Genesis 27:22 kjv

And Jacob went near unto Isaac his father; and he felt him, and said, The voice is Jacob's voice, but the hands are the hands of Esau.

Genesis 27:22 nkjv

So 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."

Genesis 27:22 niv

Jacob went close to his father Isaac, who touched him and said, "The voice is the voice of Jacob, but the hands are the hands of Esau."

Genesis 27:22 esv

So Jacob went near to Isaac his father, who felt him and said, "The voice is Jacob's voice, but the hands are the hands of Esau."

Genesis 27:22 nlt

So Jacob went closer to his father, and Isaac touched him. "The voice is Jacob's, but the hands are Esau's," Isaac said.

Genesis 27 verses

Genesis 27 22 Meaning

Genesis 27:22 captures the pivotal moment in Isaac's interaction with Jacob, who is impersonating Esau to receive the patriarchal blessing. The verse vividly portrays Isaac's sensory confusion as he encounters a contradiction: the voice sounds unmistakably like Jacob, his younger son, but the hairy hands he touches feel exactly like Esau's, his elder and favored son. This tension highlights Isaac's impaired physical sight but functioning sense of touch and hearing, setting the stage for his deception. The verse underscores the central theme of identity confusion, sensory conflict, and the cunning deception orchestrated by Rebekah and executed by Jacob, leading to the irreversible transfer of the blessing.

Genesis 27 22 Context

Genesis 27 narrates the climactic episode of Jacob usurping the blessing intended for his elder brother, Esau. The preceding chapters establish Isaac's old age, his dimming eyesight, and his preference for Esau due to his hunting prowess and the savory food he prepared. Rebekah, having heard God's prophecy that the elder would serve the younger (Gen 25:23), and perhaps desiring to ensure the divine plan's fulfillment, masterminds a plan for Jacob to deceive Isaac. She dresses Jacob in Esau's clothes, covers his hands and neck with goat skins to simulate Esau's hairiness, and prepares the meal. Jacob, despite his initial reluctance, cooperates. The verse (27:22) comes at the point where Jacob presents himself to his blind father, and Isaac's senses struggle to reconcile conflicting evidence – the familiar voice of Jacob versus the unexpected feel of Esau's rough, hairy hands. This immediately precedes Isaac's crucial decision.

Genesis 27 22 Word analysis

• So Jacob (וַיִּגַּשׁ יַעֲקֹב - vayyiggaš Ya'ăqōḇ):

  • וַיִּגַּשׁ (vayyiggaš): "and he approached," "and he drew near." The root (נגשׁ - nagash) denotes a close, physical, often purposeful, drawing near. In this context, it implies a bold and calculated approach towards a deceptive act. It is not merely walking, but coming into close proximity for an encounter.
  • יַעֲקֹב (Ya'ăqōḇ): Jacob, meaning "heel-grabber" or "supplanter." His name here subtly reinforces the deceptive nature of the act he is undertaking, literally seeking to "supplant" his brother's position.

• went near to Isaac (אֶל־יִצְחָק - ’el-Yiṣḥāq):

  • יִצְחָק (Yiṣḥāq): Isaac, meaning "he laughs" or "laughter." Ironic in this context of distress and future sorrow stemming from the deception.

• his father (אָבִיו - ’āḇîw):

  • Highlights the relational betrayal inherent in the act of deception; it is Jacob deceiving his own parent.

• and he felt him (וַיְמֻשֵּׁהוּ - vayməššēhū):

  • וַיְמֻשֵּׁהוּ (vayməššēhū): "and he felt him," "and he touched him." The root (משׁשׁ - mashash) specifically means to "feel by touching," "grope," "handle." This verb is crucial as it emphasizes Isaac's reliance on his tactile sense given his impaired sight. It confirms that the goat skins were effectively misleading him.

• and said (וַיֹּאמֶר - vayyō’mer):

  • Standard verb for speaking, indicating Isaac's direct vocalization of his sensory conflict.

• "The voice (הַקֹּל - haqqōl):

  • קֹל (qol): "voice," "sound," "noise." Here, it signifies the auditory perception of a person's identity. Isaac clearly recognized the distinct timbre and characteristics of Jacob's voice.

• is Jacob's voice (קֹול יַעֲקֹב - qōl Ya'ăqōḇ):

  • Direct and unambiguous identification. Isaac's hearing remains sharp and discerning. This direct observation creates the tension.

• but the hands (וְהַיָּדַיִם - wəhayyāḏayim):

  • יָדַיִם (yadayim): "hands." The Hebrew word is dual, reinforcing the presence of both hands. Hands are tools of action, work, and identity, particularly in ancient cultures (e.g., strength, blessing by laying on of hands). Here, they are physically disguised to convey a false identity.

• are the hands of Esau" (יְדֵי עֵשָׂו - yəḏê ‘Ēśāw):

  • עֵשָׂו (‘Ēśāw): Esau, derived from a root meaning "hairy," "ready-made." His hairiness is his defining physical characteristic, which the goat skins successfully mimicked. This contrast between "Jacob's voice" and "Esau's hands" forms the core of Isaac's confusion and the dramatic irony of the passage.

• Words-group Analysis:

  • "So Jacob went near to Isaac his father": Emphasizes the close proximity required for the deception and the personal relationship being betrayed. The intimacy makes the deception more profound.
  • "and he felt him": The specific action of touching is the direct means of Jacob's disguise being 'verified'. It underscores Isaac's method of verification and the success of Rebekah's plan at that sensory level.
  • "The voice is Jacob's voice, but the hands are the hands of Esau": This statement is the dramatic core of the verse. It perfectly encapsulates the internal conflict of Isaac. It is a stark juxtaposition of contradictory sensory data, a profound moment of ironic confusion for Isaac, highlighting the cleverness of the disguise. This phrase establishes the central sensory dilemma: hearing one thing, feeling another. It is the perfect trap.

Genesis 27 22 Bonus section

The profound paradox of "Jacob's voice, Esau's hands" serves as a timeless illustration of deceptive appearances and the challenge of discerning truth. This moment encapsulates a spiritual lesson about looking beyond superficialities. Isaac's focus on the tactile evidence, which was physically manipulated, overshadows the more reliable auditory cue that came directly from Jacob. The entire scheme of Rebekah and Jacob relies on exploiting Isaac's weakness (blindness) and his personal preference (for Esau and savory food). This instance foreshadows how human plans, though manipulative and sinful, can align, often unintentionally, with God's ultimate sovereign purpose (e.g., the prophecy that the elder would serve the younger in Gen 25:23). Despite the moral ambiguity, the blessing bestowed remains binding. This verse also implicitly warns against relying solely on external verification when deeper spiritual discernment is required, especially in matters of identity and truth. The cost of this deception would resonate throughout Jacob's life, as he would later be deceived by Laban (Gen 29) and his own sons (Gen 37), illustrating a principle of sowing and reaping within families.

Genesis 27 22 Commentary

Genesis 27:22 presents the agonizing sensory conflict that grips Isaac, the patriarchal head of the family. Rendered almost blind by old age, he is forced to rely on his other senses to ascertain the identity of the person seeking his blessing. His sharp hearing correctly identifies the distinctive voice as Jacob's. Yet, the physical touch, the felt presence of the coarse, hairy goat skins (Gen 27:16), unequivocally speaks of Esau's characteristic hairiness. This verse is the emotional and narrative pivot point; it is Isaac's moment of profound bewilderment, the crossroads where his impaired judgment will lead to the irreversible misplacement of the patriarchal blessing.

The verse masterfully employs dramatic irony. Isaac, despite his spiritual role, fails to truly "see" with discernment beyond his physical senses. He has a direct auditory warning – "the voice is Jacob's" – yet the physical deceit of the hands weighs more heavily, perhaps because he yearns for the blessing to go to Esau, the hunter, the "man of the field." This highlights the human tendency to prioritize perceived physical realities or desires over subtle spiritual or verbal warnings. The internal struggle Isaac faces, caught between contradictory physical evidences, makes the subsequent blessing of Jacob a result of his deception, not necessarily Isaac's informed choice. It demonstrates how sin, in the form of deception, can temporarily thwart a desired outcome, yet God’s overarching sovereign plan often uses such human acts to achieve His purposes, even through flawed instruments like Jacob.

Examples:

• A parent trying to discern truth from a child's story, where words sound one way but the 'evidence' or known character might suggest another.
• Christians encountering teachings that 'sound' spiritual but whose 'fruit' or practices contradict scripture.
• Spiritual discernment challenges where external appearance (the hands) conflicts with the inner character or true identity (the voice).