Genesis 27
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Commentaries
Excerpts gathered from published commentaries to ground the reading.
Isaac was old - It is conjectured, on good grounds, that Isaac was now about one hundred and seventeen years of age, and Jacob about fifty-seven; though the commonly received opinion makes Isaac one hundred and thirty-seven, and Jacob seventy-seven; but see note on Gen 31:55, etc. And his eyes were dim - This was probably the effect of that affliction, of what kind we know not, under which Isaac now labored; and from which, as well as from the affliction, he probably recovered, as it is certain he lived forty if not forty-three years after this time, for he lived till the return of Jacob from Padan-aram; Gen 35:27-29.
Open source ↗INFIRMITY OF ISAAC. (Gen. 27:1-27) when Isaac was old, and his eyes were dim--He was in his hundred thirty-seventh year; and apprehending death to be near, Isaac prepared to make his last will--an act of the gravest importance, especially as it included the conveyance through a prophetic spirit of the patriarchal blessing.
Open source ↗And it came to pass, that when Isaac was old,.... He is generally thought to be about one hundred and thirty seven years of age at this time, which was just the age of his brother Ishmael when he died, Gen 25:16; and might put him in mind of his own death as near at hand; though if he was no older, he lived after this forty three years, for he lived to be one hundred and eighty years old, Gen 35:28, and his eyes were dim, so that he could not see; which circumstance is mentioned, not only as a sign of old age, and as common to it, but for the sake of the following history, and as accounting for it, that he should not know Jacob when he blessed him; and this was so ordered in Providence, that by means of it the blessing might be transferred to him, which otherwise in all probability would not have been done, if Isaac had had his sight: he called Esau his eldest son; who though he was married, and had been married thirty seven years at this time, yet still lived in his father's house, or near him; for as he was born when his father was sixty years of age, and he married when he himself was forty, and his father must be an hundred, so if Isaac was now one hundred and thirty seven, Esau must have been married thirty seven years; and though he had disobliged his father by his marriage, yet he retained a natural affliction for him; nor had he turned him out of doors, nor had he any thoughts of disinheriting him; but on the contrary intended to bestow the blessing on him as the firstborn, for which reason he is here called "his eldest son": and said unto him, my son; owning the relation, expressing a tender affection for him, and signifying he had something further to say unto him: and he said unto him, behold, here am I; by which Esau intimated he was ready to hear what his f…
Open source ↗When Isaac had grown old, and his eyes were dim, so that he could no longer see (מראת from seeing, with the neg. מן as in Gen 16:2, etc.), he wished, in the consciousness of approaching death, to give his blessing to his elder son. Isaac was then in his 137th year, at which age his half-brother Ishmael had died fourteen years before; (Note: Cf. Lightfoot, opp. 1, p. 19. This correct estimate of Luther's is based upon the following calculation: - When Joseph was introduced to Pharaoh he was thirty years old (Gen 41:46), and when Jacob went into Egypt, thirty-nine, as the seven years of abundance and two of famine had then passed by (Gen 45:6). But Jacob was at that time 130 years old (Gen 47:9). Consequently Joseph was born before Jacob was ninety-one; and as his birth took place in the fourteenth year of Jacob's sojourn in Mesopotamia (cf. Gen 30:25, and Gen 29:18, Gen 29:21, and Gen 29:27), Jacob's flight to Laban occurred in the seventy-seventh year of his own life, and the 137th of Isaac's.) and this, with the increasing infirmities of age, may have suggested the thought of death, though he did not die till forty-three years afterwards (Gen 35:28). Without regard to the words which were spoken by God with reference to the children before their birth, and without taking any notice of Esau's frivolous barter of his birthright and his ungodly connection with Canaanites, Isaac maintained his preference for Esau, and directed him therefore to take his things (כּלים, hunting gear), his quiver and bow, to hunt game and prepare a savoury dish, that he might eat, and his soul might bless him. As his preference for Esau was fostered and strengthened by, if it did not spring from, his liking for game (Gen 25:28), so now he wished to raise his spirits for imparting the blessing…
Open source ↗Here is, I. Isaac's design to make his will, and to declare Esau his heir. The promise of the Messiah and the land of Canaan was a great trust, first committed to Abraham, inclusive and typical of spiritual and eternal blessings; this, by divine direction, he transmitted to Isaac. Isaac, being now old, and not knowing, or not understanding, or not duly considering, the divine oracle concerning his two sons, that the elder should serve the younger, resolves to entail all the honour and power that were wrapped up in the promise upon Esau his eldest son. In this he was governed more by natural affection, and the common method of settlements, than he ought to have been, if he know (as it is probable he did) the intimations God had given of his mind in this matter. Note, We are very apt to take our measures rather from our own reason than from divine revelation, and thereby often miss our way; we think the wise and learned, the mighty and noble, should inherit the promise; but God sees not as man sees. See Sa1 16:6, Sa1 16:7. II. The directions he gave to Esau, pursuant to this design. He calls him to him, Gen 27:1. For Esau, though married, had not yet removed; and, though he had greatly grieved his parents by his marriage, yet they had not expelled him, but it seems were pretty well reconciled to him, and made the best of it. Note, Parents that are justly offended at their children yet must not be implacable towards them. 1. He tells him upon what considerations he resolved to do this now (Gen 27:2): "I am old, and therefore must die shortly, yet I know not the day of my death, nor when I must die; I will therefore do that at this time which must be done some time." Note, (1.) Old people should be reminded by the growing infirmities of age to do quickly, and with all the l…
Open source ↗27:1-40 Jacob got his father Isaac’s blessing through deception. In this story, an entire family tries to carry out their responsibilities by physical means rather than by faith. Faith would have provided Rebekah and Jacob a more honorable solution to the crisis. 27:1-4 The first scene sets up the chapter’s crisis. Isaac knew of God’s oracle (25:22-23), yet he thwarted or ignored it by trying to bless Esau. • Isaac was old and turning blind: He was losing his senses, both physically and spiritually.
Open source ↗Original language
The Hebrew and Greek words behind this passage, with Strong's numbers — from openscriptures (CC BY-SA).
הָיָה (hâyâh, H1961) — to exist, i.e. be or become, come to pass (always emphatic, and not a mere copula or… יִצְחָק (Yitschâq, H3327) — Jitschak (or Isaac), son of Abraham זָקֵן (zâqên, H2204) — to be old עַיִן (ʻayin, H5869) — an eye (literally or figuratively); by analogy, a fountain (as the eye of the landscape) כָּהָה (kâhâh, H3543) — to be weak, i.e. (figuratively) to despond (causatively, rebuke), or (of light, the eye)… רָאָה (râʼâh, H7200) — to see, literally or figuratively (in numerous applications, direct and implied,… קָרָא (qârâʼ, H7121) — to call out to (i.e. properly, address by name, but used in a wide variety of… עֵשָׂו (ʻÊsâv, H6215) — Esav, a son of Isaac, including his posterity גָּדוֹל (gâdôwl, H1419) — great (in any sense); hence, older; also insolent בֵּן (bên, H1121) — a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative… אָמַר (ʼâmar, H559) — to say (used with great latitude)
Open source ↗אָמַר (ʼâmar, H559) — to say (used with great latitude) זָקֵן (zâqên, H2204) — to be old יָדַע (yâdaʻ, H3045) — to know (properly, to ascertain by seeing); used in a great variety of senses,… יוֹם (yôwm, H3117) — a day (as the warm hours), whether literal (from sunrise to sunset, or from one sunset to… מָוֶת (mâveth, H4194) — death (natural or violent); concretely, the dead, their place or state (hades);…
Open source ↗נָשָׂא (nâsâʼ, H5375) — to lift, in a great variety of applications, literal and figurative, absolute and relative כְּלִי (kᵉlîy, H3627) — something prepared, i.e. any apparatus (as an implement, utensil, dress, vessel or weapon) תְּלִי (tᵉlîy, H8522) — a quiver (as slung) קֶשֶׁת (qesheth, H7198) — a bow, forshooting (hence, figuratively, strength) or the iris יָצָא (yâtsâʼ, H3318) — to go (causatively, bring) out, in a great variety of applications, literally and… שָׂדֶה (sâdeh, H7704) — a field (as flat) צוּד (tsûwd, H6679) — to lie alongside (i.e. in wait); by implication, to catch an animal (figuratively, men);… צַיִד (tsayid, H6718) — the chase; also game (thus taken); (generally) lunch (especially for a journey) צֵידָה (tsêydâh, H6720) — food
Open source ↗עָשָׂה (ʻâsâh, H6213) — to do or make, in the broadest sense and widest application מַטְעַם (maṭʻam, H4303) — a delicacy אֲשֶׁר (ʼăsher, H834) — who, which, what, that; also (as an adverb and a conjunction) when, where, how, because,… אָהַב (ʼâhab, H157) — to have affection for (sexually or otherwise) בּוֹא (bôwʼ, H935) — to go or come (in a wide variety of applications) אָכַל (ʼâkal, H398) — to eat (literally or figuratively) נֶפֶשׁ (nephesh, H5315) — properly, a breathing creature, i.e. animal of (abstractly) vitality; used very widely in… בָרַךְ (bârak, H1288) — to kneel; by implication to bless God (as an act of adoration), and (vice-versa) man (as… טֶרֶם (ṭerem, H2962) — properly, non-occurrence; used adverbially, not yet or before מוּת (mûwth, H4191) — to die (literally or figuratively); causatively, to kill
Open source ↗רִבְקָה (Ribqâh, H7259) — Ribkah, the wife of Isaac שָׁמַע (shâmaʻ, H8085) — to hear intelligently (often with implication of attention, obedience, etc.; causatively,… יִצְחָק (Yitschâq, H3327) — Jitschak (or Isaac), son of Abraham דָבַר (dâbar, H1696) — perhaps properly, to arrange; but used figuratively (of words), to speak; rarely (in a… עֵשָׂו (ʻÊsâv, H6215) — Esav, a son of Isaac, including his posterity בֵּן (bên, H1121) — a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative… יָלַךְ (yâlak, H3212) — to walk (literally or figuratively); causatively, to carry (in various senses) שָׂדֶה (sâdeh, H7704) — a field (as flat) צוּד (tsûwd, H6679) — to lie alongside (i.e. in wait); by implication, to catch an animal (figuratively, men);… צַיִד (tsayid, H6718) — the chase; also game (thus taken); (generally) lunch (especially for a journey) בּוֹא (bôwʼ, H935) — to go or come (in a wide variety of applications)
Open source ↗רִבְקָה (Ribqâh, H7259) — Ribkah, the wife of Isaac אָמַר (ʼâmar, H559) — to say (used with great latitude) יַעֲקֹב (Yaʻăqôb, H3290) — Jaakob, the Israelitish patriarch בֵּן (bên, H1121) — a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative… שָׁמַע (shâmaʻ, H8085) — to hear intelligently (often with implication of attention, obedience, etc.; causatively,… אָב (ʼâb, H1) — father, in a literal and immediate, or figurative and remote application דָבַר (dâbar, H1696) — perhaps properly, to arrange; but used figuratively (of words), to speak; rarely (in a… עֵשָׂו (ʻÊsâv, H6215) — Esav, a son of Isaac, including his posterity אָח (ʼâch, H251) — a brother (used in the widest sense of literal relationship and metaphorical affinity or…
Open source ↗בּוֹא (bôwʼ, H935) — to go or come (in a wide variety of applications) צַיִד (tsayid, H6718) — the chase; also game (thus taken); (generally) lunch (especially for a journey) עָשָׂה (ʻâsâh, H6213) — to do or make, in the broadest sense and widest application מַטְעַם (maṭʻam, H4303) — a delicacy אָכַל (ʼâkal, H398) — to eat (literally or figuratively) בָרַךְ (bârak, H1288) — to kneel; by implication to bless God (as an act of adoration), and (vice-versa) man (as… פָּנִים (pânîym, H6440) — the face (as the part that turns); used in a great variety of applications (literally and… יְהֹוָה (Yᵉhôvâh, H3068) — Jehovah, Jewish national name of God מָוֶת (mâveth, H4194) — death (natural or violent); concretely, the dead, their place or state (hades);…
Open source ↗בֵּן (bên, H1121) — a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative… שָׁמַע (shâmaʻ, H8085) — to hear intelligently (often with implication of attention, obedience, etc.; causatively,… קוֹל (qôwl, H6963) — a voice or sound אֲשֶׁר (ʼăsher, H834) — who, which, what, that; also (as an adverb and a conjunction) when, where, how, because,… צָוָה (tsâvâh, H6680) — (intensively) to constitute, enjoin
Open source ↗יָלַךְ (yâlak, H3212) — to walk (literally or figuratively); causatively, to carry (in various senses) צֹאן (tsôʼn, H6629) — a collective name for a flock (of sheep or goats); also figuratively (of men) לָקַח (lâqach, H3947) — to take (in the widest variety of applications) שְׁנַיִם (shᵉnayim, H8147) — two; also (as ordinal) twofold טוֹב (ṭôwb, H2896) — good (as an adjective) in the widest sense; used likewise as a noun, both in the… גְּדִי (gᵉdîy, H1423) — a young goat (from browsing) עֵז (ʻêz, H5795) — a she-goat (as strong), but masculine in plural (which also is used elliptically for… עָשָׂה (ʻâsâh, H6213) — to do or make, in the broadest sense and widest application מַטְעַם (maṭʻam, H4303) — a delicacy אָב (ʼâb, H1) — father, in a literal and immediate, or figurative and remote application אָהַב (ʼâhab, H157) — to have affection for (sexually or otherwise)
Open source ↗בּוֹא (bôwʼ, H935) — to go or come (in a wide variety of applications) אָב (ʼâb, H1) — father, in a literal and immediate, or figurative and remote application אָכַל (ʼâkal, H398) — to eat (literally or figuratively) אֲשֶׁר (ʼăsher, H834) — who, which, what, that; also (as an adverb and a conjunction) when, where, how, because,… בָרַךְ (bârak, H1288) — to kneel; by implication to bless God (as an act of adoration), and (vice-versa) man (as… פָּנִים (pânîym, H6440) — the face (as the part that turns); used in a great variety of applications (literally and… מָוֶת (mâveth, H4194) — death (natural or violent); concretely, the dead, their place or state (hades);…
Open source ↗יַעֲקֹב (Yaʻăqôb, H3290) — Jaakob, the Israelitish patriarch אָמַר (ʼâmar, H559) — to say (used with great latitude) רִבְקָה (Ribqâh, H7259) — Ribkah, the wife of Isaac אֵם (ʼêm, H517) — a mother (as the bond of the family); in a wide sense (both literally and figuratively… עֵשָׂו (ʻÊsâv, H6215) — Esav, a son of Isaac, including his posterity אָח (ʼâch, H251) — a brother (used in the widest sense of literal relationship and metaphorical affinity or… שָׂעִיר (sâʻîyr, H8163) — shaggy; as noun, a he-goat; by analogy, a faun אִישׁ (ʼîysh, H376) — a man as an individual or a male person; often used as an adjunct to a more definite term… חָלָק (châlâq, H2509) — smooth (especially of tongue)
Open source ↗אָב (ʼâb, H1) — father, in a literal and immediate, or figurative and remote application מָשַׁשׁ (mâshash, H4959) — to feel of; by implication, to grope עַיִן (ʻayin, H5869) — an eye (literally or figuratively); by analogy, a fountain (as the eye of the landscape) תָּעַע (tâʻaʻ, H8591) — to cheat; by analogy, to maltreat בּוֹא (bôwʼ, H935) — to go or come (in a wide variety of applications) קְלָלָה (qᵉlâlâh, H7045) — vilification בְּרָכָה (Bᵉrâkâh, H1293) — benediction; by implication prosperity
Open source ↗אֵם (ʼêm, H517) — a mother (as the bond of the family); in a wide sense (both literally and figuratively… אָמַר (ʼâmar, H559) — to say (used with great latitude) קְלָלָה (qᵉlâlâh, H7045) — vilification בֵּן (bên, H1121) — a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative… שָׁמַע (shâmaʻ, H8085) — to hear intelligently (often with implication of attention, obedience, etc.; causatively,… קוֹל (qôwl, H6963) — a voice or sound יָלַךְ (yâlak, H3212) — to walk (literally or figuratively); causatively, to carry (in various senses) לָקַח (lâqach, H3947) — to take (in the widest variety of applications)
Open source ↗יָלַךְ (yâlak, H3212) — to walk (literally or figuratively); causatively, to carry (in various senses) לָקַח (lâqach, H3947) — to take (in the widest variety of applications) בּוֹא (bôwʼ, H935) — to go or come (in a wide variety of applications) אֵם (ʼêm, H517) — a mother (as the bond of the family); in a wide sense (both literally and figuratively… עָשָׂה (ʻâsâh, H6213) — to do or make, in the broadest sense and widest application מַטְעַם (maṭʻam, H4303) — a delicacy אָב (ʼâb, H1) — father, in a literal and immediate, or figurative and remote application אָהַב (ʼâhab, H157) — to have affection for (sexually or otherwise)
Open source ↗Cross-references
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And at that time Eli, whose eyesight had grown so dim that he could not see, was lying in his room.
Now Israel’s eyesight was poor because of old age; he could hardly see. Joseph brought his sons to him, and his father kissed them and embraced them.
on the day the keepers of the house tremble and the strong men stoop, when those grinding cease because they are few and those watching through windows see dimly,
Jesus answered, “Neither this man nor his parents sinned, but this happened so that the works of God would be displayed in him.