At the beginning of the Greek verse, after “By faith,” there is a word meaning “also” or “and,” which is omitted by some manuscripts and most translations, including Good News Translation, Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch, Revised Standard Version, and New English Bible. It is not directly related to Isaac as the next example of faith. It may mean “also, like previous examples,” or “also, for the future,” or it may link the whole verse with what precedes.

All the examples of faith are related in some way to future events which are now coming true, as verse 40 will suggest. However, he now says explicitly that the blessing by Isaac of his children is “about the future.”

The future includes both future time and what will happen in it. This is clear from Genesis 27.28, 29, 39, 40, especially since Jacob and Esau were thought of not merely as individuals but as the ancestors of Israel and Edom respectively. The translator should avoid the idea that Isaac would only bless his children “in the future.” It is important to show that the blessing is not only about the future, but helps to bring the future about. Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch does this in two sentences: “Because Isaac trusted God, he blessed Jacob and Esau. He relied on (the fact) that the words of blessing would some time be fulfilled.”

Promise blessings for the future: the Greek is literally “invoked a blessing about the future on Jacob and Esau,” which is difficult for two reasons: (a) a “blessing,” like a “promise,” is a present act whose results lie in the future; (b) the role of “blessing” may vary in different cultures. The solution of the second problem will vary from one area to another. In cultures in which blessing plays an important part, translation of this phrase may raise no problems. In western European cultures, where blessing is unusual, especially of one human being by another (7.1-2), translation will be difficult. For example, Phillips‘ “his words dealt with what should happen in the future,” and Moffatt‘s “blessed Jacob and Esau in connection with the future,” give correct information, but the blessings are mere statements, whereas in Hebrew thought a “blessing,” “curse,” “promise,” “vow,” “prophecy,” or almost any solemn statement was a power which helped to bring about the things of which it spoke. The words may be restructured: “said that God would do good to Jacob and Esau in the future.”

This verse may also be expressed as “Because Isaac trusted God, he blessed Jacob and Esau by speaking about the blessings which would come to them in the future.” However, the real problem is often that of finding a satisfactory term for “blessing.” In some instances one can use a phrase such as “to speak well on behalf of.” But in the biblical context there are certain supernatural sanctions which are associated with blessings. Sometimes this may be expressed by saying “to speak good and powerful words on behalf of.” In some languages the only equivalent is “to speak well about, with God listening.” The phrase “with God listening” provides the kind of supernatural sanction which makes the promises of good things more secure.

Quoted with permission from Ellingworth, Paul and Nida, Eugene A. A Handbook on The Letter of the Hebrews. (UBS Handbook Series). New York: UBS, 1983. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .