Genesis 27:11 kjv

And Jacob said to Rebekah his mother, Behold, Esau my brother is a hairy man, and I am a smooth man:

Genesis 27:11 nkjv

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

Genesis 27:11 niv

Jacob said to Rebekah his mother, "But my brother Esau is a hairy man while I have smooth skin.

Genesis 27:11 esv

But Jacob said to Rebekah his mother, "Behold, my brother Esau is a hairy man, and I am a smooth man.

Genesis 27:11 nlt

"But look," Jacob replied to Rebekah, "my brother, Esau, is a hairy man, and my skin is smooth.

Genesis 27 verses

Genesis 27 11 Meaning

Genesis 27:11 presents Jacob's immediate apprehension and objection to his mother Rebekah's scheme. His concern is practical: he fears being exposed due to his physical difference from Esau, which would lead to a curse rather than the desired blessing. He contrasts his smooth skin with Esau's inherent hairiness, highlighting the critical impediment to impersonation, especially given Isaac's blindness relying on touch.

Genesis 27 11 Context

Genesis 27:11 is pivotal within the broader narrative of Isaac's blessing and the conflict between Jacob and Esau. Isaac, now old and blind, intends to bestow his final, irrevocable patriarchal blessing upon his firstborn son, Esau. This traditional blessing carried significant spiritual, social, and economic weight, determining one's destiny and inheritance. Rebekah, having favored Jacob and remembered God's prophecy that the older would serve the younger (Gen 25:23), orchestrates a deceptive plan. She instructs Jacob to impersonate Esau to receive the blessing. Jacob's response in this verse highlights his concern for detection and the subsequent curse, rather than an immediate moral objection to the act of deceit itself. This exchange sets the stage for the dramatic and consequential events of the rest of the chapter, illustrating human manipulation in the unfolding of divine purpose and foreshadowing Jacob's future life, often marked by deception and its painful consequences.

Genesis 27 11 Word analysis

• וַיֹּאמֶר (va-yo'mer): "And he said." A common Hebrew narrative conjunction, introducing direct speech.
• יַעֲקֹב (Ya'akov): "Jacob." The patriarch, whose name means "he takes by the heel" or "supplanter," often seen as fitting for his character in this episode. His actions here reflect the inherent struggle and manipulation suggested by his name.
• אֶל־רִבְקָה (el-Rivkah): "to Rebekah." Direct address to his mother, highlighting the intimate family interaction central to the narrative.
• אִמֹּו (immo): "his mother." Emphasizes the relationship of authority and influence Rebekah holds over Jacob in this context.
• הֵן (hen): "Behold!", "Look!", "Indeed!" An emphatic interjection or particle, used here to draw immediate attention to the stark physical contrast Jacob is about to highlight. It conveys a sense of immediate alarm or revelation of a critical obstacle.
• עֵשָׂו (Esav): "Esau." Jacob's elder twin brother. His name is strongly linked to his physical characteristic.
• אָחִי (achi): "my brother." Underscores the familial relationship, making the deception even more personal and treacherous.
• אִישׁ שָׂעִיר (ish sa'ir): "a hairy man."
  • אִישׁ (ish): "man," "individual."
  • שָׂעִיר (sa'ir): "hairy," "shaggy," from the root for "hair" (שָׂעָר, sa'ar). This distinct physical attribute, established at birth in Gen 25:25, is central to the scheme's potential failure because Isaac is blind and relies on touch. This physical detail is fundamental to the narrative.
• וְאָנֹכִי (ve'anokhi): "and I." The prefixed וְ (ve) "and" connects the contrasting statement. אָנֹכִי (anokhi) is a more emphatic or formal first-person singular pronoun compared to אֲנִי (ani), highlighting Jacob's own specific difference in contrast to Esau.
• אִישׁ חָלָק (ish halaq): "a smooth man."
  • אִישׁ (ish): "man."
  • חָלָק (halaq): "smooth," "slippery," "bare." This is the direct opposite of שָׂעִיר. Jacob articulates his core concern: his lack of hair will be easily detected by Isaac. This fear highlights Isaac's dependence on touch due to his impaired sight (Gen 27:1), making this physical characteristic a key point of vulnerability in the deception.

Words-group Analysis:

• "Behold, Esau my brother is a hairy man, and I am a smooth man." This concise declaration encapsulates Jacob's central predicament. It reveals his astute awareness of the critical physical distinction between him and Esau, which poses a significant hurdle for his mother's plan. It showcases the importance of sensory input in Isaac's world and implicitly highlights the depth of the deception required. The direct contrast underscores the stark visual and tactile differences between the twin brothers.

Genesis 27 11 Bonus section

• Irony: The irony of Jacob's statement about his smooth skin is profound. Rebekah solves this problem by having him wear the skins of young goats, literally making him "hairy" for the deception (Gen 27:16). Esau's very name, "hairy," defines his physical identity, which Jacob seeks to appropriate, creating a deceptive physical identity for himself.
• Ancient Blessings: In the ancient Near East, patriarchal blessings were more than well-wishes; they were seen as legal declarations, imparting power, status, and destiny. Isaac's blindness accentuates the vulnerability of such a crucial ritual to human cunning.
• Jacob's Character: This episode is foundational for understanding Jacob's early character—a cunning individual, prone to opportunism, who later, through wrestling with God (Gen 32:22-32) and experiencing significant life challenges, begins to develop a deeper faith and reliance on God. His initial fear is of being cursed, not of sinning against God or his father.

Genesis 27 11 Commentary

Genesis 27:11 exposes Jacob's immediate practical concern about Rebekah's elaborate plan to secure the patriarchal blessing. His apprehension stems not from a moral objection to deceit but from a fear of exposure due to his contrasting physical appearance. He clearly understands that Isaac, though blind, will use touch to verify Esau's identity, making his own smooth skin a fatal flaw in the scheme. Rebekah, however, is resolute, demonstrating her stronger will and determination to see God's pre-birth prophecy fulfilled, albeit through human manipulation.

This verse lays bare the human fallibility in the biblical narrative. Jacob, later renamed Israel, a man chosen by God, acts out of self-interest and fear rather than trust. Yet, paradoxically, God's sovereign plan to elevate Jacob over Esau unfolds even through such morally dubious actions. This passage warns against employing dishonest means to achieve a desired end, even one seemingly aligned with a divine promise. The ensuing narrative details the bitter consequences of this deception for all involved, particularly the lasting enmity between the brothers and Jacob's subsequent years of exile and hardship, much of which involved him being deceived in turn by Laban. It powerfully illustrates that while God's purposes are unwavering, human choices carry significant repercussions.