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Genesis 27:23

Made Simple — Modern English Translation

Translated by Verse Made Simple Editorial
KJV ORIGINAL
And he discerned him not, because his hands were hairy, as his brother Esau’s hands: so he blessed him.
Close to the original. Clear modern English.
✦ MADE SIMPLE

Isaac didn't recognize him because his hands were hairy like his brother Esau's hands, so Isaac gave him the blessing.

⚡ THE BOTTOM LINE

This verse shows Isaac being deceived by Jacob's disguise and giving him Esau's blessing because he couldn't tell the difference by touch.

📚 Historical Context

This occurs during the famous deception where Jacob, with his mother Rebekah's help, disguised himself as his hairy twin brother Esau to trick their nearly blind father Isaac. Jacob wore goat skins on his hands and neck to mimic Esau's natural hairiness. In ancient times, the father's blessing was a sacred, irrevocable pronouncement that determined inheritance and family leadership.

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Translation & Methodology Sources

The original manuscript text provided is based on the King James Version (KJV), which is in the public domain. Our modern English simplifications are generated via proprietary philological synthesis, cross-referenced against Strong's Exhaustive Concordance and the Textus Receptus to ensure unwavering theological and etymological precision.

Read our full translation methodology →