Genesis 27

Genesis 27 recounts a pivotal moment in the life of Isaac’s family, where Jacob, through deception, secures the blessing meant for his older brother Esau. This chapter illustrates themes of favoritism, deceit, and the far-reaching consequences of actions motivated by personal desires. The actions of Jacob, Rebekah, and Esau are all part of God's unfolding plan, even though human flaws are evident throughout.

Genesis 27:1-3 (NKJV)
1 Now it came to pass, when Isaac was old and his eyes were so dim that he could not see, that he called Esau his older son and said to him, “My son.” And he answered him, “Here I am.”
2 Then he said, “Behold now, I am old. I do not know the day of my death.
3 Now therefore, please take your weapons, your quiver and your bow, and go out to the field and hunt game for me.

Isaac, now elderly and nearly blind, begins preparing for what he believes to be the end of his life. In this culture, it was customary for a father to pass on his blessing to the eldest son before his death. He calls Esau, his favored son, asking him to go hunt and prepare a meal so that he may bless him afterward. The request for a meal symbolizes a personal connection and gratitude for Esau's effort. Isaac’s intention to bless Esau is significant because the blessing would grant him authority, prosperity, and leadership over the family.

Genesis 27:4 (NKJV)
4 And make me savory food, such as I love, and bring it to me that I may eat, that my soul may bless you before I die.

Isaac continues by asking Esau to make his favorite meal, associating this final act with giving his solemn blessing. The blessing was not just words but a profound act that was believed to carry the weight of destiny and divine favor. Isaac’s focus on the food shows his affection for Esau and how deeply personal and meaningful this moment was intended to be. However, it also sets the stage for the deception that will follow, as Rebekah overhears these plans.

Genesis 27:5-7 (NKJV)
5 Now Rebekah was listening when Isaac spoke to Esau his son. And Esau went to the field to hunt game and to bring it.
6 So Rebekah spoke to Jacob her son, saying, “Indeed I heard your father speak to Esau your brother, saying,
7 ‘Bring me game and make savory food for me, that I may eat it and bless you in the presence of the Lord before my death.’”

Rebekah, who favors Jacob, overhears Isaac’s conversation with Esau. Understanding the significance of the blessing, she devises a plan to deceive Isaac and ensure Jacob receives it instead. Rebekah’s quick response shows her determination to influence the future of her sons, believing Jacob to be the rightful heir, even though her actions involve dishonesty. This moment highlights family dynamics marked by favoritism and manipulation, with each parent aligning with a different child.

Genesis 27:8-10 (NKJV)
8 “Now therefore, my son, obey my voice according to what I command you.
9 Go now to the flock and bring me from there two choice kids of the goats, and I will make savory food from them for your father, such as he loves.
10 Then you shall take it to your father, that he may eat it, and that he may bless you before his death.”

Rebekah instructs Jacob to participate in her plan of deception. She asks him to retrieve goats from their flock so she can prepare food that mimics Esau’s cooking. Rebekah’s control over the situation shows her strong influence over Jacob and her conviction that this course of action is necessary to secure his future. Her focus is not just on the food but on ensuring Jacob is the one to receive the all-important blessing from Isaac, which will shape the family’s destiny.

Genesis 27:11-12 (NKJV)
11 And Jacob said to Rebekah his mother, “Look, Esau my brother is a hairy man, and I am a smooth-skinned man.
12 Perhaps my father will feel me, and I shall seem to be a deceiver to him; and I shall bring a curse on myself and not a blessing.”

Jacob expresses concern about the plan, particularly fearing that Isaac will detect the deception due to the difference in texture between his smooth skin and Esau’s hairy skin. This reveals Jacob’s hesitation, not necessarily out of moral objection, but out of fear of being caught and cursed rather than blessed. The mention of a curse shows how seriously Jacob takes this situation; blessings and curses in their culture carried immense spiritual and practical weight.

Genesis 27:13-14 (NKJV)
13 But his mother said to him, “Let your curse be on me, my son; only obey my voice, and go, get them for me.”
14 And he went and got them and brought them to his mother, and his mother made savory food, such as his father loved.

Rebekah reassures Jacob by offering to take any potential curse upon herself. Her determination to see the plan through reflects her belief that Jacob is the rightful recipient of the blessing, despite the deception. With her assurance, Jacob obeys, and Rebekah prepares the meal. This interaction underscores the complex family relationships at play, with Rebekah willing to risk the consequences for what she believes is the correct outcome for her favored son.

Genesis 27:15-17 (NKJV)
15 Then Rebekah took the choice clothes of her elder son Esau, which were with her in the house, and put them on Jacob her younger son.
16 And she put the skins of the kids of the goats on his hands and on the smooth part of his neck.
17 Then she gave the savory food and the bread, which she had prepared, into the hand of her son Jacob.

Rebekah takes additional steps to ensure Jacob will pass as Esau. She dresses him in Esau’s clothes and covers his hands and neck with goat skins to mimic Esau’s hairy texture. The clothes and goat skins are meant to deceive Isaac, who relies on his sense of touch and smell due to his poor eyesight. Rebekah’s thorough preparation highlights her resolve and the lengths to which she is willing to go to secure the blessing for Jacob.

Genesis 27:18-19 (NKJV)
18 So he went to his father and said, “My father.” And he said, “Here I am. Who are you, my son?”
19 Jacob said to his father, “I am Esau your firstborn; I have done just as you told me; please arise, sit and eat of my game, that your soul may bless me.”

Jacob, now disguised as Esau, approaches his father and initiates the deception. Isaac, uncertain due to his blindness, asks for confirmation of the identity of the person before him. Jacob boldly lies, claiming to be Esau. The directness of the lie underscores the gravity of the deception, and Jacob is willing to act on his mother’s plan despite knowing the moral implications. The blessing he seeks is seen as so valuable that he risks deceiving his father to obtain it.

Genesis 27:20-21 (NKJV)
20 But Isaac said to his son, “How is it that you have found it so quickly, my son?” And he said, “Because the Lord your God brought it to me.”
21 Then Isaac said to Jacob, “Please come near, that I may feel you, my son, whether you are really my son Esau or not.”

Isaac becomes suspicious of how quickly "Esau" has returned with the food, and Jacob further deepens the deception by invoking God’s name, claiming that the Lord had helped him find the game quickly. This additional layer of deceit shows how far Jacob is willing to go. Isaac’s suspicion grows, leading him to ask Jacob to come closer so he can physically confirm if this is really Esau. Isaac’s request reflects his doubt, but his trust in Esau’s character leaves him vulnerable.

Genesis 27:22-23 (NKJV)
22 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.”
23 And he did not recognize him, because his hands were hairy like his brother Esau’s hands; so he blessed him.

Isaac’s senses are confused. While the voice sounds like Jacob’s, the feel of the hands, covered in goat skins, convinces him it is Esau. The success of the deception lies in Isaac’s reliance on his physical senses rather than trusting his instincts. His blindness, both literal and metaphorical, allows the deception to succeed. Despite his suspicions, Isaac proceeds to bless Jacob, thinking he is blessing Esau, thus passing on the inheritance and covenant promises.

Genesis 27:24-25 (NKJV)
24 Then he said, “Are you really my son Esau?” He said, “I am.”
25 He said, “Bring it near to me, and I will eat of my son’s game, so that my soul may bless you.” So he brought it near to him, and he ate; and he brought him wine, and he drank.

Isaac again questions Jacob’s identity, but Jacob continues to lie, reaffirming that he is Esau. The deception reaches its peak as Isaac eats the meal prepared by Rebekah, believing it was made by Esau. The sharing of food is part of the tradition surrounding the bestowal of the blessing. By partaking of the meal, Isaac prepares to pass on the blessing, unaware that he is actually giving it to Jacob.

Genesis 27:26-27 (NKJV)
26 Then his father Isaac said to him, “Come near now and kiss me, my son.”
27 And he came near and kissed him; and he smelled the smell of his clothing, and blessed him and said:
“Surely, the smell of my son
Is like the smell of a field
Which the Lord has blessed.

Isaac asks for a final confirmation, a kiss from his son. When Jacob approaches, Isaac smells Esau’s clothing, which Rebekah had put on Jacob, and this convinces him that it truly is Esau. The reference to the smell of the field invokes images of prosperity and abundance, symbolizing Isaac’s perception of Esau as a man of the outdoors, blessed by God. Isaac is now ready to bestow the blessing, as his senses seem satisfied that this is his eldest son.

Genesis 27:28-29 (NKJV)
28 Therefore may God give you of the dew of heaven,
Of the fatness of the earth,
And plenty of grain and wine.
29 Let peoples serve you,
And nations bow down to you.
Be master over your brethren,
And let your mother’s sons bow down to you.
Cursed be everyone who curses you,
And blessed be those who bless you!”

Isaac proceeds to bless Jacob with a powerful and prophetic blessing meant for Esau. The "dew of heaven" and the "fatness of the earth" refer to abundance and prosperity. Isaac also grants Jacob authority over nations and his brothers, a statement that would later come true as Jacob’s descendants (the Israelites) would become a great nation. The final part of the blessing echoes God’s promise to Abraham: those who bless Jacob will be blessed, and those who curse him will be cursed. This blessing, once given, could not be retracted, setting the course for the future of both Jacob and Esau.

Genesis 27:30-31 (NKJV)
30 Now it happened, as soon as Isaac had finished blessing Jacob, and Jacob had scarcely gone out from the presence of Isaac his father, that Esau his brother came in from his hunting.
31 He also had made savory food, and brought it to his father, and said to his father, “Let my father arise and eat of his son’s game, that your soul may bless me.”

Esau returns just after Jacob leaves, having successfully deceived Isaac. The timing is dramatic, as the two brothers nearly cross paths. Esau, unaware of what has happened, prepares to receive the blessing with excitement and confidence. His words mirror Jacob’s, showing that both sons are focused on securing their father’s favor. The tension rises as the truth of the deception is about to be revealed.

Genesis 27:32-33 (NKJV)
32 And his father Isaac said to him, “Who are you?” So he said, “I am your son, your firstborn, Esau.”
33 Then Isaac trembled exceedingly, and said, “Who? Where is the one who hunted game and brought it to me? I ate all of it before you came, and I have blessed him—and indeed he shall be blessed.”

Isaac’s shock and horror are immediate upon realizing that he has been deceived. His trembling reflects the gravity of the situation, as he knows that the blessing, once given, cannot be undone. He recognizes that Jacob has received the blessing intended for Esau, and despite the deception, the blessing stands. This moment is a turning point, as Isaac must now deal with the irreversible consequences of the deception.

Genesis 27:34-36 (NKJV)
34 When Esau heard the words of his father, he cried with an exceedingly great and bitter cry, and said to his father, “Bless me—me also, O my father!”
35 But he said, “Your brother came with deceit and has taken away your blessing.”
36 And Esau said, “Is he not rightly named Jacob? For he has supplanted me these two times. He took away my birthright, and now look, he has taken away my blessing!” And he said, “Have you not reserved a blessing for me?”

Esau’s reaction is one of deep anguish and bitterness. The blessing was a significant aspect of his future, and now, in his mind, both his birthright and blessing have been stolen by Jacob. Esau’s cry reveals his sense of betrayal, both by his brother and by the circumstances. He pleads with Isaac for another blessing, but he recognizes that the loss of the blessing is final, reinforcing the consequences of Jacob’s actions.

Genesis 27:37-38 (NKJV)
37 Then Isaac answered and said to Esau, “Indeed I have made him your master, and all his brethren I have given to him as servants; with grain and wine I have sustained him. What shall I do now for you, my son?”
38 And Esau said to his father, “Have you only one blessing, my father? Bless me—me also, O my father!” And Esau lifted up his voice and wept.

Isaac explains that the blessing he has given to Jacob has set the course of the future, making Jacob master over Esau and granting him prosperity. This leaves little room for Esau to receive a comparable blessing. Esau’s desperation is palpable as he begs for any remaining blessing, realizing how much he has lost. His weeping reflects his heartbreak over what has transpired, and his cries show the deep emotional toll of the deception.

Genesis 27:39-40 (NKJV)
39 Then Isaac his father answered and said to him:
“Behold, your dwelling shall be of the fatness of the earth,
And of the dew of heaven from above.
40 By your sword you shall live,
And you shall serve your brother;
And it shall come to pass, when you become restless,
That you shall break his yoke from your neck.”

Isaac grants Esau a lesser blessing, predicting a life of hardship and struggle. While Esau will receive some measure of prosperity ("fatness of the earth" and "dew of heaven"), his life will be defined by conflict ("by your sword you shall live") and subjugation to his brother. However, Isaac also foretells that Esau will eventually break free from Jacob’s dominance, hinting at a future reversal of roles. This prophecy later manifests in the historical tension between the descendants of Jacob (Israel) and Esau (Edom).

Genesis 27:41-42 (NKJV)
41 So Esau hated Jacob because of the blessing with which his father blessed him, and Esau said in his heart, “The days of mourning for my father are at hand; then I will kill my brother Jacob.”
42 And the words of Esau her older son were told to Rebekah. So she sent and called Jacob her younger son, and said to him, “Surely your brother Esau comforts himself concerning you by intending to kill you.”

Esau’s hatred for Jacob reaches a boiling point as he plans to kill Jacob after Isaac’s death. This hatred stems from the profound loss and betrayal he feels from the stolen blessing. Rebekah, hearing of Esau’s intentions, warns Jacob and advises him to flee. This moment marks a significant fracture in the family, with Esau’s vengeful heart setting the stage for Jacob’s exile. The consequences of the deception are now rippling outward, threatening the entire family’s stability.

Genesis 27:43-45 (NKJV)
43 Now therefore, my son, obey my voice: arise, flee to my brother Laban in Haran.
44 And stay with him a few days, until your brother’s fury turns away,
45 until your brother’s anger turns away from you, and he forgets what you have done to him; then I will send and bring you from there. Why should I be bereaved also of you both in one day?”

Rebekah instructs Jacob to flee to her brother Laban in Haran to avoid Esau’s wrath. She hopes that after some time, Esau’s anger will subside, and Jacob will be able to return home safely. Rebekah’s plan, however, will result in a much longer separation than she anticipates. Her final remark, that she would be "bereaved of both" in one day, refers to her fear of losing both sons—one to exile and the other to violence. This marks the culmination of her involvement in the family’s deception, as she now faces the painful consequences of the rift between her sons.

Genesis 27:46 (NKJV)
46 And Rebekah said to Isaac, “I am weary of my life because of the daughters of Heth; if Jacob takes a wife of the daughters of Heth, like these who are the daughters of the land, what good will my life be to me?”

Rebekah uses another reason to justify sending Jacob away, expressing her concern that he might marry a local Canaanite woman, which she deeply opposes. She references Esau’s previous marriages to Canaanite women, which had caused her distress. By appealing to Isaac’s agreement on this issue, she secures Jacob’s departure, framing it as a necessary step to preserve the purity of their family’s lineage. Rebekah’s manipulation of the situation shows her continued involvement in shaping the future, though it is not without heavy personal cost.