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Genesis 27:1-25
New Catholic Bible
Genesis 27:1-25
New Catholic Bible
Chapter 27
Jacob Supplants His Brother.[a] 1 Isaac had grown old, and his eyes had failed so much that he could no longer see. He called his older son, Esau, and said to him, “My son.”
He answered, “Here I am.”
2 He continued, “See, I am old and do not know when I will die. 3 Take your weapons, your quiver and your bow, and go out into the countryside and hunt for some wild game for me. 4 Then prepare me a plate of delicious meat and bring it to me to eat, so that I may bless you before I die.”
5 Rebekah overheard Isaac speaking to his son Esau. When Esau went out into the countryside to hunt game and to bring it home, 6 Rebekah said to her son Jacob, “Behold, I have heard your father speaking to your brother Esau. 7 He said, ‘Bring me some game and prepare me a plate to eat it so that I may give you the Lord’s blessing before I die.’ 8 Now, my son, obey my instructions: 9 Go immediately to the flock and take two choice kids. I will prepare them to make a plate for your father just the way he likes it. 10 Then you can carry it to your father to eat, so that he may bless you before he dies.”
11 Jacob answered Rebekah his mother, “You know that my brother Esau is hairy, while my skin is smooth. 12 My father might touch me and realize that I am playing a trick on him and place a curse on me instead of a blessing.”
13 But his mother said, “Let that curse fall on me, my son! Only obey me and go and bring the kid goats.”
14 He went to get them and brought them back to his mother, and his mother prepared them to make a meal the way his father liked it. 15 Rebekah then took the best clothes of her older son, Esau, which were in the house with her. She put them on her younger son, Jacob. 16 She put the skins of the kid goats on the smooth parts of his arms and neck. 17 Then she gave the meal that she had prepared to her son Jacob.
18 He went to his father and said, “My father.” He answered, “Here I am. Who are you, my son?”
19 Jacob said to his father, “I am Esau, your firstborn. I have done everything you ordered. Please get up, sit down, and eat the game so that you may bless me.”
20 Isaac said to his son, “How did you prepare it so quickly, my son?” He answered, “The Lord placed the game right in front of me.”
21 Then Isaac said, “Draw near and let me touch you, my son, so that I may know if you are really my son Esau or not.”
22 Jacob drew near, and Isaac, his father, touched him and said, “The voice is the voice of Jacob, but the arms are the arms of Esau.” 23 He did not recognize him, because his arms were hairy like the arms of his brother Esau, and he blessed him. 24 Then he said to him one more time, “Are you really my son Esau?” He answered, “I am.”
25 He said, “Bring me the game to eat, my son, so that I can bless you.”
Jacob served him the meal and Isaac ate; and he brought him wine and he drank.
Read full chapterFootnotes
- Genesis 27:1 It had to be made clear that God chose Israel in a free and unmerited act and not because of human merits: all are sinners and salvation is a gift of his love (Rom 3:23-24).
As for the substitution of one person for another, this should not be judged by modern standards. The ancients thought that sacred acts like blessings had an immediate and irrevocable effect; when Isaac is told of the deception, he ratifies what has been done (vv. 33, 37).
Genesis 27:1-25
New International Version
Genesis 27:1-25
New International Version
27 When Isaac was old and his eyes were so weak that he could no longer see,(A) he called for Esau his older son(B) and said to him, “My son.”
“Here I am,” he answered.
2 Isaac said, “I am now an old man and don’t know the day of my death.(C) 3 Now then, get your equipment—your quiver and bow—and go out to the open country(D) to hunt some wild game for me. 4 Prepare me the kind of tasty food I like(E) and bring it to me to eat, so that I may give you my blessing(F) before I die.”(G)
5 Now Rebekah was listening as Isaac spoke to his son Esau. When Esau left for the open country(H) to hunt game and bring it back, 6 Rebekah said to her son Jacob,(I) “Look, I overheard your father say to your brother Esau, 7 ‘Bring me some game and prepare me some tasty food to eat, so that I may give you my blessing in the presence of the Lord before I die.’(J) 8 Now, my son, listen carefully and do what I tell you:(K) 9 Go out to the flock and bring me two choice young goats,(L) so I can prepare some tasty food for your father, just the way he likes it.(M) 10 Then take it to your father to eat, so that he may give you his blessing(N) before he dies.”
11 Jacob said to Rebekah his mother, “But my brother Esau is a hairy man(O) while I have smooth skin. 12 What if my father touches me?(P) I would appear to be tricking him and would bring down a curse(Q) on myself rather than a blessing.”
13 His mother said to him, “My son, let the curse fall on me.(R) Just do what I say;(S) go and get them for me.”
14 So he went and got them and brought them to his mother, and she prepared some tasty food, just the way his father liked it.(T) 15 Then Rebekah took the best clothes(U) of Esau her older son,(V) which she had in the house, and put them on her younger son Jacob. 16 She also covered his hands and the smooth part of his neck with the goatskins.(W) 17 Then she handed to her son Jacob the tasty food and the bread she had made.
18 He went to his father and said, “My father.”
“Yes, my son,” he answered. “Who is it?”(X)
19 Jacob said to his father, “I am Esau your firstborn.(Y) I have done as you told me. Please sit up and eat some of my game,(Z) so that you may give me your blessing.”(AA)
20 Isaac asked his son, “How did you find it so quickly, my son?”
“The Lord your God gave me success,(AB)” he replied.
21 Then Isaac said to Jacob, “Come near so I can touch you,(AC) my son, to know whether you really are my son Esau or not.”
22 Jacob went close to his father Isaac,(AD) who touched(AE) him and said, “The voice is the voice of Jacob, but the hands are the hands of Esau.” 23 He did not recognize him, for his hands were hairy like those of his brother Esau;(AF) so he proceeded to bless him. 24 “Are you really my son Esau?” he asked.
“I am,” he replied.
25 Then he said, “My son, bring me some of your game to eat, so that I may give you my blessing.”(AG)
Jacob brought it to him and he ate; and he brought some wine and he drank.
New International Version (NIV) 
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