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Book of Genesis - Chapter 27 - Verse 40

27:40
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.

Meaning

Genesis 27:40 presents a prophetic statement given by Isaac to his son, Esau. In this verse, Isaac predicts that Esau will live by his sword and serve his brother, Jacob. This foreshadows the future struggles and conflicts between the descendants of Esau, known as the Edomites, and the descendants of Jacob, who became the Israelites. The verse also hints at a future role reversal, where Esau will ultimately break free from servitude and gain dominion over Jacob. This prophecy eventually unfolds in historical events where the Edomites did indeed break free from Israelite rule. The symbolic significance of the verse highlights the themes of struggle, power dynamics, and eventual liberation within the relationship between the brothers, Esau and Jacob.

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