The Meaning of Genesis 27:23 Explained

Genesis 27:23

KJV: And he discerned him not, because his hands were hairy, as his brother Esau's hands: so he blessed him.

YLT: And he hath not discerned him, for his hands have been hairy, as the hands of Esau his brother, and he blesseth him,

Darby: And he did not discern him, because his hands were hairy, as his brother Esau's hands; and he blessed him.

ASV: And he discerned him not, because his hands were hairy, as his brother Esau's hands. So he blessed him.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

And he discerned  him not, because his hands  were hairy,  as his brother  Esau's  hands:  so he blessed  him. 

What does Genesis 27:23 Mean?

Context Summary

Genesis 27:18-29 - Jacob Gets Esau's Blessing
It is better not to attempt to justify Jacob in this act of treachery; but we may learn the deep and helpful lesson, that if God were able to make a saint out of such material as this, He also can take our poor lives with all their sin and failure and make something of them for His glory. Notice how one lie led to another! Few who enter on a course of deception stop at one falsehood; and how terrible it was to add blasphemy to lying, as when he said that God brought him his quarry in the hunt. Luther wonders how Jacob was able to brazen it out, adding, "I should probably have run away in terror and let the dish fall." Rebekah kept her son's garments well perfumed with the aromatic plants of Palestine, and their odor awoke the sleeping poetry and fire of the aged father. He compared them to a field of Paradise, filled with the sweet presence of God. Let us see to it that we carry everywhere the fragrance of Christ. See 2 Corinthians 2:15. [source]

Chapter Summary: Genesis 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

What do the individual words in Genesis 27:23 mean?

And not he did recognize him because were his hands like hands Esau's his brother hairy so he blessed him
וְלֹ֣א הִכִּיר֔וֹ כִּֽי־ הָי֣וּ יָדָ֗יו כִּידֵ֛י עֵשָׂ֥ו אָחִ֖יו שְׂעִרֹ֑ת וַֽיְבָרְכֵֽהוּ

וְלֹ֣א  And  not 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Adverb, Negative particle
Root: הֲלֹא 
Sense: not, no.
הִכִּיר֔וֹ  he  did  recognize  him 
Parse: Verb, Hifil, Perfect, third person masculine singular, third person masculine singular
Root: נָכַר 
Sense: to recognise, acknowledge, know, respect, discern, regard.
כִּֽי־  because 
Parse: Conjunction
Root: כִּי 
Sense: that, for, because, when, as though, as, because that, but, then, certainly, except, surely, since.
יָדָ֗יו  his  hands 
Parse: Noun, fdc, third person masculine singular
Root: יָד  
Sense: hand.
כִּידֵ֛י  like  hands 
Parse: Preposition-k, Noun, fdc
Root: יָד  
Sense: hand.
עֵשָׂ֥ו  Esau's 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: עֵשָׂו  
Sense: eldest son of Isaac and Rebecca and twin brother of Jacob; sold the birthright for food when he was hungry and the divine blessing went to Jacob; progenitor of the Arab peoples.
אָחִ֖יו  his  brother 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct, third person masculine singular
Root: אָח  
Sense: brother.
שְׂעִרֹ֑ת  hairy 
Parse: Adjective, feminine plural
Root: שָׂעִיר 
Sense: hairy.
וַֽיְבָרְכֵֽהוּ  so  he  blessed  him 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Piel, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine singular, third person masculine singular
Root: בָּרַךְ 
Sense: to bless, kneel.

What are the major concepts related to Genesis 27:23?

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