Answer · confidence: strong
What did Isaac ask Esau to catch, and what was the meal for?
Research question: What exactly does Genesis 27 say Isaac asked Esau to do before the blessing, and what was the game meal for?
The records show that Isaac told Esau to take his gear, his quiver and his bow, go out to the field, and hunt game for him 12. He wanted the game prepared into savory dishes he loved, brought to him, and eaten 45. The meal was meant so that Isaac could bless Esau before he died, and Isaac said he would bless Esau in the presence of the LORD 89. His stated reason for urgency was that he was old and did not know the day of his death 11.
Checked 2026-10-21. Only documented and supported facts are used.
Dig deeper on this questionSources
[1] documented
Isaac told Esau to take his weapons, his quiver and his bow, go out into the field, and hunt game for him.
"וְעַתָּה֙ שָׂא־נָ֣א כֵלֶ֔יךָ תֶּלְיְךָ֖ וְקַשְׁתֶּ֑ךָ וְצֵא֙ הַשָּׂדֶ֔ה וְצ֥וּדָה לִּ֖י"Genesis 27:7-12 [Hebrew Bible (Masoretic text, Sefaria)]
[2] documented
Isaac told Esau to take his gear, his quiver and his bow, go out to the field, and hunt game for him.
"וְעַתָּה֙ שָׂא־נָ֣א כֵלֶ֔יךָ תֶּלְיְךָ֖ וְקַשְׁתֶּ֑ךָ וְצֵא֙ הַשָּׂדֶ֔ה וְצ֥וּדָה לִּ֖י"Genesis 27:1-6 [Hebrew Bible (Masoretic text, Sefaria)]
[3] supported
The Hebrew Genesis 27 passage quoted in the article has Esau say he will bring his father game so that his father can eat from his son's hunt and bless him.
"וַיֹּאמֶר לְאָבִיו, יָקֻם אָבִי וְיֹאכַל מִצֵּיד בְּנוֹ--בַּעֲבֻר, תְּבָרְכַנִּי נַפְשֶׁךָ."עשו
[4] documented
Isaac wanted the hunted game prepared into savory dishes he loved, so he could eat it and then bless Esau before he died.
"וַעֲשֵׂה־לִ֨י מַטְעַמִּ֜ים כַּאֲשֶׁ֥ר אָהַ֛בְתִּי וְהָבִ֥יאָה לִּ֖י וְאֹכֵ֑לָה בַּעֲב֛וּר תְּבָרֶכְךָ֥ נַפְשִׁ֖י בְּטֶ֥רֶם אָמֽוּת׃"Genesis 27:7-12 [Hebrew Bible (Masoretic text, Sefaria)]
[5] supported
Isaac asked that the hunted game be prepared into savory dishes he loved, brought to him, and eaten.
"וַעֲשֵׂה־לִ֨י מַטְעַמִּ֜ים כַּאֲשֶׁ֥ר אָהַ֛בְתִּי וְהָבִ֥יאָה לִּ֖י וְאֹכֵ֑לָה"Genesis 27:1-6 [Hebrew Bible (Masoretic text, Sefaria)]
[6] supported
The document says Isaac intended to bless Esau, and that the blessings were taken by Jacob, who had received the firstborn right.
"סיפור מרכזי נוסף הוא סיפור הברכות שרצה יצחק לברך את עשיו ואשר נלקחו בידי יעקב, שקיבל את הבכורה."יצחק
[7] supported
Isaac, feeling his end approaching, wanted to bless his beloved son Esau and asked him to prepare game so that the blessing would be justified.
"כאשר זקן יצחק וחש כי קרבו ימיו, רצה לברך את בנו האהוב - עשו, וביקש ממנו להכין לו ציד כדי שיצדיק את ברכתו."עשו
[8] documented
Isaac said the purpose of the meal was that he would bless Esau in the presence of the LORD before his death.
"וַאֲבָרֶכְכָ֛ה לִפְנֵ֥י יְהֹוָ֖ה לִפְנֵ֥י מוֹתִֽי׃"Genesis 27:7-12 [Hebrew Bible (Masoretic text, Sefaria)]
[9] documented
The purpose of the game meal was so that Isaac could bless Esau before Isaac died.
"בַּעֲב֛וּר תְּבָרֶכְךָ֥ נַפְשִׁ֖י בְּטֶ֥רֶם אָמֽוּת׃"Genesis 27:1-6 [Hebrew Bible (Masoretic text, Sefaria)]
[10] supported
According to the document, Isaac ultimately did not give the blessing to the person he had intended to give it to.
"אפילו את הברכות שרצה לתת, לא נתן בסופו של דבר למי שביקש לתיתן."יצחק
[11] documented
Isaac stated that he was old and did not know the day of his death, which was his stated reason for wanting the blessing soon.
"הִנֵּה־נָ֖א זָקַ֑נְתִּי לֹ֥א יָדַ֖עְתִּי י֥וֹם מוֹתִֽי׃"Genesis 27:1-6 [Hebrew Bible (Masoretic text, Sefaria)]
[12] supported
Isaac's words in the quoted Genesis passage state that he ate from all of it before the son came and then blessed him, which is the reason the meal was tied to the blessing.
"וָאֹכַל מִכֹּל בְּטֶרֶם תָּבוֹא, וָאֲבָרְכֵהוּ"עשו
[13] supported
Before giving the blessing, Isaac asked Jacob (disguised as Esau) to come near so he could touch him, in order to test whether he really was Esau.
"you really are my son Esau or not."The Portrait of Isaac in Genesis 27: Between Synchronic and Diachronic Readings of Patriarch’s Character (2022)
[14] supported
Isaac's dependence on the game meal is linked to his fondness for the food Esau prepared, which Kaminsky reads as a sign of Isaac's appetite and dullness.
"Isaac's tendency to favor Esau because he likes the food Esau prepares for him implies"The Portrait of Isaac in Genesis 27: Between Synchronic and Diachronic Readings of Patriarch’s Character (2022)
[15] supported
The document notes that a meal of domestic sheep was not a credible substitute for goat's meat, which is the subtle point about the food Jacob presented.
"Nor is the meal of domestic sheep a credible proxy for goat's meat."The Portrait of Isaac in Genesis 27: Between Synchronic and Diachronic Readings of Patriarch’s Character (2022)