New International Version
Genesis 27:1
1When Isaac was old and his eyes were so weak that he could no longer see, he called for Esau his older son and said to him, “My son.” “Here I am,” he answered.
Genesis 27:1 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)And it came to pass, that when Isaac was old, and his eyes were dim, so that he could not see, he called Esau his eldest son, and said unto him, My son: and he said unto him, Behold, here am I.
- English Standard Version (ESV)When Isaac was old and his eyes were dim so that he could not see, he called Esau his older son and said to him, "My son"; and he answered, "Here I am."
- New King James Version (NKJV)Now it came to pass, when Isaac was old and his eyes were so dim that he could not see, that he called Esau his older son and said to him, “My son.” And he answered him, “Here I am.”
- New Living Translation (NLT)One day when Isaac was old and turning blind, he called for Esau, his older son, and said, “My son.” “Yes, Father?” Esau replied.
Context of Genesis 27:1
When Isaac was old and his eyes were so weak that he could no longer see, he called for Esau his older son and said to him, “My son.” “Here I am,” he answered. 2Isaac said, “I am now an old man and don’t know the day of my death. 3Now then, get your equipment—your quiver and bow—and go out to the open country to hunt some wild game for me.
Read all of Genesis 27Genesis 27:1 word by word
וַיְהִי֙ כִּֽי־זָקֵ֣ן יִצְחָ֔ק וַתִּכְהֶ֥יןָ עֵינָ֖יו מֵרְאֹ֑ת וַיִּקְרָ֞א אֶת־עֵשָׂ֣ו׀ בְּנ֣וֹ הַגָּדֹ֗ל וַיֹּ֤אמֶר אֵלָיו֙ בְּנִ֔י וַיֹּ֥אמֶר אֵלָ֖יו הִנֵּֽנִי׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- And it came to passהָיָהhâyâh · to beH1961
- that when Isaacיִצְחָקyitschâq · IsaacH3327
- was oldזָקֵןzâqên · be oldH2204
- and his eyesעַ֫יִן‛ayin · eyeH5869
- were dimכָּהָהkâhâh · to grow dimH3543
- so that he could not seeרָאָהrâ'âh · to see: seeH7200
- he calledקָרָאqârâ' · to call: call toH7121
- Esauעֵשָׂו‛êώâv · EsauH6215
- his eldestגָּדוֹלgâdôl gâdôl · great: oldH1419
- sonבֵּןbên · son: childH1121
- and saidאָמַר'âmar · to sayH559
Cross-references for Genesis 27:1
- Genesis 48:10Now Israel’s eyes were failing because of old age, and he could hardly see. So Joseph brought his sons close to him, and his father kissed them and embraced them.
- 1 Samuel 3:2One night Eli, whose eyes were becoming so weak that he could barely see, was lying down in his usual place.
- Ecclesiastes 12:3when the keepers of the house tremble, and the strong men stoop, when the grinders cease because they are few, and those looking through the windows grow dim;
- John 9:3“Neither this man nor his parents sinned,” said Jesus, “but this happened so that the works of God might be displayed in him.
- Genesis 25:23The Lord said to her, “Two nations are in your womb, and two peoples from within you will be separated; one people will be stronger than the other, and the older will serve the younger.”
Commentaries on Genesis 27:1
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 1Isaac was old - It is conjectured, on good grounds, that Isaac was now about one hundred and seventeen years of age, and Jacob about fifty-seven; though the commonly received opinion makes Isaac one hundred and thirty-seven, and Jacob seventy-seven; but see note on Genesis 31:55, etc. And his eyes were dim - This was probably the effect of that affliction, of what kind we know not, under which Isaac now labored; and from which, as well as from the…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 1-46Verses 1-46 - Isaac Blessing His Sons The life of Isaac falls into three periods. During the first seventy-five years he is contemporary with his father. For sixty-one years more his son Jacob remains under the paternal roof. The remaining forty-four years are passed in the retirement of old age. The chapter before us narrates the last solemn acts of the middle period of his life. Genesis 27:1-4 Isaac was old. - Joseph was in his thirtieth year when he…Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 1Isaac sends Esau for venison. (1-5) Rebekah teaches Jacob to obtain the blessing. (6-17) Jacob, pretending to be Esau, obtains the blessing. (18-29) Isaac's fear, Esau's importunity. (30-40) Esau threatens Jacob's life, Rebekah sends Jacob away. (41-46) Verses 1-5 The promises of the Messiah, and of the land of Canaan, had come down to Isaac. Isaac being now about 135 years of age, and his sons about 75, and not duly considering the Divine word concerning…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 1-4The first scene introduces the main problem in the chapter. Isaac knew about God’s oracle (a message from God; 25:22–23), but he went against it or ignored it when he tried to bless Esau. Isaac was old and his eyes were so weak that he could no longer see: This shows that he was losing awareness, both physically and spiritually.Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1-271. when Isaac was old, and his eyes were dim--He was in his hundred thirty-seventh year; and apprehending death to be near, Isaac prepared to make his last will--an act of the gravest importance, especially as it included the conveyance through a prophetic spirit of the patriarchal blessing.Read the comment
Topics related to Genesis 27:1
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Genesis 27
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
- Tyndale Open Study Notes
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
- Rashi on Tanakh
- Calvin’s Commentaries
- Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
- John Wesley’s Notes
- Darby Translation Notes
- Geneva Bible Translation Notes
- Kingcomments
- Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
- Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
- Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
- Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
- EGW Writings
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