Genesis 27:23

23 Und er erkannte ihn nicht, denn seine Hände waren haarig wie die Hände seines Bruders Esau; und er segnete ihn.

Genesis 27:23 Meaning and Commentary

Genesis 27:23

And he discerned him not
As he could not see, he could make no judgment by that sense; and, though he had his hearing, and thought the voice was like Jacob's, he might imagine there might be an alteration in Esau's voice, coming in haste and weary from the fields; yet, as there could not be any deception in his feeling, he thought it safest to trust to that, as it follows: because his hands were hairy as his brother Esau's hands;
which could not in a short time become so naturally; it was more reasonable to think that Esau's voice should be altered and become like Jacob's, than that Jacob's hands should become like Esau's: so he blessed him;
or intended and determined within himself to bless him, for the blessing was not given till afterwards; unless this is to be understood of a common blessing, congratulating him on the quick dispatch he made, and the great success he met with; and after this gave him the patriarchal blessing, which as yet he had not, being not thoroughly satisfied of him, as appears by what follows.

Genesis 27:23 In-Context

21 Da sprach Isaak zu Jakob: Tritt doch herzu, daß ich dich betaste, mein Sohn, ob du wirklich mein Sohn Esau bist oder nicht.

22 Und Jakob trat hin zu seinem Vater Isaak; und er betastete ihn und sprach: Die Stimme ist Jakobs Stimme, aber die Hände sind Esaus Hände.

23 Und er erkannte ihn nicht, denn seine Hände waren haarig wie die Hände seines Bruders Esau; und er segnete ihn.

24 Und er sprach: Bist du wirklich mein Sohn Esau? Und er sprach: Ich bin's.

25 Da sprach er: Reiche es mir her, daß ich esse von dem Wildbret meines Sohnes, damit meine Seele dich segne. Und er reichte es ihm hin, und er aß; und er brachte ihm Wein, und er trank.