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 27:9

27:9 Go to the flock and get me two of the best young goats. I’ll prepare ³  them in a tasty way for your father, just the way he loves them.

Genesis 27:31

27:31 He also prepared some tasty food and brought it to his father. Esau ⁴  said to him, “My father, get up ⁵  and eat some of your son’s wild game. Then you can bless me.” ⁶ 

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

⁵ tn Heb “and he said to his father”; the referent of “he” (Esau) has been specified in the translation for clarity, while the words “his father” have been replaced by the pronoun “him” for stylistic reasons.

⁶ tn Or “arise” (i.e., sit up).

⁷ tn Heb “so that your soul may bless me.”