because his hands were hairy like those of his brother Esau
The description of Esau as hairy is consistent with earlier accounts in Genesis, where Esau is described as red and hairy at birth (Genesis 25:25). This physical characteristic becomes a key element in Jacob's deception. The use of goat skins to mimic Esau's hairy hands is a clever ruse that exploits Isaac's reliance on touch due to his failing eyesight. This detail also reflects the cultural importance of physical traits in identifying individuals, as well as the lengths to which Jacob and Rebekah are willing to go to secure the blessing. The use of animal skins can be seen as a type of the sacrificial system, where coverings are used to present oneself as something they are not.

so he blessed him
The blessing Isaac gives to Jacob, thinking he is Esau, is significant in the biblical narrative. In the ancient Near Eastern context, a father's blessing was a powerful and binding declaration that often included the transfer of leadership, inheritance, and divine favor. This blessing, intended for Esau, includes promises of prosperity, dominion, and the continuation of the Abrahamic covenant. The act of blessing Jacob instead of Esau fulfills God's earlier prophecy and sets the stage for the unfolding of Israel's history. This moment also prefigures the concept of grace, where blessings are given not based on merit but on God's sovereign choice, paralleling the New Testament theme of believers receiving blessings through Christ, the true firstborn.

• Genesis 27 opens by telling us Isaac’s eyes “were so dim that he could not see” (Genesis 27:1). His physical blindness set the stage, but the narrative also hints at a spiritual dullness; Isaac favored Esau despite the earlier prophecy that “the older shall serve the younger” (Genesis 25:23).

• Jacob approaches with a false identity. Isaac, suspicious, asks, “Who are you, my son?” (Genesis 27:18). Voice and words raise doubts (Genesis 27:22), yet Isaac trusts what he can touch more than what he can hear.

• Scripture often warns about judging by outward appearance (1 Samuel 16:7; John 7:24). Isaac’s failure to discern illustrates how relying on limited senses can cloud discernment of God’s prior revelation.

• Rebekah’s plan (Genesis 27:6-17) exploited Isaac’s reliance on touch. Goat skins wrapped around Jacob’s hands and neck (Genesis 27:16) succeeded because Isaac associated hairiness with Esau (Genesis 25:25).

• Notice the irony: Jacob’s smooth voice versus hairy hands. Isaac comments, “The voice is the voice of Jacob, but the hands are the hands of Esau” (Genesis 27:22). He chooses the sense that confirms his preference, not the one that aligns with truth.

• This moment echoes earlier deceptions rooted in appetite and appearance—Esau’s sale of his birthright for stew (Genesis 25:29-34) and now Isaac’s hunger for wild game (Genesis 27:4). Fleshly cravings leave each family member vulnerable.

• In patriarchal culture a spoken blessing carried covenantal weight (Genesis 12:2-3; Genesis 22:17-18). Once uttered, it stood; even Isaac’s later trembling could not revoke it (Genesis 27:33). Hebrews 11:20 looks back, stating, “By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau concerning the future.”

• The substance of the blessing (Genesis 27:27-29) aligns with God’s sovereign choice announced before the twins were born (Romans 9:10-13). Human scheming did not derail God’s plan; rather, His plan prevailed through it.

• Esau’s bitter cry (Genesis 27:34-38) underscores the irrevocability of covenant promises—reminding us that divine election is sure, though often fulfilled in unexpected ways.

Genesis 27:23 shows how Isaac’s physical blindness and preference for Esau opened the door for Jacob’s deception, yet God’s declared purpose (Genesis 25:23) stood firm. Isaac’s failure to “recognize” warns against trusting surface evidence over divine revelation, while the successful ruse demonstrates that, even through flawed human choices, God secures His promised blessing.

Parallel Commentaries ...