Genesis 27:23

23 et non cognovit eum quia pilosae manus similitudinem maioris expresserant benedicens ergo illi

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 dixitque Isaac accede huc ut tangam te fili mi et probem utrum tu sis filius meus Esau an non
22 accessit ille ad patrem et palpato eo dixit Isaac vox quidem vox Iacob est sed manus manus sunt Esau
23 et non cognovit eum quia pilosae manus similitudinem maioris expresserant benedicens ergo illi
24 ait tu es filius meus Esau respondit ego sum
25 at ille offer inquit mihi cibos de venatione tua fili mi ut benedicat tibi anima mea quos cum oblatos comedisset obtulit ei etiam vinum quo hausto
The Latin Vulgate is in the public domain.