Genesis 27:39 His father Isaac answered him: "Behold, your dwelling place shall be away from the richness of the land, away from the dew of heaven above.

◄ Genesis 27:39 ►

New International Version
His father Isaac answered him, “Your dwelling will be away from the earth’s richness, away from the dew of heaven above.

New Living Translation
Finally, his father, Isaac, said to him, “You will live away from the richness of the earth, and away from the dew of the heaven above.

English Standard Version
Then Isaac his father answered and said to him: “Behold, away from the fatness of the earth shall your dwelling be, and away from the dew of heaven on high.

Berean Standard Bible
His father Isaac answered him: “Behold, your dwelling place shall be away from the richness of the land, away from the dew of heaven above.

King James Bible
And Isaac his father answered and said unto him, Behold, thy dwelling shall be the fatness of the earth, and of the dew of heaven from above;

New King James Version
Then Isaac his father answered and said to him: “Behold, your dwelling shall be of the fatness of the earth, And of the dew of heaven from above.

New American Standard Bible
Then his father Isaac answered and said to him, “Behold, away from the fertility of the earth shall be your dwelling, And away from the dew of heaven from above.

NASB 1995
Then Isaac his father answered and said to him, “Behold, away from the fertility of the earth shall be your dwelling, And away from the dew of heaven from above.

NASB 1977
Then Isaac his father answered and said to him, “Behold, away from the fertility of the earth shall be your dwelling, And away from the dew of heaven from above.

Legacy Standard Bible
Then Isaac his father answered and said to him, “Behold, away from the fatness of the earth shall be your habitation, And away from the dew of heaven from above.

Amplified Bible
Then Isaac his father answered and [prophesied and] said to him, “Your dwelling shall be away from the fertility of the earth And away from the dew of heaven above;

Christian Standard Bible
His father Isaac answered him, Look, your dwelling place will be away from the richness of the land, away from the dew of the sky above.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Then his father Isaac answered him: Look, your dwelling place will be away from the richness of the land, away from the dew of the sky above.

American Standard Version
And Isaac his father answered and said unto him, Behold, of the fatness of the earth shall be thy dwelling, And of the dew of heaven from above.

Contemporary English Version
So his father said: "Your home will be far from that fertile land, where dew comes down from the heavens.

English Revised Version
And Isaac his father answered and said unto him, Behold, of the fatness of the earth shall be thy dwelling, And of the dew of heaven from above;

GOD'S WORD® Translation
His father Isaac answered him, "The place where you live will lack the fertile fields of the earth and the dew from the sky above.

Good News Translation
Then Isaac said to him, "No dew from heaven for you, No fertile fields for you.

International Standard Version
At this, his father Isaac replied to him, "Look! Away from the fertile land will be your dwellings; away from the dew of the skies above.

Majority Standard Bible
His father Isaac answered him: “Behold, your dwelling place shall be away from the richness of the land, away from the dew of heaven above.

NET Bible
So his father Isaac said to him, "Indeed, your home will be away from the richness of the earth, and away from the dew of the sky above.

New Heart English Bible
Isaac his father answered him, "Look, of the fatness of the earth will be your dwelling, and of the dew of the sky from above.

Webster's Bible Translation
And Isaac his father answered, and said to him, Behold, thy dwelling shall be the fatness of the earth, and of the dew of heaven from above;

World English Bible
Isaac his father answered him, “Behold, your dwelling will be of the fatness of the earth, and of the dew of the sky from above.

Literal Translations

Literal Standard Version
And his father Isaac answers and says to him, “Behold, of the fatness of the earth is your dwelling, and of the dew of the heavens from above;

Young's Literal Translation
And Isaac his father answereth and saith unto him, 'Lo, of the fatness of the earth is thy dwelling, and of the dew of the heavens from above;

Smith's Literal Translation
And Isaak his father will answer and say to him, Behold, from the fatness of the earth shall be thy dwelling, and from the dew of the heavens above.

Catholic Translations

Douay-Rheims Bible
Isaac being moved, said to him: In the fat of the earth, and in the dew of heaven from above,

Catholic Public Domain Version
Isaac was moved, and he said to him: “In the fatness of the earth, and in the dew of heaven from above,

New American Bible
His father Isaac said in response: “See, far from the fertile earth will be your dwelling; far from the dew of the heavens above!

New Revised Standard Version
Then his father Isaac answered him: “See, away from the fatness of the earth shall your home be, and away from the dew of heaven on high.

Translations from Aramaic

Lamsa Bible
And Isaac his father answered and said to him, Behold, your dwelling shall be in the fertile places of the earth, and the dew of heaven shall fall upon you from above;

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
Isaaq his father answered and said to him, “Behold, your dwelling shall be in the richness of the Earth and from dew of Heaven from above;

OT Translations

JPS Tanakh 1917
And Isaac his father answered and said unto him: Behold, of the fat places of the earth shall be thy dwelling, And of the dew of heaven from above;

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And Isaac his father answered and said to him, Behold, thy dwelling shall be of the fatness of the earth, and of the dew of heaven from above.

Additional Translations ...

Audio Bible

Context

The Stolen Blessing
…38Esau said to his father, “Do you have only one blessing, my father? Bless me too, O my father!” Then Esau wept aloud. 39His father Isaac answered him: “Behold, your dwelling place shall be away from the richness of the land, away from the dew of heaven above. 40You shall live by the sword and serve your brother. But when you rebel, you will tear his yoke from your neck.”…

Berean Standard Bible · Download

Cross References

Hebrews 11:20
By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau concerning the future.

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

Malachi 1:2-3
“I have loved you,” says the LORD. But you ask, “How have You loved us?” “Was not Esau Jacob’s brother?” declares the LORD. “Yet Jacob I have loved, / but Esau I have hated, and I have made his mountains a wasteland and left his inheritance to the desert jackals.”

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. ...

Obadiah 1:18
Then the house of Jacob will be a blazing fire, and the house of Joseph a burning flame; but the house of Esau will be stubble—Jacob will set it ablaze and consume it. Therefore no survivor will remain from the house of Esau.” For the LORD has spoken.

Obadiah 1:3-4
The pride of your heart has deceived you, O dwellers in the clefts of the rocks whose habitation is the heights, who say in your heart, ‘Who can bring me down to the ground?’ / Though you soar like the eagle and make your nest among the stars, even from there I will bring you down,” declares the LORD.

Obadiah 1:6
But how Esau will be pillaged, his hidden treasures sought out!

Ezekiel 35:5-6
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, / therefore as surely as I live, declares the Lord GOD, I will give you over to bloodshed and it will pursue you. Since you did not hate bloodshed, it will pursue you.

Ezekiel 35:15
As you rejoiced when the inheritance of the house of Israel became desolate, so will I do to you. You will become a desolation, O Mount Seir, and so will all of Edom. Then they will know that I am the LORD.

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.

Jeremiah 49:8-10
Turn and run! Lie low, O dwellers of Dedan, for I will bring disaster on Esau at the time I punish him. / If grape gatherers came to you, would they not leave some gleanings? Were thieves to come in the night, would they not steal only what they wanted? / But I will strip Esau bare; I will uncover his hiding places, and he will be unable to conceal himself. His descendants will be destroyed along with his relatives and neighbors, and he will be no more.

Jeremiah 49:16-17
The terror you cause and the pride of your heart have deceived you, O dwellers in the clefts of the rocks, O occupiers of the mountain summit. Though you elevate your nest like the eagle, even from there I will bring you down,” declares the LORD. / “Edom will become an object of horror. All who pass by will be appalled and will scoff at all her wounds.

Isaiah 34:5-6
When My sword has drunk its fill in the heavens, then it will come down upon Edom, upon the people I have devoted to destruction. / The sword of the LORD is bathed in blood. It drips with fat—with the blood of lambs and goats, with the fat of the kidneys of rams. For the LORD has a sacrifice in Bozrah, a great slaughter in the land of Edom.

Isaiah 63:1-4
Who is this coming from Edom, from Bozrah with crimson-stained garments? Who is this robed in splendor, marching in the greatness of His strength? “It is I, proclaiming vindication, mighty to save.” / Why are Your clothes red, and Your garments like one who treads the winepress? / “I have trodden the winepress alone, and no one from the nations was with Me. I trampled them in My anger and trod them down in My fury; their blood spattered My garments, and all My clothes were stained. ...

Psalm 137:7
Remember, O LORD, the sons of Edom on the day Jerusalem fell: “Destroy it,” they said, “tear it down to its foundations!”

Treasury of Scripture

And Isaac his father answered and said to him, Behold, your dwelling shall be the fatness of the earth, and of the dew of heaven from above;

Behold.

Genesis 36:6-8
And Esau took his wives, and his sons, and his daughters, and all the persons of his house, and his cattle, and all his beasts, and all his substance, which he had got in the land of Canaan; and went into the country from the face of his brother Jacob…

Joshua 24:4
And I gave unto Isaac Jacob and Esau: and I gave unto Esau mount Seir, to possess it; but Jacob and his children went down into Egypt.

Hebrews 11:20
By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau concerning things to come.

the fatness.

Genesis 27:28
Therefore God give thee of the dew of heaven, and the fatness of the earth, and plenty of corn and wine:

Genesis 20:17
So Abraham prayed unto God: and God healed Abimelech, and his wife, and his maidservants; and they bare children.

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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.

Berean Study Bible

His father Isaac answered him
This phrase sets the stage for a pivotal moment between Isaac and Esau. Isaac, the patriarch, is responding to Esau's plea for a blessing after Jacob has deceitfully received the primary blessing. The Hebrew root for "answered" (עָנָה, 'anah) implies a response that is both verbal and significant, indicating the weight of Isaac's words. In the cultural and historical context, a father's blessing was not just a wish but a prophetic declaration that shaped the future of the recipient.

Behold
The word "behold" (הִנֵּה, hinneh) is an imperative to pay attention, often used in the Bible to draw attention to something important or surprising. It serves as a divine spotlight, emphasizing the gravity of what follows. In the context of biblical narrative, "behold" often introduces a revelation or a significant turn of events, urging the listener or reader to take notice of God's unfolding plan.

your dwelling place shall be
This phrase indicates a future state or condition. The Hebrew word for "dwelling place" (מִשְׁכָּן, mishkan) can refer to a temporary or permanent abode. In the context of Esau's life, it suggests a nomadic lifestyle, contrasting with the settled, prosperous life that Jacob would lead. This reflects the broader biblical theme of the consequences of choices and actions, as Esau's earlier decisions have led to this outcome.

away from the richness of the land
The phrase "away from the richness of the land" signifies a life of struggle and scarcity. The Hebrew word for "richness" (מִשְׁמַנֵּי, mishmannei) refers to fatness or abundance, often associated with fertility and prosperity. Historically, the Edomites, Esau's descendants, inhabited the rugged, less fertile region of Seir, which aligns with this prophetic declaration. This serves as a reminder of the biblical principle that material blessings are often tied to spiritual obedience and covenantal faithfulness.

away from the dew of heaven above
"Dew" (טַל, tal) in the ancient Near Eastern context was a vital source of moisture, especially in arid regions. It symbolizes divine favor and blessing, as seen in other scriptural references where dew is associated with life and sustenance. The absence of dew implies a lack of divine favor, reinforcing the idea that Esau's life would be marked by hardship. This phrase underscores the spiritual dimension of blessings, where physical conditions often mirror spiritual realities.

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

(39) Isaac his father answered.--Unwillingly, and only after repeated entreaty and earnest expostulation, and even tears, upon Esau's side, does Isaac bring himself to the effort to lessen in any way the painful consequences to his favourite son of his brother having robbed him of the blessing. Plainly, he felt that he had endeavoured to do what was wrong, and was afraid lest he should still be found resisting God's will.

Thy dwelling shall be the fatness.--Heb., thy dwelling shall be of the fat places of the earth. (See Note on Genesis 27:28.) But most modern expositors consider that the preposition should not be translated "of," but from, that is:--

"Behold thy dwelling shall be away from the fat places of the earth,

And away from the dew of heaven from above,

And by (Heb., upon--depending upon) thy sword thou shalt live," &c.

By this rendering the parts of the blessing agree together. Those who have fertile lands live by agriculture, but the inhabitants of sterile regions must look to more adventurous enterprises for a living. So the Swiss, like the Greeks of old, long served as mercenaries in the armies of other states. Idumaea, though not destitute of fruitful tracts, and even famous for its orchards, was, as a whole, sterile and unproductive, and the people were restless and unquiet. Moreover, Isaac had already given the corn-land and vineyards to Jacob (Genesis 27:37), and had no second gift of them in his power. It is no answer to this to say that as the same preposition is used in Genesis 27:28, it cannot have a contrary sense in the two blessings. It there follows a verb of giving, and necessarily has a partitive signification. Here there is nothing absolutely to settle its meaning, and we are left to the general sense. Possibly, Isaac may have purposely used an ambiguous word; but the meaning as a whole is clear. Esau was to inhabit a land which by its barrenness would force him to a life of adventure, military service, and freebooting. . . .

Pulpit Commentary

Verse 39. - And Isaac his father (moved by the tearful earnestness of Esau) answered and said unto him, - still speaking under inspiration, though it is doubtful whether what he spoke was a real, or only an apparent, blessing - (vide infra) - Behold, thy dwelling shall be the fatness of the earth, and of the dew of heaven from above. Literally, from (מִן) the fatnesses (or fat places) of the earth, and from the dew of area; a substantial repetition of the temporal blessing bestowed on Jacob (ver. 28), with certain important variations, such as the omission of plenty of corn and wine at the close, and of the name of Elohim at the commencement, of the benediction (Vulgate, Luther, Calvin, Ainsworth, Rosenmüller, 'Speaker's Commentary'); though, by assigning to the preposition a privative rather than a partitive sense, it is readily transformed into "a modified curse" - behold, away from the fatnesses o/the earth, etc., shall thy dwelling be, meaning that, in contrast to the land of Canaan, the descendants of Esau should be located in a sterile region (Tuch, Knobel, Kurtz, Delitzseh, Keil, Kalisch, Murphy). In support of this latter rendering it is urged

(1) that it is grammatically admissible;

(2) that it corresponds with the present aspect of Idumaea, which is "on the whole a dreary and unproductive land;"

(3) that it agrees with the preceding statement that every blessing had already been bestowed upon Jacob; and . . .

Parallel Commentaries ...

Hebrew

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

Isaac
יִצְחָ֥ק (yiṣ·ḥāq)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3327: Isaac -- 'he laughs', son of Abraham and Sarah

answered him:
וַיַּ֛עַן (way·ya·‘an)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 6030: To answer, respond

“Behold,
הִנֵּ֞ה (hin·nêh)
Interjection
Strong's 2009: Lo! behold!

your dwelling place
מֽוֹשָׁבֶ֔ךָ (mō·wō·šā·ḇe·ḵā)
Noun - masculine singular construct | second person masculine singular
Strong's 4186: A seat, assembly, dwelling place, dwelling, dwellers

shall be
יִהְיֶ֣ה (yih·yeh)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 1961: To fall out, come to pass, become, be

away from the richness
מִשְׁמַנֵּ֤י (miš·man·nê)
Preposition-m | Noun - masculine plural construct
Strong's 4924: Fat, fatness, a rich dish, a fertile field, a robust man

of the land,
הָאָ֙רֶץ֙ (hā·’ā·reṣ)
Article | Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 776: Earth, land

away from the dew
וּמִטַּ֥ל (ū·miṭ·ṭal)
Conjunctive waw, Preposition-m | Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 2919: Night mist, dew

of heaven
הַשָּׁמַ֖יִם (haš·šā·ma·yim)
Article | Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 8064: Heaven, sky

above.
מֵעָֽל׃ (mê·‘āl)
Preposition
Strong's 5921: Above, over, upon, against

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OT Law: Genesis 27:39 Isaac his father answered him Behold (Gen. Ge Gn)