Genesis 27:18 kjv

And he came unto his father, and said, My father: and he said, Here am I; who art thou, my son?

Genesis 27:18 nkjv

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

Genesis 27:18 niv

He went to his father and said, "My father." "Yes, my son," he answered. "Who is it?"

Genesis 27:18 esv

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

Genesis 27:18 nlt

So Jacob took the food to his father. "My father?" he said. "Yes, my son," Isaac answered. "Who are you ? Esau or Jacob?"

Genesis 27 verses

Genesis 27 18 Meaning

Gen 27:18 describes the initial deceptive encounter between Jacob, disguised as Esau, and his blind father Isaac, seeking the patriarchal blessing. Jacob presents himself as the expected son, initiating the critical exchange. Isaac's immediate question, "Who are you?", reveals an intuitive unease or suspicion about the identity of the person standing before him, even before sensory details fully unfold, setting the stage for the unfolding deception.

Genesis 27 18 Context

Genesis chapter 27 details Rebekah's elaborate plan to help Jacob deceive his blind father, Isaac, to receive the patriarchal blessing intended for Esau. The preceding chapter established Isaac's old age and near-blindness (Gen 27:1), Esau's prior marriage to Canaanite women, displeasing his parents (Gen 26:34-35), and Esau selling his birthright to Jacob for a meal (Gen 25:29-34). The stage is set for a pivotal family drama fueled by favoritism, divine prophecy ("the older will serve the younger," Gen 25:23), and human conniving. Verse 18 marks the moment of confrontation when Jacob, prepared by Rebekah, enters Isaac's tent to execute the deception. The gravity of the blessing, the spiritual and legal inheritance it bestows, and the profound implications for the lineage of Abraham are central to understanding the high stakes of this interaction.

Genesis 27 18 Word analysis

• And he came: (וַיָּבֹ֣א - vayyavōʾ) Simple, direct action. Marks the initiation of the critical deception. It implies Jacob’s deliberate step into the room, signaling the point of no return for his role in the scheme.
• unto his father: (אֶל־אָבִ֔יו - ʾel-ʾāvîv) Emphasizes the relationship of the two participants. The deception is not against a stranger but against his own, beloved, unsuspecting father, intensifying the ethical conflict.
• and said: (וַיֹּ֖אמֶר - vayyōʾmer) Introduces speech. It is through words that Jacob will attempt to convince his father, making his voice, despite his disguise, a critical element for Isaac.
• My father: (אָבִֽי - ʾāvî) The very first words out of Jacob’s mouth in this direct encounter. This vocative form is intimate and personal, the natural address of a son to his father, used here deceptively. It is precisely the greeting Isaac expects from Esau.
• and he said: (וַיֹּאמֶר֙ - vayyōʾmer) Indicates Isaac's response.
• Here am I, my son; (הִנְנִ֥י בְנִֽי - hinnēnî venî) Isaac’s immediate and expected parental response. "Hinnēnî" signifies attentiveness and readiness (e.g., Abraham's "Here I am" to God in Gen 22:1 or Samuel's response). Isaac is present, ready to grant the blessing to his son. The addition "my son" reflects affection and confident recognition of his child, albeit the wrong* child for this specific address.
• who art thou?: (מִי־אָ֑תָּה - mî-ʾāttâ?) This is the pivotal phrase. It is an immediate, unprompted question of identity, spoken before Isaac feels the rough hands or smells the scent of Esau. This indicates an instinctive apprehension or premonition from Isaac. The Hebrew structure conveys surprise and suspicion, highlighting that something in Jacob’s approach, perhaps his voice or his unexpected readiness, gave Isaac pause, revealing that even though blind, his discernment or spiritual senses were active.

Words-group analysis:

• "And he came unto his father, and said, My father": This phrase captures the calculated boldness of Jacob's approach. It's a direct confrontation, executed by speaking words of familial intimacy, which in this context are profoundly deceitful. The straightforward "My father" is meant to instantly establish his identity as Esau.
• "and he said, Here am I, my son; who art thou?": This complete exchange portrays Isaac's initial welcome swiftly shifting to doubt. "Here am I, my son" demonstrates his expectation and love. However, the subsequent "who art thou?" reveals an underlying spiritual or paternal intuition that detects incongruity, challenging the initial, false identification, and exposing the tension inherent in the moment of deception.

Genesis 27 18 Bonus section

The profound significance of Isaac’s "Who are you?" question reverberates beyond this immediate scene. Throughout Jacob's life, there will be instances where his identity is questioned or becomes central to his spiritual journey:

• His wrestling match at Peniel where God asks, "What is your name?" (Gen 32:27), leading to his name being changed to Israel. This marks a turning point from "Jacob" (deceiver/supplanter) to "Israel" (one who struggles with God and man).
• Later, in Egypt, Pharaoh asks him, "How old are you?" (Gen 47:8), indirectly probing his life and history, which had been marked by much difficulty rooted in his early deceptions.This continuous theme of identity, beginning with Isaac’s perceptive question, indicates that the initial act of deception fundamentally shaped Jacob's self-understanding and spiritual development throughout his life, necessitating profound transformation under God's refining hand. It subtly teaches that while God's purposes will prevail, sinful human methods bring their own set of long-term consequences that must be wrestled with and overcome.

Genesis 27 18 Commentary

Genesis 27:18 marks the very beginning of Jacob’s direct engagement in the elaborate deception orchestrated by Rebekah. The simple act of entering and speaking the words "My father" initiates a scheme that would alter the course of their family's destiny. Isaac's immediate question, "Who art thou?", is critically important. It suggests that despite his blindness, Isaac possesses an acute intuitive or spiritual sensitivity that instantly registers a dissonance between what he expects (Esau) and what he perceives. This question serves as a dramatic hinge point; it immediately introduces suspense and hints that the deception might not go as smoothly as planned. It highlights that God often grants a deeper discernment even when physical senses are impaired. While Jacob is physically present and ready, Isaac senses that the essence of who is before him is somehow misaligned with his expectations. This tension foreshadows the subsequent challenges in verifying Jacob's identity and ultimately underscores the precariousness of attempting to force God’s sovereign plan through human trickery. The passage illustrates the far-reaching implications of deception within a family, leading to mistrust, familial strife, and separation.