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Genesis27

Isaac, old and blind, intends to bless his eldest son Esau after eating venison. Rebekah, overhearing, orchestrates a deception, helping Jacob impersonate Esau to receive the patriarchal blessing. Jacob successfully deceives Isaac, gaining the blessing of dominion and prosperity. Upon Esau's return, the deception is revealed, leading to Esau's bitter lament and hatred, prompting Rebekah to send Jacob away for his safety.

Isaac Plans to Bless Esau

1
When Isaac was old, and his eyes were dim, so that he could not see, he called Esau his elder son, and said to him, “My son?” He said to him, “Here I am.” ​
2
He said, “See now, I am old. I don’t 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 take me venison.
4
Make me savory food, such as I love, and bring it to me, that I may eat, and that my soul may bless you before I die.” ​
5
Rebekah heard when Isaac spoke to Esau his son. Esau went to the field to hunt for venison, and to bring it.

Rebekah and Jacob Plot Deception

6
Rebekah spoke to Jacob her son, saying, “Behold, I heard your father speak to Esau your brother, saying, ​
7
‘Bring me venison, and make me savory food, that I may eat, and bless you before the LORD before my death.’ ​
8
Now therefore, my son, obey my voice according to that which I command you.
9
Go now to the flock, and get me from there two good young goats. I will make them savory food for your father, such as he loves.
10
You shall bring it to your father, that he may eat, so that he may bless you before his death.”
11
Jacob said to Rebekah his mother, “Behold, Esau my brother is a hairy man, and I am a smooth man.
12
What if my father touches me? I will seem to him as a deceiver, and I would bring a curse on myself, and not a blessing.” ​
13
His mother said to him, “Let your curse be on me, my son. Only obey my voice, and go get them for me.” ​
14
He went, and got them, and brought them to his mother. His mother made savory food, such as his father loved.
15
Rebekah took the good clothes of Esau, her elder son, which were with her in the house, and put them on Jacob, her younger son. ​
16
She put the skins of the young goats on his hands, and on the smooth of his neck. ​
17
She gave the savory food and the bread, which she had prepared, into the hand of her son Jacob.

Jacob Deceives Isaac and Receives the Blessing

18
He came to his father, and said, “My father?” He said, “Here I am. Who are you, my son?”
19
Jacob said to his father, “I am Esau your firstborn. I have done what you asked me to do. Please arise, sit and eat of my venison, that your soul may bless me.” ​
20
Isaac said to his son, “How is it that you have found it so quickly, my son?” He said, “Because the LORD your God gave me success.” ​
21
Isaac said to Jacob, “Please come near, that I may feel you, my son, whether you are really my son Esau or not.”
22
Jacob went near to Isaac his father. He felt him, and said, “The voice is Jacob’s voice, but the hands are the hands of Esau.” ​
23
He didn’t recognize him, because his hands were hairy, like his brother, Esau’s hands. So he blessed him.
24
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 venison, that my soul may bless you.” He brought it near to him, and he ate. He brought him wine, and he drank.
26
His father Isaac said to him, “Come near now, and kiss me, my son.”
27
He came near, and kissed him. He smelled the smell of his clothing, and blessed him, and said, “Behold, the smell of my son is as the smell of a field which the LORD has blessed. ​
28
God give you of the dew of the sky, of the fatness of the earth, and plenty of grain and new wine. ​
29
Let peoples serve you, and nations bow down to you. Be lord over your brothers. Let your mother’s sons bow down to you. Cursed be everyone who curses you. Blessed be everyone who blesses you.” ​

Esau Returns; The Deception Is Revealed

30
As soon as Isaac had made an end of blessing Jacob, and Jacob had just gone out from the presence of Isaac his father, Esau his brother came in from his hunting.
31
He also made savory food, and brought it to his father. He said to his father, “Let my father arise, and eat of his son’s venison, that your soul may bless me.”
32
Isaac his father said to him, “Who are you?” He said, “I am your son, your firstborn, Esau.”
33
Isaac trembled violently, and said, “Who, then, is he who has taken venison, and brought it me, and I have eaten of all before you came, and have blessed him? Yes, he will be blessed.” ​
34
When Esau heard the words of his father, he cried with an exceeding great and bitter cry, and said to his father, “Bless me, even me also, my father.” ​
35
He said, “Your brother came with deceit, and has taken away your blessing.” ​
36
He said, “Isn’t he rightly named Jacob? For he has supplanted me these two times. He took away my birthright. See, now he has taken away my blessing.” He said, “Haven’t you reserved a blessing for me?” ​
37
Isaac answered Esau, “Behold, I have made him your lord, and all his brothers have I given to him for servants. With grain and new wine have I sustained him. What then will I do for you, my son?” ​
38
Esau said to his father, “Have you but one blessing, my father? Bless me, even me also, my father.” Esau lifted up his voice, and wept.
39
Isaac his father answered him, “Behold, of the fatness of the earth will be your dwelling, and of the dew of the sky from above. ​
40
By your sword will you live, and you will serve your brother. It will happen, when you will break loose, that you shall shake his yoke from off your neck.” ​

Esau Vows Revenge; Jacob Flees

41
Esau hated Jacob because of the blessing with which his father blessed him. Esau said in his heart, “The days of mourning for my father are at hand. Then I will kill my brother Jacob.” ​
42
The words of Esau, her elder son, were told to Rebekah. She sent and called Jacob, her younger son, and said to him, “Behold, your brother Esau comforts himself about you by planning to kill you.
43
Now therefore, my son, obey my voice. Arise, flee to Laban, my brother, in Haran. ​
44
Stay with him a few days, until your brother’s fury turns away;
45
until your brother’s anger turn away from you, and he forgets what you have done to him. Then I will send, and get you from there. Why should I be bereaved of you both in one day?” ​
46
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, such as these, of the daughters of the land, what good will my life do me?” ​

Study Notes for Genesis 27

Verse 1

Isaac, now old and blind, decides to bestow the patriarchal blessing, a solemn and legally binding transfer of authority and covenant promises, before his death. Blindness often symbolizes human inability to fully perceive God's will.

Verse 4

The ceremonial meal was necessary to accompany the blessing, symbolizing communion and confirmation. Isaac’s request for ‘savoury meat’ highlights his preference for Esau, the hunter.

Verse 6

Rebekah heard Isaac’s instructions. She acts decisively, believing she is fulfilling the divine prophecy given before the twins’ birth (Gen 25:23), though she uses deceptive means.

Verse 7

The phrase 'before the LORD' underscores that this is a covenantal act, invoking divine authority and making the blessing irreversible once given.

Verse 12

Jacob is fearful of being discovered and receiving a curse, not primarily concerned with the sin of deception itself. This reveals a pragmatic, self-interested motivation.

Verse 13

Rebekah takes responsibility for the potential curse, demonstrating the depth of her commitment to ensuring Jacob receives the blessing, even through manipulation.

Verse 15

Rebekah dresses Jacob in Esau’s 'goodly raiment'—likely his best clothes, perhaps carrying the scent of the field—to complete the sensory deception, as Isaac could no longer see.

Verse 16

The skins of the kids of the goats mimic the hairiness of Esau, addressing Jacob’s primary concern (v. 12). The deception required a coordinated assault on Isaac's remaining senses: smell, touch, and hearing.

Verse 19

Jacob’s threefold lie begins: identifying himself as Esau, claiming to have completed the hunt, and demanding the blessing.

Verse 20

Jacob compounds his lie by invoking God’s name, claiming divine intervention for his quick success. This is a striking example of using religious language to justify deceit.

Verse 22

Isaac remains suspicious, noting the mismatch between the voice (Jacob’s) and the hands (Esau’s, due to the disguise). The deception nearly fails.

Verse 27

The smell of Esau’s clothes (v. 15), representing the fertility of the land, finally convinces Isaac. The blessing connects Jacob’s future prosperity directly to the promises made to Abraham.

Verse 28

This blessing promises material abundance ('dew of heaven,' 'fatness of the earth') and economic prosperity, crucial elements of the covenantal promise.

Verse 29

The blessing grants political supremacy: Jacob will rule over his brother and nations will serve him. This fulfills the prophecy of Genesis 25:23, though accomplished through human manipulation.

Verse 33

Isaac’s 'exceedingly' great trembling signifies his realization that he has attempted to thwart God's will (which favored Jacob). Crucially, he affirms the blessing: 'yea, and he shall be blessed.'

Verse 34

Esau’s 'exceeding bitter cry' shows the magnitude of his loss. The patriarchal blessing was the source of tribal identity and future destiny.

Verse 35

The word 'subtilty' (*mirmah*) means deceit or fraud, accurately summarizing the plot carried out by Jacob and Rebekah.

Verse 36

Esau bitterly connects Jacob’s actions to his name (*Ya’aqov*, 'supplanter'). He identifies this as the second time Jacob has usurped him, following the purchase of the birthright (Gen 25:29-34).

Verse 37

Isaac confirms the scope of the blessing given to Jacob: it is comprehensive, giving him lordship and prosperity, leaving nothing comparable for Esau.

Verse 39

Isaac grants Esau a secondary blessing, which mirrors Jacob’s in geographical terms but lacks the promise of political domination.

Verse 40

Esau's destiny is predicted to be one of violence and subservience to Jacob, but with the hope of future rebellion. This prophecy foreshadows the long conflict between Israel and Edom (Esau’s descendants).

Verse 41

Esau’s grief quickly turns into murderous intent. The familial conflict escalates immediately into a life-and-death threat, forcing Jacob to flee the land of promise.

Verse 43

Haran is the home of Rebekah’s brother, Laban, where Abraham’s family originated. Jacob’s flight marks the end of his life as a settled tent-dweller and the beginning of his journey toward maturity.

Verse 45

Rebekah fears the loss of both sons: Jacob to murder, and Esau to the blood avenger, a consequence mandated by ancient law.

Verse 46

Rebekah gives Isaac a different, acceptable reason for Jacob's departure—the fear of him marrying a local Canaanite woman—thus maintaining the secrecy of the deception and appealing to Isaac's desire for covenant purity.

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