Genesis 27:29Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

"Cursed are those who curse you, and blessed are those who bless you!" Here we find the pinnacle of blessing, the highest honor—simply to be blessed! Do you recognize the divine nature at play? The one who feared bringing a curse upon himself instead of a blessing not only receives an abundance of blessings from his father but also sees those who would have sought to curse him rendered cursed themselves for his benefit. Let this be a lesson: if anyone desires to align their life with God's will, they will receive such divine support that it will be evident in their circumstances.

Prophecies often possess a unique trait in that much of what is directed towards one person is realized in others. For instance, it is stated of Simeon and Levi, "I will divide them in Jacob and scatter them in Israel" (Genesis 49:7); yet, this came to pass not with them but with their descendants. Similarly, what Noah proclaimed about Canaan was fulfilled in the Gibeonites, descendants of Canaan (Genesis 9:25, Habakkuk 9:27). The same principle applies to Jacob; the blessing imparted to him, "You shall be a master to your brother, and the sons of your father shall bow to you," was not actualized in his own life (for how could it be, considering Jacob's fear and trepidation toward his brother, to whom he bowed multiple times?), but rather in his offspring.

Moreover, Jacob himself, having received a blessing from his father, did not make use of any of it. Although his father foretold him great wealth and enduring rule over Esau, he found himself in dire need, living as a hired servant. He was so far from overseeing his brother that he lived in fear for his own safety, having encountered Esau only once with great trepidation, and was relieved simply to distance himself and escape unharmed. What shall we conclude from this? Is the prophecy untrue? Absolutely not! The nature of prophecy often involves foretelling events concerning certain individuals while referencing others, with names interchanged as seen in the case of Canaan.

Hence, Immanuel rules as God over those who are united with Him as brethren, and to Him “every knee of heaven, earth, and underworld has bowed, and every tongue has confessed that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father” (Phil. 2:10-11). Moreover, “those who curse you are cursed; those who bless you are blessed!” The message is clear: those who revile Him and are opposed to God are themselves under a curse, while those who proclaim His divine glory are filled with heavenly blessings from above. Thus, we see the blessing of James transferred to Immanuel, extending to those who are justified by faith.

To Him (Christ), the nations labored, and the rulers offered their worship; whoever cursed Him faced a curse, as “they that bless thee are blessed!” in accordance with Isaac’s blessing.

13:9); he observes as one seeing through a mirror in obscurity; concerning our prayers, he notes that we do not know how we ought to pray (Rom. 8:26); indeed, when perfection arrives, the partial will be done away with (1 Cor. 13:10).

The prophet Samuel, mentioned alongside Moses in the Psalms (see Ps. 98:6—Moses and Aaron among His priests, and Samuel among those who call upon His name), was sent to anoint the king. When he saw Eliab, Jesse’s oldest son, he remarked, “Is this the Lord’s anointed?” (1 Sam. 16:6). Yet the Lord replied to Samuel, “Do not look at his appearance or at the height of his stature, for I have rejected him; for the Lord sees not as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart” (1 Sam. 16:7). It is affirmed that even after Samuel reviewed all of Jesse's sons individually, he remained unaware of who the true anointed one was until David appeared. Similarly, Elisha, who was spiritually exalted and whose bones revived a lifeless body (2 Kings 13:21), encountered the Shunammite woman on the mountain, and when she fell at his feet, he instructed Gehazi, who tried to prevent her from approaching him: “Leave her alone, for her soul is troubled within her; and the Lord has hidden it from me and has not told me” (2 Kings 4:27). Numerous similar instances illustrate that holy and God-fearing individuals are aware only of what God reveals to them, and they remain uninformed of what is concealed.

Daniel and Zechariah sought understanding from the angel whenever they experienced a vision and pleaded for explanations of what they had witnessed. Consequently, it is not surprising that Isaac, during a moment of profound misunderstanding—when he felt drawn to bless a son who was a hunter and later killed his brother, rather than favoring the one who lived innocently at home—was acting more in alignment with his own desires than God’s purpose, and thus he was unaware of his actions at that moment. I perceive it as a divinely ordained element that he became blind, for although he heard, “The voice of Jacob, the voice of Jacob; the hand of Esau, the hand of Esau” (Gen. 27:22), he did not realize that the younger son stood before him seeking his brother’s blessing.

Since we have committed to discussing the deeper significance of this event, allow me to refer to the thoughts of the martyr Hippolytus (from whom our Victorinus makes only slight deviations), not because he has exhaustively analyzed the issue, but because his insights can inspire the reader towards broader contemplation. Isaac symbolizes God the Father, Rebekah represents the Holy Spirit; Esau signifies ancient humanity and evil; Jacob embodies the Church or Christ Himself. Isaac’s advanced age symbolizes the decline of the world; his dimmed vision denotes the waning of faith, signifying the obscured light of religion. The elder son’s summoning represents the acceptance of the Law by the Jewish people. The father’s affection for the cooked dishes hints at the salvation of the people through the righteous who share the truth of doctrine.

The divine blessing expresses the promise and expectation of the coming kingdom, wherein the saints will reign with Christ and observe the true Sabbath. Rebekah, filled with the Holy Spirit, knew from the time of her pregnancy that “the older shall serve the younger” (Gen. 25:23) and, prompted like the Holy Spirit who foresaw Christ’s future, prioritized Jacob’s well-being. She instructed her younger son, “Go to the flock and bring me two young goats” (Gen. 27:9), foreshadowing the incarnation of the Savior, through whom He will liberate those bound by sin, for throughout scripture, goats symbolize sinners. Rebekah’s command for two goats suggests the gathering of two nations—the meek and virtuous, representing humble and innocent souls.

The covering of Esau symbolizes the faith and scriptures of the Jews, which clothed the Gentile nations. The fur upon Jacob’s hands denotes the sins of both groups—sins which Christ bore as He stretched out His hands, for when the fullness of the Gentiles has come in, then all Israel will be saved (Rom. 11:25, 26).

He then adds, ‘You shall rule over your brother, and the sons of your father will worship you.’ However, Jacob was not worshiped nor did he become lord over Esau; rather, he feared Esau and fled, and was the first to bow before him seven times. Therefore, what was spoken has found its fulfillment in the Saviour. He became the Lord and Master over those regarded as His kin in the flesh, so that they may honor Him as their King. Thus, it is written, ‘He who curses you is cursed, and he who blesses you is blessed.’ While this blessing appeared to be directed to Jacob, it was ultimately realized in Christ. Let us consider what Scripture declares next. Another translation reveals that the statement, ‘Let the nations serve you, and let the rulers worship you,’ continues to be fulfilled today; for to whom do the faithful nations now render service, and to whom do the leaders of the Church pay homage, but to Christ, through whose name salvation is found? As the Word foretold through Isaiah, ‘But those who serve Me will bear a new name, which will be honored upon the earth; they will praise the true God: and whoever swears an oath upon the earth will swear by the true God’ (Isaiah 65:15-16). Additionally, it is written, ‘Look, those who serve Me will eat, but you will go hungry; look, those who serve Me will drink, but you will be thirsty; look, those who serve Me will rejoice and be glad, but you will feel shame and weep with a broken spirit’ (Isaiah 65:13-14). James further states, ‘Be lord over your brother, and let the children of your father worship you.’ Yet, neither Jacob was worshiped nor did he dominate Esau; on the contrary, Jacob, in his fear, fled and first worshiped him seven times (see Genesis 32:7-8; Genesis 33:3). Thus, what is expressed here has found fulfillment in the Saviour. Indeed, He became Lord and Sovereign over those considered His brothers in the flesh, so that they may worship Him as their King. Therefore, it is affirmed, those who curse you are indeed cursed, and those who bless you are blessed.

Thus, his lineage is referred to as Edomites, who were conquered by Jacob’s descendants under David. Isaac, having no sons apart from Esau and Jacob, regarded the Idumeans as his progeny in terms of lineage.

He who curses you will be cursed, and he who blesses you will be blessed. Woe to those who speak ill of you and your enemies! The Lord, the Guardian of you and your descendants, will separate them from His presence and deliver harsh punishment. Conversely, He extends goodness to those who treat you favorably through your descendants, who will honor them as a chosen people, protectors of true reverence towards God, and instruments of spiritual renewal for all nations; upon these, as upon you and your kin, the divine blessing rests. All the prophetic blessings primarily intended for physical Israel ultimately culminate in Christ, the fleshly descendant of Jacob, who serves as the spiritual sovereign of all humanity and the Source of blessing for all. The Church established by Him, although a kingdom not of this world, is destined for spiritual authority over all nations.

The association of Isaac's prophetic blessings is illuminated by the words of the Apostle Paul, indicating that Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau through faith in what was to come (Heb. 11:20), signifying salvation through Christ (Heb 11:39-40). Isaac's blessing recognizes Jacob's supremacy, first among the Gentiles and then within his own tribe. This signifies that the New Testament Church will encompass Gentile believers, ultimately leading to a time when the full number of Gentiles has been incorporated, followed by a conversion of the Jews, who share His fleshly descent, to Christ (Rom. 11:25). The prophecy concerning the blessing of those who bless Jacob and the curse of those who curse him, when applied to Christ and His Church, will reach its fulfillment at the final judgment, during which Christ will declare some as blessed and others as cursed (Matt. 25:34, 41).