Genesis 27:21

Then Isaac said to Jacob, “Please come closer so I can touch you, my son. Are you really my son Esau, or not?”

Berean Standard Bible

Study note

Setting — Isaac speaks to Jacob at the moment of the blessing deception, requesting physical verification before confirming the recipient's identity.

The words — The Hebrew גְּשָׁה (gəšāh) commands "draw near," and אֲמֻשְׁךָ (ʾămūšəḵā) expresses the purpose "so I may feel you."

The thread — The command to draw near appears in James 4:8 and Isaiah 57:19, where approaching the divine is linked to healing and peace.

Why it lands — The text requires the reader to examine how outward verification can be manipulated, demanding honest assessment of one's own motives and deceptions.

Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.

The Hebrew words

וַיֹּ֤אמֶרva/i.Yo.merand/ he said יִצְחָק֙yitz.ChakIsaac אֶֽל־'el-to יַעֲקֹ֔בya.'a.KoJacob גְּשָׁה־ge.sha/h-draw near/ !נָּ֥אna'please וַאֲמֻֽשְׁךָ֖va./'a.mush./Khaso/ I may feel/ you בְּנִ֑יbe.N/iO son/ my הַֽאַתָּ֥הha./'a.Tah¿/ [are] you זֶ֛הzehthis בְּנִ֥יbe.N/ison/ my עֵשָׂ֖ו'e.SavEsau אִם־'im-or?לֹֽא׃Lo'not

King James Version

And Isaac said unto Jacob, Come near, I pray thee, that I may feel thee, my son, whether thou be my very son Esau or not.

Cross-references

Isaiah 57:19 bringing praise to their lips. Peace, peace to those far and near,” says the LORD, “and I will heal them.”
James 4:8 Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.
Genesis 27:12 What if my father touches me? Then I would be revealed to him as a deceiver, and I would bring upon myself a curse rather than a blessing.”
Psalms 73:28 But as for me, it is good to draw near to God. I have made the Lord GOD my refuge, that I may proclaim all Your works.

People named

JacobIsaacEsau