Gentile Nations · Edom by the sword

Genesis 27:39-40

Isaac · ~1850 BC · Status: Fulfilled · Confidence: 65%
“And Isaac his father answered and said unto him, Behold, thy dwelling shall be the fatness of the earth, and of the dew of heaven from above; 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.”
King James Version · the opening — all 2 verses are below
More of Genesis 27 on this siteGenesis 27:27-29

Isaac's word over Esau — Edom living by the sword, serving Jacob, yet later breaking his yoke — fulfilled in the turbulent history of Edom and Israel.

Read the whole passage — all 2 verses (KJV)

27:39And Isaac his father answered and said unto him, Behold, thy dwelling shall be the fatness of the earth, and of the dew of heaven from above;

27:40And 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.

Fulfillment References

2 Samuel 8:14 2 Kings 8:20-22 Genesis 25:23 Obadiah 1:1-21

How Traditions Read This Prophecy

Apostolic (Oneness) PentecostalThe patriarchal word over Edom was fulfilled in history — the one God who declares the future (Isa. 46:10) sees the destinies of nations.
JewishEdom's destiny — subordinate to Israel yet repeatedly rebelling; read across Kings and the prophets.
CatholicThe historical destiny of Edom, serving and rebelling against Israel.
ProtestantFulfilled as Edom served David's Israel (2 Sam. 8:14) and later broke free (2 Kings 8:20-22).
OrthodoxThe foretold relations of Edom and Israel in history.
DispensationalEdom's national destiny, fulfilled in its history with Israel.
AcademicAn etiological oracle of Edom's relation to Israel, matching the on-and-off subjugation recorded in Kings.
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