Genesis 27:4

27:4 Then prepare for me some tasty food, the kind I love, and bring it to me. Then ¹  I will eat it so that I may bless you ²  before I die.”

Genesis 27:25

27:25 Isaac ³  said, “Bring some of the wild game for me to eat, my son. ⁴  Then I will bless you.” ⁵  So Jacob ⁶  brought it to him, and he ate it. He also brought him wine, and Isaac ⁷  drank.

¹ tn Following the imperative, the cohortative (with the prefixed conjunction) indicates purpose or result.

² tn Heb “so that my soul may bless you.” The use of נַפְשִׁי (nafshi, “my soul”) as the subject emphasizes that the blessing will be made with all Isaac’s desire and vitality. The conjunction “so that” closely relates the meal to the blessing, suggesting that this will be a ritual meal in conjunction with the giving of a formal blessing.

³ tn Heb “and he said”; the referent (Isaac) has been specified in the translation for clarity.

⁴ tn Heb “Bring near to me and I will eat of the wild game, my son.” Following the imperative, the cohortative with the prefixed conjunction indicates purpose or result.

⁵ tn Heb “so that my soul may bless you.” The presence of נַפְשִׁי (nafshi, “my soul”) as subject emphasizes Isaac’s heartfelt desire to do this. The conjunction indicates that the ritual meal must be first eaten before the formal blessing may be given.

⁶ tn Heb “and he brought”; the referent (Jacob) has been specified in the translation for clarity.

⁷ tn Heb “and he drank”; the referent (Isaac) has been specified in the translation for clarity.