When Esau saw that Isaac had blessed Jacob, and sent him away to Padanaram, to take him a wife from thence; and that as he blessed him he gave him a charge, saying, Thou shalt not take a wife of the daughters of Canaan;

GENESIS 28:6KJV
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Genesis 28:6 (KJV)

What does Genesis 28:6 mean?

Genesis 28:6 describes how Esau noticed that his father Isaac had blessed Jacob, sent him to Padanaram to find a wife, and specifically instructed Jacob not to marry a woman from among the Canaanite people. This verse highlights Esau’s awareness of his parents’ wishes regarding marriage and the family’s concern about marrying outside their group.

In the story, Esau is observing the actions and instructions given by Isaac to Jacob after Jacob received the family blessing. The verse sets up Esau’s later decisions about marriage by showing that he realized his parents did not want their sons to marry Canaanite women. This moment is important in the larger narrative because it shows the family’s values and the tensions between the brothers.

The Hebrew behind Genesis 28:6

  • "Blessed" (בָּרַךְ, barakh): This word is used twice in the verse, emphasizing the importance of Isaac’s blessing and its formal, spoken nature. The blessing is not just a casual wish, but a significant act with lasting consequences in the family.
  • "Charge" (צָוָה, tsavah): This word means a command or instruction. Isaac’s words to Jacob are not just advice but a clear directive, showing the seriousness with which Isaac viewed the issue of marriage partners.
  • "Daughters" (בַּת, bat): The use of this word highlights that Isaac’s concern was specifically about marrying women from Canaan, pointing to the family’s desire to maintain distinct identity and values.

Why Genesis 28:6 matters

  • This verse clarifies that Esau was fully aware of his parents’ preferences and instructions, which sets the stage for his later actions in response to feeling left out or disapproved of.
  • The emphasis on not marrying Canaanite women connects to earlier stories in Genesis, where Abraham and Isaac both sought wives for their sons from their own extended family rather than from the local population.
  • Understanding this verse helps explain the family dynamics and the reasons behind Esau’s later decisions, as well as the broader theme of maintaining the family’s covenant identity.

Where else these words appear

“Padanaram” Hebrew H6307 · used in 11 verses

  • Genesis 25:20 And Isaac was forty years old when he took Rebekah to wife, the daughter of Bethuel the Syrian of Padanaram, the sister to Laban the Syrian.
  • Genesis 28:7 And that Jacob obeyed his father and his mother, and was gone to Padanaram;
  • Genesis 35:9 And God appeared unto Jacob again, when he came out of Padanaram, and blessed him.

“Esau” Hebrew H6215 · used in 82 verses

  • Genesis 25:25 And the first came out red, all over like an hairy garment; and they called his name Esau.
  • Genesis 28:8 And Esau seeing that the daughters of Canaan pleased not Isaac his father;
  • Genesis 36:13 And these are the sons of Reuel; Nahath, and Zerah, Shammah, and Mizzah: these were the sons of Bashemath Esau's wife.

“Canaan” Hebrew H3667 · used in 91 verses

  • Genesis 9:18 And the sons of Noah, that went forth of the ark, were Shem, and Ham, and Japheth: and Ham is the father of Canaan.
  • Genesis 45:25 And they went up out of Egypt, and came into the land of Canaan unto Jacob their father,
  • Numbers 35:14 Ye shall give three cities on this side Jordan, and three cities shall ye give in the land of Canaan, which shall be cities of refuge.

“Isaac” Hebrew H3327 · used in 101 verses

  • Genesis 17:19 And God said, Sarah thy wife shall bear thee a son indeed; and thou shalt call his name Isaac: and I will establish my covenant with him for an everlasting covenant, and with his seed after him.
  • Genesis 26:12 Then Isaac sowed in that land, and received in the same year an hundredfold: and the LORD blessed him.
  • Genesis 35:28 And the days of Isaac were an hundred and fourscore years.