Genesis27
American Standard Version · Public Domain
1And it came to pass, that when Isaac was old, and his eyes were dim, so that he could not see, he called Esau his elder son, and said unto him, My son: and he said unto him, Here am I.
2And he said, Behold now, I am old, I know not the day of my death.
3Now therefore take, I pray thee, thy weapons, thy quiver and thy bow, and go out to the field, and take me venison;
4and make me savory food, such as I love, and bring it to me, that I may eat; that my soul may bless thee before I die.
5And Rebekah heard when Isaac spake to Esau his son. And Esau went to the field to hunt for venison, and to bring it.
6And Rebekah spake unto Jacob her son, saying, Behold, I heard thy father speak unto Esau thy brother, saying,
7Bring me venison, and make me savory food, that I may eat, and bless thee before Jehovah before my death.
8Now therefore, my son, obey my voice according to that which I command thee.
9Go now to the flock, and fetch me from thence two good kids of the goats; and I will make them savory food for thy father, such as he loveth:
10and thou shalt bring it to thy father, that he may eat, so that he may bless thee before his death.
11And Jacob said to Rebekah his mother, Behold, Esau my brother is a hairy man, and I am a smooth man.
12My father peradventure will feel me, and I shall seem to him as a deceiver; and I shall bring a curse upon me, and not a blessing.
13And his mother said unto him, Upon me be thy curse, my son; only obey my voice, and go fetch me them.
14And he went, and fetched, and brought them to his mother: and his mother made savory food, such as his father loved.
15And Rebekah took the goodly garments of Esau her elder son, which were with her in the house, and put them upon Jacob her younger son;
16and she put the skins of the kids of the goats upon his hands, and upon the smooth of his neck:
17and she gave the savory food and the bread, which she had prepared, into the hand of her son Jacob.
18And he came unto his father, and said, My father: and he said, Here am I; who art thou, my son?
19And Jacob said unto his father, I am Esau thy first-born; I have done according as thou badest me: arise, I pray thee, sit and eat of my venison, that thy soul may bless me.
20And Isaac said unto his son, How is it that thou hast found it so quickly, my son? And he said, Because Jehovah thy God sent me good speed.
21And Isaac said unto Jacob, Come near, I pray thee, that I may feel thee, my son, whether thou be my very son Esau or not.
22And Jacob went near unto Isaac his father; and he felt him, and said, The voice is Jacob’s voice, but the hands are the hands of Esau.
23And he discerned him not, because his hands were hairy, as his brother Esau’s hands: so he blessed him.
24And he said, Art thou my very son Esau? And he said, I am.
25And he said, Bring it near to me, and I will eat of my son’s venison, that my soul may bless thee. And he brought it near to him, and he did eat: and he brought him wine, and he drank.
26And his father Isaac said unto him, Come near now, and kiss me, my son.
27And he came near, and kissed him: and he smelled the smell of his raiment, and blessed him, and said, See, the smell of my son Is as the smell of a field which Jehovah hath blessed:
28And God give thee of the dew of heaven, And of the fatness of the earth, And plenty of grain and new wine:
29Let peoples serve thee, And nations bow down to thee: Be lord over thy brethren, And let thy mother’s sons bow down to thee: Cursed be every one that curseth thee, And blessed be every one that blesseth thee.
30And it came to pass, as soon as Isaac had made an end of blessing Jacob, and Jacob was yet scarce gone out from the presence of Isaac his father, that Esau his brother came in from his hunting.
31And he also made savory food, and brought it unto his father; and he said unto his father, Let my father arise, and eat of his son’s venison, that thy soul may bless me.
32And Isaac his father said unto him, Who art thou? And he said, I am thy son, thy first-born, Esau.
33And Isaac trembled very exceedingly, and said, Who then is he that hath taken venison, and brought it me, and I have eaten of all before thou camest, and have blessed him? yea, and he shall be blessed.
34When Esau heard the words of his father, he cried with an exceeding great and bitter cry, and said unto his father, Bless me, even me also, O my father.
35And he said, Thy brother came with guile, and hath taken away thy blessing.
36And he said, Is not he rightly named Jacob? for he hath supplanted me these two times: he took away my birthright; and, behold, now he hath taken away my blessing. And he said, Hast thou not reserved a blessing for me?
37And Isaac answered and said unto Esau, Behold, I have made him thy lord, and all his brethren have I given to him for servants; and with grain and new wine have I sustained him: and what then shall I do for thee, my son?
38And Esau said unto his father, Hast thou but one blessing, my father? bless me, even me also, O my father. And Esau lifted up his voice, and wept.
39And Isaac his father answered and said unto him, Behold, of the fatness of the earth shall be thy dwelling, And of the dew of heaven from above;
40And by thy sword shalt thou live, and thou shalt serve thy brother; And it shall come to pass, when thou shalt break loose, That thou shalt shake his yoke from off thy neck.
41And Esau hated Jacob because of the blessing wherewith his father blessed him: and Esau said in his heart, The days of mourning for my father are at hand; then will I slay my brother Jacob.
42And the words of Esau her elder son were told to Rebekah; and she sent and called Jacob her younger son, and said unto him, Behold, thy brother Esau, as touching thee, doth comfort himself, purposing to kill thee.
43Now therefore, my son, obey my voice; and arise, flee thou to Laban my brother to Haran;
44and tarry with him a few days, until thy brother’s fury turn away;
45until thy brother’s anger turn away from thee, and he forget that which thou hast done to him: then I will send, and fetch thee from thence: why should I be bereaved of you both in one day?
46And Rebekah said to Isaac, I am weary of my life because of the daughters of Heth: if Jacob take a wife of the daughters of Heth, such as these, of the daughters of the land, what good shall my life do me?
Study Guide
Public-domain commentary and original-language notes for Genesis 27.
Chapter Summary
In this chapter: Isaac sends Esau for venison. (1–5). Rebekah teaches Jacob to obtain the blessing. (6–17). Jacob, pretending to be Esau, obtains the blessing. (18–29). Isaac's fear, Esau's importunity. (30–40). Esau threatens Jacob's life, Rebekah sends Jacob away. (41–46).
vv1-5
The promises of the Messiah, and of the land of Canaan, had come down to Isaac. Isaac being now about 135 years of age, and his sons about 75, and not duly considering the Divine word concerning his two sons, that the elder should serve the younger, resolved to put all the honour and power that were in the promise, upon Esau his eldest son. We are very apt to take measures rather from our own reason than from Divine revelation, and thereby often miss our way.
vv6-17
Rebekah knew that the blessing was intended for Jacob, and expected he would have it. But she wronged Isaac by putting a cheat on him; she wronged Jacob by tempting him to wickedness. She put a stumbling-block in Esau's way, and gave him a pretext for hatred to Jacob and to religion. All were to be blamed. It was one of those crooked measures often adopted to further the Divine promises; as if the end would justify, or excuse wrong means. Thus many have acted wrong, under the idea of being useful in promoting the cause of Christ. The answer to all such things is that which God addressed to Abraham, I am God Almighty; walk before me and be thou perfect. And it was a very rash speech of Rebekah, “Upon me be thy curse, my son.” Christ has borne the curse of the law for all who take upon them the yoke of the command, the command of the gospel. But it is too daring for any creature to say, Upon me be thy curse.
vv18-29
Jacob, with some difficulty, gained his point, and got the blessing. This blessing is in very general terms. No mention is made of the distinguishing mercies in the covenant with Abraham. This might be owing to Isaac having Esau in his mind, though it was Jacob who was before him. He could not be ignorant how Esau had despised the best things. Moreover, his attachment to Esau, so as to disregard the mind of God, must have greatly weakened his own faith in these things. It might therefore be expected, that leanness would attend his blessing, agreeing with the state of his mind.
Key Words
הָיָה: to exist, i.e. be or become, come to pass (always emphatic, and not a mere copula or auxiliary)
יִצְחָק: Jitschak (or Isaac), son of Abraham
זָקֵן: to be old
עַיִן: an eye (literally or figuratively); by analogy, a fountain (as the eye of the landscape)
כָּהָה: to be weak, i.e. (figuratively) to despond (causatively, rebuke), or (of light, the eye) to grow dull
רָאָה: to see, literally or figuratively (in numerous applications, direct and implied, transitive, intransitive and causative)
קָרָא: to call out to (i.e. properly, address by name, but used in a wide variety of applications)
עֵשָׂו: Esav, a son of Isaac, including his posterity
גָּדוֹל: great (in any sense); hence, older; also insolent
בֵּן: a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative relationship, including grandson, subject, nation, quality or condition, etc., (like father or brother), etc.)
Cross References
Genesis 27The divine oracle that the elder should serve the younger, which Isaac disregarded or forgot.
Supported by Matthew Henry, Matthew Poole, JFB
New Testament commentary confirming Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau concerning things to come by faith.
Supported by Matthew Henry, JFB
Fulfills the original oracle that the elder shall serve the younger.
Supported by Matthew Henry, Matthew Poole, John Calvin, JFB
Warns of Esau's rejected, tearful plea for the blessing after despising his birthright.
Supported by Matthew Henry
The NT commentary stating that by faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau concerning things to come.
Supported by Matthew Henry
Deuteronomy pronounces a curse on anyone who makes the blind wander out of their way.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Paul cites the divine choice of Jacob over Esau prior to their birth.
Supported by Matthew Henry
Esau previously swore away his birthright to Jacob, confirming Jacob's name as supplanter.
Supported by Matthew Henry, Matthew Poole, JFB
The prototypical sibling murder plot; Esau follows Cain's way in hating his brother over God's blessing.
Supported by Matthew Henry
Rebekah's grief over the daughters of Heth stems from Esau's prior marriages to them.
Supported by JFB
It is not of him that willeth (Isaac) or runneth (Esau hunting), but of God's mercy.
Supported by Matthew Henry
A curse is pronounced upon the deceiver who attempts to offer a corrupt thing to God.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Historical fulfillment where David puts garrisons in Edom and Edomites become servants.
Supported by JFB
Transfers Abraham's covenant promise—blessing those who bless him and cursing those who curse him.
Supported by Matthew Poole
New Testament warning identifying Esau as a profane person who sold his birthright.
Supported by Matthew Henry
Records Edom's revolt from under the hand of Judah, breaking the brotherly yoke.
Supported by JFB
Prophetic description of Edom's (Esau's descendants) perpetual violence and hatred against Jacob's descendants.
Edom is condemned because he did pursue his brother with the sword and cast off all pity.
Hosea explicitly summarizes how Jacob fled into the country of Syria to escape Esau.
Cursed is he who does the work of the Lord deceitfully or negligently.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Similar phrasing of bearing another's guilt: 'Upon me... be the iniquity, and my father's house guiltless.'
Supported by Matthew Poole
Refers to Jacob's initial fear of being felt by his father and cursed.
Supported by Matthew Poole, John Calvin
Echoes the comparison of a blessed field receiving rain from God.
Supported by John Calvin
Parallels the blessing of dew and agricultural abundance promised to Joseph's land.
Supported by JFB
Prophetic parallel of the bowing down of brethren and dominion given to Judah.
Supported by JFB
Joseph's brothers fear he will cherish hatred and avenge himself after their father's death, like Esau.
Illustrates the maternal dread of being bereaved of both sons in a single day through blood vengeance.
The immediate outcome: Isaac commands Jacob not to take a wife of the Canaanites.
Parallel where Ahijah's eyes were set by reason of his age, making him vulnerable to disguise.
Establishes Isaac's carnal preference for Esau's venison, which set this entire conflict in motion.
Supported by Matthew Henry
The execution of Rebekah's plan using goat skins to deceive Isaac's touch.
Supported by Matthew Poole, John Calvin
Parallels Ishmael's prediction of a wild, sword-reliant nomadic lifestyle.
Supported by JFB
Illustrates the formal period and custom of mourning for a father, which Esau anticipated before acting.
A brother offended is harder to be won than a strong city; their contentions are like bars.
The ancestral precedent: Abraham made his servant swear not to take a Canaanite wife for Isaac.
Do not boast of tomorrow, for you do not know what a day may bring forth.