Genesis 27:21 kjv

And 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.

Genesis 27:21 nkjv

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

Genesis 27:21 niv

Then Isaac said to Jacob, "Come near so I can touch you, my son, to know whether you really are my son Esau or not."

Genesis 27:21 esv

Then Isaac said to Jacob, "Please come near, that I may feel you, my son, to know whether you are really my son Esau or not."

Genesis 27:21 nlt

Then Isaac said to Jacob, "Come closer so I can touch you and make sure that you really are Esau."

Genesis 27 verses

Genesis 27 21 Meaning

Genesis 27:21 describes a pivotal moment in the narrative of Jacob deceiving Isaac to receive the paternal blessing. Isaac, aged and blind, harbors deep suspicion regarding the identity of the person standing before him, as the voice sounds like Jacob's, yet the hands presented feel different from what he expects of Jacob. This verse marks Isaac's active attempt to physically verify the identity of his son through tactile sensation, signaling his profound doubt and his desperate search for certainty.

Genesis 27 21 Context

Genesis chapter 27 is the dramatic account of Jacob deceiving his aged, blind father, Isaac, to receive the paternal blessing intended for his older brother, Esau. Isaac, sensing his impending death (though he lives for many more years), desires to bestow the patriarchal blessing, a weighty spiritual and material legacy, upon Esau, his favorite. Rebekah, having overheard Isaac's plan and recalling God's earlier prophecy about the elder serving the younger (Gen 25:23), orchestrates a meticulous deception. She instructs Jacob to prepare food, dress in Esau's distinctive garments to capture his scent, and cover his smooth hands and neck with goat skins to mimic Esau's hairy appearance.

Verse 21 is a critical juncture where Isaac's doubt is explicitly expressed after hearing Jacob's voice. Having already served Jacob's dish, Isaac's initial apprehension, based on the voice, is so strong that he needs a deeper, physical confirmation. This moment sets the stage for the physical examination that leads Isaac to his fatal error, revealing the intense struggle between his remaining senses and the profound spiritual consequence that will follow.

Genesis 27 21 Word analysis

• Then (וַיֹּאמֶר, vayyōmer): Connects this action directly to the preceding events, particularly Isaac's prior suspicion due to the voice. It shows Isaac taking an immediate, deliberate step.
• Isaac (יִצְחָק, Yitzchaq): The patriarch, in his old age and physical vulnerability. His actions here underscore human fallibility and the impact of sin on familial relationships.
• said (וַיֹּאמֶר, vayyōmer): Simple statement of direct address, leading into the command.
• to Jacob (אֶל־יַעֲקֹב, ʾel-Yaʿăqōv): Emphasizes the direct interaction with the one practicing deceit.
• "Come near," (קְרַב, qerav): An imperative verb, a direct command. It indicates Isaac's proactive move to resolve his lingering doubt through physical proximity and direct touch. He needs to close the distance to perform his test.
• "that I may feel you," (אֲמֻשְׁךָ, amushkha from the root מוּשׁ, mush, "to feel, grope, touch"): This phrase highlights Isaac's chosen method of verification. Due to his failing eyesight (Gen 27:1), touch is his primary reliable sense for distinction. The root mush implies a thorough, groping examination, not a mere brush. It demonstrates his desperate need for certainty amidst contradictory sensory inputs (voice vs. expected feel). This action ironically falls victim to Rebekah's elaborate preparations (goatskins on Jacob's hands).
• "my son," (בְנִי, beni): A term of endearment, reflecting Isaac's paternal affection, but also layered with irony and pathos due to the deception taking place. He speaks to whom he believes, or hopes, is his true elder son.
• "whether you are (אַתָּה־זֶה, atta-zeh) really my son Esau or not (אֵסָו אִם־לֹא, Esau ʾim-loʾ)":
  • "אַתָּה־זֶה" (literally, "you, this one"): This emphatic construction, placing "you" before "this," signifies deep questioning of identity. Isaac is challenging the very presence and nature of the individual claiming to be Esau. He’s looking for the true "you."
  • "Esau (אֵסָו, Esau)": The desired recipient of the blessing, the one Isaac physically remembers as hairy and rough.
  • "or not (אִם־לֹא, ʾim-loʾ)": This explicit binary choice underlines Isaac's profound uncertainty and the crucial nature of this verification. He has strong enough suspicion to consider that the person before him might not be Esau. This forms the central dilemma he attempts to resolve through touch.

Words-group Analysis:

• "Come near, that I may feel you": This phrase emphasizes Isaac's vulnerability and his chosen method of verification. Stripped of his sight, he turns to touch, unknowingly playing into Jacob and Rebekah's deception that exploits his blindness. It shows Isaac's active, yet flawed, pursuit of truth.
• "whether you are really my son Esau or not": This forms the core of Isaac's doubt. It reveals the internal conflict he is experiencing, a cognitive dissonance between what he hears (Jacob's voice, Gen 27:22) and what he expects to be physically true of Esau. This tension drives the tactile test, hoping touch will provide the definitive answer that sight cannot. The ambiguity itself is critical; Isaac is on the verge of uncovering the deceit.

Genesis 27 21 Bonus section

• Sensory Hierarchy and Deception: Isaac's reliance on touch after hearing Jacob's voice reveals a hierarchy of senses in his attempts to verify identity. Voice initiates doubt, but touch is perceived as the ultimate arbiter, which Rebekah masterfully exploits by disguising Jacob’s hands. Isaac will later use scent (Gen 27:27) as another verification point, further illustrating the multi-sensory deception.
• Theme of Physicality vs. Spirit: The verse highlights Isaac's dependence on physical cues for discernment, yet the blessing itself is spiritual in nature, reflecting God's ultimate sovereignty. This scene subtly underscores the tension between human attempts to control or verify divine will through physical means, often leading to unintended outcomes.
• The Unveiling of Deception in Scripture: This initial phase of Isaac’s doubt foreshadows how deception often unravels. While successful here, Jacob will later face deception himself (e.g., by Laban, Gen 29), illustrating a biblical principle of reaping what is sown.
• Prophetic Blindness: Beyond Isaac’s literal blindness, there's a spiritual layer. His inability to see through Jacob's deception for Esau, even with profound doubts, reflects a spiritual "blindness" in discerning God's true intentions and the character of his sons, echoing themes of human spiritual dullness found throughout Scripture.

Genesis 27 21 Commentary

Genesis 27:21 presents a scene fraught with suspense and tragic irony. Isaac, physically blind but not without instinct, is grappling with a profound sense of unease. His auditory sense (hearing Jacob’s voice) conflicts sharply with his expectation of Esau. Consequently, he resorts to his only remaining reliable sense – touch – hoping it will confirm the identity of the person claiming to be Esau. This verse underscores the vulnerability of the aged and the efficacy of deception when cunningly executed.

The gravity of the moment lies in Isaac's desperation to ascertain truth. He isn't casually asking but issuing a direct command, "Come near, that I may feel you," revealing the critical nature of this test for the rightful transfer of a momentous spiritual blessing. Tragically, Jacob, cloaked in Esau's clothes and adorned with goat skins, successfully deceives Isaac's sense of touch, overriding the patriarch's audible suspicion. This illustrates how readily human senses, even when attempting verification, can be fooled. While humans operate with limited perception, God's perfect knowledge already determined Jacob's receiving the blessing long before (Gen 25:23). Isaac’s internal conflict foreshadows the profound consequences for all involved, showcasing how manipulative human actions intersect with, though never thwart, divine purposes.