Genesis 27:24 kjv

And he said, Art thou my very son Esau? And he said, I am.

Genesis 27:24 nkjv

Then he said, "Are you really my son Esau?" He said, "I am."

Genesis 27:24 niv

"Are you really my son Esau?" he asked. "I am," he replied.

Genesis 27:24 esv

He said, "Are you really my son Esau?" He answered, "I am."

Genesis 27:24 nlt

"But are you really my son Esau?" he asked. "Yes, I am," Jacob replied.

Genesis 27 verses

Genesis 27 24 Meaning

Genesis 27:24 details a pivotal moment in the deceptive plan for Jacob to receive the blessing intended for Esau. Isaac, now blind and elderly, probes the identity of the person before him with a direct question, sensing a discrepancy. Jacob, with a succinct and calculated falsehood, definitively affirms his identity as Esau. This verse captures the critical verbal exchange that solidifies the deception, demonstrating Jacob's complicity in the deceit and Isaac's vulnerability.

Genesis 27 24 Context

Genesis chapter 27 describes the elaborate deception orchestrated by Rebekah and Jacob to secure the patriarchal blessing for Jacob instead of Esau, for whom it was intended. Isaac, old and blind, asks Esau to prepare a wild game meal before bestowing the blessing. Rebekah, having overheard this, conspires with Jacob to impersonate Esau by dressing him in Esau's clothes and covering his arms and neck with goatskins to simulate Esau's hairy body. The narrative tension escalates as Jacob presents himself to his father. Verse 24 marks a crucial point where Isaac, still unconvinced by the physical touch and the differing voice, attempts to confirm the identity verbally. The cultural context underscores the immense spiritual and practical significance of a father's deathbed blessing in ancient Near Eastern society, believed to determine one's destiny and inheritance.

Genesis 27 24 Word analysis

• He said,: (וַיֹּאמֶר֙ - va·yo·mer) This common Hebrew narrative conjunction indicates direct speech. It shows Isaac initiating a very direct and specific inquiry.
• "Are you really: (אַתָּ֤ה זֶ֣ה - at·tah zeh)
  • אַתָּ֤ה (at·tah): "You (masculine singular)." A direct, emphasizing pronoun.
  • זֶ֣ה (zeh): "This (one)." A demonstrative pronoun. Combined, "are you this one?" or "is this you?" Isaac's formulation shows a high degree of skepticism and the desire for definitive confirmation, as if the identity is in question.
• my son: (בְּנִ֖י - bə·nî) Literally "son-my." Expresses the paternal relationship Isaac seeks to confirm. This term also highlights the specific nature of the blessing being passed down generationally within the family line.
• Esau? : (עֵשָׂ֑ו - ʿÊ·śāw) The specific name. This is the crucial point of the question, to identify the recipient of the blessing. The name Esau ('hairy' or 'ready-made') itself alluded to his physical characteristics, which Jacob was mimicking.
• He answered,: (וַיֹּ֖אמֶר - va·yo·mer) Another narrative connector, showing Jacob's direct and immediate response to Isaac's query.
• "I am.": (אֲנִֽי׃ - ʾă·nî) "I" or "I am." This absolute first-person singular pronoun is a blunt and definitive affirmation in Hebrew. In this context, it is Jacob's most direct and impactful lie. Its brevity conveys both audacity and a closing of the conversation on the matter of identity, leaving no room for further questioning.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• "Are you really my son Esau?": Isaac's profound doubt and attempt to reconcile contradictory sensory information (Jacob's voice, Esau's feel). This question reveals his spiritual and physical discernment are clouded, allowing for the deception to proceed despite his suspicions. It’s a desperate plea for verbal confirmation, hoping his favored son stands before him.
• "I am.": Jacob's concise, audacious, and outright lie. This single declaration serves to firmly establish the false identity, directly assuaging Isaac's persistent doubts. It represents the height of Jacob's active participation in the scheme, demonstrating his willingness to directly deceive his father for the blessing. This deceptively simple phrase carries the full weight of the deception.

Genesis 27 24 Bonus section

The seemingly minor detail of Jacob's specific, terse answer "I am" rather than "Yes, it is I, Esau" is significant. The Hebrew ʾă·nî is very definite. While it could be interpreted as a mere affirmation, in this high-stakes context of layered doubt, its directness forces a definitive resolution to Isaac's probing. This response strategically offers no room for follow-up questions regarding how he got back so quickly (as in Gen 27:20) or why his voice sounds different, as it is a pure identity claim. Isaac, having probed physically, vocally, and now verbally, seemingly exhausts his avenues for verification, relying on this final, deceptive confirmation to proceed with the blessing. The irreversibility of the spoken blessing once given further heightens the tension and stakes surrounding this simple two-word lie.

Genesis 27 24 Commentary

Genesis 27:24 is a dramatic focal point in a narrative rich with themes of deceit, divine election, and family dysfunction. Isaac, increasingly suspicious after the initial touch and smell test, uses his final recourse – a direct verbal challenge – to ascertain identity. Jacob's two-word reply, "I am," (אֲנִֽי), is both a masterpiece of concise lying and a chilling example of deliberate deception. This simple affirmation effectively overrides Isaac's nagging doubts, sealing the deception and paving the way for the misplaced blessing. Despite the deeply sinful means, God's sovereign purpose, revealed in His prophecy to Rebekah (Gen 25:23), is ultimately fulfilled. This demonstrates that while God condemns sin, He can providentially weave human failings into His greater plan. The verse highlights the tragic consequences of favoritism within families and the destructive power of a direct lie, even as it serves a higher, albeit veiled, divine agenda.