Genesis 27:23

23 Und er kannte ihn nicht; denn seine Hände waren rauh wie Esaus, seines Bruders, Hände. 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 herzu, mein Sohn, daß ich dich betaste, ob du mein Sohn Esau seiest oder nicht. {~}

22 Also trat Jakob zu seinem Vater Isaak; und da er ihn betastet hatte, sprach er: Die Stimme ist Jakobs Stimme, aber die Hände sind Esaus Hände.

23 Und er kannte ihn nicht; denn seine Hände waren rauh wie Esaus, seines Bruders, Hände. Und er segnete ihn

24 und sprach zu ihm: Bist du mein Sohn Esau? Er antwortete: Ja, ich bin's.

25 Da sprach er: So bringe mir her, mein Sohn, zu essen von deinem Wildbret, daß dich meine Seele segne. Da brachte er's ihm, und er aß, und trug ihm auch Wein hinein, und er trank.