Genesis 27:15

And Rebekah took goodly raiment of her eldest son Esau, which [were] with her in the house, and put them upon Jacob her younger son:

And Rebekah {H7259} took {H3947} goodly {H2532} raiment {H899} of her eldest {H1419} son {H1121} Esau {H6215}, which were with her in the house {H1004}, and put them upon {H3847} Jacob {H3290} her younger {H6996} son {H1121}:

Next, Rivkah took 'Esav her older son's best clothes, which she had with her in the house, and put them on Ya'akov her younger son;

And Rebekah took the finest clothes in the house that belonged to her older son Esau, and she put them on her younger son Jacob.

And Rebekah took the goodly garments of Esau her elder son, which were with her in the house, and put them upon Jacob her younger son;

Commentary

Genesis 27:15 describes a critical moment in Rebekah's elaborate plan to secure the patriarchal blessing for her younger son, Jacob, instead of his twin brother, Esau. This verse highlights her direct action in preparing Jacob for the deception, setting the stage for significant family drama and theological reflection on human agency versus divine purpose.

Context

This verse is situated within the narrative where Isaac, now old and blind, intends to bestow his final, irrevocable blessing upon his eldest son, Esau. Rebekah, having overheard Isaac's instructions to Esau (Genesis 27:4), swiftly devises a scheme to have Jacob impersonate Esau. Her motivation likely stemmed from her favoritism towards Jacob and perhaps her knowledge of God's earlier prophecy to her during her pregnancy that "the elder shall serve the younger" (Genesis 25:23). The "goodly raiment" or "best clothes" of Esau were essential for the deception, as Isaac, being blind, would rely on touch and smell to identify his son, a detail that becomes critical later in the encounter (Genesis 27:22). This act follows Esau's earlier, seemingly casual, sale of his birthright to Jacob (Genesis 25:34), adding layers of complexity to the family dynamics.

Key Themes

  • Deception and Manipulation: Rebekah's actions in this verse exemplify active human manipulation to achieve a desired outcome. Her direct involvement in dressing Jacob in Esau's clothes underscores her central role in fabricating a false identity.
  • Familial Conflict and Favoritism: The entire narrative is deeply rooted in the parental favoritism shown by Isaac towards Esau and Rebekah towards Jacob, which fuels intense sibling rivalry and ultimately leads to broken trust within the family.
  • Divine Sovereignty vs. Human Means: While God had declared His purpose for Jacob before his birth, this passage illustrates how human beings often resort to flawed and unethical means to achieve what they perceive as God's will, leading to painful and unforeseen consequences.
  • The Significance of the Blessing: In ancient Near Eastern culture, a father's patriarchal blessing was profoundly significant. It was believed to carry spiritual and material authority, shaping the recipient's future destiny and status within the family and community.

Linguistic Insights

The King James Version's phrase "goodly raiment" translates the Hebrew word chamudot (Χ—Φ²ΧžΦ»Χ“ΦΉΧͺ), which means "desirable things" or "precious garments." These were not just any clothes but likely Esau's special, perhaps ceremonial or hunting, attire. Crucially, these garments would have carried Esau's distinctive scent, a vital element in deceiving the blind Isaac, who would rely heavily on smell and touch to identify his son. The act of putting these specific clothes on Jacob was a meticulous detail designed to ensure the success of Rebekah's elaborate scheme.

Practical Application

This narrative serves as a powerful reminder of the lasting impact of deception, particularly within family relationships. While God's ultimate plan for Jacob did prevail, the immediate consequences of Rebekah's and Jacob's actions were years of estrangement, fear, and hardship for Jacob, leading to his hurried departure from his homeland (Genesis 28:1). The story underscores the importance of integrity and trusting in God's timing and methods, rather than resorting to dishonest means to achieve what we believe is His will. It also highlights the potential pitfalls of parental favoritism and the damage it can inflict upon family harmony and individual relationships.

Note: Commentary was generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash, utilizing a prompt that emphasized Biblical fidelity over bias. We've found these insights to be consistently reliable, yet we always encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit.

Please remember that only the commentary section is AI-generated. The main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are sourced from trusted and verified materials.

Cross-References

  • Genesis 27:27

    And he came near, and kissed him: and he smelled the smell of his raiment, and blessed him, and said, See, the smell of my son [is] as the smell of a field which the LORD hath blessed:

  • Luke 20:46

    Beware of the scribes, which desire to walk in long robes, and love greetings in the markets, and the highest seats in the synagogues, and the chief rooms at feasts;

  • Luke 15:22

    But the father said to his servants, Bring forth the best robe, and put [it] on him; and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on [his] feet:
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