Joshua 24:4
New International Version
and to Isaac I gave Jacob and Esau. I assigned the hill country of Seir to Esau, but Jacob and his family went down to Egypt.

New Living Translation
To Isaac I gave Jacob and Esau. To Esau I gave the mountains of Seir, while Jacob and his children went down into Egypt.

English Standard Version
And to Isaac I gave Jacob and Esau. And I gave Esau the hill country of Seir to possess, but Jacob and his children went down to Egypt.

Berean Standard Bible
and to Isaac I gave Jacob and Esau. I gave Esau Mount Seir to possess, but Jacob and his sons went down to Egypt.

King James Bible
And I gave unto Isaac Jacob and Esau: and I gave unto Esau mount Seir, to possess it; but Jacob and his children went down into Egypt.

New King James Version
To Isaac I gave Jacob and Esau. To Esau I gave the mountains of Seir to possess, but Jacob and his children went down to Egypt.

New American Standard Bible
To Isaac I gave Jacob and Esau, and to Esau I gave Mount Seir, to possess it; but Jacob and his sons went down to Egypt.

NASB 1995
‘To Isaac I gave Jacob and Esau, and to Esau I gave Mount Seir to possess it; but Jacob and his sons went down to Egypt.

NASB 1977
‘And to Isaac I gave Jacob and Esau, and to Esau I gave Mount Seir, to possess it; but Jacob and his sons went down to Egypt.

Legacy Standard Bible
To Isaac I gave Jacob and Esau, and to Esau I gave Mount Seir to possess it; but Jacob and his sons went down to Egypt.

Amplified Bible
To Isaac I gave Jacob and Esau, and to Esau I gave [the hill country of] Mount Seir to possess; but Jacob and his sons went down to Egypt.

Christian Standard Bible
and to Isaac I gave Jacob and Esau. I gave the hill country of Seir to Esau as a possession. “ ‘Jacob and his sons, however, went down to Egypt.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
and to Isaac I gave Jacob and Esau. I gave the hill country of Seir to Esau as a possession, but Jacob and his sons went down to Egypt.”

American Standard Version
And I gave unto Isaac Jacob and Esau: and I gave unto Esau mount Seir, to possess it: and Jacob and his children went down into Egypt.

Contemporary English Version
Then I gave Isaac two sons, Jacob and Esau. I gave Esau the hill country of Mount Seir, but your ancestor Jacob and his children went to live in Egypt.

English Revised Version
And I gave unto Isaac Jacob and Esau: and I gave unto Esau mount Seir, to possess it; and Jacob and his children went down into Egypt.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
To Isaac I gave Jacob and Esau. I gave Esau the mountains in Seir as his own. However, Jacob and his sons went to Egypt.

Good News Translation
and to Isaac I gave Jacob and Esau. I gave Esau the hill country of Edom as his possession, but your ancestor Jacob and his children went down to Egypt.

International Standard Version
I gave Jacob and Esau to Isaac. And I gave Mount Seir to Esau as his possession, but Jacob and his children went down to Egypt.

Majority Standard Bible
and to Isaac I gave Jacob and Esau. I gave Esau Mount Seir to possess, but Jacob and his sons went down to Egypt.

NET Bible
and to Isaac I gave Jacob and Esau. To Esau I assigned Mount Seir, while Jacob and his sons went down to Egypt.

New Heart English Bible
And I gave to Isaac Jacob and Esau. And I gave to Esau Mount Seir, to possess it. And Jacob and his children went down into Egypt, and became there a great and numerous and mighty nation, and the Egyptians afflicted them.

Webster's Bible Translation
And I gave to Isaac Jacob and Esau: and I gave to Esau mount Seir, to possess it; but Jacob and his children went down into Egypt.

World English Bible
I gave to Isaac Jacob and Esau: and I gave to Esau Mount Seir, to possess it. Jacob and his children went down into Egypt.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
And I give Jacob and Esau to Isaac; and I give Mount Seir to Esau, to possess it; and Jacob and his sons have gone down to Egypt.

Young's Literal Translation
And I give to Isaac, Jacob and Esau; and I give to Esau mount Seir, to possess it; and Jacob and his sons have gone down to Egypt.

Smith's Literal Translation
And I will give to Isaak, Jacob and Esau: and I will give to Esau mount Seir, to possess it; and Jacob and his sons will go down to Egypt.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
And gave him Isaac: and to him again I gave Jacob and Esau. And I gave to Esau mount Seir for his possession: but Jacob and his children went down into Egypt.

Catholic Public Domain Version
and I gave to him Isaac. And to him, I gave again Jacob and Esau. And I gave mount Seir to Esau as a possession. Yet truly, Jacob and his sons descended into Egypt.

New American Bible
To Isaac I gave Jacob and Esau. To Esau I assigned the mountain region of Seir to possess, while Jacob and his children went down to Egypt.

New Revised Standard Version
and to Isaac I gave Jacob and Esau. I gave Esau the hill country of Seir to possess, but Jacob and his children went down to Egypt.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
And I gave to Isaac, Jacob and Esau; and I gave to Esau mount Seir for a possession; but Jacob and his children went down to Egypt.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And I gave to Isaaq Yaqob and Eisu, and I gave to Eisu the inheritance, the Mountain of Seir, and Yaqob and his children went down to Egypt
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
And I gave unto Isaac Jacob and Esau; and I gave unto Esau mount Seir, to possess it; and Jacob and his children went down into Egypt.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
and I gave to him Isaac, and to Isaac Jacob and Esau: and I gave to Esau mount Seir for him to inherit: and Jacob and his sons went down to Egypt, and became there a great and populous and mighty nation: and the Egyptians afflicted them.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Joshua Reviews Israel's History
3But I took your father Abraham from beyond the Euphrates and led him through all the land of Canaan, and I multiplied his descendants. I gave him Isaac, 4and to Isaac I gave Jacob and Esau. I gave Esau Mount Seir to possess, but Jacob and his sons went down to Egypt. 5Then I sent Moses and Aaron, and I afflicted the Egyptians by what I did there, and afterward I brought you out.…

Cross References
Genesis 25:24-26
When her time came to give birth, there were indeed twins in her womb. / The first one came out red, covered with hair like a fur coat; so they named him Esau. / After this, his brother came out grasping Esau’s heel; so he was named Jacob. And Isaac was sixty years old when the twins were born.

Genesis 36:8
So Esau (that is, Edom) settled in the area of Mount Seir.

Genesis 46:1-7
So Israel set out with all that he had, and when he came to Beersheba, he offered sacrifices to the God of his father Isaac. / And that night God spoke to Israel in a vision: “Jacob, Jacob!” He said. “Here I am,” replied Jacob. / “I am God,” He said, “the God of your father. Do not be afraid to go down to Egypt, for I will make you into a great nation there. ...

Genesis 50:24
Then Joseph said to his brothers, “I am about to die, but God will surely visit you and bring you up from this land to the land He promised on oath to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.”

Exodus 1:1-5
These are the names of the sons of Israel who went to Egypt with Jacob, each with his family: / Reuben, Simeon, Levi, and Judah; / Issachar, Zebulun, and Benjamin; ...

Exodus 6:3-8
I appeared to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob as God Almighty, but by My name the LORD I did not make Myself known to them. / I also established My covenant with them to give them the land of Canaan, the land where they lived as foreigners. / Furthermore, I have heard the groaning of the Israelites, whom the Egyptians are enslaving, and I have remembered My covenant. ...

Deuteronomy 2:5
Do not provoke them, for I will not give you any of their land, not even a footprint, because I have given Mount Seir to Esau as his possession.

Deuteronomy 2:12
The Horites used to live in Seir, but the descendants of Esau drove them out. They destroyed the Horites from before them and settled in their place, just as Israel did in the land that the LORD gave them as their possession.)

Deuteronomy 2:22
just as He had done for the descendants of Esau who lived in Seir, when He destroyed the Horites from before them. They drove them out and have lived in their place to this day.

Deuteronomy 4:37-38
Because He loved your fathers, He chose their descendants after them and brought you out of Egypt by His presence and great power, / to drive out before you nations greater and mightier than you, and to bring you into their land and give it to you for your inheritance, as it is this day.

Deuteronomy 6:10
And when the LORD your God brings you into the land He swore to your fathers, to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, that He would give you—a land with great and splendid cities that you did not build,

Deuteronomy 9:5
It is not because of your righteousness or uprightness of heart that you are going in to possess their land, but it is because of their wickedness that the LORD your God is driving out these nations before you, to keep the promise He swore to your fathers, to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.

Deuteronomy 11:23
then the LORD will drive out all these nations before you, and you will dispossess nations greater and stronger than you.

Deuteronomy 26:5
and you are to declare before the LORD your God, “My father was a wandering Aramean, and he went down to Egypt few in number and lived there and became a great nation, mighty and numerous.

Acts 7:8-9
Then God gave Abraham the covenant of circumcision, and Abraham became the father of Isaac and circumcised him on the eighth day. And Isaac became the father of Jacob, and Jacob of the twelve patriarchs. / Because the patriarchs were jealous of Joseph, they sold him as a slave into Egypt. But God was with him


Treasury of Scripture

And I gave to Isaac Jacob and Esau: and I gave to Esau mount Seir, to possess it; but Jacob and his children went down into Egypt.

unto Isaac

Genesis 25:24-26
And when her days to be delivered were fulfilled, behold, there were twins in her womb…

unto Esau

Genesis 32:3
And Jacob sent messengers before him to Esau his brother unto the land of Seir, the country of Edom.

Genesis 36:8
Thus dwelt Esau in mount Seir: Esau is Edom.

Deuteronomy 2:5
Meddle not with them; for I will not give you of their land, no, not so much as a foot breadth; because I have given mount Seir unto Esau for a possession.

Jacob

Genesis 46:1-7
And Israel took his journey with all that he had, and came to Beersheba, and offered sacrifices unto the God of his father Isaac…

Psalm 105:23
Israel also came into Egypt; and Jacob sojourned in the land of Ham.

Acts 7:15
So Jacob went down into Egypt, and died, he, and our fathers,

Jump to Previous
Assigned Children Country Egypt Esau Heritage Hill Isaac Jacob Mount Possess Seir Se'ir
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Assigned Children Country Egypt Esau Heritage Hill Isaac Jacob Mount Possess Seir Se'ir
Joshua 24
1. Joshua assembles the tribes at Shechem
2. A brief history of God's benefits from Terah
14. He renews the covenant between them and God
26. A stone the witness of the covenant
29. Joshua's age, death, and burial
32. Joseph's bones are buried
33. Eleazar dies














and to Isaac I gave Jacob and Esau
This phrase highlights God's sovereign choice and the continuation of His covenant promises through Isaac's lineage. The Hebrew root for "gave" (נָתַן, natan) implies a deliberate and purposeful act of bestowal. In the context of Genesis, God’s giving of Jacob and Esau to Isaac signifies the unfolding of His divine plan. Isaac, as the child of promise, receives not just sons but the carriers of two distinct nations. This reflects God's providence and His intricate design in history, where He orchestrates events to fulfill His promises to Abraham.

I assigned the hill country of Seir to Esau
The phrase "I assigned" (נָתַן, natan) again emphasizes God's active role in determining the destinies of nations and individuals. The "hill country of Seir" refers to the region that became the territory of the Edomites, descendants of Esau. Historically, Seir is a mountainous region south of the Dead Sea. This allocation underscores God's justice and fairness, as Esau, though not the child of promise, is still provided for by God. It also sets the stage for the later interactions between Israel and Edom, highlighting the complex relationships between the descendants of Jacob and Esau.

but Jacob and his sons went down to Egypt
The conjunction "but" introduces a contrast between the destinies of Esau and Jacob. While Esau receives a land inheritance immediately, Jacob's journey takes a different path. The phrase "went down to Egypt" is laden with historical and theological significance. It marks the beginning of a pivotal chapter in Israel's history, where Jacob's family becomes a nation in the crucible of Egyptian bondage. This movement to Egypt, though initially a refuge during famine, sets the stage for the Exodus, a defining moment of deliverance and identity for the Israelites. Theologically, it illustrates God's mysterious ways, where apparent setbacks are woven into His redemptive plan. The descent into Egypt is a reminder of God's faithfulness to His promises, as He uses even adverse circumstances to fulfill His covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
and to Isaac
לְיִצְחָ֔ק (lə·yiṣ·ḥāq)
Preposition-l | Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3327: Isaac -- 'he laughs', son of Abraham and Sarah

I gave
וָאֶתֵּ֣ן (wā·’et·tên)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - first person common singular
Strong's 5414: To give, put, set

Jacob
יַעֲקֹ֖ב (ya·‘ă·qōḇ)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3290: Jacob -- a son of Isaac, also his desc

and Esau.
עֵשָׂ֑ו (‘ê·śāw)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 6215: Esau -- oldest son of Isaac

I apportioned
וָאֶתֵּ֨ן (wā·’et·tên)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - first person common singular
Strong's 5414: To give, put, set

to Esau
לְעֵשָׂ֜ו (lə·‘ê·śāw)
Preposition-l | Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 6215: Esau -- oldest son of Isaac

the hill country
הַ֤ר (har)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 2022: Mountain, hill, hill country

of Seir,
שֵׂעִיר֙ (śê·‘îr)
Noun - proper - feminine singular
Strong's 8165: Seir -- a mountain range in Edom, also its inhabitants, also a mountain in Judah

but Jacob
וְיַעֲקֹ֥ב (wə·ya·‘ă·qōḇ)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3290: Jacob -- a son of Isaac, also his desc

and his sons
וּבָנָ֖יו (ū·ḇā·nāw)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine plural construct | third person masculine singular
Strong's 1121: A son

went down
יָרְד֥וּ (yā·rə·ḏū)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person common plural
Strong's 3381: To come or go down, descend

to Egypt.
מִצְרָֽיִם׃ (miṣ·rā·yim)
Noun - proper - feminine singular
Strong's 4714: Egypt -- a son of Ham, also his descendants and their country in Northwest Africa


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OT History: Joshua 24:4 I gave to Isaac Jacob and Esau: (Josh. Jos)
Joshua 24:3
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