Verse (Click for Chapter) New International Version Then Isaac said to Jacob, “Come near so I can touch you, my son, to know whether you really are my son Esau or not.” New Living Translation Then Isaac said to Jacob, “Come closer so I can touch you and make sure that you really are Esau.” English Standard Version 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.” Berean Standard Bible Then Isaac said to Jacob, “Please come closer so I can touch you, my son. Are you really my son Esau, or not?” Berean Literal Bible And Isaac said to Jacob, “Come near, please, and I will feel you, my son—are you he, my son Esau, or not?” King James Bible And Isaac said unto Jacob, Come near, I pray thee, that I may feel thee, my son, whether thou be my very son Esau or not. New King James Version Isaac said to Jacob, “Please come near, that I may feel you, my son, whether you are really my son Esau or not.” New American Standard Bible Then Isaac said to Jacob, “Please come close, so that I may feel you, my son, whether you are really my son Esau or not.” NASB 1995 Then Isaac said to Jacob, “Please come close, that I may feel you, my son, whether you are really my son Esau or not.” NASB 1977 Then Isaac said to Jacob, “Please come close, that I may feel you, my son, whether you are really my son Esau or not.” Legacy Standard Bible Then Isaac said to Jacob, “Please come near, that I may feel you, my son, whether you are really my son Esau or not.” Amplified Bible But Isaac [wondered and] said to Jacob, “Please come close [to me] so that I may touch you, my son, and determine if you are really my son Esau or not.” Berean Annotated Bible Then Isaac (he laughs) said to Jacob (he grasps the heel), “Please come closer so I can touch you, my son. Are you really my son Esau (hairy), or not? Christian Standard Bible Then Isaac said to Jacob, “Please come closer so I can touch you, my son. Are you really my son Esau or not? ” Holman Christian Standard Bible Then Isaac said to Jacob, “Please come closer so I can touch you, my son. Are you really my son Esau or not?” American Standard Version And Isaac said unto Jacob, Come near, I pray thee, that I may feel thee, my son, whether thou be my very son Esau or not. Contemporary English Version "My son," Isaac said, "come closer, where I can touch you and find out if you really are Esau." English Revised Version And Isaac said unto Jacob, Come near, I pray thee, that I may feel thee, my son, whether thou be my very son Esau or not. GOD'S WORD® Translation Then Isaac said to Jacob, "Come over here so that I can feel your skin, Son, [to find out] whether or not you really are my son Esau." Good News Translation Isaac said to Jacob, "Please come closer so that I can touch you. Are you really Esau?" International Standard Version So Isaac told Jacob, "Come here, my son, so I can feel you and know for sure whether or not you're my son Esau." NET Bible Then Isaac said to Jacob, "Come closer so I can touch you, my son, and know for certain if you really are my son Esau." New Heart English Bible Isaac said to Jacob, "Please come near, that I may feel you, my son, whether you are really my son Esau or not." Webster's Bible Translation And Isaac said to Jacob, Come near, I pray thee, that I may feel thee, my son, whether thou art my very son Esau, or not. Majority Text Translations Majority Standard BibleThen Isaac said to Jacob, “Please come closer so I can touch you, my son. Are you really my son Esau, or not?” World English Bible Isaac said to Jacob, “Please come near, that I may feel you, my son, whether you are really my son Esau or not.” Literal Translations Literal Standard VersionAnd Isaac says to Jacob, “Please come near, and I feel you, my son, whether you [are] he, my son Esau, or not.” Berean Literal Bible And Isaac said to Jacob, “Come near, please, and I will feel you, my son—are you he, my son Esau, or not?” Young's Literal Translation And Isaac saith unto Jacob, 'Come nigh, I pray thee, and I feel thee, my son, whether thou art he, my son Esau, or not.' Smith's Literal Translation And Isaak will say to Jacob, Come near, now, and I shall feel thee, my son, if thou this my son Esau or not. Catholic Translations Douay-Rheims BibleAnd Isaac said: Come hither, that I may feel thee, my son, and may prove whether thou be my son Esau, or not. Catholic Public Domain Version And Isaac said, “Come here, so that I may touch you, my son, and may prove whether you are my son Esau, or not.” New American Bible Isaac then said to Jacob, “Come closer, my son, that I may feel you, to learn whether you really are my son Esau or not.” New Revised Standard Version Then Isaac said to Jacob, “Come near, that I may feel you, my son, to know whether you are really my son Esau or not.” Translations from Aramaic Lamsa BibleThen Isaac said to Jacob his son, Come near me, that I may feel you, my son, to know whether you are my son Esau or not. Peshitta Holy Bible Translated And Isaaq said to Yaquuv, his son, “Come near; now I shall feel you my son, if you are my son Esau or not.” OT Translations JPS Tanakh 1917And Isaac said unto Jacob: 'Come near, I pray thee, that I may feel thee, my son, whether thou be my very son Esau or not.' Brenton Septuagint Translation And Isaac said to Jacob, Draw night to me, and I will feel thee, son, if thou art my son Esau or not. Additional Translations ... Audio Bible Context Isaac Blesses Jacob…20But Isaac asked his son, “How did you ever find it so quickly, my son?” “Because the LORD your God brought it to me,” he replied. 21Then Isaac said to Jacob, “Please come closer so I can touch you, my son. Are you really my son Esau, or not?” 22So Jacob came close to his father Isaac, who touched him and said, “The voice is the voice of Jacob, but the hands are the hands of Esau.”… Cross References Then Isaac said to Jacob, Genesis 28:1 So Isaac called for Jacob and blessed him. “Do not take a wife from the Canaanite women,” he commanded. Hebrews 11:20 By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau concerning the future. 1 Chronicles 28:9 As for you, Solomon my son, know the God of your father and serve Him wholeheartedly and with a willing mind, for the LORD searches every heart and understands the intent of every thought. If you seek Him, He will be found by you; but if you forsake Him, He will reject you forever. “Please come closer so I can touch you, my son. Luke 24:39 Look at My hands and My feet. It is I Myself. Touch Me and see—for a spirit does not have flesh and bones, as you see I have.” John 20:27 Then Jesus said to Thomas, “Put your finger here and look at My hands. Reach out your hand and put it into My side. Stop doubting and believe.” 1 John 1:1 That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our own eyes, which we have gazed upon and touched with our own hands—this is the Word of life. Are you really my son Esau, Romans 9:10-13 Not only that, but Rebecca’s children were conceived by one man, our father Isaac. / Yet before the twins were born or had done anything good or bad, in order that God’s plan of election might stand, / not by works but by Him who calls, she was told, “The older will serve the younger.” … Malachi 1:2-3 “I have loved you,” says the LORD. But you ask, “How have You loved us?” “Was not Esau Jacob’s brother?” declares the LORD. “Yet Jacob I have loved, / but Esau I have hated, and I have made his mountains a wasteland and left his inheritance to the desert jackals.” Hebrews 12:16-17 See to it that no one is sexually immoral, or is godless like Esau, who for a single meal sold his birthright. / For you know that afterward, when he wanted to inherit the blessing, he was rejected. He could find no ground for repentance, though he sought the blessing with tears. or not?” 1 Thessalonians 5:21 but test all things. Hold fast to what is good. 1 John 4:1 Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God. For many false prophets have gone out into the world. 2 Corinthians 13:5 Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves. Do you not realize that Jesus Christ is in you—unless you fail the test? Genesis 25:23 and He declared to her: “Two nations are in your womb, and two peoples from within you will be separated; one people will be stronger than the other, and the older will serve the younger.” Genesis 25:28 Because Isaac had a taste for wild game, he loved Esau; but Rebekah loved Jacob. Genesis 27:1-4 When Isaac was old and his eyes were so weak that he could no longer see, he called his older son Esau and said to him, “My son.” “Here I am,” Esau replied. / “Look,” said Isaac, “I am now old, and I do not know the day of my death. / Take your weapons—your quiver and bow—and go out into the field to hunt some game for me. … Genesis 27:22-23 So Jacob came close to his father Isaac, who touched him and said, “The voice is the voice of Jacob, but the hands are the hands of Esau.” / Isaac did not recognize him, because his hands were hairy like those of his brother Esau; so he blessed him. Treasury of Scripture And Isaac said to Jacob, Come near, I pray you, that I may feel you, my son, whether you be my very son Esau or not. Come. Psalm 73:28 But it is good for me to draw near to God: I have put my trust in the Lord GOD, that I may declare all thy works. Isaiah 57:19 I create the fruit of the lips; Peace, peace to him that is far off, and to him that is near, saith the LORD; and I will heal him. James 4:8 Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded. may feel. Genesis 27:12 My father peradventure will feel me, and I shall seem to him as a deceiver; and I shall bring a curse upon me, and not a blessing. Jump to Previous Close Esau Feel Hand Isaac Jacob Nigh Please Really Touch WhetherJump to Next Close Esau Feel Hand Isaac Jacob Nigh Please Really Touch WhetherGenesis 27 1. Isaac sends Esau for venison.6. Rebekah instructs Jacob to obtain the blessing. 14. Jacob, feigning to be Esau, obtains it. 30. Esau brings venison. 33. Isaac trembles. 34. Esau complains, and by importunity obtains a blessing. 41. He threatens Jacob's life. 42. Rebekah disappoints him, by sending Jacob away. Then Isaac said to Jacob, Isaac, the son of Abraham and father of Esau and Jacob, is a patriarch in the biblical narrative. At this point in Genesis, Isaac is old and his eyesight is failing. This moment is pivotal as it sets the stage for the blessing of Jacob, which was intended for Esau. Isaac's role as a father and patriarch is significant, as he is responsible for passing on the Abrahamic blessing. “Please come closer so I can touch you, my son. Are you really my son Esau, or not?” Persons / Places / Events 1. IsaacThe son of Abraham and Sarah, Isaac is the father of Esau and Jacob. In this passage, he is old and visually impaired, relying on his other senses to discern the identity of his son. 2. Jacob The younger son of Isaac and Rebekah, Jacob is attempting to deceive his father into giving him the blessing meant for his brother Esau. 3. Esau The elder twin brother of Jacob, known for his hunting skills and favored by Isaac. He is the rightful recipient of the blessing Jacob seeks to obtain through deception. 4. Rebekah The wife of Isaac and mother of Esau and Jacob. She orchestrates the plan for Jacob to deceive Isaac and receive the blessing. 5. The Blessing A significant event in the patriarchal family, the blessing is a prophetic pronouncement of prosperity and leadership, traditionally given to the firstborn son. Teaching Points The Deceptive Nature of SinJacob's deception of Isaac highlights how sin can lead us to manipulate and deceive others to achieve our desires. Believers are called to live in truth and integrity. The Sovereignty of God Despite human deception, God's purposes are fulfilled. This teaches us to trust in God's sovereignty and His ability to work through imperfect situations. The Importance of Discernment Isaac's reliance on his senses rather than seeking God's guidance serves as a reminder to seek divine wisdom and discernment in our decisions. Family Dynamics and Favoritism The favoritism shown by Isaac and Rebekah towards their sons leads to conflict and deception. This warns against partiality and encourages fairness and love in family relationships. The Consequences of Deception Jacob's actions have long-term consequences, affecting his relationship with Esau and leading to years of estrangement. This underscores the importance of honesty and the potential fallout of deceit. Bible Study Questions and Answers 1. What is the meaning of Genesis 27:21?2. How does Genesis 27:21 illustrate the importance of discernment in decision-making? 3. What can we learn about trust from Isaac's actions in Genesis 27:21? 4. How does Genesis 27:21 connect to the theme of deception in the Bible? 5. How can we apply Isaac's caution in Genesis 27:21 to our daily lives? 6. What role does obedience play in the events of Genesis 27:21? 7. Why did Isaac doubt Jacob's identity in Genesis 27:21? 8. How does Genesis 27:21 reflect on deception within families? 9. What does Genesis 27:21 reveal about Isaac's discernment? 10. What are the top 10 Lessons from Genesis 27? 11. How could Isaac be so easily deceived by Jacob’s voice and skin when blessing him (Genesis 27:21–22)? 12. Why would God's chosen lineage pass through someone who blatantly deceived his father (Genesis 27:35-36)? 13. Does this account conflict with other biblical passages that condemn lying yet here seem to permit it (Genesis 27:6-17)? 14. What is the significance of Jacob and Esau's story? What Does Genesis 27:21 Mean Then Isaac said to Jacob• The narrative opens with an aging father initiating conversation. Isaac’s eyesight is dim (Genesis 27:1), yet his responsibility to pass the covenant blessing remains clear (Hebrews 11:20). • Isaac’s words show parental authority, but also vulnerability; he cannot rely on sight and must trust what he hears and feels. That human weakness will amplify God’s sovereignty, just as earlier prophecy declared the older would serve the younger (Genesis 25:23). • Family dynamics in Scripture often pivot on spoken words—from Noah blessing Shem and Japheth (Genesis 9:26-27) to Jacob later blessing his own sons (Genesis 49:1-28). Speech carries generational weight. Please come closer • Isaac invites proximity because distance leaves room for doubt. Physical nearness becomes his means of verification. • The scene echoes other invitations to draw near. Boaz told Ruth, “Come over here and eat” to affirm acceptance (Ruth 2:14). Jesus invites weary souls, “Come to Me” (Matthew 11:28). Nearness allows relationship and discernment. so I can touch you, my son • Touch substitutes for sight. Similar confirmations appear when Thomas needed to feel the risen Lord’s wounds (John 20:27) and when Jesus touched the blind to heal them (Mark 8:22-25). • Isaac’s touch is meant to protect the integrity of the blessing. Yet despite his precaution, Jacob’s deception succeeds—showing that God’s plan still prevails (Romans 9:10-13). • Parental tenderness is implied in the phrase “my son,” recalling how Israel later describes God’s care: “He took them in His arms” (Hosea 11:3-4). Are you really my son Esau, or not? • Isaac’s question exposes lingering suspicion. He had already asked once (Genesis 27:18). Repetition underscores the tension between what the senses report and what the heart suspects (1 Samuel 16:7). • The moment spotlights the moral gravity of deception. Scripture consistently condemns lying lips (Proverbs 12:22) and presents truth as the mark of God’s people (Ephesians 4:25). • Yet even amid human failure, God works out His declared purpose: the covenant line will continue through Jacob (Genesis 28:13-15). Divine election is not thwarted by human sin. summary Genesis 27:21 portrays an aging Isaac attempting to verify the identity of the son before him. Each phrase reveals layers of family authority, human frailty, and divine orchestration. Isaac’s need to hear, invite, touch, and question highlights both the limitations of the flesh and the unstoppable fulfillment of God’s foretold blessing for Jacob. (21) Come near . . . that I may feel thee.--Besides the answer, in a style very different from Esau's way of thinking, Isaac was surprised at the short delay in bringing the savoury meat; for the game had to be sought at a distance away from the cattle-pastures. Though, too, the voices of the twins had a certain degree of similarity, yet they would also have their peculiarities, and Isaac detected the difference. But the artifice of the kid-skins fitted, no doubt, cleverly to Jacob's hands and neck saved him from detection; for after Isaac had passed his hands over him, his doubt entirely vanished.Hebrew Then Isaacיִצְחָק֙ (yiṣ·ḥāq) Noun - proper - masculine singular Strong's 3327: Isaac -- 'he laughs', son of Abraham and Sarah said וַיֹּ֤אמֶר (way·yō·mer) Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular Strong's 559: To utter, say to אֶֽל־ (’el-) Preposition Strong's 413: Near, with, among, to Jacob, יַעֲקֹ֔ב (ya·‘ă·qōḇ) Noun - proper - masculine singular Strong's 3290: Jacob -- a son of Isaac, also his desc “Please נָּ֥א (nā) Interjection Strong's 4994: I pray', 'now', 'then' come closer גְּשָׁה־ (gə·šāh-) Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine singular | third person feminine singular Strong's 5066: To draw near, approach so I can touch you, וַאֲמֻֽשְׁךָ֖ (wa·’ă·muš·ḵā) Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive imperfect Cohortative if contextual - first person common singular | second person masculine singular Strong's 4184: To touch my son. בְּנִ֑י (bə·nî) Noun - masculine singular construct | first person common singular Strong's 1121: A son Are you הַֽאַתָּ֥ה (ha·’at·tāh) Article | Pronoun - second person masculine singular Strong's 859: Thou and thee, ye and you really זֶ֛ה (zeh) Pronoun - masculine singular Strong's 2088: This, that my son בְּנִ֥י (bə·nî) Noun - masculine singular construct | first person common singular Strong's 1121: A son Esau עֵשָׂ֖ו (‘ê·śāw) Noun - proper - masculine singular Strong's 6215: Esau -- oldest son of Isaac or אִם־ (’im-) Conjunction Strong's 518: Lo!, whether?, if, although, Oh that!, when, not not?” לֹֽא׃ (lō) Adverb - Negative particle Strong's 3808: Not, no Links Genesis 27:21 NIVGenesis 27:21 NLT Genesis 27:21 ESV Genesis 27:21 NASB Genesis 27:21 KJV Genesis 27:21 BibleApps.com Genesis 27:21 Biblia Paralela Genesis 27:21 Chinese Bible Genesis 27:21 French Bible Genesis 27:21 Catholic Bible OT Law: Genesis 27:21 Isaac said to Jacob Please come near (Gen. 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