Genesis 27

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Chapter Overview

Genesis 27 is a narrative chapter in the Old Testament that explores themes of covenant, love, worship. Written during the patriarchal period (c. 2000-1700 BCE), this chapter should be understood within its historical context: The ancient Near Eastern world was filled with competing creation narratives and flood stories.

The chapter can be divided into several sections:

  1. Verses 1-5: Introduction and setting the context
  2. Verses 6-12: Development of key themes
  3. Verses 13-20: Central message and teachings
  4. Verses 21-46: Conclusion and application

This chapter is significant because it illustrates divine judgment and mercy in response to human actions. When studying this passage, it's important to consider both its immediate context within Genesis and its broader place in the scriptural canon.

Jacob Steals Esau's Blessing

1 And it came to pass, that when Isaac was old, and his eyes were dim, so that he could not see, he called Esau his eldest son, and said unto him, My son: and he said unto him, Behold, here am I. Parallel theme: Genesis 48:10, 1 Samuel 3:2, John 9:3

2 And he said, Behold now, I am old, I know not the day of my death: Parallel theme: Genesis 47:29, 48:21, 1 Samuel 20:3, Proverbs 27:1, Ecclesiastes 9:10, Isaiah 38:1, 38:3, Mark 13:35, James 4:14 +4

3 Now therefore take, I pray thee, thy weapons, thy quiver and thy bow, and go out to the field, and take me some venison; Parallel theme: Genesis 10:9, 1 Corinthians 6:12

4 And make me savoury meat, such as I loveLove: אַהֲבָה / חֶסֶד (Ahavah / Chesed). Hebrew uses ahavah (אַהֲבָה) for love generally, but the covenant term chesed (חֶסֶד) describes God's steadfast, loyal love—faithful covenant commitment beyond mere emotion., and bring it to me, that I may eat; that my soul may bless thee before I die. Blessing: Genesis 14:19, 27:25, 27:31, 48:9, 49:28, Joshua 14:13, 22:6, Luke 2:34, 24:51, Hebrews 11:20 +5

5 And Rebekah heard when Isaac spake to Esau his son. And Esau went to the field to hunt for venison, and to bring it.

6 And Rebekah spake unto Jacob her son, saying, Behold, I heard thy father speak unto Esau thy brother, saying,

7 Bring me venison, and make me savoury meat, that I may eat, and bless thee before the LORDLord: יְהוָה / אֲדֹנָי (YHWH / Adonai). When 'LORD' appears in small capitals, it represents the Tetragrammaton YHWH (יְהוָה), God's personal covenant name meaning 'I AM.' When 'Lord' appears normally, it's Adonai (אֲדֹנָי), meaning 'my Lord,' emphasizing sovereignty. before my death. References Lord: Joshua 6:26, 1 Samuel 24:19. Blessing: Deuteronomy 33:1

8 Now therefore, my son, obey my voice according to that which I command thee. Parallel theme: Genesis 25:23, 27:13, 27:43, Acts 4:19, 5:29, Ephesians 6:1

9 Go now to the flock, and fetch me from thence two good kids of the goats; and I will make them savoury meat for thy father, such as he loveth: Parallel theme: Judges 13:15, 1 Samuel 16:20

10 And thou shalt bring it to thy father, that he may eat, and that he may bless thee before his death.

11 And Jacob said to Rebekah his mother, Behold, Esau my brother is a hairy man, and I am a smooth man: Parallel theme: Genesis 25:25

12 My father peradventure will feel me, and I shall seem to him as a deceiver; and I shall bring a curse upon me, and not a blessing. Curse: Genesis 9:25, Deuteronomy 27:18, Jeremiah 48:10, Malachi 1:14. Sin: Genesis 27:36. Parallel theme: Genesis 25:27, Job 12:16, 2 Corinthians 6:8, 1 Thessalonians 5:22 +4

13 And his mother said unto him, Upon me be thy curse, my son: only obey my voice, and go fetch me them. Parallel theme: Genesis 25:23, 25:33, 27:8, 43:9, 1 Samuel 25:24, 2 Samuel 14:9, Matthew 27:25 +2

14 And he went, and fetched, and brought them to his mother: and his mother made savoury meat, such as his father loved. Love: Genesis 25:28, 27:4, 27:9. Creation: Genesis 27:31. Parallel theme: Genesis 27:7, 27:17, Psalms 141:4, Luke 21:34 +3

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: Parallel theme: Genesis 27:27, Luke 15:22, 20:46

16 And she put the skins of the kids of the goats upon his hands, and upon the smooth of his neck:

17 And she gave the savoury meat and the bread, which she had prepared, into the hand of her son Jacob.

18 And he came unto his father, and said, My father: and he said, Here am I; who art thou, my son?

19 And Jacob said unto his father, I am Esau thy firstborn; I have done according as thou badest me: arise, I pray thee, sit and eat of my venison, that thy soul may bless me. Blessing: Genesis 27:4. Prayer: Genesis 27:21, 1 Kings 14:2. Parallel theme: Genesis 25:25, Isaiah 28:15

20 And Isaac said unto his son, How is it that thou hast found it so quickly, my son? And he said, Because the LORD thy GodGod: אֱלֹהִים (Elohim). The Hebrew Elohim (אֱלֹהִים) is a plural form denoting majesty and fullness of deity. Though grammatically plural, it takes singular verbs when referring to the one true God, suggesting the Trinity's plurality within unity. brought it to me. References God: Genesis 24:12, Exodus 20:7, Job 13:7

21 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. Parallel theme: Genesis 27:12, Psalms 73:28, Isaiah 57:19, James 4:8

22 And Jacob went near unto Isaac his father; and he felt him, and said, The voice is Jacob's voice, but the hands are the hands of Esau.

23 And he discerned him not, because his hands were hairy, as his brother Esau's hands: so he blessed him. Blessing: Hebrews 11:20. Parallel theme: Genesis 27:16

24 And he said, Art thou my very son Esau? And he said, I am. Parallel theme: 1 Samuel 21:2, 21:13, 27:10, Job 15:5, Proverbs 12:19, 12:22, 30:8, Zechariah 8:16, Ephesians 4:25, Colossians 3:9 +5

25 And he said, Bring it near to me, and I will eat of my son's venison, that my soul may bless thee. And he brought it near to him, and he did eat: and he brought him wine, and he drank. Blessing: Genesis 27:4

26 And his father Isaac said unto him, Come near now, and kiss me, my son.

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 LORDLord: יְהוָה / אֲדֹנָי (YHWH / Adonai). When 'LORD' appears in small capitals, it represents the Tetragrammaton YHWH (יְהוָה), God's personal covenant name meaning 'I AM.' When 'Lord' appears normally, it's Adonai (אֲדֹנָי), meaning 'my Lord,' emphasizing sovereignty. hath blessed: Blessing: Genesis 26:12, Psalms 65:10, Hebrews 6:7, 11:20. Related: Song of Solomon 2:13

28 Therefore GodGod: אֱלֹהִים (Elohim). The Hebrew Elohim (אֱלֹהִים) is a plural form denoting majesty and fullness of deity. Though grammatically plural, it takes singular verbs when referring to the one true God, suggesting the Trinity's plurality within unity. give thee of the dew of heaven, and the fatness of the earth, and plenty of corn and wine: Parallel theme: Deuteronomy 7:13, 32:2, 33:13, 33:28, 2 Samuel 1:21, Psalms 36:8, 104:15, 133:3, Isaiah 45:8, Zechariah 8:12 +5

29 Let people serve thee, and nations bow down to thee: be lord over thy brethren, and let thy mother's sons bow down to thee: cursed be every one that curseth thee, and blessed be he that blesseth thee. References Lord: Genesis 27:37, Isaiah 9:7, 45:14, 49:7, 49:23. Blessing: Genesis 12:3, Numbers 24:9. Parallel theme: Genesis 37:7, Psalms 72:8, Romans 9:12 +5

30 And it came to pass, as soon as Isaac had made an end of blessing Jacob, and Jacob was yet scarce gone out from the presence of Isaac his father, that Esau his brother came in from his hunting.

31 And he also had made savoury meat, and brought it unto his father, and said unto his father, Let my father arise, and eat of his son's venison, that thy soul may bless me.

32 And Isaac his father said unto him, Who art thou? And he said, I am thy son, thy firstborn Esau.

33 And Isaac trembled very exceedingly, and said, Who? where is he that hath taken venison, and brought it me, and I have eaten of all before thou camest, and have blessed him? yea, and he shall be blessed. Parallel theme: Romans 11:29

34 And when Esau heard the words of his father, he cried with a great and exceeding bitter cry, and said unto his father, Bless me, even me also, O my father. Blessing: Hebrews 12:17. Parallel theme: Proverbs 1:31

35 And he said, Thy brother came with subtilty, and hath taken away thy blessing. Parallel theme: 1 Thessalonians 4:6

36 And he said, Is not he rightly named Jacob? for he hath supplanted me these two times: he took away my birthright; and, behold, now he hath taken away my blessing. And he said, Hast thou not reserved a blessing for me? Parallel theme: Genesis 25:26

37 And Isaac answered and said unto Esau, Behold, I have made him thy lord, and all his brethren have I given to him for servants; and with corn and wine have I sustained him: and what shall I do now unto thee, my son? References Lord: Genesis 25:23, 2 Samuel 8:14

38 And Esau said unto his father, Hast thou but one blessing, my father? bless me, even me also, O my father. And Esau lifted up his voice, and wept. Sin: Hebrews 12:17. Blessing: Genesis 27:34

39 And Isaac his father answered and said unto him, Behold, thy dwelling shall be the fatness of the earth, and of the dew of heavenHeaven: שָׁמַיִם (Shamayim). The Hebrew shamayim (שָׁמַיִם) means heaven or sky—God's dwelling place and the realm above earth. 'The heaven, even the heavens, are the LORD's' (Psalm 115:16), yet 'the heaven of heavens cannot contain Him' (1 Kings 8:27). from above; Parallel theme: Genesis 27:28, Hebrews 11:20

40 And by thy sword shalt thou live, and shalt serve thy brother; and it shall come to pass when thou shalt have the dominion, that thou shalt break his yoke from off thy neck. Parallel theme: Genesis 25:23, 32:6, 2 Samuel 8:14, 2 Kings 14:7, 14:10, 2 Chronicles 21:8, 21:10, 28:17, Psalms 60:8 +4

Esau's Anger

41 And Esau hated Jacob because of the blessing wherewith his father blessed him: and Esau said in his heart, The days of mourning for my father are at hand; then will I slay my brother Jacob. Parallel theme: Genesis 32:6, 37:4, 37:8, Proverbs 6:14, Ecclesiastes 7:9

42 And these words of Esau her elder son were told to Rebekah: and she sent and called Jacob her younger son, and said unto him, Behold, thy brother Esau, as touching thee, doth comfort himself, purposing to kill thee.

43 Now therefore, my son, obey my voice; and arise, flee thou to Laban my brother to Haran; Parallel theme: Genesis 11:31, 27:8, 27:13

44 And tarry with him a few days, until thy brother's fury turn away; Parallel theme: Genesis 31:38

45 Until thy brother's anger turn away from thee, and he forget that which thou hast done to him: then I will send, and fetch thee from thence: why should I be deprived also of you both in one day?

46 And Rebekah said to Isaac, I am weary of my life because of the daughters of Heth: if Jacob take a wife of the daughters of Heth, such as these which are of the daughters of the land, what good shall my life do me? Parallel theme: Genesis 24:3, 28:8