The Meaning of Genesis 27:27 Explained

Genesis 27:27

KJV: 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:

YLT: 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;

Darby: And he came near, and kissed him. And he smelt the smell of his clothes, and blessed him, and said, See, the smell of my son is as the smell of a field which Jehovah hath blessed.

ASV: 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.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

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: 

What does Genesis 27:27 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 27:27 mean?

And he came near and kissed him and he smelled - the smell of his clothing and blessed him and said surely of my son [Is] like the smell of a field which has blessed Yahweh
וַיִּגַּשׁ֙ וַיִּשַּׁק־ ל֔וֹ וַיָּ֛רַח אֶת־ רֵ֥יחַ בְּגָדָ֖יו וַֽיְבָרֲכֵ֑הוּ וַיֹּ֗אמֶר רְאֵה֙ בְּנִ֔י כְּרֵ֣יחַ שָׂדֶ֔ה אֲשֶׁ֥ר בֵּרֲכ֖וֹ יְהוָֽה

וַיִּגַּשׁ֙  And  he  came  near 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: נָגַשׁ  
Sense: to draw near, approach.
וַיִּשַּׁק־  and  kissed 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: נָשַׁק 
Sense: to put together, kiss.
וַיָּ֛רַח  and  he  smelled 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Hifil, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: רִיחַ  
Sense: (Hiphil) to smell, scent, perceive odour, accept.
אֶת־  - 
Parse: Direct object marker
Root: אֹות 
Sense: sign of the definite direct object, not translated in English but generally preceding and indicating the accusative.
רֵ֥יחַ  the  smell 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: רֵיחַ  
Sense: scent, fragrance, aroma, odour.
בְּגָדָ֖יו  of  his  clothing 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural construct, third person masculine singular
Root: בֶּגֶד 
Sense: treachery, deceit.
וַֽיְבָרֲכֵ֑הוּ  and  blessed  him 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Piel, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine singular, third person masculine singular
Root: בָּרַךְ 
Sense: to bless, kneel.
וַיֹּ֗אמֶר  and  said 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: אָמַר 
Sense: to say, speak, utter.
רְאֵה֙  surely 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperative, masculine singular
Root: רָאָה 
Sense: to see, look at, inspect, perceive, consider.
בְּנִ֔י  of  my  son 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct, first person common singular
Root: בֵּן 
Sense: son, grandson, child, member of a group.
כְּרֵ֣יחַ  [Is]  like  the  smell 
Parse: Preposition-k, Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: רֵיחַ  
Sense: scent, fragrance, aroma, odour.
שָׂדֶ֔ה  of  a  field 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: שָׂדֶה 
Sense: field, land.
בֵּרֲכ֖וֹ  has  blessed 
Parse: Verb, Piel, Perfect, third person masculine singular, third person masculine singular
Root: בָּרַךְ 
Sense: to bless, kneel.
יְהוָֽה  Yahweh 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יהוה 
Sense: the proper name of the one true God.