וַיֹּ֥אמֶר עֵשָׂ֖ו יֶשׁ־לִ֣י רָ֑ב אָחִ֕י יְהִ֥י לְךָ֖ אֲשֶׁר־לָֽךְ׃
Esau said, “I have enough, my brother; let what you have remain yours.”
קַח־נָ֤א אֶת־בִּרְכָתִי֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר הֻבָ֣את לָ֔ךְ כִּֽי־חַנַּ֥נִי אֱלֹהִ֖ים וְכִ֣י יֶשׁ־לִי־כֹ֑ל וַיִּפְצַר־בּ֖וֹ וַיִּקָּֽח׃
Please accept my present that has been brought to you, for God has favored me and I have plenty.” And when he urged him, he accepted.
Genesis 33:11 (Revised JPS, 2023)
When Jacob tries to offer his blessings of abundance to Esau in Genesis 33, the english doesn’t capture the theological importance of what is being said.
In verse 9, Esau says “I have rab.” In Hebrew, this words means “much,” or “an exceeding amount.” This is what Esau has amassed for himself.
In verse 11, Jacob says “I have kol.” In Hebrew, this word means “everything.” This is the favor of God.
To give from rab, you lose.
To give from kol, both you and the receiver gain.