Genesis 27:2 kjv

And he said, Behold now, I am old, I know not the day of my death:

Genesis 27:2 nkjv

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

Genesis 27:2 niv

Isaac said, "I am now an old man and don't know the day of my death.

Genesis 27:2 esv

He said, "Behold, I am old; I do not know the day of my death.

Genesis 27:2 nlt

"I am an old man now," Isaac said, "and I don't know when I may die.

Genesis 27 verses

Genesis 27 2 Meaning

Genesis 27:2 expresses Isaac's acute awareness of his advanced age and his lack of knowledge concerning the timing of his impending death. It reveals his urgent desire to administer the patriarchal blessing to his chosen heir before his life concludes, setting in motion the crucial events of deception and divine sovereignty. This statement highlights the uncertainty of life's duration and the responsibility perceived by patriarchs to bless their children before passing away.

Genesis 27 2 Context

Genesis chapter 27 immediately follows Isaac's declining health mentioned in Genesis 27:1, where his eyes had grown dim. This verse marks the pivotal moment when Isaac decides to transfer the patriarchal blessing before his death, thus initiating the deception orchestrated by Rebekah and Jacob. Isaac, despite being very old, did not die immediately; he lived another 43 years, indicating that his statement here was a natural recognition of age and infirmity, not an exact prophecy of immediate demise. The cultural context strongly emphasized the verbal blessing from the dying patriarch as a binding, significant transfer of spiritual and familial headship and prosperity. It was seen as an unchangeable act.

Genesis 27 2 Word analysis

• And he said: Isaac initiates the conversation, reflecting his immediate intention and concern.
• הִנֵּה (hinnēh) - Behold: An interjection used to draw attention, signifying urgency or importance of the statement that follows. It's a call to immediate focus on a significant matter.
• I am old: Isaac's explicit self-assessment. He is aged around 137, though he lived to 180. This highlights a physical decline. The Hebrew verb זָקַנְתִּי (zāqantî) means "I have become old," emphasizing the completed state of aging.
• לֹא (lō') - not: The standard negative particle, directly negating the following verb.
• יָדַעְתִּי (yādaʿtî) - I know: The verb "to know," in this context, implies an absence of information or foresight regarding the exact timing.
• the day: Refers to a specific time, a precise moment. Not merely the concept of death, but its actual occurrence.
• of my death: The ultimate, irreversible event. This reflects a deep human contemplation of mortality and the finite nature of life. The Hebrew מוֹתִי (mōtî) is a noun with a pronominal suffix meaning "my death."

Words-group analysis:

• "Behold, I am old": This phrase introduces the premise for his subsequent actions. It signifies a profound awareness of physical decline and a perceived nearness to the end of life. It implies a sense of urgency.
• "I know not the day of my death": This statement emphasizes human vulnerability and the hidden nature of life's conclusion. Despite his age, he lacked the specific divine revelation regarding his final hour, common to all humanity. It underscores the unpredictable nature of death's arrival and the necessity to prepare for it through actions like bestowing the patriarchal blessing. This phrase directly precipitates his desire to act now rather than later.

Genesis 27 2 Bonus section

Isaac's statement underscores a biblical truth: no human, outside of direct divine revelation (which Isaac apparently did not have in this specific sense, as shown by his longevity), knows the precise timing of their death (Eccl 9:12, Jas 4:14). This uncertainty is designed by God, in part, to promote dependence on Him and to encourage living wisely in the present moment, always prepared. In Isaac's case, it pushed him to act on his strong desire to bless Esau, despite God's earlier prophecy (Gen 25:23). This further illustrates how God's sovereign plan can unfold through the imperfect and often mistaken actions of individuals, demonstrating His ability to bring about His purposes irrespective of human intention or deception. The "patriarchal blessing" was not merely a wish but seen as an active transfer of spiritual favor, an endowment for future prosperity and connection to the Abrahamic covenant.

Genesis 27 2 Commentary

Genesis 27:2 is Isaac's recognition of mortality and a catalyst for the ensuing family drama. His declaration, "Behold, I am old, I know not the day of my death," is a natural human realization, not a divinely revealed premonition of immediate death (as he lived many more years). It serves to create a sense of urgency for him to deliver the irreplaceable patriarchal blessing, which was culturally and spiritually significant. Isaac, favoring Esau, wished to finalize his succession plans according to his own preference. Yet, this very urgency, rooted in human fallibility and natural processes, ultimately serves God's eternal purpose as prophesied regarding Jacob and Esau. The uncertainty of one's end date compels humanity to consider spiritual legacies and acts of finality.

Example: Like a person reaching advanced age who decides to put their affairs in order and write their will, Isaac felt an impending need to settle his spiritual and familial legacy, highlighting a timeless aspect of human foresight in the face of life's uncertainty.