Chapter Summary
Core Passages from Genesis 27
Genesis 27:22So Jacob went near to Isaac his father, who felt him and said, “The voice is Jacob's voice, but the hands are the hands of Esau.”
This is the pivotal moment of deception, where Isaac's senses are fooled. He notes, 'The voice is Jacob's voice, but the hands are the hands of Esau,' yet proceeds with the blessing, showing how easily we can be misled when relying on partial truths.Genesis 27:34As soon as Esau heard the words of his father, he cried out with an exceedingly great and bitter cry and said to his father, "Bless me, even me also, O my father!"
Esau's 'exceedingly great and bitter cry' reveals the great weight of the blessing and the deep pain of the betrayal. His anguish underscores the devastating emotional fallout of the family's actions.Genesis 27:41Now Esau hated Jacob because of the blessing with which his father had blessed him, and Esau said to himself, “The days of mourning for my father are approaching; then I will kill my brother Jacob.”
This verse marks the tragic outcome of the deception: Esau's grief hardens into a murderous hatred for his brother. The stolen blessing shatters the family, forcing Jacob to flee for his life and beginning decades of separation and conflict.
Historical & Cultural Context
An Aging Father's Final Wish
The chapter opens with a sense of finality. Isaac is old, his sight is gone, and he believes his death is near. Following tradition and his own personal affection, he prepares to pass on the patriarchal blessing - a powerful, life-defining pronouncement - to his firstborn, Esau. He requests his favorite meal from Esau, the skilled hunter, setting the stage for a sacred family ritual that he intends to control.
A Mother's Deceptive Intervention
Rebekah overhears Isaac's plan and immediately takes action. Remembering God's prophecy from before the twins were born that 'the older will serve the younger' (Genesis 25:23), she decides to secure the blessing for her favored son, Jacob. She orchestrates an elaborate deception, demonstrating a willingness to manipulate her husband and son to ensure what she believes is God's intended outcome, regardless of the ethical cost.
The Stolen Blessing and Its Aftermath
The scene is set in the family camp of Isaac, an atmosphere thick with anticipation and secrecy. An aging patriarch is ready to bestow a life-altering blessing, but his wife has set a deceptive plot in motion. The following events, from verses 1-46, detail this conspiracy, the heartbreaking moment of truth, and the bitter consequences that shatter a family.
The Plan is Hatched (Genesis 27:1-17)
27 When Isaac was old and his eyes were dim so that he could not see, he called Esau his older son and said to him, "My son"; and he answered, "Here I am."
2 And he said, "Behold, I am old; I do not know the day of my death.
3 Now then, take your weapons, your quiver and your bow, and go out to the field and hunt game for me,
4 and prepare for me delicious food, such as I love, and bring it to me so that I may eat, that my soul may bless you before I die."
5 Now Rebekah was listening when Isaac spoke to his son Esau. So when Esau went to the field to hunt for game and bring it,
6 Rebekah said to her son Jacob, "I heard your father speak to your brother Esau, saying,
7 'Bring me game and prepare for me delicious food, that I may eat it and bless you before the Lord before I die.'
8 Now therefore, my son, obey my voice as I command you.
9 Go to the flock and bring me two good young goats, so that I may prepare from them delicious food for your father, such as he loves.
10 Then you shall bring it to your father, that he may eat, so that he may bless you before he dies."
11 But Jacob said to Rebekah his mother, "Behold, my brother Esau is a hairy man, and I am a smooth man.
12 Perhaps my father will feel me, and I shall seem to be mocking him and bring a curse upon myself and not a blessing."
13 Now therefore, my son, obey my voice. Go to the flock and bring me two good young goats, so that I may prepare from them delicious food for your father, such as he loves.
14 So he went and took them and brought them to his mother, and his mother prepared delicious food, such as his father loved.
15 Then Rebekah took the best garments of Esau her older son, which were with her in the house, and put them on Jacob her younger son.
16 And she put the skins of the young goats on his hands and on the smooth part of his neck.
17 Then she gave the savory food and the bread, which she had prepared, into the hand of her son Jacob.
Commentary:
Rebekah orchestrates a plan for Jacob to trick his blind father and steal Esau's blessing.
Related Verse Analysis
The Deception is Executed (Genesis 27:18-29)
18 So he went in to his father and said, "My father." And he said, "Here I am. Who are you, my son?"
19 Jacob said to his father, “I am Esau your firstborn. I have done as you told me; now sit up and eat of my game, that your soul may bless me.”
20 Then Isaac said to his son, “How is it that you have found it so quickly, my son?” He answered, “Because the Lord your God granted me success.”
21 Then Isaac said to Jacob, “Please come near, that I may feel you, my son, to know whether you are really my son Esau or not.”
22 So Jacob went near to Isaac his father, who felt him and said, “The voice is Jacob's voice, but the hands are the hands of Esau.”
23 Then he did not recognize him, because his hands were hairy like his brother Esau's hands. So he blessed him.
24 Then he said, “Are you really my son Esau?” He answered, “I am.”
25 Then he said, “Bring it near to me, that I may eat of my son's game and bless you.” So he brought it near to him, and he ate; and he brought him wine, and he drank.
26 Then his father Isaac said to him, "Come near and kiss me, my son."
27 So he came near and kissed him. And Isaac smelled the smell of his garments and blessed him and said, "See, the smell of my son is as the smell of a field that the Lord has blessed!
28 May God give you of the dew of heaven and of the fatness of the earth and plenty of grain and wine.
29 Let peoples serve you, and nations bow down to you. Be lord over your brothers, and may your mother's sons bow down to you. Cursed be everyone who curses you, and blessed be everyone who blesses you!
Commentary:
Jacob lies to his father Isaac and successfully receives the firstborn's blessing.
The Heartbreaking Discovery (Genesis 27:30-40)
30 As soon as Isaac had finished blessing Jacob, when Jacob had scarcely gone out from the presence of Isaac his father, Esau his brother came in from his hunting.
31 As soon as Isaac had finished blessing Jacob, when Jacob had scarcely gone out from the presence of Isaac his father, Esau his brother came in from his hunting.
32 His father Isaac said to him, “Who are you?” He answered, “I am your son, your firstborn, Esau.”
33 Then Isaac trembled very violently and said, “Who was it then that hunted game and brought it to me, and I ate it all before you came, and I have blessed him? Yes, and he shall be blessed.”
34 As soon as Esau heard the words of his father, he cried out with an exceedingly great and bitter cry and said to his father, "Bless me, even me also, O my father!"
35 But he said, “Your brother came deceitfully, and he has taken away your blessing.”
36 Then he said, “Is he not rightly named Jacob? For he has cheated me these two times. He took away my birthright, and behold, now he has taken away my blessing.” And he said, “Have you not reserved a blessing for me?”
37 Isaac answered and said to Esau, "Behold, I have made him lord over you, and all his brothers I have given to him for servants, and with grain and wine I have sustained him. What then can I do for you, my son?"
38 Esau said to his father, “Have you but one blessing, my father? Bless me, even me also, O my father.” And Esau lifted up his voice and wept.
39 Then Isaac his father answered and said to him: "Behold, away from the fatness of the earth shall your dwelling be, and away from the dew of heaven on high.
40 By your sword you shall live, and you shall serve your brother; but when you grow restless you shall break his yoke from your neck.
Commentary:
Esau returns to find his blessing has been stolen, leading to his and Isaac's great grief.
The Deadly Fallout (Genesis 27:41-46)
41 Now Esau hated Jacob because of the blessing with which his father had blessed him, and Esau said to himself, “The days of mourning for my father are approaching; then I will kill my brother Jacob.”
42 But the words of Esau her older son were told to Rebekah. So she sent and called Jacob her younger son and said to him, "Behold, your brother Esau comforts himself about you by planning to kill you.
43 Now therefore, my son, obey my voice. Arise, flee to Laban my brother in Haran,
44 Stay with him a while, until your brother's fury turns away,
45 until your brother's anger turns away from you, and he forgets what you have done to him. Then I will send and bring you from there. Why should I be bereft of you both in one day?"
46 Then Rebekah said to Isaac, "I loathe my life because of the Hittite women. If Jacob marries one of the Hittite women like these, one of the women of the land, what good will my life be to me?"
Commentary:
Filled with hatred, Esau plots to kill Jacob, forcing Jacob to flee for his life.
Unpacking the Dysfunctional Family Dynamics
The Corrosive Nature of Deception
This chapter is a powerful illustration of how lies and manipulation destroy trust and shatter relationships. Every key character is involved in some form of deceit, leading to a broken family, exile, and a grudge that lasts for decades.
God's Sovereignty Amid Human Flaws
Despite the family's sinful actions, God's prophecy that the older would serve the younger is fulfilled. This theme shows that God's ultimate purposes are not derailed by human scheming. He works through flawed people, but this never excuses their sin or removes its painful consequences.
The Irrevocable Power of Words
In ancient culture, a father's blessing was seen as a binding, prophetic act that shaped the future. Isaac's conviction that he cannot take back the blessing, even though it was obtained by fraud, highlights the immense weight given to the spoken word.
Lessons from a Broken Family
Genesis 27 shows that playing favorites, whether with children, friends, or colleagues, creates an environment of jealousy and resentment. Isaac and Rebekah's preferences tore their family apart. It challenges you to treat people with equal love and value, recognizing that favoritism plants the seeds of conflict and betrayal.
Their story is a powerful reminder that a noble goal does not justify sinful methods. Rebekah knew God's prophecy but chose deception instead of trust, causing immense pain. This teaches you to align not only your goals with God's will but also your methods, choosing integrity and patience over manipulation and control.
When Esau was wronged, his deep grief curdled into a murderous grudge (Genesis 27:41). His response is a warning against letting bitterness and a desire for revenge consume you when you face injustice. It challenges you to process your pain without letting it define you, and to entrust justice to God rather than seeking personal vengeance.
God's Purpose in Human Chaos
Genesis 27 paints a raw portrait of a family undone by favoritism and deceit. Each person acts selfishly, leading to betrayal and heartbreak that will echo for generations. Yet, in the midst of this human mess, God's sovereign plan to carry His covenant promise through Jacob prevails. The message is a sobering one: our sinful choices have devastating consequences, but they cannot ultimately thwart the unstoppable purpose of God.
What This Means for Us Today
The story of the stolen blessing serves as a powerful warning against trying to control God's promises through our own flawed efforts. It invites us to look at our own hearts and root out any deception or favoritism that might be damaging our relationships. We are called to walk in integrity, trusting that God will fulfill His word in His time and His way.
- In what areas of your life are you tempted to manipulate outcomes instead of trusting God?
- Is there a relationship where your actions, even with good intentions, may be causing division?
- How can you practice patience and integrity while waiting for God's promises to unfold?
Further Reading
Immediate Context
This chapter details God's reaffirmation of His covenant with Isaac, setting the stage for the immense importance of the blessing passed to the next generation.
Following the events of chapter 27, Jacob flees and receives a personal encounter with God at Bethel, where the covenant blessing is confirmed directly to him.
Connections Across Scripture
This passage provides the essential backstory, including God's prophecy to Rebekah that the older son would serve the younger, which heavily influenced her actions.
The Apostle Paul uses the story of Jacob and Esau to explain the doctrine of God's sovereign choice, showing that God's purpose is not based on human works but on His call.
The author of Hebrews uses Esau as a cautionary example of someone who was 'godless' because he sold his inheritance for a single meal and later could not undo his choice.
Discussion Questions
- Who do you believe is most responsible for the conflict in this chapter: Isaac, Rebekah, Jacob, or Esau? Explain your reasoning.
- This story shows God's plan moving forward through very flawed people and sinful actions. How does this truth both comfort and challenge you in your own life?
- Isaac believed his blessing was irreversible once spoken. How does this ancient view of words challenge you to think about the power and permanence of what you say to and about others?
Glossary
figures
Isaac
The son of Abraham and Sarah, father of Jacob and Esau, and the patriarch who was deceived into giving away his blessing.
Rebekah
Isaac's wife and mother of the twins, who orchestrated the plan for Jacob to receive the blessing.
Jacob
The younger twin who, with his mother's help, deceived his father to obtain the firstborn's blessing.
Esau
The older twin, a skillful hunter and Isaac's favorite, who was cheated out of his birthright and blessing.