Genesis 27:21

KJV

And Isaac said unto Jacob, Come near, I pray thee, that I may feel thee, my son, whether thou [be] my very son Esau or not.

KJV (with Strong's)

And Isaac {H3327} said {H559} unto Jacob {H3290}, Come near {H5066}, I pray thee, that I may feel {H4184} thee, my son {H1121}, whether thou be my very {H2088} son {H1121} Esau {H6215} or not.

Complete Jewish Bible

Yitz'chak said to Ya'akov, "Come here, close to me, so I can touch you, my son, and know whether you are in fact my son 'Esav or not."

Berean Standard Bible

Then Isaac said to Jacob, “Please come closer so I can touch you, my son. Are you really my son Esau, or not?”

American Standard Version

And Isaac said unto Jacob, Come near, I pray thee, that I may feel thee, my son, whether thou be my very son Esau or not.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
[Genesis 27:21](/genesis/27-21 "Genesis 27:21 KJV") captures the moment Isaac, old and blind, requests Jacob to draw near so he might use his sense of touch to verify his identity, suspecting he might not be Esau. This critical interaction underscores the deep deception orchestrated by Rebekah and Jacob to secure the patriarchal blessing, highlighting Isaac's vulnerability and the profound consequences of their actions within the family.

### CONTEXT
In the ancient Near Eastern world, the patriarchal blessing was a solemn and binding pronouncement, typically bestowed by the father upon his firstborn son, carrying immense spiritual, social, and material significance. Isaac, now aged and physically blind, prepares to impart this irrevocable blessing. His reliance on touch to identify his sons was a common and often necessary practice for the visually impaired in that era. The customs surrounding such blessings emphasized the father's final words and intentions as sacred and unalterable, making the deception by Rebekah and Jacob a profound violation of established tradition and trust.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
The verse states: "And Isaac said unto Jacob, Come near, I pray thee, that I may feel thee, my son, whether thou [be] my very son Esau or not." ([Genesis 27:21](/genesis/27-21 "Genesis 27:21 KJV"))

Isaac's words reveal his deep suspicion and unease. Though Jacob's voice sounded like Jacob's, the feel of his hands, covered with goat skins, was intended to mimic Esau's hairy arms. Isaac, unable to see, relies on his sense of touch as a final arbiter of truth. The phrase "my very son Esau" (Hebrew: עֵשָׂו בְּנִי אַתָּה) emphasizes Isaac's desire for absolute certainty and genuine identity confirmation. He seeks to ensure that the recipient of this sacred, irrevocable blessing is indeed his firstborn, Esau. This moment is fraught with tension, as Jacob stands on the precipice of being discovered, yet Isaac's physical blindness prevents him from fully discerning the truth.

* **Deception and Sensory Deception:** This verse is central to the elaborate deception. Isaac's primary means of verification (touch) is precisely what Jacob and Rebekah have manipulated, using the goat skins to mimic Esau's hairy arms ([Genesis 27:16](/genesis/27-16 "Genesis 27:16 KJV")). This highlights how easily human senses can be misled when truth is intentionally obscured.
* **Blindness and Spiritual Perception:** Isaac's physical blindness serves as a powerful metaphor for his spiritual inability to discern the truth of the situation. Despite his initial doubts about the voice, he prioritizes the manipulated sense of touch, failing to see through the cunning plan. This foreshadows the broader theme of human fallibility and the consequences of relying solely on limited perception.
* **Identity and Inheritance:** The core question, "whether thou [be] my very son Esau or not," underscores the critical struggle over identity and the rightful recipient of the patriarchal blessing. This moment determines the lineage through which God's covenant promises will continue, making Jacob's deception profoundly impactful on the future of the chosen people.
* **Divine Sovereignty Amidst Human Flaw:** While human deception is at play, God's sovereign plan to choose Jacob over Esau (as prophesied in [Genesis 25:23](/genesis/25-23 "Genesis 25:23 KJV")) is ultimately fulfilled, albeit through flawed and sinful human means. This raises theological questions about how God works through, and sometimes despite, human sin.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
* **The Nature of Blessing and Covenant:** The patriarchal blessing, though obtained through deceit, carried immense weight and was considered irrevocable. This highlights the sanctity of spoken words and promises in the ancient world and, by extension, the unchangeable nature of God's covenant promises, even when human agents are imperfect.
* **Consequences of Deception:** The immediate success of Jacob's deception leads to long-term familial strife, separation, and fear, illustrating the painful and far-reaching consequences of sin within relationships and communities.
* **Divine Sovereignty and Human Agency:** This narrative grapples with the tension between God's predetermined plan (that the elder would serve the younger, [Genesis 25:23](/genesis/25-23 "Genesis 25:23 KJV")) and the sinful means humans employ to achieve desired outcomes. It shows that God's purposes will prevail, but human sin still carries its own consequences.
* **Blindness as a Metaphor:** Isaac's physical blindness serves as a recurring biblical motif for spiritual blindness or lack of discernment, a theme that reappears throughout scripture in various contexts, including the New Testament's portrayal of those who do not recognize Christ.
* **The Struggle for Identity and Favor:** The conflict between Jacob and Esau over the blessing foreshadows the ongoing struggle for identity and divine favor within the lineage of Abraham, a struggle that ultimately points to the true "firstborn" and heir in Christ.

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
[Genesis 27:21](/genesis/27-21 "Genesis 27:21 KJV") serves as a poignant reminder of the pervasive nature and corrosive effects of deception. It challenges us to consider the integrity of our own words and actions, recognizing that even seemingly minor deceptions can have profound and lasting consequences, fracturing trust and relationships. The passage also highlights our human vulnerability to being misled, whether through physical senses or a lack of spiritual discernment. It calls us to cultivate a commitment to truthfulness in all interactions and to seek divine wisdom to discern reality, rather than relying solely on fallible human perception. Ultimately, it foreshadows the complex journey of Jacob's family, marked by both God's unwavering promises and the persistent fallout of human sin, urging us to rely on God's truth rather than human schemes.

### FAQ
**Why did Isaac rely on touch to identify Jacob, despite his voice?**

Answer: Isaac's physical blindness meant he could not see who was before him. While he recognized Jacob's voice ("The voice is Jacob's voice," [Genesis 27:22](/genesis/27-22 "Genesis 27:22 KJV")), Jacob's hands had been covered with goat skins to mimic Esau's hairy arms ([Genesis 27:16](/genesis/27-16 "Genesis 27:16 KJV")). Isaac, therefore, used his sense of touch as a secondary, and in this case, manipulated, means of verification, which ultimately led to his deception.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
While [Genesis 27:21](/genesis/27-21 "Genesis 27:21 KJV") depicts human deception and a flawed means of securing a blessing, it ultimately points to Christ, the true and perfect heir. Jacob, the deceiver, becomes part of the lineage through which the Messiah would come, demonstrating God's ability to work through imperfect human instruments to achieve His redemptive purposes. Unlike Jacob, who obtained the blessing through lies and manipulation, Christ is the "true Esau," the rightful Firstborn who inherits all things not by deceit, but by divine right and perfect obedience. He is the one who truly sees and discerns, unlike Isaac's physical and spiritual blindness. In Christ, the ultimate blessing is freely given, not seized, and His identity is unequivocally true, offering a perfect fulfillment of the promises that the patriarchs sought, free from the stain of sin and deception.

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.