Genesis 27 23

Genesis 27:23 kjv

And he discerned him not, because his hands were hairy, as his brother Esau's hands: so he blessed him.

Genesis 27:23 nkjv

And he did not recognize him, because his hands were hairy like his brother Esau's hands; so he blessed him.

Genesis 27:23 niv

He did not recognize him, for his hands were hairy like those of his brother Esau; so he proceeded to bless him.

Genesis 27:23 esv

And he did not recognize him, because his hands were hairy like his brother Esau's hands. So he blessed him.

Genesis 27:23 nlt

But he did not recognize Jacob, because Jacob's hands felt hairy just like Esau's. So Isaac prepared to bless Jacob.

Genesis 27 verses

Genesis 27 23 meaning

Genesis 27:23 describes the pivotal moment in Isaac's blessing of Jacob, mistaking him for Esau. Despite his suspicions, Isaac was unable to distinguish Jacob from Esau physically because Jacob's hands, covered with the skins of young goats, were made to feel hairy like Esau's. Consequently, being convinced by the tactile evidence, Isaac pronounced the blessing intended for Esau upon Jacob. This verse highlights the immediate physical cause for Isaac's mistaken identity, which allowed Jacob's deception to succeed in receiving the paternal blessing.

Genesis 27 23 Context

Genesis chapter 27 describes an aging, blind Isaac desiring to bestow a significant patriarchal blessing upon his favored elder son, Esau, before his death. This traditional blessing was seen as a profound transfer of spiritual authority, familial headship, and material prosperity. Isaac's plan was contrary to God's earlier pronouncement to Rebekah in Genesis 25:23, that the elder (Esau) would serve the younger (Jacob). Rebekah, upon overhearing Isaac's instructions to Esau, devised a plan for Jacob to impersonate Esau and receive the blessing. Jacob, initially hesitant due to the risk of a curse, proceeded with the deception. Genesis 27:23 is the climax of this deception, where Isaac's physical inability to see and his reliance on the deceptive tactile sensation of Jacob's disguised hands lead him to believe he is blessing Esau. The historical context reflects a patrilineal society where blessings and primogeniture were highly significant for identity, inheritance, and future standing. This specific deception, though divinely overruled in its outcome, occurred within cultural norms where an oral blessing, once given, was considered irrevocable and deeply impactful.

Genesis 27 23 Word analysis

• And he discerned him not (וְלֹא הִכִּיר֖וֹ - ve-lo' hikkîrô):

  • וְלֹא (ve-lo'): "and not" - connects to the preceding thought.
  • הִכִּיר֖וֹ (hikkîrô): Piel stem of the verb נכר (nakar), meaning "to know," "to recognize," "to distinguish." The Piel implies intensive or effective knowing. Here, it denotes Isaac's inability to definitively identify Jacob. His blindness means he relies on other senses, but these too are deceived. This points to a deeper issue of spiritual discernment potentially lacking in Isaac, as he planned against God's stated will.

• because his hands were hairy (כִּ֣י יָדָ֗יו שְׂעִרֹת֙ - kî yādāw se'i'rōt):

  • כִּ֣י (kî): "because" - introduces the reason for Isaac's failure to discern.
  • יָדָ֗יו (yādāw): "his hands" - the crucial part of the body used for verification by Isaac. Hands in biblical contexts often signify action, power, and identity.
  • שְׂעִרֹת֙ (se'i'rōt): "hairy" - related to Esau's description at birth (Gen 25:25, "red, all over like an hairy garment"). This physical attribute was distinct to Esau, and Rebekah's disguise skillfully mimicked it. The use of goat skins exploited Isaac's limited senses.

• as his brother Esau's hands (כִּידֵ֖י עֵשָׂ֣ו אָחִ֑יו - kî-yadê 'Ēśāw 'āḥîw):

  • כִּידֵ֖י (kî-yadê): "as the hands of" or "like the hands of" - direct comparison emphasizing the successful mimicry.
  • עֵשָׂ֣ו אָחִ֑יו ('Ēśāw 'āḥîw): "Esau his brother" - clearly identifies the intended recipient of the blessing and the person Jacob was impersonating. Reinforces the central conflict and the deceptive nature of the event.

• so he blessed him (וַיְבָרְכֵֽהוּ - vayevār'khēhu):

  • וַיְבָרְכֵֽהוּ (vayevār'khēhu): "and he blessed him" - vayiqtol form, indicating a consequential action. This is the culmination of the deception, the blessing is given. The act of blessing was believed to carry real spiritual and material power, and once uttered, was largely irrevocable. This act underscores God's sovereign hand, allowing the blessing, despite human deceit, to fall upon the one He had chosen.

Words-group analysis:

• "And he discerned him not, because his hands were hairy": This phrase highlights the critical failure of Isaac's senses. His lack of sight led him to rely on touch, but the touch was manipulated. This demonstrates how even good intentions (to bless the firstborn) can be thwarted when relying solely on physical perception without spiritual insight or alignment with God's will. The deception exploited the limits of human sensory perception.
• "as his brother Esau's hands: so he blessed him": This is a direct causal link between the effective disguise and the profound consequence. The perceived similarity sealed Isaac's decision. It emphasizes the power of deception and the profound, irrevocable nature of the patriarchal blessing within the cultural context. It also subtly hints at divine orchestration, as despite the flawed human actions, God's earlier prophecy for Jacob ultimately came to pass.

Genesis 27 23 Bonus section

• The passage sets up a motif of disguise and mistaken identity that reappears later in Jacob's life, for instance, when his own sons deceive him with Joseph's blood-stained coat (Gen 37:31-33). This can be seen as a form of divine poetic justice or karmic consequence.
• Isaac's determination to bless Esau, despite divine revelation to Rebekah, reveals a common human tendency to adhere to tradition (primogeniture) or personal preference over divine word.
• The irrecoverable nature of the spoken blessing ("so he blessed him") emphasizes the weighty significance of verbal declarations, especially patriarchal ones, within ancient Hebrew culture. This act permanently altered the trajectory of the families of Jacob and Esau, fulfilling the prophetic word from God, yet through a deeply flawed human action.

Genesis 27 23 Commentary

Genesis 27:23 marks the deceptive culmination of Jacob's pursuit of the birthright blessing. Isaac, already frail and blind, critically relied on touch to distinguish between his sons, a reliance skillfully exploited by Rebekah and Jacob through the use of goat skins. The verse highlights Isaac's failure of discernment, which, while physically caused by his blindness and the disguise, also speaks to his spiritual shortsightedness in attempting to bypass God's declared purpose for Jacob. Despite the deceptive means, the blessing, once given, was viewed as binding and unchangeable, underscoring the spiritual potency of such pronouncements in the ancient Near East. This moment demonstrates that while humanity often errs and sins, God’s sovereign plan and promises ultimately prevail, even using imperfect, human methods to accomplish His perfect will. It's a complex portrayal of human weakness, divine sovereignty, and the powerful, enduring impact of a spoken word.