom;
- Gen 32:6And 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.
- 1 Chr 18:11–13Them also king David dedicated unto the LORD, with the silver and the gold that he brought from all these nations; from Edom, and from Moab, and from the children of Ammon, and from the Philistines, and from Amalek.
- Matt 10:34Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword.
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 27:40 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
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