Jacob’s Deception

27 Now it came about, when Isaac was old and (A)his eyes were too dim to see, that he called his (B)older son Esau and said to him, “My son.” And he said to him, “Here I am.” [a](C)Isaac said, “Behold now, I am old and I do not know the day of my death. Now then, please take your gear, your quiver and your bow, and go out to the field and (D)hunt game for me; and prepare a savory dish for me such as I love, and bring it to me that I may eat, so that (E)my soul may bless you before I die.”

Rebekah was listening while Isaac spoke to his son Esau. So when Esau went to the field to hunt for game to bring home, (F)Rebekah said to her son Jacob, “Behold, I heard your father speak to your brother Esau, saying, ‘Bring me some game and prepare a savory dish for me, that I may eat, and bless you in the presence of the Lord before my death.’ Now therefore, my son, (G)listen to [b]me [c]as I command you. Go now to the flock and [d]bring me two choice [e]young goats from there, that I may prepare them as a savory dish 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 his death.” 11 Jacob [f]answered his mother Rebekah, “Behold, Esau my brother is a (H)hairy man and I am a smooth man. 12 (I)Perhaps my father will feel me, then I will be as a [g]deceiver in his sight, and I will bring upon myself a curse and not a blessing.” 13 But his mother said to him, “Your curse be on me, my son; only (J)obey my voice, and go, get them for me.” 14 So he went and got them, and brought them to his mother; and his mother made savory food such as his father loved. 15 Then Rebekah took the [h]best (K)garments of Esau her elder son, which were with her in the house, and put them on Jacob her younger son. 16 And she put the skins of the [i]young goats on his hands and on the smooth part of his neck. 17 She also gave the savory food and the bread, which she had made, [j]to her son Jacob.

18 Then he came 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. (L)Get up, please, sit and eat of my game, that [k](M)you may bless me.” 20 Isaac said to his son, “How is it that you have it so quickly, my son?” And he said, “(N)Because the Lord your God caused it to happen to me.” 21 Then Isaac said to Jacob, “Please come close, that (O)I may feel you, my son, whether you are really my son Esau or not.” 22 So Jacob came close to Isaac his father, and he felt him and said, “The voice is the voice of Jacob, but the hands are the hands of Esau.” 23 He did not recognize him, because his hands were (P)hairy like his brother Esau’s hands; so he blessed him. 24 And he said, “Are you really my son Esau?” And he said, “I am.” 25 So he said, “Bring it to me, and I will eat of my son’s game, that [l](Q)I may bless you.” And he brought it to him, and he ate; he also brought him wine and he drank. 26 Then his father Isaac said to him, “Please come close and kiss me, my son.” 27 So he came close and kissed him; and when he smelled the smell of his garments, he (R)blessed him and said,

“See, (S)the smell of my son
Is like the smell of a field (T)which the Lord has blessed;
28 Now may (U)God give you of the dew of heaven,
And of the (V)fatness of the earth,
And an abundance of grain and new wine;
29 (W)May peoples serve you,
And nations bow down to you;
(X)Be master of your brothers,
(Y)And may your mother’s sons bow down to you.
(Z)Cursed be those who curse you,
And blessed be those who bless you.”

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Footnotes

  1. Genesis 27:2 Lit He
  2. Genesis 27:8 Lit my voice
  3. Genesis 27:8 Lit according to what
  4. Genesis 27:9 Lit take
  5. Genesis 27:9 Lit kids of goats
  6. Genesis 27:11 Lit said to
  7. Genesis 27:12 Lit mocker
  8. Genesis 27:15 Lit desirable; or choice
  9. Genesis 27:16 Lit kids of the goats
  10. Genesis 27:17 Lit into the hand of
  11. Genesis 27:19 Lit your soul
  12. Genesis 27:25 Lit my soul