Verse (Click for Chapter) New International Version So he went to him and kissed him. When Isaac caught the smell of his clothes, he blessed him and said, “Ah, the smell of my son is like the smell of a field that the LORD has blessed. New Living Translation So Jacob went over and kissed him. And when Isaac caught the smell of his clothes, he was finally convinced, and he blessed his son. He said, “Ah! The smell of my son is like the smell of the outdoors, which the LORD has blessed! English Standard Version So he came near and kissed him. And Isaac smelled the smell of his garments and blessed him and said, “See, the smell of my son is as the smell of a field that the LORD has blessed! Berean Standard Bible So he came near and kissed him. When Isaac smelled his clothing, he blessed him and said: “Ah, the smell of my son is like the smell of a field that the LORD has blessed. Berean Literal Bible And he came near and kissed him, and he smelled the smell of his clothing, and he blessed him and said, “See, the smell of my son is like the smell of a field that YHWH has blessed. King James Bible And he came near, and kissed him: and he smelled the smell of his raiment, and blessed him, and said, See, the smell of my son is as the smell of a field which the LORD hath blessed: New King James Version And he came near and kissed him; and he smelled the smell of his clothing, and blessed him and said: “Surely, the smell of my son Is like the smell of a field Which the LORD has blessed. New American Standard Bible So he came close and kissed him; and when he smelled the smell of his garments, he blessed him and said, “See, the smell of my son Is like the smell of a field which the LORD has blessed; NASB 1995 So he came close and kissed him; and when he smelled the smell of his garments, he blessed him and said, “See, the smell of my son Is like the smell of a field which the LORD has blessed; NASB 1977 So he came close and kissed him; and when he smelled the smell of his garments, he blessed him and said, “See, the smell of my son Is like the smell of a field which the LORD has blessed; Legacy Standard Bible So he came near and kissed him; and he smelled the smell of his garments, and then he blessed him and said, “See, the smell of my son Is like the smell of a field which Yahweh has blessed; Amplified Bible So he came and kissed him; and Isaac smelled his clothing and blessed him and said, “The scent of my son [Esau] Is like the aroma of a field which the LORD has blessed; Berean Annotated Bible So he came near and kissed him. When Isaac smelled his clothing, he blessed him and said: “Ah, the smell of my son is like the smell of a field that the LORD {YHWH} has blessed. Christian Standard Bible So he came closer and kissed him. When Isaac smelled his clothes, he blessed him and said: Ah, the smell of my son is like the smell of a field that the LORD has blessed. Holman Christian Standard Bible So he came closer and kissed him. When Isaac smelled his clothes, he blessed him and said: Ah, the smell of my son is like the smell of a field that the LORD has blessed. American Standard Version And he came near, and kissed him: and he smelled the smell of his raiment, and blessed him, and said, See, the smell of my son Is as the smell of a field which Jehovah hath blessed: Contemporary English Version While Jacob was kissing him, Isaac caught the smell of his clothes and said: "The smell of my son is like a field the LORD has blessed. English Revised Version And he came near, and kissed him: and he smelled the smell of his raiment, and blessed him, and said, See, the smell of my son Is as the smell of a field which the LORD hath blessed: GOD'S WORD® Translation He went over and gave him a kiss. When Isaac smelled his clothes, he blessed him and said, "The smell of my son is like the smell of open country that the LORD has blessed. Good News Translation As he came up to kiss him, Isaac smelled his clothes--so he gave him his blessing. He said, "The pleasant smell of my son is like the smell of a field which the LORD has blessed. International Standard Version So Jacob drew closer to kiss him. When Isaac smelled the scent of his son's clothes, he blessed him and said, "How my son's scent is the fragrance of the field that the LORD has blessed. NET Bible So Jacob went over and kissed him. When Isaac caught the scent of his clothing, he blessed him, saying, "Yes, my son smells like the scent of an open field which the LORD has blessed. New Heart English Bible He came near, and kissed him. He smelled the scent of his clothing, and blessed him, and said, "Look, the scent of my son is as the scent of a field which God has blessed. Webster's Bible Translation And he came near, and kissed him: and he smelled the smell of his raiment, and blessed him, and said, See, the smell of my son is as the smell of a field which the LORD hath blessed: Majority Text Translations Majority Standard BibleSo he came near and kissed him. When Isaac smelled his clothing, he blessed him and said: “Ah, the smell of my son is like the smell of a field that the LORD has blessed. World English Bible He came near, and kissed him. He smelled the smell of his clothing, and blessed him, and said, “Behold, the smell of my son is as the smell of a field which Yahweh has blessed. Literal Translations Literal Standard Versionand he comes near, and kisses him, and he smells the fragrance of his garments, and blesses him, and says, “See, the fragrance of my son [is] as the fragrance of a field which YHWH has blessed; Berean Literal Bible And he came near and kissed him, and he smelled the smell of his clothing, and he blessed him and said, “See, the smell of my son is like the smell of a field that YHWH has blessed. Young's Literal Translation and he cometh nigh, and kisseth him, and he smelleth the fragrance of his garments, and blesseth him, and saith, 'See, the fragrance of my son is as the fragrance of a field which Jehovah hath blessed; Smith's Literal Translation And he will come near, and will kiss him: and he will smell the smell of his garment, and he will bless him, and he will say, See, the smell of my son as the smell of a field which Jehovah praised. Catholic Translations Douay-Rheims BibleHe came near, and kissed him. And immediately as he smelled the fragrant smell of his garments, blessing him, he said: Behold the smell of my son is as the smell of a plentiful field, which Lord hath blessed. Catholic Public Domain Version He approached and kissed him. And immediately he perceived the fragrance of his garments. And so, blessing him, he said: “Behold, the smell of my son is like the smell of a plentiful field, which the Lord has blessed. New American Bible As Jacob went up to kiss him, Isaac smelled the fragrance of his clothes. With that, he blessed him, saying, “Ah, the fragrance of my son is like the fragrance of a field that the LORD has blessed! New Revised Standard Version So he came near and kissed him; and he smelled the smell of his garments, and blessed him, and said, “Ah, the smell of my son is like the smell of a field that the LORD has blessed. Translations from Aramaic Lamsa BibleAnd he came near, and kissed him; and he smelled the smell of his garments, and blessed him, and said, See, the smell of my son is like the smell of a field which the LORD has blessed; Peshitta Holy Bible Translated And he came near and he kissed him and he smelled the fragrance of his clothing and he blessed him and said, “See, the fragrance of my son is like the fragrance of a field that LORD JEHOVAH has blessed: OT Translations JPS Tanakh 1917And he came near, and kissed him. And he smelled the smell of his raiment, and blessed him, and said: See, the smell of my son Is as the smell of a field which the LORD hath blessed. Brenton Septuagint Translation And he drew nigh and kissed him, and smelled the smell of his garments, and blessed him, and said, Behold, the smell of my son is as the smell of an abundant field, which the Lord has blessed. Additional Translations ... Audio Bible Context Isaac Blesses Jacob…26Then his father Isaac said to him, “Please come near and kiss me, my son.” 27So he came near and kissed him. When Isaac smelled his clothing, he blessed him and said: “Ah, the smell of my son is like the smell of a field that the LORD has blessed. 28May God give to you the dew of heaven and the richness of the earth—an abundance of grain and new wine.… Cross References So he came near and kissed him. Genesis 33:4 Esau, however, ran to him and embraced him, threw his arms around his neck, and kissed him. And they both wept. Luke 15:20 So he got up and went to his father. But while he was still in the distance, his father saw him and was filled with compassion. He ran to his son, embraced him, and kissed him. Genesis 50:1 Then Joseph fell upon his father’s face, wept over him, and kissed him. When Isaac smelled his clothing, Songs 4:11 Your lips, my bride, drip sweetness like the honeycomb; honey and milk are under your tongue, and the fragrance of your garments is like the aroma of Lebanon. Psalm 45:8 All your garments are fragrant with myrrh and aloes and cassia; from palaces of ivory the harps make you glad. 2 Corinthians 2:15 For we are to God the sweet aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing. he blessed him and said: Hebrews 11:20 By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau concerning the future. Genesis 48:15-20 Then he blessed Joseph and said: “May the God before whom my fathers Abraham and Isaac walked, the God who has been my shepherd all my life to this day, / the angel who has redeemed me from all harm—may He bless these boys. And may they be called by my name and the names of my fathers Abraham and Isaac, and may they grow into a multitude upon the earth.” / When Joseph saw that his father had placed his right hand on Ephraim’s head, he was displeased and took his father’s hand to move it from Ephraim’s head to Manasseh’s. … Numbers 6:24-27 ‘May the LORD bless you and keep you; / may the LORD cause His face to shine upon you and be gracious to you; / may the LORD lift up His countenance toward you and give you peace.’ … “Ah, the smell of my son Genesis 8:21 When the LORD smelled the pleasing aroma, He said in His heart, “Never again will I curse the ground because of man, even though every inclination of his heart is evil from his youth. And never again will I destroy all living creatures as I have done. Ephesians 5:2 and walk in love, just as Christ loved us and gave Himself up for us as a fragrant sacrificial offering to God. Philippians 4:18 I have all I need and more, now that I have received your gifts from Epaphroditus. They are a fragrant offering, an acceptable sacrifice, well-pleasing to God. is like the smell of a field Genesis 26:12-14 Now Isaac sowed seed in the land, and that very year he reaped a hundredfold. And the LORD blessed him, / and he became richer and richer, until he was exceedingly wealthy. / He owned so many flocks and herds and servants that the Philistines envied him. Deuteronomy 28:4 The fruit of your womb will be blessed, as well as the produce of your land and the offspring of your livestock—the calves of your herds and the lambs of your flocks. Deuteronomy 28:12 The LORD will open the heavens, His abundant storehouse, to send rain on your land in season and to bless all the work of your hands. You will lend to many nations, but borrow from none. that the LORD has blessed. Deuteronomy 28:8 The LORD will decree a blessing on your barns and on everything to which you put your hand; the LORD your God will bless you in the land He is giving you. Treasury of Scripture And he came near, and kissed him: and he smelled the smell of his raiment, and blessed him, and said, See, the smell of my son is as the smell of a field which the LORD has blessed: blessed. Hebrews 11:20 By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau concerning things to come. the smell of a field. Genesis 27:15 And Rebekah took goodly raiment of her eldest son Esau, which were with her in the house, and put them upon Jacob her younger son: Song of Solomon 2:13 The fig tree putteth forth her green figs, and the vines with the tender grape give a good smell. Arise, my love, my fair one, and come away. Song of Solomon 4:11-14 Thy lips, O my spouse, drop as the honeycomb: honey and milk are under thy tongue; and the smell of thy garments is like the smell of Lebanon… Song of Solomon 7:12,13 Let us get up early to the vineyards; let us see if the vine flourish, whether the tender grape appear, and the pomegranates bud forth: there will I give thee my loves… which. Genesis 26:12 Then Isaac sowed in that land, and received in the same year an hundredfold: and the LORD blessed him. Hebrews 6:7 For the earth which drinketh in the rain that cometh oft upon it, and bringeth forth herbs meet for them by whom it is dressed, receiveth blessing from God: Jump to Previous Ah Blessed Blesseth Blessing Caught Close Clothes Clothing Field Fragrance Garments Isaac Kiss Kissed Kisseth Nigh Raiment Smell Smelled Smelleth SmeltJump to Next Ah Blessed Blesseth Blessing Caught Close Clothes Clothing Field Fragrance Garments Isaac Kiss Kissed Kisseth Nigh Raiment Smell Smelled Smelleth SmeltGenesis 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. So he came near and kissed him. This act of coming near and kissing is a gesture of intimacy and familial affection, common in ancient Near Eastern cultures. It signifies trust and closeness, which is ironic given the deception at play. The kiss is reminiscent of other biblical instances where a kiss is used in both genuine and deceitful contexts, such as Judas' kiss to Jesus in the New Testament (Matthew 26:49). When Isaac smelled his clothing, he blessed him and said: “Ah, the smell of my son is like the smell of a field that the LORD has blessed. 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 blind, preparing to bless his son. 2. Jacob The younger son of Isaac and Rebekah, Jacob deceives his father to receive the blessing intended for his brother Esau. 3. Esau The elder son of Isaac and Rebekah, Esau is the rightful recipient of the blessing but is deceived by his brother Jacob. 4. Rebekah The wife of Isaac and mother of Esau and Jacob, Rebekah orchestrates the deception to ensure Jacob receives the blessing. 5. The Field Symbolically represents abundance and divine favor, as Isaac compares Jacob's scent to a blessed field. Teaching Points The Power of BlessingThe blessing Isaac gives is not just words but carries spiritual and prophetic significance. In our lives, we should recognize the power of our words and the importance of speaking blessings over others. Deception and Consequences Jacob's deception, though it achieves the desired outcome, leads to long-term family strife. This teaches us that deceit, even with good intentions, can have lasting negative effects. God's Sovereignty Despite human manipulation, God's plan prevails. This reassures us that God's purposes will be accomplished, even when circumstances seem contrary. Parental Influence Rebekah's role in the deception shows the significant influence parents have on their children's actions. It reminds us to guide our children in truth and integrity. The Aroma of Christ Just as Isaac was pleased with the scent of Jacob's clothing, believers are called to be the aroma of Christ, spreading His fragrance through our lives and actions. Bible Study Questions and Answers 1. What is the meaning of Genesis 27:27?2. How does Genesis 27:27 illustrate the importance of blessings in biblical families? 3. What role does deception play in Genesis 27:27, and what can we learn? 4. How does Isaac's blessing in Genesis 27:27 connect to God's covenant with Abraham? 5. How can we apply the concept of blessings from Genesis 27:27 in our lives? 6. What does the phrase "smell of his clothing" symbolize in Genesis 27:27? 7. How does Genesis 27:27 illustrate the theme of deception in the Bible? 8. What role does the blessing in Genesis 27:27 play in the larger narrative of Jacob and Esau? 9. How does the act of deception in Genesis 27:27 align with God's plan? 10. What are the top 10 Lessons from Genesis 27? 11. Is there any historical or archeological basis for believing such a deceitful blessing would stand in that culture (Genesis 27)? 12. What does "benediction" mean in the Bible? 13. What is a father's blessing? 14. If Ezekiel 35:5 describes Edom’s “perpetual hatred,” does historical record support such an unbroken hostility? What Does Genesis 27:27 Mean So he came near• Jacob steps into Isaac’s personal space, an act of intimacy and vulnerability (Genesis 27:22). • Nearness was needed for the blessing; similarly, God invites His people to draw near for covenant blessing (Exodus 19:17; Hebrews 10:22). • The moment fulfills Rebekah’s plan (Genesis 27:6-10), showing that human choices, even flawed ones, are woven into God’s larger redemptive purposes (Romans 8:28). and kissed him • The kiss seals family affection and respect (Genesis 31:55; 33:4). • It mirrors later scenes where reconciliation or blessing is marked by a kiss, such as Joseph and his brothers (Genesis 45:15) and the father welcoming the prodigal son (Luke 15:20). • Though the act is sincere, the context is deceptive—a reminder that outward gestures can mask inward motives (Proverbs 27:6). When Isaac smelled his clothing • Isaac’s failing eyesight heightens reliance on other senses (Genesis 27:1, 22–23). • The garments carry Esau’s outdoorsy aroma, convincing Isaac he is blessing the firstborn. • Scripture often uses scent as a metaphor for spiritual reality: the pleasing fragrance of sacrifices (Genesis 8:21) and believers as “the aroma of Christ” (2 Corinthians 2:15). • The episode highlights how physical clues can mislead when discernment is lacking (1 Samuel 16:7). he blessed him and said: “Ah, the smell of my son is like the smell of a field that the LORD has blessed.” • Isaac likens the scent to a fertile field, evoking abundance, prosperity, and covenant favor (Deuteronomy 28:4, 11). • The blessing anticipates verses 28-29, promising “plenty of grain and new wine,” echoing God’s earlier promise to Abraham of widespread blessing (Genesis 12:2-3). • Agricultural imagery recurs in Scripture to depict divine favor: “The field of the LORD is watered” (Psalm 65:9-13) and “Israel will blossom like the lily” (Hosea 14:5-7). • Though given under mistaken identity, the blessing stands, illustrating God’s sovereign choice of Jacob (Romans 9:10-13). summary Genesis 27:27 portrays the pivotal moment Jacob receives Isaac’s patriarchal blessing. Nearness, a kiss, and the convincing scent of Esau’s clothing lead Isaac to speak words of abundance and covenant favor. The scene weaves together themes of intimacy, deception, sensory perception, and divine sovereignty, underscoring that God’s purposes prevail even through human weakness. (27) As the smell of a field.--From the abundance of aromatic plants, the pastures of Palestine are peculiarly fragrant; but Isaac, deceived by the scent of Esau's own garments, intended probably to contrast the pure sweetness of one whose life was spent in the open field with the less pleasant odour which Jacob would bring with him from the cattle-shed.Verse 27. - And he came near, and kissed him. Originally the act of kissing had a symbolical character. Here it is a sign of affection between a parent and a child; in Genesis 29:13 between relatives. It was also a token of friendship (Tobit 7. 6; 10:12; 2 Samuel 20:9; Matthew 26:48; Luke 7:45; Luke 15:20; Acts 20:37). The kissing of princes was a symbol of homage (1 Samuel 10:1; Psalm 2:12; Xenoph., 'Cyrop.,' 7. 5, 32). With the Persians it was a mark of honor (Xenoph., 'Agesil.,' 5. 4). The Rabbins permitted only three kinds of kisses - the kiss of reverence, of reception, and of dismissal. The kiss of charity was practiced among disciples in the early Christian Church (Romans 16:16; 1 Corinthians 16:20; 2 Corinthians 13:12; 1 Thessalonians 5:26; 1 Peter 5:14; vide Kitto's' 'Cyclopedia,' art. Kissing). And he smelled the smell of his raiment, - not deliberately, in order to detect whether they belonged to a shepherd or a huntsman (Tuch), but accidentally while, in the act of kissing. The odor of Esau s garments, impregnated with the fragrance of the aromatic herbs of Palestine, excited the dull sensibilities of the aged prophet, suggesting to his mind pictures of freshness and fertility, and inspiring him to pour forth his promised benediction - and blessed him (not a second time, the statement in ver. 23 being only inserted by anticipation), and said, - the blessing, as is usual in elevated prophetic utterances, assumes a poetic and antistrophical form (cf. Esau's blessing, vers. 39, 40) - See, the smell of my son is as the smell of a field - the first clause of the poetic stanza clearly connects with the odor of Esau's raiment as that which had opened the fount of prophetic song in Isaac's breast, so far at least as its peculiar form was concerned; its secret inspiration we know was the Holy Ghost operating through Isaac's faith in the promise (vide Hebrews 11:20) - which the Lord hath blessed. The introduction of the name Jehovah instead of Elohim in this second clause proves that Isaac did not mean to liken his son to an ordinary well-cultivated field, but to "a field like that of Paradise, resplendent with traces of the Deity - an ideal field, bearing the same relation to an ordinary one as Israel did to the heathen - a kind of enchanted garden, such as would be realized at a later period in Canaan, as far as the fidelity of the people permitted it" (Hengstenberg).Parallel Commentaries ... Hebrew So he came nearוַיִּגַּשׁ֙ (way·yig·gaš) Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular Strong's 5066: To draw near, approach and kissed him. וַיִּשַּׁק־ (way·yiš·šaq-) Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular Strong's 5401: To kiss, to equip with weapons When Isaac smelled וַיָּ֛רַח (way·yā·raḥ) Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular Strong's 7306: Accept, smell, touch, make of quick understanding his clothing, בְּגָדָ֖יו (bə·ḡā·ḏāw) Noun - masculine plural construct | third person masculine singular Strong's 899: A covering, clothing, treachery, pillage he blessed וַֽיְבָרֲכֵ֑הוּ (way·ḇā·ră·ḵê·hū) Conjunctive waw | Verb - Piel - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular | third person masculine singular Strong's 1288: To kneel, to bless God, man, to curse him and said: וַיֹּ֗אמֶר (way·yō·mer) Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular Strong's 559: To utter, say “Ah, רְאֵה֙ (rə·’êh) Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine singular Strong's 7200: To see the smell רֵ֥יחַ (rê·aḥ) Noun - masculine singular construct Strong's 7381: To smell, perceive odor of my son בְּנִ֔י (bə·nî) Noun - masculine singular construct | first person common singular Strong's 1121: A son is like the smell רֵ֣יחַ (rê·aḥ) Noun - masculine singular construct Strong's 7381: To smell, perceive odor of a field שָׂדֶ֔ה (śā·ḏeh) Noun - masculine singular Strong's 7704: Field, land that אֲשֶׁ֥ר (’ă·šer) Pronoun - relative Strong's 834: Who, which, what, that, when, where, how, because, in order that the LORD יְהוָֽה׃ (Yah·weh) Noun - proper - masculine singular Strong's 3068: LORD -- the proper name of the God of Israel has blessed. בֵּרֲכ֖וֹ (bê·ră·ḵōw) Verb - Piel - Perfect - third person masculine singular | third person masculine singular Strong's 1288: To kneel, to bless God, man, to curse Links Genesis 27:27 NIVGenesis 27:27 NLT Genesis 27:27 ESV Genesis 27:27 NASB Genesis 27:27 KJV Genesis 27:27 BibleApps.com Genesis 27:27 Biblia Paralela Genesis 27:27 Chinese Bible Genesis 27:27 French Bible Genesis 27:27 Catholic Bible OT Law: Genesis 27:27 He came near and kissed him (Gen. 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