the Week of Proper 26 / Ordinary 31
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Genesis 27:23
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- CondensedParallel Translations
And he did not recognize him, because his hands were hairy like his brother Esau's hands. So he blessed him.
And he did not discern him, because his hands were hairy, as his brother Esau's hands. So he blessed him.
Isaac did not know it was Jacob, because his hands were hairy like Esau's hands, so Isaac blessed him.
He did not recognize him because his hands were hairy, like his brother Esau's hands. So Isaac blessed Jacob.
And he discerned him not, because his hands were hairy, as his brother Esau's hands: So he blessed him.
He didn't recognize him, because his hands were hairy, like his brother, Esau's hands. So he blessed him.
He could not recognize him [as Jacob], because his hands were hairy like his brother Esau's hands; so he blessed him.
And Isaac knew not Jacob, for the heery hondis expressiden the licnesse of the more sone.
And he hath not discerned him, for his hands have been hairy, as the hands of Esau his brother, and he blesseth him,
Isaac did not recognize him, because his hands were hairy like those of his brother Esau; so he blessed him.
And so Isaac blessed Jacob, thinking he was Esau.
However, he didn't detect him; because his hands were hairy like his brother ‘Esav's hands; so he gave him his blessing.
And he discerned him not, because his hands were hairy, as his brother Esau's hands: so he blessed him.
And he did not make out who he was, because his hands were covered with hair like his brother Esau's hands: so he gave him a blessing.
And he knewe him not, because his handes were heary as his brother Esaus handes: and so he blessed hym.
And he did not discern him, because his hands were hairy, as his brother Esau's hands; and he blessed him.
And he discerned him not, because his hands were hairy, as his brother Esau's hands; so he blessed him.
And he discerned him not, because his hands were hairie, as his brother Esaus hands: So he blessed him.
And he discerned him not, because his hands were hairy, as his brother Esau's hands: so he blessed him.
He did not know who he was, because his hands were covered with hair like his brother Esau's hands. So Isaac prayed that good would come to him.
He did not recognize him, because his hands were hairy like his brother Esau's hands; so he blessed him.
So he did not find him out, because, his hands were like the hands of Esau his brother hairy, - so he blessed him.
(For he knewe him not, because his hands were rough as his brother Esaus hands: wherefore he blessed him)
But he did not recognize him, because his hands were hairy, like his brother Esaus hands; so he blessed him.
He did not recognize Jacob, because his arms were hairy like Esau's. He was about to give him his blessing,
And he knew him not, because his hairy hands made him like to the elder. Then blessing him,
And he did not recognize him, because his hands were hairy like his brother Esau's hands; so he blessed him.
And he knew him not, for his hands were as the hands of his brother Esau, hairy; and he blessed him,
And he discerned him not, because his hands were hairy, as his brother Esau's hands: so he blessed him.
He did not recognize him, because his hands were hairy like those of his brother Esau; so he blessed him.
He didn't recognize him, because his hands were hairy, like his brother, Esav's hands. So he blessed him.
And he did not recognize him because his hands were hairy like the hands of Esau his brother. And he blessed him.
And he did not know him, because his hands were like the hairy hands of his brother Esau. And he blessed him.
And he knew him not, for his handes were rough like as ye handes of his brother Esau. And he blessed him.
And he did not recognize him, because his hands were hairy like his brother Esau's hands; so he blessed him.
And he did not recognize him, because his hands were hairy like his brother Esau's hands; so he blessed him.
But he did not recognize Jacob, because Jacob's hands felt hairy just like Esau's. So Isaac prepared to bless Jacob.
He did not recognize him, because his hands were hairy like his brother Esau's hands; so he blessed him.
And he did not recognize him because his hands were hairy like his brother Esau's hands; so he blessed him.
Contextual Overview
Bible Verse Review
from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge
his hands: Genesis 27:16
he blessed: Romans 9:11, Romans 9:12, Hebrews 11:20
Reciprocal: Genesis 25:25 - Esau Genesis 27:4 - that my
Cross-References
But Jacob told his mother Rebekah, "My brother Esau is a hairy man. I am not hairy like him.
If my father touches me, he will know that I am not Esau. Then he will not bless me—he will curse me because I tried to trick him."
She took the skins of the goats and put them on Jacob's hands and on his neck.
Isaac blessed the future of Jacob and Esau. He did that because he had faith.
Gill's Notes on the Bible
And he discerned him not,.... As he could not see, he could make no judgment by that sense; and, though he had his hearing, and thought the voice was like Jacob's, he might imagine there might be an alteration in Esau's voice, coming in haste and weary from the fields; yet, as there could not be any deception in his feeling, he thought it safest to trust to that, as it follows:
because his hands were hairy as his brother Esau's hands; which could not in a short time become so naturally; it was more reasonable to think that Esau's voice should be altered and become like Jacob's, than that Jacob's hands should become like Esau's:
so he blessed him; or intended and determined within himself to bless him, for the blessing was not given till afterwards; unless this is to be understood of a common blessing, congratulating him on the quick dispatch he made, and the great success he met with; and after this gave him the patriarchal blessing, which as yet he had not, being not thoroughly satisfied of him, as appears by what follows.
Barnes' Notes on the Bible
- Isaac Blessing His Sons
The life of Isaac falls into three periods. During the first seventy-five years he is contemporary with his father. For sixty-one years more his son Jacob remains under the paternal roof. The remaining forty-four years are passed in the retirement of old age. The chapter before us narrates the last solemn acts of the middle period of his life.
Genesis 27:1-4
Isaac was old. - Joseph was in his thirtieth year when he stood before Pharaoh, and therefore thirty-nine when Jacob came down to Egypt at the age of one hundred and thirty. When Joseph was born, therefore, Jacob was ninety-one, and he had sojourned fourteen years in Padan-aram. Hence, Jacob’s flight to Laban took place when he was seventy-seven, and therefore in the one hundred and thirty-sixth year of Isaac. “His eyes were dim.” Weakness and even loss of sight is more frequent in Palestine than with us. “His older son.” Isaac had not yet come to the conclusion that Jacob was heir of the promise. The communication from the Lord to Rebekah concerning her yet unborn sons in the form in which it is handed down to us merely determines that the older shall serve the younger. This fact Isaac seems to have thought might not imply the transferrence of the birthright; and if he was aware of the transaction between Esau and Jacob, he may not have regarded it as valid. Hence, he makes arrangements for bestowing the paternal benediction on Esau, his older son, whom he also loves. “I am old.” At the age of one hundred and thirty-six, and with failing sight, he felt that life was uncertain. In the calmness of determination he directs Esau to prepare savory meat, such as he loved, that he may have his vigor renewed and his spirits revived for the solemn business of bestowing that blessing, which he held to be fraught with more than ordinary benefits.
Genesis 27:5-13
Rebekah forms a plan for diverting the blessing from Esau to Jacob. She was within hearing when the infirm Isaac gave his orders, and communicates the news to Jacob. Rebekah has no scruples about primogeniture. Her feelings prompt her to take measures, without waiting to consider whether they are justifiable or not, for securing to Jacob that blessing which she has settled in her own mind to be destined for him. She thinks it necessary to interfere that this end may not fail of being accomplished. Jacob views the matter more coolly, and starts a difficulty. He may be found out to be a deceiver, and bring his father’s curse upon him. Rebekah, anticipating no such issue; undertakes to bear the curse that she conceived would never come. Only let him obey.
Verse 14-29
The plan is successful. Jacob now, without further objection, obeys his mother. She clothes him in Esau’s raiment, and puts the skins of the kids on his hands and his neck. The camel-goat affords a hair which bears a great resemblance to that of natural growth, and is used as a substitute for it. Now begins the strange interview between the father and the son. “Who art thou, my son?” The voice of Jacob was somewhat constrained. He goes, however, deliberately through the process of deceiving his father. “Arise, now, sit and eat.” Isaac was reclining on his couch, in the feebleness of advancing years. Sitting was the posture convenient for eating. “The Lord thy God prospered me.” This is the bold reply to Isaac’s expression of surprise at the haste with which the dainty fare had been prepared. The bewildered father now puts Jacob to a severer test. He feels him, but discerns him not. The ear notes a difference, but the hand feels the hairy skin resembling Esau’s; the eyes give no testimony. After this the result is summarily stated in a single sentence, though the particulars are yet to be given. “Art thou my very son Esau?” A lurking doubt puts the definite question, and receives a decisive answer. Isaac then calls for the repast and partakes.
Genesis 27:26-29
He gives the kiss of paternal affection, and pronounces the benediction. It contains, first, a fertile soil. “Of the dew of heaven.” An abundant measure of this was especially precious in a country where the rain is confined to two seasons of the year. “Of the fatness of the earth;” a proportion of this to match and render available the dew of heaven. “Corn and wine,” the substantial products, implying all the rest. Second, a numerous and powerful offspring. “Let peoples serve thee” - pre-eminence among the nations. “Be lord of thy brethren” - pre-eminence among his kindred. Isaac does not seem to have grasped the full meaning of the prediction, “The older shall serve the younger.” Third, Prosperity, temporal and spiritual. He that curseth thee be cursed, and he that blesseth thee be blessed. This is the only part of the blessing that directly comprises spiritual things; and even this of a special form. It is to be recollected that it was Isaac’s intention to bless Esau, and he may have felt that Esau, after all, was not to be the progenitor of the holy seed. Hence, the form of expression is vague enough to apply to temporal things, and yet sufficiently comprehensive to embrace the infliction of the ban of sin, and the diffusion of the blessing of salvation by means of the holy seed.
Genesis 27:30-41
Esau’s blessing. Esau comes in, but it is too late. “Who then?” The whole illusion is dispelled from the mind of Isaac. “Yea, blessed he shall be.” Jacob had no doubt perpetrated a fraud, at the instigation of his mother; and if Esau had been worthy in other respects, and above all if the blessing had been designed for him, its bestowment on another would have been either prevented or regarded as null and void. But Isaac now felt that, whatever was the misconduct of Jacob in interfering, and especially in employing unworthy means to accomplish his end, he himself was culpable in allowing carnal considerations to draw his preference to Esau, who was otherwise unworthy. He knew too that the paternal benediction flowed not from the bias of the parent, but from the Spirit of God guiding his will, and therefore when so pronounced could not be revoked. Hence, he was now convinced that it was the design of Providence that the spiritual blessing should fall on the line of Jacob. The grief of Esau is distressing to witness, especially as he had been comparatively blameless in this particular instance. But still it is to be remembered that his heart had not been open to the paramount importance of spiritual things. Isaac now perceives that Jacob has gained the blessing by deceit. Esau marks the propriety of his name, the wrestler who trips up the heel, and pleads pathetically for at least some blessing. His father enumerates what he has done for Jacob, and asks what more he can do for Esau; who then exclaims, “Hast thou but one blessing?”
Genesis 27:39-41
At length, in reply to the weeping suppliant, he bestows upon him a characteristic blessing. “Away from the fatness.” The preposition (מי mı̂y) is the same as in the blessing of Jacob. But there, after a verb of giving, it had a partitive sense; here, after a noun of place, it denotes distance or separation; for example, Proverbs 20:3 The pastoral life has been distasteful to Esau, and so it shall be with his race. The land of Edom was accordingly a comparative wilderness (Malachi 1:3). “On thy sword.” By preying upon others. “And thy brother shalt thou serve.” Edom was long independent; but at length Saul was victorious over them 1 Samuel 14:47, and David conquered them 2 Samuel 8:14. Then followed a long struggle, until John Hyrcanus, 129 b.c., compelled them to be circumcised and incorporated into Judaism. “Break his yoke.” The history of Edom was a perpetual struggle against the supremacy of Israel. Conquered by Saul, subdued by David, repressed by Solomon, restrained after a revolt by Amaziah, they recovered their independence in the time of Ahab. They were incorporated into the Jewish state, and furnished it with the dynasty of princes beginning with Antipater. Esau was now exasperated against his brother, and could only compose his mind by resolving to slay him during the days of mourning after his father’s death.
Genesis 27:42-46
Rebekah hearing this, advises Jacob to flee to Laban her brother, and await the abatement of his brother’s anger. “That which thou hast done to him.” Rebekah seems not to have been aware that she herself was the cause of much of the evil and of the misery that flowed from it. All the parties to this transaction are pursued by a retributive chastisement. Rebekah, especially, parts with her favorite son to meet him only after an absence of twenty years, if ever in this life. She is moreover grievously vexed with the connection which Esau formed with the daughters of Heth. She dreads a similar matrimonial alliance on the part of Jacob.
Clarke's Notes on the Bible
Verse Genesis 27:23. And he discerned him not, because his hands were hairy — From this circumstance we may learn that Isaac's sense of feeling was much impaired by his present malady. When he could not discern the skin of a kid from the flesh of his son, we see that he was, through his infirmity, in a fit state to be imposed on by the deceit of his wife, and the cunning of his younger son.
