Genesis 27:26
And his father Isaac saide vnto him, Come neere now, and kisse me, my sonne. Genesis 27:26 (KJV)
This verse occurs in the Genesis narrative that records Jacob’s deception of his father Isaac in order to obtain the blessing intended for his older brother Esau. Isaac, the son of Abraham and father of Jacob and Esau, was old, blind, and near the end of his life. He had summoned Esau, his firstborn, to prepare a meal before giving the traditional first‑born blessing.
Rebekah, hearing Isaac’s instructions, devised a plan to secure the blessing for her favored son Jacob. She clothed Jacob in Esau’s garments and covered his hands and neck with goat skins so that he would appear hairy like his brother. She also prepared the meal that Jacob would bring to Isaac.
When Jacob approached the blind patriarch, Isaac grew suspicious and asked for his identity. Jacob answered, “I am Esau, thy firstborn” (Genesis 27:19, KJV). Still uncertain, Isaac requested that Jacob come near and kiss him so he could verify the claim. The kiss was a customary expression of affection and respect within the family. Isaac’s request served two purposes: it allowed him to identify Jacob by touch—feeling the hairiness of the hands and neck—and, as noted in the parallel account, by voice and scent; and it demonstrated the father’s desire to bestow the blessing on the son he preferred. Isaac favored Esau for his hunting abilities and his taste for wild game.
The episode reveals the depth of the deception. By complying with Isaac’s request for a kiss, Jacob sought to convince his father of his false identity. The narrative illustrates an intricate web of deception and family dynamics, highlighting the lengths to which Rebekah and Jacob were willing to go to obtain the blessing meant for the firstborn.
The consequences were significant: the deceit strained Jacob’s relationship with Esau and produced years of tension and conflict between the brothers. Genesis 27:26 thus stands as a pivotal moment in the larger story of Jacob and Esau, showcasing the complexity of human relationships, the serious repercussions of deceit, and the profound importance of familial blessings in the biblical context.
