Genesis 27:23

23 Doch hij kende hem niet, omdat zijn handen harig waren, gelijk zijns broeders Ezau's handen; en hij zegende hem.

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 En Izak zeide tot Jakob: Nader toch, dat ik u betaste, mijn zoon! of gij mijn zoon Ezau zelf zijt, of niet.
22 Toen kwam Jakob bij, tot zijn vader Izak, die hem betastte; en hij zeide: De stem is Jakobs stem, maar de handen zijn Ezau's handen.
23 Doch hij kende hem niet, omdat zijn handen harig waren, gelijk zijns broeders Ezau's handen; en hij zegende hem.
24 En hij zeide: Zijt gij mijn zoon Ezau zelf? En hij zeide: Ik ben het!
25 Toen zeide hij: Stel het nabij mij, dat ik van het wildbraad mijns zoons ete, opdat mijn ziel u zegene. En hij stelde het nabij hem, en hij at; hij bracht hem ook wijn, en hij dronk.
The Dutch Staten Vertaling translation is in the public domain.