Genesis 27:21

Then Isaac said, “My son, come close to me, so that I can touch your arms. If your arms are hairy, then I will know that you really are my son Esau.”

Plain English Version

In The King James 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.

In Context

20But Isaac said, “My son, how did you get that wild animal so quickly?” Jacob lied again and said, “God, the one that looks after you, he let me find that wild animal really quickly.”

22So Jacob went close to his father Isaac, and Isaac touched Jacob’s arms. Then Isaac said, “Your voice is like Jacob’s voice, but your arms are like Esau’s arms. They are really hairy.” You see, when Isaac touched Jacob’s arms, he touched those bits of hairy goat skin that Rebekah tied around Jacob’s arms. That’s the reason why Isaac said, “Your arms are like Esau’s arms.”

Read all of Genesis 27

Cross References

Genesis 27:12Maybe my father will touch my smooth skin, and then he will know that I am Jacob, not Esau. And he will know that I am tricking him. Then my father will not ask God to be good to me. No, he will ask God to curse me, and God will make trouble for me.”

Matthew Henry on Genesis 27:19-30

The Fraud of Jacob. ( b. c. 1760.) 18 And he came unto his father, and said, My father: and he said, Here am I; who art thou, my son? 19 And Jacob said unto his father, I am Esau thy firstborn; I have done according as thou badest me: arise, I pray thee, sit and eat of my venison, that thy soul may bless me. 20 And Isaac said unto his son, How is it that thou hast found it so quickly, my son? And he said, Because the Lord thy God brought it to me. 21 And Isaac said unto Jacob, Come near, I pray thee, that I may… Read the whole commentary →

This Verse In Other Editions

Study Genesis 27:21