Genesis 27:8 kjv

Now therefore, my son, obey my voice according to that which I command thee.

Genesis 27:8 nkjv

Now therefore, my son, obey my voice according to what I command you.

Genesis 27:8 niv

Now, my son, listen carefully and do what I tell you:

Genesis 27:8 esv

Now therefore, my son, obey my voice as I command you.

Genesis 27:8 nlt

Now, my son, listen to me. Do exactly as I tell you.

Genesis 27 verses

Genesis 27 8 Meaning

Rebekah, having overheard Isaac's instructions to Esau regarding the patriarchal blessing, immediately calls Jacob to action. This verse conveys her urgent and authoritative command for Jacob to obey her voice concerning a task she is about to entrust him with, the objective being to secure the firstborn's blessing for himself instead of Esau. It underscores the pivotal moment where Rebekah takes control of the family's future, initiating a scheme rooted in partiality and deception to ensure God's earlier prophecy concerning the younger serving the older is, in her view, fulfilled.

Genesis 27 8 Context

Genesis chapter 27 is a pivotal narrative detailing Isaac's attempt to bestow the firstborn's blessing upon his elder son Esau, and Rebekah's manipulative intervention to divert it to Jacob. The chapter follows Isaac's declining eyesight and his desire to issue a final blessing, a crucial act in the patriarchal family where it held binding legal and spiritual significance, passing on inheritance, status, and prophetic destiny. Rebekah, having previously heard God's oracle that the elder would serve the younger (Gen 25:23), favored Jacob, as Isaac favored Esau. This verse serves as Rebekah's immediate response to Isaac's command to Esau, marking her swift and decisive initiative to ensure Jacob receives the blessing. Historically, patriarchal blessings were irrevocable, hence the extreme measures taken. This immediate context of family dynamics, favoritism, and the weight of blessing shapes Rebekah's urgent and cunning command to Jacob.

Genesis 27 8 Word analysis

• וְעַתָּה (ve'attah): "Now therefore," or "And now." This Hebrew particle combination acts as a transition, signalling urgency and immediate action stemming from what has just occurred (Rebekah overhearing Isaac). It often introduces a significant instruction or consequence, binding the present command to previous events. It carries a sense of "in light of this situation."
• בְנִי (beni): "my son." This term highlights the close filial relationship between Rebekah and Jacob, giving the command both a tone of affection and maternal authority. It underscores that the instruction is personal and directed within the family structure.
• שְׁמַע (shema): "obey" or "listen." This is a foundational concept in the Hebrew Bible, meaning far more than just hearing with the ears. "Shema" implies an active, responsive hearing that leads to obedience, internalization, and acting upon the word heard. Here, Jacob is called to "hearken" or "pay heed" to his mother's subsequent instructions.
• בְּקֹלִי (bekoli): "my voice." Literally, "in my voice" or "to my voice." "Qol" refers to the spoken word or sound, but in this context, it signifies Rebekah's authority and specific instructions. It clarifies whose voice is to be obeyed, highlighting Rebekah's proactive leadership in this scheme.
• אֲשֶׁר (asher): "according to what" or "that which." This relative pronoun connects the act of obeying her voice to the specific commands she is about to issue. It sets the stage for the details of the plan.
• אֲצַוֶּךָּ (atzavveka): "I command you." This verb is strong, implying a definitive and authoritative instruction or decree, not merely a suggestion. It signifies a directive that demands compliance, reinforcing Rebekah's absolute intent for Jacob to follow her detailed plan.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• "Now therefore, my son": This opening phrase establishes the immediacy, the relationship (maternal authority over filial obedience), and the solemnity of what is to follow. It's a direct address setting the stage for a critical directive.
• "obey my voice": This core command employs the significant Hebrew term shema, which conveys active listening followed by compliance. Jacob is called to implicitly trust and act upon Rebekah's authority and words, not merely hear them. It demands his full submission to her directive.
• "according to what I command you": This clarifies that Jacob's obedience is not general but specifically tied to the detailed, manipulative instructions Rebekah is about to provide. It highlights the impending plan and Jacob's crucial role in its execution.

Genesis 27 8 Bonus section

The narrative highlights the dangers of parental partiality and manipulation. Rebekah's intervention, while driven by an earnest (albeit misguided) desire to secure the blessing for Jacob, leads to a long period of estrangement for Jacob and emotional turmoil for the family. It reveals that God's plans are sovereign and do not require human deceit to come to fruition; in fact, human attempts to manipulate outcomes often result in negative immediate consequences for the individuals, even if God redeems the overall situation. This account emphasizes that obedience to God is always paramount, and acting deceitfully, even with good intentions or seemingly righteous ends, is not honored by Him and usually incurs its own penalties (cf. Jacob's later deception by Laban).

Genesis 27 8 Commentary

Genesis 27:8 captures the immediate launch of Rebekah's scheme, reflecting her decisive character and profound bias for Jacob. While the prophetic word indicated the older would serve the younger (Gen 25:23), Rebekah's action here is a display of human effort trying to force divine will, rather than trusting in God's sovereign timing and methods. Her "command" to Jacob, invoking the profound biblical concept of "shema" (obedient listening), stands in stark contrast to the absolute obedience owed to God's voice. Though framed as parental instruction, it guides Jacob toward deception. This event, despite its flawed human agency, ultimately participates in the unfolding of God's redemptive plan for the covenant line. The consequences for both Jacob and Rebekah will be significant, including years of separation, demonstrating that even when God's purposes are accomplished, choosing unrighteous means brings inevitable suffering and complex ramifications for those involved.