Genesis 27NKJV
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Genesis27

New King James Version

1Now it came to pass, when Isaac was old and his eyes were so dim that he could not see, that he called Esau his older son and said to him, “My son.” And he answered him, “Here I am.”

2Then he said, “Behold now, I am old. I do not know the day of my death.

3Now therefore, please take your weapons, your quiver and your bow, and go out to the field and hunt game for me.

4And make me savory food, such as I love, and bring it to me that I may eat, that my soul may bless you before I die.”

5Now Rebekah was listening when Isaac spoke to Esau his son. And Esau went to the field to hunt game and to bring it.

6So Rebekah spoke to Jacob her son, saying, “Indeed I heard your father speak to Esau your brother, saying,

7‘Bring me game and make savory food for me, that I may eat it and bless you in the presence of the Lord before my death.’

8Now therefore, my son, obey my voice according to what I command you.

9Go now to the flock and bring me from there two choice kids of the goats, and I will make savory food from them for your father, such as he loves.

10Then you shall take it to your father, that he may eat it, and that he may bless you before his death.”

11And Jacob said to Rebekah his mother, “Look, Esau my brother is a hairy man, and I am a smooth-skinned man.

12Perhaps my father will feel me, and I shall seem to be a deceiver to him; and I shall bring a curse on myself and not a blessing.”

13But his mother said to him, “Let your curse be on me, my son; only obey my voice, and go, get them for me.”

14And he went and got them and brought them to his mother, and his mother made savory food, such as his father loved.

15Then Rebekah took the choice clothes of her elder son Esau, which were with her in the house, and put them on Jacob her younger son.

16And she put the skins of the kids of the goats on his hands and on the smooth part of his neck.

17Then she gave the savory food and the bread, which she had prepared, into the hand of her son Jacob.

18So he went to his father and said, “My father.” And he said, “Here I am. Who are you, my son?”

19Jacob said to his father, “I am Esau your firstborn; I have done just as you told me; please arise, sit and eat of my game, that your soul may bless me.”

20But Isaac said to his son, “How is it that you have found it so quickly, my son?” And he said, “Because the Lord your God brought it to me.”

21Isaac said to Jacob, “Please come near, that I may feel you, my son, whether you are really my son Esau or not.”

22So Jacob went near to 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 did not recognize him, because his hands were hairy like his brother Esau’s hands; so he blessed him.

24Then he said, “Are you really my son Esau?” He said, “I am.”

25He said, “Bring it near to me, and I will eat of my son’s game, so that my soul may bless you.” So he brought it near to him, and he ate; and he brought him wine, and he drank.

26Then his father Isaac said to him, “Come near now and kiss me, my son.”

27And he came near and kissed him; and he smelled the smell of his clothing, and blessed him and said: “Surely, the smell of my son Is like the smell of a field Which the Lord has blessed.

28Therefore may God give you Of the dew of heaven, Of the fatness of the earth, And plenty of grain and wine.

29Let peoples serve you, And nations bow down to you. Be master over your brethren, And let your mother’s sons bow down to you. Cursed be everyone who curses you, And blessed be those who bless you!”

30Now it happened, as soon as Isaac had finished blessing Jacob, and Jacob had scarcely gone out from the presence of Isaac his father, that Esau his brother came in from his hunting.

31He also had made savory food, and brought it to his father, and said to his father, “Let my father arise and eat of his son’s game, that your soul may bless me.”

32And his father Isaac said to him, “Who are you?” So he said, “I am your son, your firstborn, Esau.”

33Then Isaac trembled exceedingly, and said, “Who? Where is the one who hunted game and brought it to me? I ate all of it before you came, and I have blessed him—and indeed he shall be blessed.”

34When Esau heard the words of his father, he cried with an exceedingly great and bitter cry, and said to his father, “Bless me—me also, O my father!”

35But he said, “Your brother came with deceit and has taken away your blessing.”

36And Esau said, “Is he not rightly named Jacob? For he has supplanted me these two times. He took away my birthright, and now look, he has taken away my blessing!” And he said, “Have you not reserved a blessing for me?”

37Then Isaac answered and said to Esau, “Indeed I have made him your master, and all his brethren I have given to him as servants; with grain and wine I have sustained him. What shall I do now for you, my son?”

38And Esau said to his father, “Have you only one blessing, my father? Bless me—me also, O my father!” And Esau lifted up his voice and wept.

39Then Isaac his father answered and said to him: “Behold, your dwelling shall be of the fatness of the earth, And of the dew of heaven from above.

40By your sword you shall live, And you shall serve your brother; And it shall come to pass, when you become restless, That you shall break his yoke from your neck.”

41So Esau hated Jacob because of the blessing with which his father blessed him, and Esau said in his heart, “The days of mourning for my father are at hand; then I will kill my brother Jacob.”

42And the words of Esau her older son were told to Rebekah. So she sent and called Jacob her younger son, and said to him, “Surely your brother Esau comforts himself concerning you by intending to kill you.

43Now therefore, my son, obey my voice: arise, flee to my brother Laban in Haran.

44And stay with him a few days, until your brother’s fury turns away,

45until your brother’s anger turns away from you, and he forgets what you have done to him; then I will send and bring you from there. Why should I be bereaved also 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 takes a wife of the daughters of Heth, like these who are the daughters of the land, what good will my life be to me?”

Study Guide

Public-domain commentary and original-language notes for Genesis 27.

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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.

Cross References

Genesis 27

The divine oracle that the elder should serve the younger, which Isaac disregarded or forgot.

Supported by Matthew Henry, Matthew Poole, JFB

v23Hebrews 11:20fulfillment

New Testament commentary confirming Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau concerning things to come by faith.

Supported by Matthew Henry, JFB

v29Genesis 25:23fulfillment

Fulfills the original oracle that the elder shall serve the younger.

Supported by Matthew Henry, Matthew Poole, John Calvin, JFB

v34Hebrews 12:17thematic

Warns of Esau's rejected, tearful plea for the blessing after despising his birthright.

Supported by Matthew Henry

v4Hebrews 11:20thematic

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

v29Romans 9:12thematic

Paul cites the divine choice of Jacob over Esau prior to their birth.

Supported by Matthew Henry

v36Genesis 25:33thematic

Esau previously swore away his birthright to Jacob, confirming Jacob's name as supplanter.

Supported by Matthew Henry, Matthew Poole, JFB

v41Genesis 4:2-8thematic

The prototypical sibling murder plot; Esau follows Cain's way in hating his brother over God's blessing.

Supported by Matthew Henry

v46Genesis 26:34-35thematic

Rebekah's grief over the daughters of Heth stems from Esau's prior marriages to them.

Supported by JFB

v1Romans 9:16thematic

It is not of him that willeth (Isaac) or runneth (Esau hunting), but of God's mercy.

Supported by Matthew Henry

v12Malachi 1:14thematic

A curse is pronounced upon the deceiver who attempts to offer a corrupt thing to God.

Supported by Matthew Poole

v292 Samuel 8:14fulfillment

Historical fulfillment where David puts garrisons in Edom and Edomites become servants.

Supported by JFB

v29Genesis 12:3thematic

Transfers Abraham's covenant promise—blessing those who bless him and cursing those who curse him.

Supported by Matthew Poole

v36Hebrews 12:16thematic

New Testament warning identifying Esau as a profane person who sold his birthright.

Supported by Matthew Henry

v402 Kings 8:20-22fulfillment

Records Edom's revolt from under the hand of Judah, breaking the brotherly yoke.

Supported by JFB

v41Obadiah 1:10-14thematic

Prophetic description of Edom's (Esau's descendants) perpetual violence and hatred against Jacob's descendants.

v41Amos 1:11thematic

Edom is condemned because he did pursue his brother with the sword and cast off all pity.

v43Hosea 12:12thematic

Hosea explicitly summarizes how Jacob fled into the country of Syria to escape Esau.

v12Jeremiah 48:10thematic

Cursed is he who does the work of the Lord deceitfully or negligently.

Supported by Matthew Poole

v132 Samuel 14:9thematic

Similar phrasing of bearing another's guilt: 'Upon me... be the iniquity, and my father's house guiltless.'

Supported by Matthew Poole

v21Genesis 27:12thematic

Refers to Jacob's initial fear of being felt by his father and cursed.

Supported by Matthew Poole, John Calvin

v27Hebrews 6:7thematic

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

v29Genesis 49:8-10thematic

Prophetic parallel of the bowing down of brethren and dominion given to Judah.

Supported by JFB

v41Genesis 50:15thematic

Joseph's brothers fear he will cherish hatred and avenge himself after their father's death, like Esau.

v452 Samuel 14:7thematic

Illustrates the maternal dread of being bereaved of both sons in a single day through blood vengeance.

v46Genesis 28:1-8thematic

The immediate outcome: Isaac commands Jacob not to take a wife of the Canaanites.

v11 Kings 14:4thematic

Parallel where Ahijah's eyes were set by reason of his age, making him vulnerable to disguise.

v3Genesis 25:28thematic

Establishes Isaac's carnal preference for Esau's venison, which set this entire conflict in motion.

Supported by Matthew Henry

v23Genesis 27:16thematic

The execution of Rebekah's plan using goat skins to deceive Isaac's touch.

Supported by Matthew Poole, John Calvin

v40Genesis 16:12thematic

Parallels Ishmael's prediction of a wild, sword-reliant nomadic lifestyle.

Supported by JFB

v41Genesis 50:3-4thematic

Illustrates the formal period and custom of mourning for a father, which Esau anticipated before acting.

v41Proverbs 18:19thematic

A brother offended is harder to be won than a strong city; their contentions are like bars.

v46Genesis 24:3thematic

The ancestral precedent: Abraham made his servant swear not to take a Canaanite wife for Isaac.

v2Proverbs 27:1thematic

Do not boast of tomorrow, for you do not know what a day may bring forth.