Genesis 27:2

And he said, Behold now, I am old, I know not the day of my death:

And he said {H559}, Behold now, I am old {H2204}, I know {H3045} not the day {H3117} of my death {H4194}:

"Look, I'm old now, I don't know when I will die.

“Look,” said Isaac, “I am now old, and I do not know the day of my death.

And he said, Behold now, I am old, I know not the day of my death.

Commentary

In Genesis 27:2, we encounter Isaac, now old and blind, expressing a profound awareness of his own mortality. This verse serves as a crucial prelude to one of the Bible's most dramatic family narratives, involving deception, blessing, and the unfolding of God's sovereign plan.

Context of Genesis 27:2

At this point in the Genesis narrative, Isaac is an aged patriarch, estimated to be around 137 years old, though he lives for many more years (Genesis 35:28). His physical sight has failed him, a detail that becomes central to the ensuing deception. His declaration, "I know not the day of my death," reflects a common human understanding that life is finite and its end unknown. This realization prompts him to act urgently to bestow the patriarchal blessing—a significant spiritual and material inheritance—upon his firstborn son, Esau, whom he favored, before he dies. This act was deeply rooted in ancient Near Eastern customs regarding inheritance and the transfer of authority within the family line.

Key Themes and Messages

  • Mortality and Urgency: Isaac's words highlight the universal truth of human mortality. His acknowledgment that his life could end at any moment creates a sense of urgency, driving his decision to give the blessing. This theme resonates with the biblical emphasis on the brevity of life (Psalm 90:12).
  • The Significance of the Blessing: The patriarchal blessing was not merely a wish but a prophetic declaration carrying immense spiritual and material weight, believed to secure the recipient's future prosperity and divine favor. For the Abrahamic lineage, it also connected to the covenant promises made to Abraham.
  • Divine Sovereignty vs. Human Plans: While Isaac intends to bless Esau, God's prior declaration to Rebekah (Genesis 25:23) indicated that "the elder shall serve the younger." This tension between Isaac's human will and God's sovereign purpose sets the stage for the intricate events that follow, ultimately demonstrating that God's plan prevails.

Linguistic Insights

The phrase "Behold now" (Hebrew: הִנֵּה־נָא, hinneh-na) carries a sense of immediacy and urgency, emphasizing Isaac's pressing concern. It's an interjection drawing immediate attention to the serious matter at hand. The statement "I know not the day of my death" (לֹא יָדַעְתִּי יוֹם מוֹתִי, lo yada'ti yom moti) is a straightforward declaration of the unknown future, a common human experience that underscores our reliance on God's timing, as also seen in James 4:14.

Practical Application

Isaac's reflection on his mortality serves as a timeless reminder for us all. It encourages us to consider:

  • Living with Purpose: Knowing that our days are not guaranteed should motivate us to live wisely, prioritize what truly matters, and make the most of the time God has given us.
  • Spiritual Legacy: Isaac was concerned with passing on a blessing. What spiritual legacy are we building and preparing to pass on to future generations?
  • Trusting God's Plan: Even amidst human frailties, deceptions, and well-intentioned but misguided plans, God's ultimate purpose for His people will be accomplished. This verse begins a narrative that beautifully illustrates God's ability to work through imperfect circumstances to fulfill His perfect will.
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

  • Proverbs 27:1

    ¶ Boast not thyself of to morrow; for thou knowest not what a day may bring forth.

  • Mark 13:35

    Watch ye therefore: for ye know not when the master of the house cometh, at even, or at midnight, or at the cockcrowing, or in the morning:

  • James 4:14

    Whereas ye know not what [shall be] on the morrow. For what [is] your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away.

  • Ecclesiastes 9:10

    Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do [it] with thy might; for [there is] no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom, in the grave, whither thou goest.

  • Isaiah 38:3

    And said, Remember now, O LORD, I beseech thee, how I have walked before thee in truth and with a perfect heart, and have done [that which is] good in thy sight. And Hezekiah wept sore.

  • Isaiah 38:1

    ¶ In those days was Hezekiah sick unto death. And Isaiah the prophet the son of Amoz came unto him, and said unto him, Thus saith the LORD, Set thine house in order: for thou shalt die, and not live.

  • 1 Samuel 20:3

    And David sware moreover, and said, Thy father certainly knoweth that I have found grace in thine eyes; and he saith, Let not Jonathan know this, lest he be grieved: but truly [as] the LORD liveth, and [as] thy soul liveth, [there is] but a step between me and death.
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